Music News

Prince performed two gigs at Camden's Electric Ballroom in London last night (05.01.14).
The 'Purple Rain' hitmaker took to the stage after a secret gig at the same venue on Wednesday evening and thousands of fans queued for hours in the rain, despite not knowing details of the performances or ticket prices.
Eventually, more than 800 people were allowed in the venue after the doors opened at 7pm and paid just £10 to see the legendary singer perform a special gig with his all-female band 3rd Eye Girl.
The set included new single 'Pretzelbodylogic', along with 'Let's Go Crazy', 'Funk 'n' Roll', 'Guitar' and 'She's Always in My Hair', in which the 55-year-old singer changed the lyrics to, 'Always in Prince's big curly hair'.
Audience members shouted: "London loves you", before he handed his guitar out to the crowd and dozens of fans surged forward.
The singer came back on for a second encore before the fans were ejected from the venue and security let in hundreds of people who were still queuing outside.
The star powered through tracks including 'Cause and Effect', 'I Would Die 4 U' and 'Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)' during the second set, before ending the first encore with a sensuous rendition of 'Purple Rain'.
He then closed the gig with a medley of hits, including 'When Doves Cry' and 'Sign o' The Times'.
VIP guests at the gigs included Paloma Faith, Nicole Scherzinger and Lianne La Havas, who welcomed Prince into her home for a secret press conference this week.
The singer has ruled out playing any large venues while in London with his band this month, hinting instead of his desire to play small club gigs.
Speaking to BBC 6 Music, he said he wants to play venues such as Ronnie Scott's and the Bag O' Nails Club in Soho - although details for future gigs are being kept under wraps.
He described his trip to London as "open-ended" and told last night's audience: "We're gonna try and find somewhere else to play in this city. We'll stay as long as you'll have us."

Ozzy Osbourne was speechless when introducing Ringo Starr at The Grammy Awards.
The Black Sabbath rocker became so "overwhelmed" by his idol that he was unable to find the words to welcome The Beatles' drummer to the stage at last month's ceremony when he saw Sir Paul McCartney and John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono in the crowd.
Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne explained: "He looked down, he saw Paul and he saw Yoko - but nothing came out. He was overcome. I've been with Ozzy for coming up 35 years and every single day for those 25 years he has always listened to The Beatles."
'The X Factor' judge also revealed she used to play The Beatles' hits in a bid to simulate Ozzy when he was in coma for eight days following a serious motorcycle accident in 2003.
Sharon added: "When he was in a coma, after he had his motorbike accident, we used to blast The Beatles in his room. So he lost it."
Meanwhile, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will feature in a CBS special, 'The Night That Changed America: A GRAMMY Salute To The Beatles' to commemorate the group - which also included the late John Lennon and George Harris - and their American TV debut on the 'Ed Sullivan Show'.
The pair were interviewed by chat show host David Letterman, and given tributes from Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Katy Perry before taking to the stage to perform together.
The pre-recorded show will air Sunday, February 9.

Zayn Malik praised fiance Perrie Edwards after Little Mix topped the US iTunes chart which their album 'Salute'.
The One Direction hunk - who got engaged to the blonde beauty in August last year - was thrilled that his "baby" had climbed to number one spot on the digital sales chart alongside Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
The star wrote on Twitter: "So proud of my baby !! Download the tune and keep it @ #1 !! 🙂 xx (sic)"
Zayn's 1D bandmate Niall Horan also applauded the girl group for the success of their second studio album which was released in the US on February 4.
He wrote: "The lovely girls of LittleMixOffic have are at #1 on the iTunes chart, you guys gotta keep it there for the week! It's a great album ! Xx (sic)"
Both One Direction - which also includes Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson - and Little Mix were catapulted to the spotlight on singing contest 'X Factor' and show boss Simon Cowell was also keen to offer his congratulations.
The media mogul added: "I have just been told that the new little mix album is number one on the us iTunes album chart. That is bloody fantastic. Congratulations. (sic)"

Tom Odell found the attention while dating Taylor Swift "terrifying".
The 23-year-old musician briefly dated the '22' hitmaker in February last year and admits he found the press attention too much to bare.
Tom told Britain's GQ magazine: "It was terrifying. I'd have to be very in love to be with someone that famous."
The 'Another Love' singer claims he never had the opportunity to dress in smart outfits when he was growing up, but his love of fashion has grown since he performed live at the Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2013 show.
Tom explained:"I am interested in that classic British look - yet also that classic American look. Burberry did that for me, because when I played at their party last year it introduced me to fashion.
"I grew up in the suburbs of a small town on the south coast where the only opportunity I ever got to wear anything smart was a funeral, so I had never owned a piece of clothing worth more than £40."
Tom now relishes the opportunity to buy expensive clothes, and revealed he even spends hundreds of pounds on multivitamins to keep him looking and feeling his best whilst on tour.

Prince says it's "cool" when fans share music.
The 'Purple Rain' hitmaker has scoffed at reports he filed a $22 million lawsuit against 22 internet users who allegedly posted recordings of his live performances online.
The 55-year-old musician insists he would never sue his own fans and is happy for them to share his songs as long as they are not doing so to make money.
Speaking at a press conference held at his friend Lianne La Havas' home to announce his upcoming London concerts on Tuesday (04.02.14), Prince told the BBC: "Nobody sues their fans. I have some bootlegs of Lianne but I wouldn't sell them. But fans sharing music with each other, that's cool ... But when you hear something [on bootleg] you're just hearing something that's not finished."
Prince - who is about to release a new album with his band 3RDEYEGIRL - also revealed he has a large number of unheard music in the vaults at his Paisley Park home and studio, and he owns the rights to old archive of recordings that he may release in future.
He said: "A song from 1985 might come out in 2021. I have a whole organisation who look after stuff."
Meanwhile, Prince surprised fans with a secret intimate gig in Camden, London, last night (04.02.14) to kick off his forthcoming 'Hit and Run' shows at "iconic venues" across the UK capital.
He appeared on stage shortly after 12.30am backed by 3RDEYEGIRL, comprised of guitarist Donna Grantis, bassist Ida Nielsen and drummer Hannah Ford Welton.

