Music News

Oasis are re-releasing their debut album 'Definitely Maybe' with previously unheard tracks to celebrate the LP's 20th anniversary.
The band - who split in August 2009 after brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher had a huge backstage bust-up in Paris, France - sent the internet into meltdown yesterday (25.02.14), after teasing an announcement at 9am this morning (26.02.14), prompting speculation of a reunion.
But instead they revealed plans to bring out a new version of their acclaimed debut record - which will be available from May 19. The anticipation of a possible reunion saw fans crash their official website oasisinet.com.
The re-issue is the first in the 'Chasing The Sun' series from Big Brother Recordings - the brothers' own record label - with 'What's the Story (Morning Glory)?' and 'Be Here Now' also set to be re-released.
Original Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs - who quit the group in 1999 - told NME magazine: "There were no discussions at all about any anniversary shows. These reissues are the best way to celebrate, because all three albums have great extras."
The re-issue will be available in a number of formats and packages, including a three-disc deluxe edition, featuring unheard acoustic versions recorded in Paris of 'Live Forever' and 'Shakermaker', along with an early demo of 'Half The World Away', recorded by Noel in a hotel room in Tokyo, Japan, and a demo of rare song 'Strange Thing'.
The band's 1994 standalone single 'Whatever' will be included as well as versions of all the B-sides from the album's four singles - 'Supersonic', 'Shakermaker', 'Live Forever' and 'Cigarettes & Alcohol'.
'Definitely Maybe', which was produced by Owen Morris, sold 86,000 copies in its first week of sales in August 1994 and was the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history until Arctic Monkeys' 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' beat the record in 2005.
The original line-up of Oasis that recorded the album was made up of singer Liam, guitarist and songwriter Noel, rhythm guitarist Bonehead, bassist Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan and drummer Tony McCarroll.

Robin Thicke has cancelled a third tour date in the wake of his split from Paula Patton.
The 'Blurred Lines' singer has now axed three consecutive concerts on his North American tour after announcing on Monday (24.02.14) that he had parted ways from his wife of almost nine years.
This news comes as Robin was a no-show at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina last night (25.02.14).
The venue issued a statement reading: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, Robin Thicke will postpone his performance at Harrah's Cherokee originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 25. This concert will be rescheduled and the new date announced as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience."
He previously scrapped gigs on Friday in Atlanta and Saturday in Orlando, blaming vocal issues, but instead was seen jetting to Vancouver, where actress Paula is currently filming, in a bid to save his marriage.
The 36-year-old star said last week: "I never want to let down my fans but I have unfortunately lost my voice and cannot perform tomorrow night."
Robin is expected to continue his tour this Thursday at the GMU Patriot Centre in Washington, DC.
The couple - who have three-year-old son Julian together - announced they had "mutually decided to separate at this time", but will remain "best friends".

Ariana Grande's new material makes her cry.
The 'Right There' singer, who is in the studio recording her second album, the follow-up to last year's 'Yours Truly', has revealed the new songs are "honest" and come from an emotional place.
She took to her official Twitter page to tell fans about her recording sessions, writing: "Progress update! I think I want to name the album after 1 of the songs I finished this weekend. It makes me cry! It's very special & honest. [sic]
"This is my favorite, being in the studio and seeing my loves get all excited. can't wait to share with U. it'll be worth the wait I promise. [sic]"
The star has also recorded a track with Chris Brown for the new record, which manager Scooter Braun described as "incredible", and it's thought some material is inspired by her split from The Wanted's Nathan Sykes.
In January, the 20-year-old singer, who dated Nathan for about four months, revealed the pair's break-up in December was amicable.
She said: "We broke up a little while ago, but he's a really good friend. He's so talented. I am so glad to have met him and have a friend like him in my life. He's an amazing person. It was very civil. It was mutual."

