Music News
Music News
Roger Taylor has formed his own Queen tribute band.
The Queen drummer admits he was so fed up of seeing below average tribute acts that he decided to host auditions for his own, with fans being given the opportunity to vote for their favourites on the Internet.
He said: "The terrible ones [tributes] are cheesy and panto-like, more about dressing up in a Brian May wig and a Freddie Mercury moustache and what they're missing out on is the fact that the music is quite complicated and actually not easy to perform."
Taylor's search for a lead singer led him to a French Canadian man named Marc Martel, whose vocal similarities to late frontman Freddie Mercury won him nearly 9 million likes on YouTube.
Once the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hitmaker found his lead singer he built the rest of the act, named "The Queen Extravaganza", around him.
Taylor told the Daily Express newspaper: "I spent some weeks with them in Canada rehearsing but they've found out what works and what they're good at. They've got some brilliant arrangements of a lot of our old stuff and I've sort of let them get on with it now.
"It's great - I just go and see them occasionally and they're wonderful."
Roger Taylor forms Queen tribute band
Roger Taylor has formed his own Queen tribute band.
The Queen drummer admits he was so fed up of seeing below average tribute acts that he decided to host auditions for his own, with fans being given the opportunity to vote for their favourites on the Internet.
He said: "The terrible ones [tributes] are cheesy and panto-like, more about dressing up in a Brian May wig and a Freddie Mercury moustache and what they're missing out on is the fact that the music is quite complicated and actually not easy to perform."
Taylor's search for a lead singer led him to a French Canadian man named Marc Martel, whose vocal similarities to late frontman Freddie Mercury won him nearly 9 million likes on YouTube.
Once the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hitmaker found his lead singer he built the rest of the act, named "The Queen Extravaganza", around him.
Taylor told the Daily Express newspaper: "I spent some weeks with them in Canada rehearsing but they've found out what works and what they're good at. They've got some brilliant arrangements of a lot of our old stuff and I've sort of let them get on with it now.
"It's great - I just go and see them occasionally and they're wonderful."
Music News
The Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney thinks Jack White is an "a**hole".
The musician has defended his band mate Dan Auerbach, who was slammed in private emails between Jack and his ex-wife Karen Ellis, in which he begged her to take his kids out of the same class as Dan's daughter in Nashville and also accused the band of ripping him off.
Patrick said: "I actually feel embarrassed for him. I don't hold grudges, man. I really don't. We've all said fucked-up shit in private, and divorce is hard.
" Those e-mails that Jack White wrote that got leaked, as f***ed up as that sh*t is, that was a private conversation, and it doesn't register to me.
"You know how horrifying it would be if all of our private sh*t was aired? And people go sniffing around looking for this shit. And ultimately it's no one's business."
Dan, who also resides in Nashville, and rose to fame in a similar way to the 'Lazeretto' singer, didn't want to discuss the situation in depth and simply told Rolling Stone magazine: "I don't know him, so it's extra-unexpected".
Jack's email had read: "My conce[r]n with Auerbach is because I don't want the kids involved in any of that crap.
"That's a possible 12 fucking years I'm going to have to be sitting in kids chairs next to that a**hole with other people trying to lump us in together.
"He gets yet another free reign to follow me around and copy me and push himself into my world."
The Black Keys slam Jack White
The Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney thinks Jack White is an "a**hole".
The musician has defended his band mate Dan Auerbach, who was slammed in private emails between Jack and his ex-wife Karen Ellis, in which he begged her to take his kids out of the same class as Dan's daughter in Nashville and also accused the band of ripping him off.
Patrick said: "I actually feel embarrassed for him. I don't hold grudges, man. I really don't. We've all said fucked-up shit in private, and divorce is hard.
" Those e-mails that Jack White wrote that got leaked, as f***ed up as that sh*t is, that was a private conversation, and it doesn't register to me.
