Music News
Music News
Brandon Flowers thinks Morrissey is like a modern-day Elvis Presley.
The Killers frontman has been a fan of The Smiths for many years and admires their "humour" as well as musicianship.
He said: "The Smiths had the biggest impact on me. I was living in a small town in Utah and kids my age were into Korn and Tool but I was on the other end of the spectrum.
"The Smiths did so much in such a short time. They balanced this sense of humour with seriousness. With Johnny Marr on guitar and Andy Rourke on bass you couldn't lose. And Morrissey's voice is the closest thing we had to Elvis."
The 'Human' singer loved visiting Morrissey's hometown of Manchester, North West England, several years after he first got into The Smiths and was constantly looking for references mentioned in their songs.
He told NME magazine: "Years later I went with Dave [Keuning, Killers guitarist] to the Salford Lads Club in Manchester and took pictures.
"We played a gig at Manchester Academy, and across the street is the same church which Morrissey sings about in 'Vicar in a Tutu'.
"Even driving by a cemetery I was thinking, 'Is that the cemetery he was talking about?' You can walk down the streets and almost hear the songs coming to life."
Brandon Flowers: Morrissey is like Elvis
Brandon Flowers thinks Morrissey is like a modern-day Elvis Presley.
The Killers frontman has been a fan of The Smiths for many years and admires their "humour" as well as musicianship.
He said: "The Smiths had the biggest impact on me. I was living in a small town in Utah and kids my age were into Korn and Tool but I was on the other end of the spectrum.
"The Smiths did so much in such a short time. They balanced this sense of humour with seriousness. With Johnny Marr on guitar and Andy Rourke on bass you couldn't lose. And Morrissey's voice is the closest thing we had to Elvis."
The 'Human' singer loved visiting Morrissey's hometown of Manchester, North West England, several years after he first got into The Smiths and was constantly looking for references mentioned in their songs.
He told NME magazine: "Years later I went with Dave [Keuning, Killers guitarist] to the Salford Lads Club in Manchester and took pictures.
"We played a gig at Manchester Academy, and across the street is the same church which Morrissey sings about in 'Vicar in a Tutu'.
"Even driving by a cemetery I was thinking, 'Is that the cemetery he was talking about?' You can walk down the streets and almost hear the songs coming to life."
Music News
Emeli Sande finds it "amazing" to think about her global success.
The 27-year-old singer recently looked back on the original lyrics to her hit single 'Next to Me' and still can't believe how far she's come since she penned the track, which was released two years ago.
She said: ""I was in the studio a couple of days ago with Craze & Hoax, the guy I wrote 'Next to Me' with, and he was like 'Oh look, I have the piece of paper you wrote 'Next to Me' on, so it has like 'Next to me, whoo-hoo' verse one, and everything's crossed out, things I wanted to say at first.
"Seeing things like that make it real, we put that song down in his bedroom and to know it went around the world is such an amazing feeling."
Emeli admitted growing up in Scotland, getting her big break to be a singer seemed like a "fantasy".
She said: "It's almost like this fantasy industry, I was up in Aberdeenshire and really wanted to sing but it was about making that link, how do you get into that London world, because that's where all the labels are and it's important to get your stuff heard."
Last week, the singer visited Glasgow to give a masterclass to aspiring songwriters and admitted she would have loved to have attended something similar when she was beginning her career.
She said: "I would have appreciated something like this, to get some advice how do you make those steps and let people hear what you're doing."
Emeli Sande amazed by success
Emeli Sande finds it "amazing" to think about her global success.
The 27-year-old singer recently looked back on the original lyrics to her hit single 'Next to Me' and still can't believe how far she's come since she penned the track, which was released two years ago.
She said: ""I was in the studio a couple of days ago with Craze & Hoax, the guy I wrote 'Next to Me' with, and he was like 'Oh look, I have the piece of paper you wrote 'Next to Me' on, so it has like 'Next to me, whoo-hoo' verse one, and everything's crossed out, things I wanted to say at first.
"Seeing things like that make it real, we put that song down in his bedroom and to know it went around the world is such an amazing feeling."
Emeli admitted growing up in Scotland, getting her big break to be a singer seemed like a "fantasy".
She said: "It's almost like this fantasy industry, I was up in Aberdeenshire and really wanted to sing but it was about making that link, how do you get into that London world, because that's where all the labels are and it's important to get your stuff heard."
Last week, the singer visited Glasgow to give a masterclass to aspiring songwriters and admitted she would have loved to have attended something similar when she was beginning her career.
She said: "I would have appreciated something like this, to get some advice how do you make those steps and let people hear what you're doing."
