Music News

Lily Allen performed her first headline show since reviving her music career last night (01.04.14).
The 28-year-old star took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the City Rocks gig - which celebrated the 275th birthday of the charity Coram - which provides creative therapy for vulnerable children - after a night of performances from other musical acts, including Brian May and The Feeling.
Lily arrived on stage wearing a sheer jumpsuit - which she later revealed she'd been sewn into - and began her set with her single 'Hard Out Here' while surrounded by four backing dancers.
The London born singer apologised for the fact that she may be a bit "rusty" following her four-year hiatus from the music industry before launching into a number of other tracks from her new album 'Sheezus' including 'Our Time' and also revisited her 2006 hit single 'Smile' to the delight of the crowd.
Lily later posted photographs from the night on her Instagram account and wrote a message on Twitter saying: "That was dope. Thanks guys x x (sic)."
Maverick Sabre opened the City Rocks show with a number of tracks from his album 'Lonely Are The Brave' including hit 'Let Me Go', which was followed by a set from Sophie Ellis Bextor, featuring her 2001 hit 'Murder on the Dancefloor' and material from her new album 'Wanderlust'.
Queen's legendary guitarist Brian May joined forces with West End actress Kerry Ellis, and The Feeling played a number of their hits including 'Love It When You Call' before joining Brian and Kerry on stage for a lively rendition of Queen's 'Tie Your Mother Down' prior to Lily's performance.

A song on Michael Jackson's new album is believed to be about his struggle to overcome child sex abuse allegations.
The track - 'Do You Know Where Your Children Are?' - is among eight new songs which will feature on the late King of Pop's new record - 'XSCAPE' - which is out in May.
The lyrics tell the story of a 12-year-old girl, who has been abused by her stepfather and ends up working as a prostitute.
Michael sings: "She wrote that she is tired of step-daddy using her/Saying that he'll buy her things, while sexually abusing her."
It also includes the phrase: "Save me from this living hell", which is repeated a number of times during the song.
The track is believed to have been written after Michael was found not guilty of sex offences against young boys in 2005.
It will feature on the record, which is the second to be released since Michael's death in 2009 of acute Propofol intoxication, and has been worked on by Epic Records chairman L.A Reid and producer Timbaland.
Reid said: "We are extremely proud and honoured to present this music to the world."
Meanwhile, in 2013, dancer Wade Robson, who testified to defend the 'Thriller' singer when he was accused of molestation, claimed he was abused by the star. A hearing will take place in June.

Janelle Monáe says paying homage to David Bowie in a new Pepsi MAX advert was "truly a dream".
The R&B singer appears in the commercial as a busker, singing Bowie's famous track 'Heroes' for small change, and she was thrilled to have been chosen to take part.
She said: "'Heroes' is one of my favourite David Bowie songs, he's just the coolest artist out there, so to be able to cover the song and to pay homage to him is truly a dream."
The advert, part of the brand's Now Is What You Make It campaign, ties in with the World Cup and was filmed in the streets of Rio, where this year's competition will take place.
It also features soccer stars Robin van Persie, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Agüero, Jack Wilshere and Leo Messi, performing impressive tricks with a football.
Janelle, who was nominated for International Female Solo Artist at this year's BRIT Awards, continued: "I love everything the film stands for. To me, it is all about that extraordinary burst of courage and passion which can embolden everyday people in a moment of spontaneity, which is also the message of David Bowie's venerable song.
"I was honoured to join Pepsi for this campaign and remind people that now more than ever, we can all be heroes."