"You know how horrifying it would be if all of our private sh*t was aired? And people go sniffing around looking for this shit. And ultimately it's no one's business."
Dan, who also resides in Nashville, and rose to fame in a similar way to the 'Lazeretto' singer, didn't want to discuss the situation in depth and simply told Rolling Stone magazine: "I don't know him, so it's extra-unexpected".
Jack's email had read: "My conce[r]n with Auerbach is because I don't want the kids involved in any of that crap.
"That's a possible 12 fucking years I'm going to have to be sitting in kids chairs next to that a**hole with other people trying to lump us in together.
"He gets yet another free reign to follow me around and copy me and push himself into my world."
Music News
Roy Orbison's sons have used new technology to record a song by their late father.
The 'Oh, Pretty Woman' hitmaker, who died in 1988, recorded a track called 'The Way is Love' on a boombox and his sons Alex, Roy Jr and Wesley have been able to work on the song together, which will now feature on a 25th anniversary re-issue of Roy's last album 'Mystery Girl' from 1989.
Alex told BANG Showbiz: "My mom felt very strongly about the song and she tried to do something with it forever.
"We found the [original] tape in a giant pile we were going through and it's such a beautiful song with a strong message.
"It really did feel like we were recording with my dad, which I never got to do before he died. We made sure everything was perfect and layered all of the tracks.
"Looking at the finished product, I think he'd definitely be proud of what we've done."
Alex, who thinks there could be more tracks they want to work on in the future, claims being in the studio with his brothers brought them closer together.
He said: "My dad had brothers himself and he had said, 'Sometimes you don't get along but at the end of the day you have to hug and love each other'. We came together as brothers over this."
A documentary entitled 'Mystery Girl: Unraveled', executive produced by Alex, Roy and Wesley and directed by Alex, also features new interviews with Billy Burnette, John Carter Cash, Mike Campbell, Steve Cropper and more, along with never-before-seen interviews with Bono and the late Barbara Orbison.
Alex said: "We feel like one of the goals of the documentary was to show the recording process was like but also what my dad was like.
"You get to see a bit of his personality and his sense of humour. His laugh and things that are so endearing to us. We had great archive footage and it was a goal for us to show the man behind the sunglasses.
"He had such a dark ominous look at times, the songs were so heart-breaking and people assumed he was somber and morose, but he was such an upbeat, kind and gentle soul."
Roy Orbison's re-release of 'Mystery Girl' is out now.
Roy Orbison’s sons create new song by their father
Roy Orbison's sons have used new technology to record a song by their late father.
The 'Oh, Pretty Woman' hitmaker, who died in 1988, recorded a track called 'The Way is Love' on a boombox and his sons Alex, Roy Jr and Wesley have been able to work on the song together, which will now feature on a 25th anniversary re-issue of Roy's last album 'Mystery Girl' from 1989.
Alex told BANG Showbiz: "My mom felt very strongly about the song and she tried to do something with it forever.
"We found the [original] tape in a giant pile we were going through and it's such a beautiful song with a strong message.
"It really did feel like we were recording with my dad, which I never got to do before he died. We made sure everything was perfect and layered all of the tracks.
"Looking at the finished product, I think he'd definitely be proud of what we've done."
Alex, who thinks there could be more tracks they want to work on in the future, claims being in the studio with his brothers brought them closer together.
He said: "My dad had brothers himself and he had said, 'Sometimes you don't get along but at the end of the day you have to hug and love each other'. We came together as brothers over this."
A documentary entitled 'Mystery Girl: Unraveled', executive produced by Alex, Roy and Wesley and directed by Alex, also features new interviews with Billy Burnette, John Carter Cash, Mike Campbell, Steve Cropper and more, along with never-before-seen interviews with Bono and the late Barbara Orbison.
Alex said: "We feel like one of the goals of the documentary was to show the recording process was like but also what my dad was like.
"You get to see a bit of his personality and his sense of humour. His laugh and things that are so endearing to us. We had great archive footage and it was a goal for us to show the man behind the sunglasses.