Music News
Arcade Fire will headline the opening night of British Summer Time Hyde Park 2014.
The indie rock group - consisting of Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, William Butler, Jeremy Gara and Tim Kingsbury - will bring their popular 'Reflektor' tour to the iconic London venue on July 3.
The 'We Exist' group will be supported on the night by British band Wild Beasts and American synthpop stars Future Islands.
British Summer Time Hyde Park, now in its second year, is a month-long musical celebration, with other headliners including Black Sabbath, who will perform on July 4, and the newly reformed Libertines taking the stage on July 5.
Pop super-group McBusted - consisting of McFly and Busted members Matt Willis and James Bourne - will headline the July 6 show.
A week later, Neil Young will take the stage on July 12, while Sir Tom Jones headlines the July 13 event.
Meanwhile, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi recently hinted the iconic rock group's performance at British Summer Time could be its last.
He said: "It could be the last ever Sabbath show. I don't want it to be, but there's nothing really planned touring-wise after that show, so for all we know that could be it really. To be honest I don't want to be touring to this extent too much longer, because it makes me feel so bad."
Arcade Fire to open British Summer Time Hyde Park
Arcade Fire will headline the opening night of British Summer Time Hyde Park 2014.
The indie rock group - consisting of Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, William Butler, Jeremy Gara and Tim Kingsbury - will bring their popular 'Reflektor' tour to the iconic London venue on July 3.
The 'We Exist' group will be supported on the night by British band Wild Beasts and American synthpop stars Future Islands.
British Summer Time Hyde Park, now in its second year, is a month-long musical celebration, with other headliners including Black Sabbath, who will perform on July 4, and the newly reformed Libertines taking the stage on July 5.
Pop super-group McBusted - consisting of McFly and Busted members Matt Willis and James Bourne - will headline the July 6 show.
A week later, Neil Young will take the stage on July 12, while Sir Tom Jones headlines the July 13 event.
Meanwhile, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi recently hinted the iconic rock group's performance at British Summer Time could be its last.
He said: "It could be the last ever Sabbath show. I don't want it to be, but there's nothing really planned touring-wise after that show, so for all we know that could be it really. To be honest I don't want to be touring to this extent too much longer, because it makes me feel so bad."
Music News
Roger Daltrey admits he sometimes forgets the lyrics to The Who's hits.
The 'My Generation' band's 70-year-old frontman, who has also just released the record 'Going Home' with musician Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, insists he doesn't get nervous before going on stage with band mate Pete Townsend but is becoming forgetful as he gets older.
In a chat with Absolute Radio's Pete Mitchell, he said: "I always forget Who songs the first time we sing them. I don't get stage fright, I just forget the words. I'm quite deaf these days, it's come to us all. All that racket in the 70s and 80s and 60s. So I usually now work with these kind of in-ear monitors.
"The problem I've got is that the system I use and the monitor system aren't compatible. So I have to try and go back to working with monitors and I can't really hear myself well enough. I tend to sometimes over sing a bit."
Meanwhile, the singer, along with guitarist Pete are heading out on a world tour next year to celebrate The Who's 50th anniversary and Roger claims he doesn't like playing stadiums these days and prefers smaller gigs.
He said: "I never wanted to. We were kind of one of the first bands to ever play stadiums, never really liked them.
"It's just our audiences became that big, it was the only way to satisfy the numbers. Arenas are about as big as we get these days but I like theatres. I would love to do [a] set down in a theatre."
Listen to the full interview with Roger on Absolute Radio on May 17 from 10pm and visit Absoluteradio.co.uk/listen.
Roger Daltrey: I forget the lyrics to Who songs
Roger Daltrey admits he sometimes forgets the lyrics to The Who's hits.
The 'My Generation' band's 70-year-old frontman, who has also just released the record 'Going Home' with musician Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, insists he doesn't get nervous before going on stage with band mate Pete Townsend but is becoming forgetful as he gets older.
In a chat with Absolute Radio's Pete Mitchell, he said: "I always forget Who songs the first time we sing them. I don't get stage fright, I just forget the words. I'm quite deaf these days, it's come to us all. All that racket in the 70s and 80s and 60s. So I usually now work with these kind of in-ear monitors.
"The problem I've got is that the system I use and the monitor system aren't compatible. So I have to try and go back to working with monitors and I can't really hear myself well enough. I tend to sometimes over sing a bit."
Meanwhile, the singer, along with guitarist Pete are heading out on a world tour next year to celebrate The Who's 50th anniversary and Roger claims he doesn't like playing stadiums these days and prefers smaller gigs.