Coldplay shocked fans by unveiling a new single and video today (25.02.14).
The 'Paradise' hitmakers posted the video for the new track 'Midnight' on their VEVO site, after teasing fans on Twitter there was "something new" to come.
The monochrome video, directed by Mary Wigmore, shows frontman Chris Martin and band mates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, walking through a woodland, as the scene flashes different colours and a fox moves among the grass.
The atmospheric track is a big departure from the band's usual melodies and catchy riffs, swapping guitar and piano for synthesisers and taking inspiration from electronic music.
Fans have compared their new sound to American indie folk band Bon Iver and the band are believed to be working on their sixth studio album, the follow-up to 'Mylo Xyloto' in 2011, which sold over eight million copies worldwide.
Chris, 36, revealed they had started work on the record back in 2012 and said he was "so fired up about the band's future", adding: 'I'm fortunate to do what I do and no way do I want to stop."
Last year, the group revealed their track 'Atlas', which was taken from the soundtrack for 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire', and they played an intimate show at a pub in Somerset in December where they treated punters to a number of hits.

George Harrison has been honoured by The Beach Boys' Mike Love on his 71st birthday today (25.02.14).
The late Beatles' musician has been remembered by his friend with a previously unreleased track, 'Pisces Brothers', which was inspired by the Famous Four's trip to India with Mike in 1968, after they received an invitation from the Maharishi, Mahesh Yogi.
In a statement, Mike said: "This being the 50th anniversary of The Beatles coming to America, I wanted to commemorate this incredibly significant trip we all took together to India, at the Maharishi's invitation.
Mike described the trip as "enormously influential" for him and George, who died of cancer in 2001, and his band mates - Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.
They were also joined by songwriter Donovan and American actress, Mia Farrow, and attended an advanced Transcendental Meditation (TM) training session.
Mike, 72, said: "The song is really sentimental for me, and meant to honour George Harrison's remarkable contribution to music. And how, in this one moment in time, we got together, as the song says, not fortune or for fame, but for enlightenment."
The title of the song makes reference to the astrological sign the pair share, while Mike continues to practice the meditation techniques he was taught during his trip to India.

Boy George has confessed he was beaten up in the early 80s because of his androgynous style.
The Culture Club singer - who is openly gay - says he was attacked in public by people who disagreed with his choice of lifestyle and his penchant for experimenting with gender stereotypes when it came to make-up and clothes.
Recalling the early New Romantic movement, he told MOJO Magazine: "Sometimes I got kicked and punched. I remember once on a bus on London Bridge, this Teddy Boy kicked me in the face. I was bleeding everywhere and nobody did anything, 'cos it was like, 'punk'. People weren't very sympathetic. But I also think when you're that young, you don't give a sh*t. You sort of feel like you have this right to be who you are."
George - who was in Malcolm McLaren's band Bow Wow Wow but was fired and then joined Culture Club - admits his 20s and the start of his pop career were the some of the happiest years of his life.
However, the 52-year-old musician admits his lifestyle did freak his family out at first.
He said: "I was having the time of my life. Really all I cared about was getting off with boys and dressing up and having my photograph taken ... My mum and dad, when I started dressing up, it really freaked them out. But then once I'd started doing it, they really weren't bothered and they just let me do it. To be honest I was just making it up as I went along. When I look back now I don't know how I crossed the road let alone had a career."

Sam Smith melted hearts during a sold-out show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire last night (24.02.14).
The 21-year-old singer, whose debut single 'Money On Mind' went straight to the top of the UK Single's Chart last week, took to the stage for the second date of his major European tour.
The star told the crowd: "I can't believe I'm doing this, it's ridiculous, this is my dream venue to play" and said the performance took his career to "another level."
Playing a set full of hit collaborations and material from his debut album, 'The Lonely Hour', he looked comfortable on stage, wearing his trademark long black coat, crucifix earring and white shoes.
His live band kicked things off with R 'n' B grooves, as gospel backing singers matched his note-perfect vocals and he sang 'Leave Your Lover' and 'I'm Not The Only One'.
Sam, who won this year's BRITs Critics' Choice award, talked about his EP 'Nirvana', before telling fans sat above the stage that he'd left them chocolates because they had to sit in "sh*t seats".
His vocal ability live is incredible and the show wasn't predictably full of ballads, as he told fans to get on their feet and dance to some of his new tracks.
Although he did talk about the lonely theme of his new album, out in May, and said: "Things are gonna get really depressing now", as he explained his album was about never having been in a relationship.
He then blew the audience away with his version of the Arctic Monkeys' 'Do I Wanna Know?', before singing 'Latch', 'Money On My Mind' and the upbeat 'La La La', before his stand-out ballad 'Lay Me Down' for the encore.
Sam then announced his new single, 'Stay With Me', as he closed the show. It's bound to be another big hit.