"He had such a dark ominous look at times, the songs were so heart-breaking and people assumed he was somber and morose, but he was such an upbeat, kind and gentle soul."
Roy Orbison's re-release of 'Mystery Girl' is out now.
Music News
Alex Turner thinks Metallica headlining Glastonbury "doesn't add up".
The Arctic Monkeys frontman, who has been top of the bill twice with his band mates Matt Helders, Jamie Cook and Nick O'Malley, aren't impressed by the news that the heavy metal band will headline the Sunday this year.
Alex said: "I heard all the rumours [that they would play]. I'm not sure it adds up. I know we'd buzz off it, but fundamentally could you have Metallica in the hippy nucleus?"
The first time the band played the event at Worthy Farm they hung out with Lily Allen but still got stuck in to enjoying the festival atmosphere.
He said: "The first time we went to Glastonbury was when we played it. I did the Stone Circle thing. I was dressed as a crocodile, because Lily Allen had a load of fancy dress costumes. I remember wrestling James from Klaxons in the mud as the sun rose."
The 28-year-old star, who hails from Yorkshire, claims his best piece of advice for anyone wanting to get the most out of a festival is to join a band and play themselves.
He added to Time Out magazine: "I went to Leeds festival twice when I was about 16 and 17. The following year we were playing in a tent there - much better! We never really considered going to any festivals down south. It just seemed too far away."
Alex Turner: Metallica for Glastonbury doesn’t add up
Alex Turner thinks Metallica headlining Glastonbury "doesn't add up".
The Arctic Monkeys frontman, who has been top of the bill twice with his band mates Matt Helders, Jamie Cook and Nick O'Malley, aren't impressed by the news that the heavy metal band will headline the Sunday this year.
Alex said: "I heard all the rumours [that they would play]. I'm not sure it adds up. I know we'd buzz off it, but fundamentally could you have Metallica in the hippy nucleus?"
The first time the band played the event at Worthy Farm they hung out with Lily Allen but still got stuck in to enjoying the festival atmosphere.
He said: "The first time we went to Glastonbury was when we played it. I did the Stone Circle thing. I was dressed as a crocodile, because Lily Allen had a load of fancy dress costumes. I remember wrestling James from Klaxons in the mud as the sun rose."
The 28-year-old star, who hails from Yorkshire, claims his best piece of advice for anyone wanting to get the most out of a festival is to join a band and play themselves.
He added to Time Out magazine: "I went to Leeds festival twice when I was about 16 and 17. The following year we were playing in a tent there - much better! We never really considered going to any festivals down south. It just seemed too far away."
Music News
Led Zeppelin are being sued for plagiarism over their hit 'Stairway to Heaven'.
The band have been served legal papers on behalf of late song-writer and guitarist Randy California from the band Spirit, who claimed for years the track's opening notes were lifted from their track 'Taurus'.
Attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy, who is representing a trust for Randy, told Bloomberg Businessweek: "It's been a long time coming.
"The idea behind this is to make sure that Randy California is given a writing credit on 'Stairway to Heaven'."
Businessweek quotes an estimate that by 2008 the track had earned at least $562 million.
Spirit played shows with Led Zeppelin in 1969 and fans have talked about the similarities between the songs for years, claiming Jimmy Page used the band's riff.
He allegedly wrote 'Stairway to Heaven' in 1970, two years after 'Taurus' was released and a year after the band shared stages at gigs across the America.
According to the band's bass player Mark Andes, Spirit always included 'Taurus' in their sets.
He said: "It was such a pretty moment. It would typically come after a big forceful number and always got a good response."
In 1997, Randy went public with his claims and said 'Stairway to Heaven' was a "ripoff".
He said: "The guys made millions of bucks on it and never said, 'Thank you,' never said, 'Can we pay you some money for it?' It's kind of a sore point with me."