He said: "I never wanted to. We were kind of one of the first bands to ever play stadiums, never really liked them.
"It's just our audiences became that big, it was the only way to satisfy the numbers. Arenas are about as big as we get these days but I like theatres. I would love to do [a] set down in a theatre."
Listen to the full interview with Roger on Absolute Radio on May 17 from 10pm and visit Absoluteradio.co.uk/listen.
Music News
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has hinted that the band's London gig at Hyde Park could be their last.
The 'Evil Woman' hitmakers will headline the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Festival on July 4, joining the likes of Soundgarden, Faith No More and Motörhead on the bill, and the musician thinks it could be the last time fans get to see them live on stage.
Speaking to Metal Hammer about the gig, Tony said: "It could be the last ever Sabbath show. I don't want it to be, but there's nothing really planned touring-wise after that show, so for all we know that could be it really. To be honest I don't want to be touring to this extent too much longer, because it makes me feel so bad."
The 66-year-old musician was diagnosed with lymphoma in January 2012 and is awaiting a check by doctors after undergoing treatment in March.
He said "I'm at a stage now where I have no support, which means I have to see whether the cancer is coming back or if it's still there or what.
"I just don't know. It's a bit of a worry. After we finish this tour I'll go in and have scan, so we'll see what that shows up."
Black Sabbath, also made up of Geezer Butler and
Ozzy Osbourne, are touring in support of their latest album, '13', which hit the number one spot on the Official UK Album Chart to become their first hit record in nearly 43 years.
Black Sabbath: Hyde Park could be last gig
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has hinted that the band's London gig at Hyde Park could be their last.
The 'Evil Woman' hitmakers will headline the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Festival on July 4, joining the likes of Soundgarden, Faith No More and Motörhead on the bill, and the musician thinks it could be the last time fans get to see them live on stage.
Speaking to Metal Hammer about the gig, Tony said: "It could be the last ever Sabbath show. I don't want it to be, but there's nothing really planned touring-wise after that show, so for all we know that could be it really. To be honest I don't want to be touring to this extent too much longer, because it makes me feel so bad."
The 66-year-old musician was diagnosed with lymphoma in January 2012 and is awaiting a check by doctors after undergoing treatment in March.
He said "I'm at a stage now where I have no support, which means I have to see whether the cancer is coming back or if it's still there or what.
"I just don't know. It's a bit of a worry. After we finish this tour I'll go in and have scan, so we'll see what that shows up."
Black Sabbath, also made up of Geezer Butler and
Ozzy Osbourne, are touring in support of their latest album, '13', which hit the number one spot on the Official UK Album Chart to become their first hit record in nearly 43 years.
Music News
The Foo Fighters will star in a documentary following the making of their new album.
The five-piece band have announced an eight-part TV series airing on HBO and directed by the band's frontman Dave Grohl.
Each episode will follow the 'Rope' rockers' journey to a different US city - Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington DC and New York - where they'll visit legendary studios to record tracks for their eighth album.
The documentary will act as a follow up to Dave's award-winning directorial debut 'Sound City' which followed the history of the recording studio 'Sound City Studios' in Los Angeles, California and opened to commercial and critical acclaim in January last year.
Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, said: "Dave's heartfelt passion for this project is contagious and his talent as a musician and filmmaker is undeniable. We are excited to go on this journey with him and the Foo Fighters for this insider's look at how regional music inspired them to create their own new music."
The album - which is yet to be named - has been described by Dave as "a love letter to the history of American music" - and features vocals from local musical guests from each of the eight cities.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe about their latest offering, he previously said: "I know what it sounds like and I honestly think the entire concept is really going to take people by surprise and it sounds nuts."
Foo Fighters announce documentary about new album
The Foo Fighters will star in a documentary following the making of their new album.
The five-piece band have announced an eight-part TV series airing on HBO and directed by the band's frontman Dave Grohl.
Each episode will follow the 'Rope' rockers' journey to a different US city - Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington DC and New York - where they'll visit legendary studios to record tracks for their eighth album.
The documentary will act as a follow up to Dave's award-winning directorial debut 'Sound City' which followed the history of the recording studio 'Sound City Studios' in Los Angeles, California and opened to commercial and critical acclaim in January last year.
Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, said: "Dave's heartfelt passion for this project is contagious and his talent as a musician and filmmaker is undeniable. We are excited to go on this journey with him and the Foo Fighters for this insider's look at how regional music inspired them to create their own new music."
The album - which is yet to be named - has been described by Dave as "a love letter to the history of American music" - and features vocals from local musical guests from each of the eight cities.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe about their latest offering, he previously said: "I know what it sounds like and I honestly think the entire concept is really going to take people by surprise and it sounds nuts."
