Music News
Music News
Cher Lloyd says she was shocked by her success in the US.
The 'Want U Back' hitmaker has become a big star both in the States and in her homeland of the UK, and she never expected to have spent more than a fortnight there when she first visited to promote her music.
She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper's Fabulous magazine: "I don't quite know how it all kicked off in America. That was never my plan.
"My thing was always to make it over here [in the UK] because I love my country. Being successful here is what counts for me.
"I went to America with one suitcase, planning to stay for two weeks, and then two years later I was still there!"
Now focusing on her homeland again, Cher was quick to point out she wants to show people in the UK exactly what she can do.
She explained: "My big ambition now is just to come home and let people see who I am, how I've changed and how I've grown up.
"I really want to be a success here. This is where I come from and who I am. I really want to make it work."
Cher Lloyd was shocked by US success
Cher Lloyd says she was shocked by her success in the US.
The 'Want U Back' hitmaker has become a big star both in the States and in her homeland of the UK, and she never expected to have spent more than a fortnight there when she first visited to promote her music.
She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper's Fabulous magazine: "I don't quite know how it all kicked off in America. That was never my plan.
"My thing was always to make it over here [in the UK] because I love my country. Being successful here is what counts for me.
"I went to America with one suitcase, planning to stay for two weeks, and then two years later I was still there!"
Now focusing on her homeland again, Cher was quick to point out she wants to show people in the UK exactly what she can do.
She explained: "My big ambition now is just to come home and let people see who I am, how I've changed and how I've grown up.
"I really want to be a success here. This is where I come from and who I am. I really want to make it work."
Music News
Jake Bugg is considering making a country music album.
The 'Lightening Bolt' hitmaker has revealed that after seeing Dolly Parton perform at Glastonbury festival in Somerset, South West England last month - where he also played his own set - he's thinking about moving to the United States to work on some new material.
He explained: "I'm a fan of Dolly's beautiful voice and great songs. She's a woman with great stories, so Dolly is pretty cool.
"I've recently been coming up with new ideas for songs and have come up with country ideas.
"Next year I'd like to have some time off to travel around the southern states, Nashville and Memphis, and hang out, get inspired, see what happens.
"Maybe I'll make a country album, which would be pretty sweet."
The 20-year-old star - who grew up in Nottingham in the East Midlands of England - has confessed to having a great reaction from audiences in the United States already.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "They've all been cool. They just want to hear tunes and are appreciative of music even though they're spoilt for it."
Meanwhile, Jake - who played at T in the Park festival in Scotland this weekend - is looking forward to performing more gigs this summer.
He added: "I'm high up on the bill at festivals this year so I've added one or two things, stepped it up a level.
"At least I've got more songs to sing along with."
Jake Bugg to make country album
Jake Bugg is considering making a country music album.
The 'Lightening Bolt' hitmaker has revealed that after seeing Dolly Parton perform at Glastonbury festival in Somerset, South West England last month - where he also played his own set - he's thinking about moving to the United States to work on some new material.
He explained: "I'm a fan of Dolly's beautiful voice and great songs. She's a woman with great stories, so Dolly is pretty cool.
"I've recently been coming up with new ideas for songs and have come up with country ideas.
"Next year I'd like to have some time off to travel around the southern states, Nashville and Memphis, and hang out, get inspired, see what happens.
"Maybe I'll make a country album, which would be pretty sweet."
The 20-year-old star - who grew up in Nottingham in the East Midlands of England - has confessed to having a great reaction from audiences in the United States already.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "They've all been cool. They just want to hear tunes and are appreciative of music even though they're spoilt for it."
Meanwhile, Jake - who played at T in the Park festival in Scotland this weekend - is looking forward to performing more gigs this summer.
He added: "I'm high up on the bill at festivals this year so I've added one or two things, stepped it up a level.
"At least I've got more songs to sing along with."
Music News
Ellie Goulding takes advice from Taylor Swift.
