Monday, January 13, 2025

The Lumineers announce new album Automatic

The Lumineers have announced their new album 'Automatic’. The folk group - comprising Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites -...
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Paul Weller ready to record with Paul Weller


Paul Weller is set to record a song with Boy George.
The 55-year-old musician has been impressed by his fellow 80s pop peer's new album and live performances and has contacted George - who he sang with on the 1984 Band Aid charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - to discuss a collaboration between the two of them.
In an interview with Uncut magazine, he said: "I'd really like to do something with Boy George. His voice is sounding really, really good at the moment. I'd forgotten how great his voice was, it's gotten better with age. So it's more of a musical consideration opposed to being two old geezers from the 80s. But beyond that, I don't know what sort of thing it would be. I spoke to him about it, and he's up for doing it. It's just finding the right tune."
Weller also wants to work with with fellow indie guitar god Johnny Marr, but although they are both keen to get in the studio their hectic schedules have so far stopped the collaboration from happening.
The 'Wake Up The Nation' singer - who is just about to release his latest greatest hits album 'More Modern Classics' - said: "I'd like to do something with Johnny Marr. We were talking about it for a couple of years. we always bump into each other in different places, but we we've never actually worked together. I'm up for working with anyone, really, if they're good."

Ed Sheeran ‘learned a lot’ from Taylor Swift


Ed Sheeran says he has "learned a lot" from Taylor Swift.
The 'A Team' singer has paid tribute to his friend Taylor - who he has record with and supported on tour - and admits she helped him massively when he first went to America to crack the US market.
In an interview with Zane Lowe for upcoming MTV Music show 'Soundchain', he said: "She owns the US pop scene. She knows how to do it. In England I was a commercially successful artist, but coming into the US as an alternative artist playing shows with Snow Patrol. She not only opened the door into the pop world but showed me how to do it."
Ed, 23, has spent a lot of time with Taylor, 24, at her house and has revealed the 'I Knew You Were Trouble' hitmaker is a great cook and especially skilled at baking.
He said: "I did a session in a Phoenix hotel room then flew to LA to record it. Brought in an idea for song then we finished it. Next time I went to her house and she cooked an apple pie. She cooks really good s**t, man. Then she gets out this little Taylor guitar and she's like I've had this idea for this song..."
Ed - whose latest track 'Sing' has a modern pop sound - also admitted he was often teased for his diverse taste in music when he was growing up.
The musician said: "In primary school I had Slipknot records and Limp Bizkit, Soil, Tool, I was like Proper 'Kerrang!' Kid and then as soon as I got to secondary school my record collection started off with Guns N' Roses and then I bought 'Justified' in 2002 and everyone thought I was bit odd for that. All the girls loved (Justin) Timberlake but if you're a guy and someone's just come out of 'N Sync when you're 11..."
'Relentless Ultra Presents Soundchain' will feature interviews with several massive music acts, including Kasabian, Queens of the Stone Age and Nas, and will air on MTV Music from July 6 at 9.30pm.

Jimmy Page became Sherlock Holmes to find Led Zeppelin live recording


Jimmy Page became "Sherlock Holmes" to find a bootleg live recording of Led Zeppelin.
The guitarist has been busy remastering the rock band's first three albums - 'Led Zeppelin', 'Led Zeppelin II' and 'Led Zeppelin III' - and compiling companion discs to each LP which contain previously unheard material.
Jimmy had a problem creating a companion disc for their debut 1969 LP 'Led Zeppelin' because there was very little leftover from the sessions but during a trip to Japan to check what illegal recordings of the band are available he was played a live show which was perfect to release.
In an interview on UK radio station Planet Rock - which will air on June 1 - the rocker revealed: "When it came to sort of piecing all of this together through all of the albums there wasn't anything left over from 'Led Zeppelin I' where you could make a proper companion disk to it; there just wasn't because of the nature of how it was recorded and there wasn't that much that went to waste ... So the first album we didn't have anything ... So it sort of dictated the fact that it had to be a live recording and it just so happened that in my Sherlock Holmes disguise going into bootleg shops in Japan ... on the search for studio things that had been stolen and got out. So I heard this (gig), and what it was was this live show and I thought, 'Yeah, I know what that's about, it's got to be early year 69, mid 69,' but I didn't know what it was. It turned out that it was from Paris and that it had been recorded by French radio and that's it. That logged in my mind and then when we didn't have anything that would adequately cover the first album that's the thing I called in."
Jimmy can remember playing the show with his bandmates - bassist John Paul Jones, singer Robert Plant and late drummer John Bonham - and recalls it being a special concert because the fans were so wild.
Speaking about the concert, he said: "I remember the audience being so enthusiastic ... The fans know it's one of those really, really special gigs and all of the French musical aristocracy had played there; like Johnny Hallyday and Sacha Distel. The audience were absolutely fantastic. It shows a real raw energy just coming from us and the audience."
Led Zeppelin are taking over Planet Rock for the entire month of June to celebrate their three remastered albums which will each be played in their entirety, while 100 different Led Zepp songs will be aired across the station's programming over the month.
The reissued 'Led Zeppelin', 'Led Zeppelin II' and 'Led Zeppelin III' LPs are released on June 3.