Michael Jackson's unreleased music is being used to help launch a new smartphone.
The late King of Pop's track, 'Slave 2 The Rhythm', will be given away with the new Sony Xperia Z2, which is set to rival Samsung's Galaxy S5 model.
Sony announced a tie-up with Michael's estate, allowing them to use his music to promote the release.
The track featured as part of a 90-second video shown at the launch at the world's biggest mobile trade fair in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday (24.02.14).
But fans were quick to point out that the 'Billie Jean' hitmaker's song has been around for some time and were left unimpressed and desperate to hear new music.
One Twitter user wrote: "Ooooohhhh the disappointment!!!! Why not just release a new album!!! You have the material too! @michaeljackson [sic]"
Another fan responded, posting: "Exactly!! I got the song back in 2010, I have 3 different versions of that song, hah! [sic]"
A version of the track, featuring 'Boyfriend' hitmaker Justin Bieber, appeared online last year, but Michael's estate had it removed from YouTube and other websites claiming it hadn't been authorised.
The song was also leaked online in 2010, a year after the 50-year-old singer died from "acute propofol intoxication".
In a statement, Michael's estate said: "The Estate of Michael Jackson and Epic Records are very excited about the partnership with Sony Mobile announced this morning [Monday] at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
"We are thrilled with the use of the new solo Michael Jackson recording, 'Slave 2 The Rhythm', which is featured in the 90 second online spot for the new Xperia Z2 phone."

The Who singer Roger Daltrey is working on a film based on the life of his late bandmate Keith Moon.
The 69-year-old musician has resurrected a script written many years ago by John Lahr - who was responsible for the 1978 biography of playwright Joe Orton - and is hoping to get the project in development soon.
Daltrey wanted Robert Downey Jr. wanted to play the hellraising drummer but currently has no idea who will bring his friend to life on screen.
He told the new issue of Q magazine: "I'm back on it, and I'm back to the very first draft of the script , which I've always loved and which was written by John Lahr. I don't know who is going to play Keith, but it has to become someone new. Twenty years ago I had Robert Downey Jr. lined up. I had the whole damn thing down, but the script was only 60 percent there, and all people wanted at the time was 'Carry On Keith'."
Moon died in 1978 at the age of 32 from an accidental overdose of clomethiazole pills, which he had been prescribed to help him beat effects of alcohol withdrawal.
Daltrey - who is set to perform a series of concerts with Pete Townshend this year for what is being billed as The Who's farewell tour - also admitted he often thinks about his other late bandmate, bassist John Entwistle, and misses his friend's humour.
However, the 'My Generation' singer does concede that Entwistle's death from a heart attack in 2002 aged 57 - one day before The Who's 2002 American tour was due to kick-off - was very "rock 'n' roll".
The bass guitarist passed away in a hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after going to bed with stripper Alycen Rowse following a night out which had involved cocaine use.
Daltrey said: "John crops up in my thoughts all the time. I wish I'd recorded some of our conversations, because John would say very little but every 15 minutes there'd be one priceless comedy line. It was such a rock 'n' roll death, though, wasn't it? Two lines of coke and a bird in the Hard Rock! He was probably eating a hamburger as well, though where he was eating it from, who knows?"