The 'Burn' hitmaker loves being surrounded by "powerful" women, including the 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' singer and Katy Perry, and though her level of fame isn't as high as theirs, they are able to help her through certain situations.
She said:" We're friends because they understand the predicaments. They see what is and isn't real.
"I'm not anywhere near their level of fame, but if I say, 'Oh God Taylor, this happened', she'll be like, 'Girl, that's nothing.' Suck it up, kind of thing.
"I have strong female characters all around me, really cool women. My tour manager is a woman, my manager is a woman. I want to be surrounded by powerful women, not men."
Though Ellie - who is dating McBusted's Dougie Poynter - believes she is a "strong" person, she relies on her "vulnerable" side in her songwriting.
She told Britain's Glamour magazine: "There's an innate part of me that's very strong. But there'll always be that part of me that I go to to write songs, that weakness, that vulnerability.
"That's what I access to write my music. In this industry, oh God do you need a thick skin.
"But it's that thinner skin that's got me here. So you have to be sensible enough to know when to be strong and when to be weak. And when you accept that, you can succumb to it."
Ellie Goulding advised by Taylor Swift
Ellie Goulding takes advice from Taylor Swift.
The 'Burn' hitmaker loves being surrounded by "powerful" women, including the 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' singer and Katy Perry, and though her level of fame isn't as high as theirs, they are able to help her through certain situations.
She said:" We're friends because they understand the predicaments. They see what is and isn't real.
"I'm not anywhere near their level of fame, but if I say, 'Oh God Taylor, this happened', she'll be like, 'Girl, that's nothing.' Suck it up, kind of thing.
"I have strong female characters all around me, really cool women. My tour manager is a woman, my manager is a woman. I want to be surrounded by powerful women, not men."
Though Ellie - who is dating McBusted's Dougie Poynter - believes she is a "strong" person, she relies on her "vulnerable" side in her songwriting.
She told Britain's Glamour magazine: "There's an innate part of me that's very strong. But there'll always be that part of me that I go to to write songs, that weakness, that vulnerability.
"That's what I access to write my music. In this industry, oh God do you need a thick skin.
"But it's that thinner skin that's got me here. So you have to be sensible enough to know when to be strong and when to be weak. And when you accept that, you can succumb to it."
Music News
Neil Young covered Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' In The Wind' at his concert in London's Hyde Park on Saturday night (12.07.14).
The 68-year-old musician performed a version of the 1962 song during the acoustic section of his gig, part of the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time series, which he began by playfully teasing fans who had been shouting out requests.
Before kicking off the short set with 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart', a smiling Young said: "You sad bastards stop crying and complaining out there. This one's for you sad bastards."
He then performed the Dylan classic followed by 'Heart of Gold', both of which sparked a mass sing-along among fans.
Young was performing with Crazy Horse - made up of Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro, Ralph Molina and Rick Rosas, who was filling in for Billy Talbot who recently suffered a stroke - and they opened with 'Love And Only Love' followed by 'Days That Used To Be and a reworked version of 'After The Gold Rush' from the 1970 album of the same name.
Modern material included the title track from 2012's 'Psychedelic Pill' and 'Goin' Home' from 2002 LP 'Are You Passionate?', while Young unveiled new song 'Who's Gonna Stand Up And Save The Earth?' during his encore which contained numerous environmental messages urging listeners to protect the planet.
After a raucous rendition of 'Cinnamon Girl' and as the sun set over the Great Oak Stage, Young addressed the audience saying, "thank you folks, it's just starting to get dark this is my favourite time", and then launched into a 12-minute long version of 'Rockin' In The Free World'.
Young and Crazy Horse closed their set - which lasted for over two hours - with a near 18-minute version of 'Down By The River', which Young dedicated to missing bassist and his "brother" Billy.
Famous fans at the gig included The Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde.
Neil Young covers Bob Dylan at London concert
Neil Young covered Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' In The Wind' at his concert in London's Hyde Park on Saturday night (12.07.14).