Kendrick Lamar wasn't nervous when he first met with Dr Dre.
The rappers worked together on Kendrick's 2012 album 'Good Kid, Maad City', with Dre appearing on the track 'Compton', but Kendrick didn't feel anxious before he came face-to-face with the music mogul.
Kendrick told i-d.vice.com: "I was very excited. I wasn't nervous at all. I was more excited, 'cause I knew that this was my shot, everything that l've worked for, everything I've built up to came down to that moment."
The 26-year-old rapper, who was nominated for a Grammy Award last month, has also been inspired by Dre's work outside of music, after he launched his own headphones line and Beats Music streaming service.
Kendrick said: "I [still] talk to him. At the moment he's just working on Beats by Dre. Doing a lot of promo and press for that, getting buried in life right now.
"You know when you conquer one thing, you want to move on to the next and be able to challenge yourself? He inspired me to want to do that, once I get the years behind me, of being exceptionally great at music."
And he thinks his songs prove he has more than just creative talent, adding: "My lyrics say that I have confidence, say I have weaknesses, say I have strong points, say I am a human being."

Prince performed a secret gig in Camden, London last night (04.02.14).
The star appeared on stage shortly after 12.30am backed by his new 3rdeyegirl band featuring guitarist Donna Grantis, bassist Ida Nielsen and drummer Hannah Ford Welton.
He opened the show with 'I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man' and although he was showcasing new material from his forthcoming 'Plectrum Electrum' record he included a cover of 'Play That Funky Music' and the classic 'I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'.
Prince and his backing band played to a crowd of 300 people and as news broke queues began to form outside Electric Ballroom.
He ended the gig saying: "You sound like ten thousands. We love each and every one of you."
Before adding: "We'll be back tomorrow."
Earlier in the day the musician hosted a press conference at in the living room of singer Lianne La Havas who he met last year during her tour of America.
Following the event Prince's manager Kiran Sharma wrote on Twitter: "Just finished w the most amazing press conference I've ever been to! 2 songs by @3RDEYEGIRL. THANK U @liannelahavas 4 being a generous host! (sic)"
The 24-year-old singer met Prince last year during her tour of America and afterwards they jammed together at his Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis.
Dates and ticket details are yet to be announced for his eagerly-anticipated gigs.

Clean Bandit want Craig David to come out of retirement for a collaboration.
The 'Rather Be' hitmakers are enjoying their second week at the top of the UK Official Singles Chart and have admitted they'd love to work with the 'Re-Rewind' singer whose last album 'Signed Sealed Delivered' was released nearly four years ago.
Lead singer Grace Chatto said: "Craig David is the singer we'd love to work with most. It's controversial, maybe, but he's got a great voice. We're big into that old UK garage sound and Craig was the best."
Although they haven't managed to coax him out of retirement in time for their debut album 'New Eyes' - which is set to be released on May 12 - they have been working with another garage legend, 'Greater Love' singer Elizabeth Troy.
Grace told the Daily Star newspaper: "Elizabeth is now with us all the time and we just made a track called 'Heart On Fire' with her that's a garage tribute."
The electronic quartet - which also features Jack Patterson, Luke Patterson and Milan Neil Amin-Smith - have also collaborated with other artists who help the album feature a mixture of different genres.
Grace added: "There's a song we've written with a US rapper called Lizzo ... one with Stylo G that's got a dance hall element to it.
"It's a big hotchpotch of different styles but a constant sound runs right through it."

Taylor Swift was joined on stage by The Script's Danny O'Donoghue at London's O2 Arena last night (04.02.14).
The 23-year-old singer surprised fans at her third 'Red' tour gig in the city by bringing out the former 'The Voice' mentor as her surprise guest.
Taylor told the crowd: "One of my favourite things about coming to the UK is that I've discovered bands that have become some of my favourites. There's a band I first heard when I came over here ... They have a really great lead singer - it's Danny O'Donaghue from The Script!"
The pair performed a duet of the Irish band's hit song 'Breakeven' to rapturous applause, with Taylor thanking the crowd for being the "craziest yet".
The country starlet - who was supported by new boy band The Vamps - kicked off the show with her 'Red' album opener, 'State of Grace', before launching into popular title track 'Red'.
Amid costume changes and gravity-defying stage antics, Taylor powered through her best songs from her latest album, including 'I Knew You Were Trouble' and grand finale 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', as well as a handful of old favourites like 'Mean' and 'Love Story'.
The singer also explained her fascination with the colour red, which featured prominently in the elaborate theatre-themed staging and her various sparkly get-ups.
She said: "I bet a lot of you are wondering why there's a fixation on this one colour. When I was writing my last album I came up with the idea of comparing feelings to colours and there was this one that represents all the emotions; love, hate, jealousy, passion ... If you had to pick one colour that's intense, fleeting, beautiful and sad all at once when we fall in and out of love it would be red."
Taylor's 'Red' tour continues on Monday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 11.
To coincide with her residency at The O2 Arena, the British Music Experience - which is situated inside the O2 - are showcasing select items from Taylor's wardrobe alongside photographs by Christie Goodwin in a pop-up exhibition.
Admission to 'Taylor Swift: A Photo Experience' is included within the price of a museum ticket, and costs just £4 to ticket holders for her O2 shows during the duration of her residency.
The exhibition runs until 23 March.