Music News
The Beach Boys will embark on a tour to mark the 50th anniversary of their single 'Fun Fun Fun'.
The 'Good Vibrations' hitmakers have announced they will be celebrating the landmark anniversary of their 1964 track by reuniting for a number of shows in the United States and the United Kingdom, and percussionist Mike Love has confessed they're doing it for their fans.
He said: "Year after year, it's been a great source of inspiration to see the happiness our music has brought to multiple generations of Beach Boys fans in so many parts of the world."
The band will introduce singer and guitarist Jeffrey Foskett, who's worked with the group since 1981, as a permanent member of the group as they begin their tour in Louisville, Kentucky on May 24 followed by a number of performances at European festivals, including two shows at London's Hampton Court Palace in June.
Foskett replaces Love's son Christian who left the band to pursue a solo career, and the official line-up for the anniversary tour will include Love, Foskett, David Marks and founding members Al Jardine and Brian Wilson.
The band previously reunited in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of the group itself.
The Beach Boys to tour for single’s 50th anniversary
The Beach Boys will embark on a tour to mark the 50th anniversary of their single 'Fun Fun Fun'.
The 'Good Vibrations' hitmakers have announced they will be celebrating the landmark anniversary of their 1964 track by reuniting for a number of shows in the United States and the United Kingdom, and percussionist Mike Love has confessed they're doing it for their fans.
He said: "Year after year, it's been a great source of inspiration to see the happiness our music has brought to multiple generations of Beach Boys fans in so many parts of the world."
The band will introduce singer and guitarist Jeffrey Foskett, who's worked with the group since 1981, as a permanent member of the group as they begin their tour in Louisville, Kentucky on May 24 followed by a number of performances at European festivals, including two shows at London's Hampton Court Palace in June.
Foskett replaces Love's son Christian who left the band to pursue a solo career, and the official line-up for the anniversary tour will include Love, Foskett, David Marks and founding members Al Jardine and Brian Wilson.
The band previously reunited in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of the group itself.
Music News
Prince wowed fans by becoming a DJ to mix-up his own tracks during the opening night of his 'Hit and Run Part II' tour.
The legendary musician kicked off the run of concerts at Birmingham's LG Arena on Thursday night (15.05.14) and he jumped into a booth mid-concert and began mixing up several of his songs, including 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World' and 'When Doves Cry' with 'Sign O' The Times', which sent the crowd wild.
After a false start when the lights went down twice but came back on again, Prince stepped onto the stage and released a handful of white and purple balloons before launching straight into 'FunkNRoll', backed by his all-female band 3RDEYEGIRL.
'Take Me With You', 'Raspberry Beret' and 'U Got That Look' got the fans on their feet before he began gyrating and sliding across the stage to hit 'Kiss', changing the lyrics to, "You don't need to watch Real Housewives".
After 'Let's Go Crazy' whipped the audience into a frenzy, he announced "soundcheck's over", as fans screamed with excitement.
Confetti cannons were let off and track 'Guitar' went down a storm, while the band proved not only can they play, but the women can sing.
Prince - dressed in loose-fitting white trousers and a white long-sleeved top with the band's artwork emblazoned on it - also thanked the audience for not trying to take photographs of him on stage.
"We want to see your faces," he said, before asking them to use their mobiles to create a spectacular sea of twinkling lights.
A slowed down version of 'Little Red Corvette' and '1999' were highlights of the incredible 34-song set, along with 'Purple Rain', which he played as more confetti showered the audience.
"Glad to be of service," he told fans, "I told you we were coming back".
After the encore he came back on stage again and announced the band had a strict curfew but were going to play until they were cut off, powering through a cover of Wild Cherry's 'Play That Funky Music'.
Prince - who in February thrilled London with a series of surprise guerilla gigs - takes his arena tour to the Manchester Phones 4u Arena tonight (16.05.14) and Saturday (17.05.14), The SSE Hydro in Glasgow on May 22 and Leeds' First Direct Arena on May 23.
Prince turns DJ on opening night of Hit and Run Part II tour
Prince wowed fans by becoming a DJ to mix-up his own tracks during the opening night of his 'Hit and Run Part II' tour.
The legendary musician kicked off the run of concerts at Birmingham's LG Arena on Thursday night (15.05.14) and he jumped into a booth mid-concert and began mixing up several of his songs, including 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World' and 'When Doves Cry' with 'Sign O' The Times', which sent the crowd wild.