The 68-year-old musician performed a version of the 1962 song during the acoustic section of his gig, part of the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time series, which he began by playfully teasing fans who had been shouting out requests.
Before kicking off the short set with 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart', a smiling Young said: "You sad bastards stop crying and complaining out there. This one's for you sad bastards."
He then performed the Dylan classic followed by 'Heart of Gold', both of which sparked a mass sing-along among fans.
Young was performing with Crazy Horse - made up of Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro, Ralph Molina and Rick Rosas, who was filling in for Billy Talbot who recently suffered a stroke - and they opened with 'Love And Only Love' followed by 'Days That Used To Be and a reworked version of 'After The Gold Rush' from the 1970 album of the same name.
Modern material included the title track from 2012's 'Psychedelic Pill' and 'Goin' Home' from 2002 LP 'Are You Passionate?', while Young unveiled new song 'Who's Gonna Stand Up And Save The Earth?' during his encore which contained numerous environmental messages urging listeners to protect the planet.
After a raucous rendition of 'Cinnamon Girl' and as the sun set over the Great Oak Stage, Young addressed the audience saying, "thank you folks, it's just starting to get dark this is my favourite time", and then launched into a 12-minute long version of 'Rockin' In The Free World'.
Young and Crazy Horse closed their set - which lasted for over two hours - with a near 18-minute version of 'Down By The River', which Young dedicated to missing bassist and his "brother" Billy.
Famous fans at the gig included The Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde.
Music News
The Libertines cemented their reformation over 'Columbo' and golf.
The 'Don't Look Back into the Sun' hitmakers - Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassall and Gary Powell - enjoyed a break in Pete's current home city Hamburg, Germany, ahead of their reunion shows and the quartet enjoyed spending time as friends away from the spotlight.
Carl said: "We spent more time hanging out, rather than playing. It was fun, as friends. That's what was missing.
"Other than that, we drunk a lot of mojitos, a lot of prostitutes recognised Pete, no-one recognised John - he got a bit upset about that - and we watched a lot of 'Columbo' together/ Peter's a massive 'Columbo' fan so he got his box set out.
"We played gold too. Peter got a club from somewhere. I don't mean, like, played golf on a course. We were going round the streets of Hamburg, wanging golf balls everywhere."
Pete - who has a history of drug addiction - was determined to convince his bandmates he is back on the straight and narrow.
Discussing how John kept making cups of tea for the group, he said: "I said yes every time just because I think he thinks I'm just some whiskey-guzzling maniac."
And the Babyshambles frontman thinks The Libertines are well and truly close once again.
He told NME magazine: "We're a unit now. And Carl's my brother. There was a time when I'd have died for him and that turned into a time I wanted to kill him. But now, I'm ready to die for him again."
The Libertines explain bond
The Libertines cemented their reformation over 'Columbo' and golf.
The 'Don't Look Back into the Sun' hitmakers - Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassall and Gary Powell - enjoyed a break in Pete's current home city Hamburg, Germany, ahead of their reunion shows and the quartet enjoyed spending time as friends away from the spotlight.
Carl said: "We spent more time hanging out, rather than playing. It was fun, as friends. That's what was missing.
"Other than that, we drunk a lot of mojitos, a lot of prostitutes recognised Pete, no-one recognised John - he got a bit upset about that - and we watched a lot of 'Columbo' together/ Peter's a massive 'Columbo' fan so he got his box set out.
"We played gold too. Peter got a club from somewhere. I don't mean, like, played golf on a course. We were going round the streets of Hamburg, wanging golf balls everywhere."
Pete - who has a history of drug addiction - was determined to convince his bandmates he is back on the straight and narrow.
Discussing how John kept making cups of tea for the group, he said: "I said yes every time just because I think he thinks I'm just some whiskey-guzzling maniac."
And the Babyshambles frontman thinks The Libertines are well and truly close once again.