Those close to Randy say he never sued because he didn't have any money back then and the band "thought the statute of limitations was done."
As Led Zeppelin prepares to release remastered deluxe versions of their original albums, including the track, Randy's trust is taking action with a copyright-infringement suit and an injunction that would block the reissue.
Led Zeppelin are being sued for plagiarism
Led Zeppelin are being sued for plagiarism over their hit 'Stairway to Heaven'.
The band have been served legal papers on behalf of late song-writer and guitarist Randy California from the band Spirit, who claimed for years the track's opening notes were lifted from their track 'Taurus'.
Attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy, who is representing a trust for Randy, told Bloomberg Businessweek: "It's been a long time coming.
"The idea behind this is to make sure that Randy California is given a writing credit on 'Stairway to Heaven'."
Businessweek quotes an estimate that by 2008 the track had earned at least $562 million.
Spirit played shows with Led Zeppelin in 1969 and fans have talked about the similarities between the songs for years, claiming Jimmy Page used the band's riff.
He allegedly wrote 'Stairway to Heaven' in 1970, two years after 'Taurus' was released and a year after the band shared stages at gigs across the America.
According to the band's bass player Mark Andes, Spirit always included 'Taurus' in their sets.
He said: "It was such a pretty moment. It would typically come after a big forceful number and always got a good response."
In 1997, Randy went public with his claims and said 'Stairway to Heaven' was a "ripoff".
He said: "The guys made millions of bucks on it and never said, 'Thank you,' never said, 'Can we pay you some money for it?' It's kind of a sore point with me."
Those close to Randy say he never sued because he didn't have any money back then and the band "thought the statute of limitations was done."
As Led Zeppelin prepares to release remastered deluxe versions of their original albums, including the track, Randy's trust is taking action with a copyright-infringement suit and an injunction that would block the reissue.
Music News
Culture Club have announced their first tour in 15 years.
The band - fronted by Boy George - will play 11 UK dates and will also head back into the studio to record new material with producer Youth, who has worked with Paul McCartney, The Verve and Embrace, for an album to be released early in 2015.
The 'Karma Kameleon' hitmakers - Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss and Boy George - sold in excess of 100 million singles and over 50 million albums, and were one of the biggest pop bands of the 1980s.
They achieved seven Top 10 hits in the UK and also had big success in American and Australia.
Culture Club were also the first group since The Beatles to have three Top Ten hits in America from a debut album.
Boy George also recently released his first solo album is 20 years, 'This Is What I Do', and said being sober for six years has helped him to focus more on his career.
He said: "Certainly being sober clears things up, it gets rid of all the cobwebs in the clouds and you start to think about things in a more professional, functional manner. It's more a question of following my instincts. As an artist, you just follow what you feel, and it felt like the right time."
Musician Alison Moyet, who has sold more than 20 million records both as a solo artist and as one half of the duo Yazoo, will support the band on tour.
The full dates for the Culture Club tour are..
Monday, December 1 - Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
Tuesday, December 2 - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
Thursday, December 4 - Leeds, First Direct Arena
Friday, December 5 - Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
Saturday, December 6 - Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
Monday, December 8 - Liverpool, Echo Arena
Tuesday, December 9 - London, The O2
Thursday, December 11 - Brighton, Brighton Centre
Friday, December 12 - Birmingham, National Indoor Arena
Sunday, December 14 - Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
Monday, December 15 - Bournemouth, Bournemouth International Centre
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, May 23 priced£37.50, £42.50 and £55 in London and £38.50 and £48.50 regionally, visit livenation.co.uk or ticketmaster.co.uk.
Culture Club announce first tour in 15 years
Culture Club have announced their first tour in 15 years.
The band - fronted by Boy George - will play 11 UK dates and will also head back into the studio to record new material with producer Youth, who has worked with Paul McCartney, The Verve and Embrace, for an album to be released early in 2015.