After a false start when the lights went down twice but came back on again, Prince stepped onto the stage and released a handful of white and purple balloons before launching straight into 'FunkNRoll', backed by his all-female band 3RDEYEGIRL.
'Take Me With You', 'Raspberry Beret' and 'U Got That Look' got the fans on their feet before he began gyrating and sliding across the stage to hit 'Kiss', changing the lyrics to, "You don't need to watch Real Housewives".
After 'Let's Go Crazy' whipped the audience into a frenzy, he announced "soundcheck's over", as fans screamed with excitement.
Confetti cannons were let off and track 'Guitar' went down a storm, while the band proved not only can they play, but the women can sing.
Prince - dressed in loose-fitting white trousers and a white long-sleeved top with the band's artwork emblazoned on it - also thanked the audience for not trying to take photographs of him on stage.
"We want to see your faces," he said, before asking them to use their mobiles to create a spectacular sea of twinkling lights.
A slowed down version of 'Little Red Corvette' and '1999' were highlights of the incredible 34-song set, along with 'Purple Rain', which he played as more confetti showered the audience.
"Glad to be of service," he told fans, "I told you we were coming back".
After the encore he came back on stage again and announced the band had a strict curfew but were going to play until they were cut off, powering through a cover of Wild Cherry's 'Play That Funky Music'.
Prince - who in February thrilled London with a series of surprise guerilla gigs - takes his arena tour to the Manchester Phones 4u Arena tonight (16.05.14) and Saturday (17.05.14), The SSE Hydro in Glasgow on May 22 and Leeds' First Direct Arena on May 23.
Music News
Example never knew "how to sing or rap" when he first started out.
The 31-year-old star - who was catapulted to the spotlight following the release of his second studio album 'Won't Go Quietly' - admits he's "learned" a lot during his time in the industry and credits the producers he worked with and his own work ethic for his success.
He told The Sun newspaper: "I've learned on the job. I've worked extremely hard and haven't given up, it hasn't been a jolly.
"I've been happy in the studio and in terms of music. I've adapted to things as they have been thrown at me because I never really knew how to work in the studio or write a song.
"I never even knew how to sing or rap. The whole thing has been a learning curve."
Example - real name Elliot Gleave - insists his confidence as a singer has grown and he can now accept his "unique" voice which he previously battled with.
He explained: "I never had the confidence to sing before. I always felt that my voice didn't sound pure or sweet or tuneful like everyone else's.
"I was a spotty little teenager with dyed blond hair and my red Moschino jeans.
"When I started writing my own lyrics I wanted to sing but never had the confidence.
"When you listen to radio nowadays everyone has got a perfect, tuneful, soulful voice. And back in the Sixties and Seventies everyone didn't have a perfect voice.
"Not even the likes of Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and David Bowie. Their voices are raw and real.
"I like to think my voice is more unique than a great-sounding voice. It is like Marmite. But I tend to find a lot of people come up to me and they like the uniqueness of my voice. It's a bit gravely.
"It tells a story more than the person who has been classically trained or has a perfect R&B soul voice.
"I think it is nice to be dividing. I'm happy with that."
Example: I never even knew how to sing or rap
Example never knew "how to sing or rap" when he first started out.
The 31-year-old star - who was catapulted to the spotlight following the release of his second studio album 'Won't Go Quietly' - admits he's "learned" a lot during his time in the industry and credits the producers he worked with and his own work ethic for his success.
He told The Sun newspaper: "I've learned on the job. I've worked extremely hard and haven't given up, it hasn't been a jolly.
"I've been happy in the studio and in terms of music. I've adapted to things as they have been thrown at me because I never really knew how to work in the studio or write a song.
"I never even knew how to sing or rap. The whole thing has been a learning curve."
Example - real name Elliot Gleave - insists his confidence as a singer has grown and he can now accept his "unique" voice which he previously battled with.
He explained: "I never had the confidence to sing before. I always felt that my voice didn't sound pure or sweet or tuneful like everyone else's.
"I was a spotty little teenager with dyed blond hair and my red Moschino jeans.
"When I started writing my own lyrics I wanted to sing but never had the confidence.
"When you listen to radio nowadays everyone has got a perfect, tuneful, soulful voice. And back in the Sixties and Seventies everyone didn't have a perfect voice.
"Not even the likes of Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and David Bowie. Their voices are raw and real.
"I like to think my voice is more unique than a great-sounding voice. It is like Marmite. But I tend to find a lot of people come up to me and they like the uniqueness of my voice. It's a bit gravely.
"It tells a story more than the person who has been classically trained or has a perfect R&B soul voice.
"I think it is nice to be dividing. I'm happy with that."