He told NME magazine: "We're a unit now. And Carl's my brother. There was a time when I'd have died for him and that turned into a time I wanted to kill him. But now, I'm ready to die for him again."
Music News
Gerard Way was too depressed to continue with My Chemical Romance.
The 'Black Parade' rockers split in March 2013, and the frontman admits he knew it was time to call it a day because the band was making him ill and affecting his personal life.
He said: "It was one of those things that actually was painful and slow, a sequence of breaks. But it comes down to me just being really depressed.
"It's hard to go into too much detail about the mechanics of it, but one day I just said, 'You know, we can't do this.' It was really hard. Nobody was happy. I wasn't happy.
"I felt like I was in this thing that I couldn't get out of, because I was partially responsible for other people's lives. And then it started to make me physically sick, and it started to affect my personal life."
Gerard feels he has been able to move forward since leaving the band, and though he didn't plan a solo career, he has been working hard on a new album.
He told NME magazine: "Being in a band holds you in stasis. There's a refusal to grow past a certain point and I personally stopped growing.
"I guess I thought I was going to have a 'normal' life after My Chemical Romance, but then all of a sudden I started to plan out what a solo career would be like.
"I thought of the artists I love, like Nick Cave and Morrissey, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, PJ Harvey, Bjork, and I was like, that's where I want my art to be."
Gerard Way explains MCR split
Gerard Way was too depressed to continue with My Chemical Romance.
The 'Black Parade' rockers split in March 2013, and the frontman admits he knew it was time to call it a day because the band was making him ill and affecting his personal life.
He said: "It was one of those things that actually was painful and slow, a sequence of breaks. But it comes down to me just being really depressed.
"It's hard to go into too much detail about the mechanics of it, but one day I just said, 'You know, we can't do this.' It was really hard. Nobody was happy. I wasn't happy.
"I felt like I was in this thing that I couldn't get out of, because I was partially responsible for other people's lives. And then it started to make me physically sick, and it started to affect my personal life."
Gerard feels he has been able to move forward since leaving the band, and though he didn't plan a solo career, he has been working hard on a new album.
He told NME magazine: "Being in a band holds you in stasis. There's a refusal to grow past a certain point and I personally stopped growing.
"I guess I thought I was going to have a 'normal' life after My Chemical Romance, but then all of a sudden I started to plan out what a solo career would be like.
"I thought of the artists I love, like Nick Cave and Morrissey, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, PJ Harvey, Bjork, and I was like, that's where I want my art to be."
Music News
Ex-Lostprophets member Stuart Richardson has "smashed" one of his platinum disks in anger over Ian Watkins' actions.
The bassist is still in shock after the 'Last Train Home' singer was jailed for 35 years in December last year for a string of child sex offences and isn't sure he'll ever be able to enjoy his musical achievements with the band.
He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't know how his badness can't cancel out our music.
"We had platinum records in our houses, awards. I smashed 'Liberation Transmission' the other day.
"The rest are in the garage and they'll probably never come out again."
However, Stuart has been surprised by the reaction from fans who are keen to give new band No Devotion - featuring the remaining members of the group and ex-Thursday singer Geoff Rickly - a chance.
He admitted: "A week ago I didn't know if anybody would want to listen to us because of the associations, but people seem to really want to see us succeed."
Speaking of their decision to carry on making music, he explained that after discovering the shocking truth about Ian, the rest of the band "needed this" to give them something to focus on.
He recently said: "We didn't know what else to do - we just wrote music.
"I didn't know if anyone would ever want to hear it. I just needed to occupy my brain. We just needed this."
Ex-Lostprophets bassist smashed platinum disc
Ex-Lostprophets member Stuart Richardson has "smashed" one of his platinum disks in anger over Ian Watkins' actions.
The bassist is still in shock after the 'Last Train Home' singer was jailed for 35 years in December last year for a string of child sex offences and isn't sure he'll ever be able to enjoy his musical achievements with the band.
He told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't know how his badness can't cancel out our music.