Jess Glynne’s low-key celebration


Jess Glynne celebrated her first number one single with a "cup of tea".
The 24-year-old singer was overjoyed when 'Rather Be', her collaboration with Clean Bandit, topped the UK charts in January, buy because she wasn't feeling too well, she marked her triumph in low-key fashion.
She said: "When 'Rather Be' went to number one, I was in LA and I wasn't very well, so I celebrated with a cup of tea and some medicine!"
Following her work with Clean Bandit and a subsequent chart-topping track, 'My Love', with DJ Route 94, Jess is now focusing on her own material but insists she isn't feeling pressured for her solo efforts to match the success of her collaborations.
She told BANG Showbiz: "I don't feel any pressure, I'm just working hard to give people what I believe is the best of me as the solo artist I was originally signed for."
In July, the 'Right Here' singer will take to the stage in London for the Summer Series at Somerset House with American Express and can't wait to get on stage.
She said: "I haven't been lucky enough to go to the Summer Series yet, and feel so priceless to be a part of it this year for the 10th anniversary."
Jess is part of the stellar line-up for this year's Summer Series at Somerset House with American Express from 10 - 20 July, just one example of the enriched entertainment experiences available to Cardmembers. To buy Summer Series tickets visit: www.somersethouse.org.uk



One Direction: Chris Martin ‘one of coolest men in music’


One Direction think Chris Martin is "one of the coolest men in music".
The 'You & I' hitmakers performed at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Glasgow last week before the 37-year-old star took to the same stage with his band Coldplay, and Liam Payne has admitted he has a lot of admiration for him.
Quizzed on how One Direction felt about Chris referring to them as "brilliant", Liam exclusively told Radio 1's Scott Mills: "It's the best thing ever. For us, from the start, we've always been a little bit ridiculed because of being on the X Factor and people say it's the easy route or whatever.
"Then because some of the songs that we've released are on the 'poppy' side of things. So it's like we do get a bit of stick from certain music groups or whatever like, 'They're not cool.'
"But to have somebody who is literally one of the coolest men in music confirm for you that, 'No these boys are alright', that is huge for us."
Despite Liam and his bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - admitting they are huge fans of Coldplay, Chris has confessed he knows his band aren't "cool" and says he doesn't care.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "We've never been the coolest thing or the most fashionable thing. Well, maybe for a period.
"It just feels like we're able to keep rolling and no-one really notices.
"I feel like every day we're given is a real blessing. I could not have asked for a more dreamy job."
Scott's full interview with the boys will air on Radio 1 at 2pm this afternoon (29.05.14) and an exclusive 45 minute-long BBC iPlayer programme 'One Direction - This Is Them ... At The Big Weekend' will go live at 3pm.

Dr Dre sells Beats for $3 billion


Dr. Dre has secured a deal to sell his Beats Music business to Apple for $3 billion, making him the richest artist in hip-hop.
The co-founder, who launched the headphones and streaming service with friend Jimmy Lovine, will leave Interscope, which he founded, to work with Apple alongside his business partner.
According to NME.com, Dre said: "I've always known in my heart that Beats belonged with Apple.
"The idea when we started the company was inspired by Apple's unmatched ability to marry culture and technology.
"Apple's deep commitment to music fans, artists, songwriters and the music industry is something special."
Dre could be set to become hip-hop's first billionaire after Apple announced they will buy the business for $2.6 billion, as well as spending $400 million "that will vest over time".
Talking about the deal, which has been rumoured for weeks, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said: "Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple.
"That's why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world."
Beats earned Dre $200 million last year, making his total net worth about $550 million, but the new deal with boost his fortune and put him ahead of Puff Daddy, who was previously the richest artist in hip-hop with $700 million, according to Forbes magazine.