Duff McKagan is reuniting with Guns N' Roses for five shows across South America.
The legendary hard rock group's former bassist - who played in the original line-up with singer Axl Rose, guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler and was a member of the group from 1985 to 1993 - will "help out" by heading out on the road to fill in for current bassist, Tommy Stinson, who has already been scheduled for reunion gigs with The Replacements.
Tommy told Billboard.com: "I had those Replacement shows come up the same time the [South American] tour came up, and it got to be a scheduling issue right out of the gate.
"I didn't want to f**k anyone up in Guns by saying, 'Hey, I can't do this tour,' or anything like that. Luckily someone was able to reach out to Duff and he was amenable to the idea and was into doing it. So I'm like, 'Thanks dude, for covering my ass on this one.' "
Duff will join the current line-up - which includes keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarists DJ Ashba, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer and keyboardist Chris Pitman - from April 6 until April 17 for shows in Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina before his last set in Brazil.
Tommy will play one show in Brazil on April 3 before rejoining the group in Pennsylvania on May 13.
Duff - who quit Guns N' Roses in 1997 - made a post online revealing his return, which read: "Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil! See y'all in the next few weeks, Si? GNR. (sic)"
Duff's decision to work with Axl again has given fans hope Slash and the other former members will be able to bury the hatchet with the difficult frontman so the classic line-up can tour once again.
Slash and Axl have barely spoken since the guitarist quit the band in 1996 due to a breakdown in their songwriting partnership and the collaborative process between the entire group.
Their rift only worsened when Axl refused to join the other original band members at their induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in February 2012.

McBusted have confirmed plans to record a new album.
The supergroup - comprised of McFly's Harry Judd, Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter, as well as Busted's Matt Willis and James Bourne - contemplated "laying something down" before their tour which kicks off on April 17 in Glasgow, but were unable to do so since members had personal commitments.
While they have all been busy with tour rehearsals, Tom and his wife Giovanna welcomed their first child Buzz into the world on March 13 and he has also been trying to spend some quality time with the little one, while Matt has joined 'EastEnders' as Stacey Branning's boyfriend Luke Riley.
Talking to London's Capital FM radio station, Harry said: "We were thinking of going in the studio and properly laying something down before the tour started.
"We've had no time because of Tom having his baby, the tour rehearsals and Matt's filming bits on 'EastEnders'. Everyone has been so busy."
The boys plan on working their new record following the tour which ends on June 2 in Dublin.
He added: "It will happen after the tour. We'll be writing on the road and hopefully soon after the tour we'll get in the studio."

The Four Tops star Duke Fakir believes Diana Ross and Mary Wilson are set to reunite for a concert as The Supremes.
The 78-year-old singer thinks the time could be right for the two stars to put their differences aside after so many year and put the iconic Motown group back together one last time with Cindy Birdsong.
Duke - who is the last original surviving member of The Four Tops - told BANG Showbiz: "I'm going to make a prediction; somewhere down the line I see her and Mary giving each other a big hug and saying, 'Let's do this one more time.' The older you get as you look back, whatever happened in those bygone days is forgotten - usually. Why not? I kind of feel that might be coming up. I think they might do one big concert or it could be a residency in Las Vegas or somewhere like for a week or so. It's very possible, I just see that happening and it would be great."
Duke - who is currently on tour in the UK with his group and The Temptations - is convinced that Diana, 70, is ready to bury the hatchet with 70-year-old Mary and knows she is ready to perform because she regularly performs, describing her concerts as "fantastic".
Temptations star Otis Williams is also hopeful for a reunion and insists the 'Baby Love' hitmaker is in a position where she can play just to cement her amazing legacy.
Otis, 72, said: "Oh Mother Supreme, as I call her, is still playing. She's in a unique position where she can keep playing and work when she wants to work."
Mary turned down the chance for a reunion tour as The Supremes in 2000 after she discovered Diana was offered $15 million to do it, whilst she was offered $4 million and Cindy less than $1 million.
The last time Diana and Mary appeared on stage together was on the 'Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever' TV special in 1983.
The Temptations and The Four Tops - joined by special guests The Platters and Freda Payne - are playing concerts across Britain this week, including Manchester Arena tonight (02.04.14) and The O2 in London on Thursday (03.04.14).