"We had platinum records in our houses, awards. I smashed 'Liberation Transmission' the other day.
"The rest are in the garage and they'll probably never come out again."
However, Stuart has been surprised by the reaction from fans who are keen to give new band No Devotion - featuring the remaining members of the group and ex-Thursday singer Geoff Rickly - a chance.
He admitted: "A week ago I didn't know if anybody would want to listen to us because of the associations, but people seem to really want to see us succeed."
Speaking of their decision to carry on making music, he explained that after discovering the shocking truth about Ian, the rest of the band "needed this" to give them something to focus on.
He recently said: "We didn't know what else to do - we just wrote music.
"I didn't know if anyone would ever want to hear it. I just needed to occupy my brain. We just needed this."
Music News
Eminem was joined by Dr Dre for a rare performance during an explosive gig at Wembley Stadium last night (11.07.14).
The 'Berzerk' rapper took to the stage after being banned from Hyde Park because of the "explicit lyrics" in his songs and became the first rapper to headline a gig at the venue in north London connected by EE- playing to 80,000 fans - who went wild when he collaborated with mega star Dre.
The rappers performed a number of hits including Forgot About Dre and the 90-minute set was crammed full of fan favourites, with a medley of 'Love The Way You Lie' and 'Stan' being one of the highlights on the night.
Wearing a t-shirt with a giant Union Jack mask emblazoned on the front, Eminem was glad to be back in London, headlining a gig in the UK for the first time in 13 years.
He told the audience: "Hold on, let me take a minute to look at this God damn crowd, holy sh*t! This is why I love London. Y'all so angry."
There was plenty of swearing throughout the concert and some fans complained about the speaker system as they struggled to hear a lot of what Eminem was saying in between songs. But he still proved that at 41, he's one of the world's best live performers.
Eminem stood against a backdrop of a boombox and fans lapped up hit after hit with the set list including 'The Way I Am', 'Rap God', 'My Name Is', 'The Real Slim Shady' and 'Without Me'.
Despite rumours, Rihanna and Dido were absent for duets of Love The Way You Lie and Stan but Eminem showed he didn't need any help to entertain the crowd.
"God damn, we missed you," he told them, as he ran about the stage backed by a full band.
There were plenty of explosions, gun shot sound effects and the encore, Lose Yourself, sent the audience into a frenzy.
The rapper will perform another sold out concert at the venue tonight (12.07.14).
Eminem's set list...
Bad Guy
Square Dance
Won't Back Down
3AM
Business
Kill You
White America
Mosh
Evil Deeds
Rap God
Marshall Mathers
Don't Give A F**k
Still Don't Give A F**k
Criminal
The Way I Am
Dead Wrong
The Next Episode
Still Dre
Nuthin' But A G Thing
Forgot About Dre
Love The Way You Lie
Stan
Sing For The Moment
Like Toy Soldiers
Forever
Berzerk
Survival
'Till I Collapse
Cinderella Man
The Monster
My Name Is
The Real Slim Shady
Without Me
Not Afraid
Lose Yourself
Eminem welcomed Dr Dre on stage at Wembley gig
Eminem was joined by Dr Dre for a rare performance during an explosive gig at Wembley Stadium last night (11.07.14).
The 'Berzerk' rapper took to the stage after being banned from Hyde Park because of the "explicit lyrics" in his songs and became the first rapper to headline a gig at the venue in north London connected by EE- playing to 80,000 fans - who went wild when he collaborated with mega star Dre.
The rappers performed a number of hits including Forgot About Dre and the 90-minute set was crammed full of fan favourites, with a medley of 'Love The Way You Lie' and 'Stan' being one of the highlights on the night.
Wearing a t-shirt with a giant Union Jack mask emblazoned on the front, Eminem was glad to be back in London, headlining a gig in the UK for the first time in 13 years.
He told the audience: "Hold on, let me take a minute to look at this God damn crowd, holy sh*t! This is why I love London. Y'all so angry."