The 'Karma Kameleon' hitmakers - Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss and Boy George - sold in excess of 100 million singles and over 50 million albums, and were one of the biggest pop bands of the 1980s.
They achieved seven Top 10 hits in the UK and also had big success in American and Australia.
Culture Club were also the first group since The Beatles to have three Top Ten hits in America from a debut album.
Boy George also recently released his first solo album is 20 years, 'This Is What I Do', and said being sober for six years has helped him to focus more on his career.
He said: "Certainly being sober clears things up, it gets rid of all the cobwebs in the clouds and you start to think about things in a more professional, functional manner. It's more a question of following my instincts. As an artist, you just follow what you feel, and it felt like the right time."
Musician Alison Moyet, who has sold more than 20 million records both as a solo artist and as one half of the duo Yazoo, will support the band on tour.
The full dates for the Culture Club tour are..
Monday, December 1 - Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
Tuesday, December 2 - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
Thursday, December 4 - Leeds, First Direct Arena
Friday, December 5 - Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
Saturday, December 6 - Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
Monday, December 8 - Liverpool, Echo Arena
Tuesday, December 9 - London, The O2
Thursday, December 11 - Brighton, Brighton Centre
Friday, December 12 - Birmingham, National Indoor Arena
Sunday, December 14 - Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
Monday, December 15 - Bournemouth, Bournemouth International Centre
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, May 23 priced£37.50, £42.50 and £55 in London and £38.50 and £48.50 regionally, visit livenation.co.uk or ticketmaster.co.uk.
Music News
Pink Floyd fans are speculating the band could be set to tour again or release a new album.
The 'Comfortably Numb' hitmakers have teased them by posting a countdown to a big announcement today (20.05.14) on a website marking the 20th anniversary of their final record, 'The Division Bell'.
Divisionbell20.com features a continuous clip of satellite images of the moon and urban landscapes to a soundtrack of Pink Floyd's music.
The site has also teased the hashtag #TBD20, referencing the fact the band's last record was released two decades ago in March.
Members Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason - who haven't performed together publicly since the Live 8 benefit show in 2005 - briefly reunited during Waters' 'The Wall' tour stop at London's O2 Arena but they have previously hinted at the possibility of a reunion.
In September, Nick told NME magazine that he was "ready to go but holding my breath", and later said he thought Pink Floyd would most likely get back together for a charity concert, although fans feel the 20th anniversary is a big enough celebration and have taken to Twitter to speculate a reunion in coming months.
Earlier today, a fan posted: "Pink Floyd are up to something. 7 hours till we find out what. Please tour. Please tour. Please tour. (sic)."
Pink Floyd hint at reunion tour
Pink Floyd fans are speculating the band could be set to tour again or release a new album.
The 'Comfortably Numb' hitmakers have teased them by posting a countdown to a big announcement today (20.05.14) on a website marking the 20th anniversary of their final record, 'The Division Bell'.
Divisionbell20.com features a continuous clip of satellite images of the moon and urban landscapes to a soundtrack of Pink Floyd's music.
The site has also teased the hashtag #TBD20, referencing the fact the band's last record was released two decades ago in March.
Members Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason - who haven't performed together publicly since the Live 8 benefit show in 2005 - briefly reunited during Waters' 'The Wall' tour stop at London's O2 Arena but they have previously hinted at the possibility of a reunion.
In September, Nick told NME magazine that he was "ready to go but holding my breath", and later said he thought Pink Floyd would most likely get back together for a charity concert, although fans feel the 20th anniversary is a big enough celebration and have taken to Twitter to speculate a reunion in coming months.
Earlier today, a fan posted: "Pink Floyd are up to something. 7 hours till we find out what. Please tour. Please tour. Please tour. (sic)."
Music News
Nicki Minaj went through a lot of emotions when recording her new track 'Pills N Portions'.
The 'Starships' hitmaker, who releases her new song tomorrow (21.05.14), taken from her latest album 'The Pink Print', experienced a lot of different feelings in the studio.