Pete Tong has led tributes to legendary house DJ Frankie Knuckles, who died today (01.03.14), aged 59.
The BBC Radio 1 DJ posted a message about the Godfather of House on his Twitter account after he died "unexpectedly", reportedly due to complications from Type II diabetes, having developed the disease during the mid-2000s, according to The Chicago Tribune newspaper.
Pete wrote: "RIP gentleman genius, groundbreaker, inspiration. Blessed to have worked with you. (sic)"
House DJ Roger Sanchez added: "I can't begin to count the ways he influenced me but I will never forget."
Frankie remixed tracks by Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston during his career, as well as his own music, including songs 'Your Love' and 'The Whistle Song'.
His death was confirmed by fellow DJ David Morales on Twitter, who was left stunned by the news.
He wrote: "I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today," adding, "Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry."
Frankie's longtime business partner, Frederick Dunson, also told The Chicago Tribune he "died unexpectedly this afternoon at home".
Producer Duke Dumont also tweeted: "RIP Frankie Knuckles ..had the honour of working with you last year. Eternally grateful for laying the blueprint, that is House. (sic)"
Frankie started his career as a disco DJ during the early 1970s, with garage pioneer Larry Levan, and it is thought the term 'House' music originated in the late 1970s, when Frankie began spinning tracks at The Warehouse in Chicago.

50 Cent thinks Puff Daddy is the "destination for anybody going nowhere".
The 38-year-old rapper has slammed the star, who recently changed his name back from P. Diddy, and admitted he doesn't understand why any artist would want to collaborate with him.
50 told radio station Power 105.1: "Puffy might be the destination for anybody going nowhere. Nobody surviving."
He also talked about his disapproval of rappers wearing tight clothing and hinted he didn't like Kanye West's fashion sense, after he wore a leather kilt last year at a Hurricane Sandy benefit gig.
50 explained: "I ain't with it. I asked it on a mix tape. N***as wear skinny jeans. I can't fit in.
"If you Google, 'rapper in a dress', do you know how many will pop? Young Thug is the one that actually said, 'This is a dress'. The other ones will call it a kilt. What about that culture is making you choose to wear it for the evening?"
Meanwhile, the 'Hold On' hitmaker will release his fifth record 'Animal Ambition' later this year, his first since 'Before I Self Destruct' in 2009 after his departure from Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope.
And despite parting ways with Shady Records, he praised rapper Eminem, who was instrumental in helping him become a success, while also giving credit to Jay Z.
He said: "I don't think our culture would've grown as fast as it did without Em. My being associated with him allowed the doors to open easy. I'm proud of him.
"Jay Z, Lloyd Banks, and Fabolous is the same guy. Take away the hits, take away the career, the music. I'm talking about who they actually are 'cause they're internal people. These are the guys that are laid back, quiet, fly. You might not feel them in the room, but they're important people."

Chris Martin has seemingly spoken about his split with Gwyneth Paltrow on Coldplay's upcoming 'Ghost Stories' album.
The frontman - who is renowned for writing confessional lyrics - has written about the "pain" of infidelity on 'Another's Arms' which is speculated to be the reason for his split with the 'Iron Man 3' actress after 11 years of marriage.
Chris, 37, sings: "Late night watching TV, used to be you here beside me, your body on my body. When the pain just rips through me. Another's arms, another's arms."
The song comes in the wake of Gwyneth's denial of two alleged affairs with lawyer Kevin Yorn and Jeffery Soffer, who is married to Elle MacPherson.
While the lyrics could be coincidental, Coldplay did perform the melancholic track for an audience of 800 guests at Sony's Studios in Culver City, California just days before Gwyneth, 41, and Chris announced their "conscious uncoupling" on her Goop website.
Chris also appears to bare his emotions on several other tracks on the album, including 'Ink' which hints at a reunion with his estranged wife.
He sings: "I don't want nobody else but you. Call it magic. Cut me in two. If you were to ask me, after all that we've been through, I'd still believe in magic."
Chris and his band mates - Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion - will release their new album on May 19 and their new atmospheric sound is a big departure from the band's usual melodies and catchy riffs.
Despite their split, Chris and Gwyenth - who have two children, Apple, nine, and Moses, seven - are still close friends and were seen enjoying a holiday in The Bahamas with pals over the weekend.