There was plenty of swearing throughout the concert and some fans complained about the speaker system as they struggled to hear a lot of what Eminem was saying in between songs. But he still proved that at 41, he's one of the world's best live performers.
Eminem stood against a backdrop of a boombox and fans lapped up hit after hit with the set list including 'The Way I Am', 'Rap God', 'My Name Is', 'The Real Slim Shady' and 'Without Me'.
Despite rumours, Rihanna and Dido were absent for duets of Love The Way You Lie and Stan but Eminem showed he didn't need any help to entertain the crowd.
"God damn, we missed you," he told them, as he ran about the stage backed by a full band.
There were plenty of explosions, gun shot sound effects and the encore, Lose Yourself, sent the audience into a frenzy.
The rapper will perform another sold out concert at the venue tonight (12.07.14).
Eminem's set list...
Bad Guy
Square Dance
Won't Back Down
3AM
Business
Kill You
White America
Mosh
Evil Deeds
Rap God
Marshall Mathers
Don't Give A F**k
Still Don't Give A F**k
Criminal
The Way I Am
Dead Wrong
The Next Episode
Still Dre
Nuthin' But A G Thing
Forgot About Dre
Love The Way You Lie
Stan
Sing For The Moment
Like Toy Soldiers
Forever
Berzerk
Survival
'Till I Collapse
Cinderella Man
The Monster
My Name Is
The Real Slim Shady
Without Me
Not Afraid
Lose Yourself
Music News
Riccardo Tisci says dressing Beyonce for her 'On the Run' tour is like "helping a friend get ready for a party".
The Givenchy designer was thrilled to be asked to design his pal's costumes for her co-headlining shows with husband Jay Z while he was fitting her for her Met Gala outfit - for which he was her guest for the third year in a row - and has had a lot of fun creating the outfits.
Explaining how she first showed him the short film announcing the tour, he said: "I saw that video and was like, 'Wow'. we started talking about hat she might wear.
"I said straight away, 'OK, it should all be black, American, sexy but luxe, couture...' It was exciting, from the gut, like when you're helping a friend getting ready for a party."
Riccardo first met Beyonce in 2011 and was pleased the superstar wasn't how he expected her to be.
He explained: "When I met her, she wasn't how I expected her to be.
"She's very powerful and one of the great icons of our time, but also so sweet, so feminine, very gentle and never vulgar."
Jay - who has been wearing a custom-made Givenchy tuxedo on the tour - was "very happy" with his wife's costumes, but has had little input into them.
Riccardo told Grazia magazine: "He came and said hello to me during fittings and seemed very happy with everything, but I mean, she knows what she wants, she has a pretty strong point of view."
Tisci: Designing for Beyonce is like party preparation
Riccardo Tisci says dressing Beyonce for her 'On the Run' tour is like "helping a friend get ready for a party".
The Givenchy designer was thrilled to be asked to design his pal's costumes for her co-headlining shows with husband Jay Z while he was fitting her for her Met Gala outfit - for which he was her guest for the third year in a row - and has had a lot of fun creating the outfits.
Explaining how she first showed him the short film announcing the tour, he said: "I saw that video and was like, 'Wow'. we started talking about hat she might wear.
"I said straight away, 'OK, it should all be black, American, sexy but luxe, couture...' It was exciting, from the gut, like when you're helping a friend getting ready for a party."
Riccardo first met Beyonce in 2011 and was pleased the superstar wasn't how he expected her to be.
He explained: "When I met her, she wasn't how I expected her to be.
"She's very powerful and one of the great icons of our time, but also so sweet, so feminine, very gentle and never vulgar."
Jay - who has been wearing a custom-made Givenchy tuxedo on the tour - was "very happy" with his wife's costumes, but has had little input into them.
Riccardo told Grazia magazine: "He came and said hello to me during fittings and seemed very happy with everything, but I mean, she knows what she wants, she has a pretty strong point of view."