She said: "It sounds like urgency, it sounds like betrayal, it sounds like running, it sounds like fainting, it sounds like love, it sounds like ahhh.
"It feels very uplifting and it feels very soulful. It's a great indicator of what 'The Pink Print' will feel like in terms of the storyline of that song.
"'The Pink Print' will remind people why they fell in love with Nicki Minaj and I think that needs to be done."
The singer and actress is "very excited" about the new record and claims she turned down a lot of features this year because she wanted to focus on her solo material.
The 31-year-old superstar, who was born in Trinidad, has also promised fans she's going back to her hip-hop roots with her new album, the follow-up to 2012's successful 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'.
She added to radio station Power 106: "I think I kind of start from scratch, almost re-introduce myself again.
"I know people know me. I wanted to remind them of where I came from."
Nicki Minaj on emotions of new song
Nicki Minaj went through a lot of emotions when recording her new track 'Pills N Portions'.
The 'Starships' hitmaker, who releases her new song tomorrow (21.05.14), taken from her latest album 'The Pink Print', experienced a lot of different feelings in the studio.
She said: "It sounds like urgency, it sounds like betrayal, it sounds like running, it sounds like fainting, it sounds like love, it sounds like ahhh.
"It feels very uplifting and it feels very soulful. It's a great indicator of what 'The Pink Print' will feel like in terms of the storyline of that song.
"'The Pink Print' will remind people why they fell in love with Nicki Minaj and I think that needs to be done."
The singer and actress is "very excited" about the new record and claims she turned down a lot of features this year because she wanted to focus on her solo material.
The 31-year-old superstar, who was born in Trinidad, has also promised fans she's going back to her hip-hop roots with her new album, the follow-up to 2012's successful 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'.
She added to radio station Power 106: "I think I kind of start from scratch, almost re-introduce myself again.
"I know people know me. I wanted to remind them of where I came from."
Music News
Michael Jackson is set to tour the world again - as a hologram.
The late King of Pop, who was resurrected onstage at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (18.05.14) thanks to advanced technology, could wow fans across the globe again five years after his death.
The producers behind the special effects extravaganza want to take their show on the road for a two-year tour and are predicted to make half a billion dollars.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "It's only a matter of time before a hologram like this goes on tour. Public appetite for Michael Jackson's music has never been greater and this is a unique way of experiencing his magic."
The hologram performance at the Billboard Music Awards follows the success of a new posthumous Michael Jackson album, 'Xscape', which recently topped the charts in the UK.
John Branca, the executor of the singer's estate, added: "It's so important to experience Michael Jackson in a live setting. We wanted a live performance in front of a live audience."
It took four months to put together the lavish special effects show, which saw Michael's hologram gyrate and moonwalk on stage to new song 'Slave to the Rhythm'.
The late singer's choreographers, Rich and Tone Talauega, were behind the dance moves.
Michael Jackson hologram to tour the world?
Michael Jackson is set to tour the world again - as a hologram.
The late King of Pop, who was resurrected onstage at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (18.05.14) thanks to advanced technology, could wow fans across the globe again five years after his death.
The producers behind the special effects extravaganza want to take their show on the road for a two-year tour and are predicted to make half a billion dollars.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "It's only a matter of time before a hologram like this goes on tour. Public appetite for Michael Jackson's music has never been greater and this is a unique way of experiencing his magic."
The hologram performance at the Billboard Music Awards follows the success of a new posthumous Michael Jackson album, 'Xscape', which recently topped the charts in the UK.
John Branca, the executor of the singer's estate, added: "It's so important to experience Michael Jackson in a live setting. We wanted a live performance in front of a live audience."
It took four months to put together the lavish special effects show, which saw Michael's hologram gyrate and moonwalk on stage to new song 'Slave to the Rhythm'.
The late singer's choreographers, Rich and Tone Talauega, were behind the dance moves.