Lady Gaga cancels two shows due to illness


Lady Gaga has cancelled two shows after being struck down with bronchitis.
The 28-year-old singer was forced to pull out of a gig in Seattle last night (28.05.14) and has cancelled a further show in Vancouver on the American leg of her 'artRAVE Tour' due to the illness.
She took to Twitter today (29.05.14) to apologise to fans for the inconvenience, writing: "I'm devastated I'm unable to perform this week. Ursula took my mermaid voice. I've come down with horrible Bronchitis (sic)," making reference to the fictional sea witch from 'The Little Mermaid', who uses Ariel's voice to cast a spell in the popular Disney movie.
Gaga also insisted she would reschedule the cancelled shows so fans could see her live, posting: "My deepest apologies to Seattle and Vancouver, we'll reschedule those shows & be back to make it up to you. I <3 monsters. #sadgaga (sic)."
Fans were quick to wish her well and she posted: "Thanks for understanding," adding, "Im so sorry. I'm holding stuffies and wearing seashell bra. With tissues and wigs. (sic)"
Meanwhile, the star is set to head to the UK in October and has added a number of extra arena shows in Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and Glasgow after a massive demand for tickets.
She has also added a third date at London's O2 Arena to her UK and Ireland tour schedule, after the first two nights sold out just minutes after tickets going on sale.

Richie Sambora writes song for addicts


Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has debuted a new song which he hopes will help drug addicts.
The 54-year-old musician has written the track, 'Lighthouse,' which he played at an event raising awareness about heroin and painkiller abuse in New Jersey, and proceeds from its sale will go towards a drug treatment facility which is planned for the region.
According to the Associated Press, Richie, who has battled drug addiction himself, had originally named the song 'Needles on the Shore', but decided to change it because he wanted to do something "optimistic" which would be a "beacon of light and hope" for people battling addiction.
He said: "Everyone needs that light when they're far off the shore." The song's lyrics include: "Those who matter don't judge/ When you're swimming with the tide in the wake of a flood."
During the gig, Richie spoke about his own past drug abuse after spending time in rehab and said: "I got first-hand experience. I never did heroin, but obviously I did other stuff."
The guitarist and father-of-one, who insists he is now drug-free, wanted to take part in the event because he admits he is "scared" about what his 16-year-old daughter Ava, with ex-wife Heather Locklear, could end up being involved in when she gets older.
He said: "We can't be scared silent. Together we can make a difference because this epidemic has to stop."
Meanwhile, Richie is taking a break from Bon Jovi, having cited "personal issues" in April 2013, and he insisted that drugs played no part in his decision to spend some time apart from the group.
He claims the band took on too much work and he plans to rejoin the band, although he has not decided when he will play with them again.


Miley Cyrus wins two World Music Awards


Miley Cyrus won two World Music Awards at the ceremony in Monaco last night (27.05.14).
The 'Wrecking Ball' singer looked stunning in a green strapless gown while performing her hit song at the event at the Sporting Club in Monte-Carlo, before being handed her gongs for Best Female Act and Best Pop Video for 'Wrecking Ball'.
Megastar Mariah Carey delayed the event by more than an hour before eventually opening the show with her new track 'Meteorite' and Miley joked while accepting her award: "Thank God, I thought this party was never going to get started."
The 21-year-old singer had been nominated for 14 awards at the bash and was thrilled to win two, stepping onto the stage in a shimmering silver gown after a costume change.
She posted a number of photographs of herself on Instagram in her outfit with the hashtags '#wmaselfie' and 'ihopethisthangairz', along with images of her with her brother Braison, 19, who she claimed was her "date" for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Mariah also picked up the Pop Icon Award and said: "It feels so strange, being called an icon, because I don't feel like one."
Tinie Tempah, James Arthur and Leona Lewis were also among the stars who attended the bash, along with Pamela Anderson and Ricky Martin, who won the Latin Legend Award.
The full list of winners are yet to be announced and the 22nd International World Music Awards show will air in the US on NBC tonight (28.05.14).

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