Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Pharrell Williams and Neptunes collaborator Chad Hugo

Pharrell Williams is no longer speaking to his Neptunes collaborator Chad Hugo. The musicians had been friends since high...

Zayn Malik announces first solo tour with US and UK dates

Zayn Malik has announced his first-ever solo tour. The 31-year-old singer is heading out on the road this autumn...

The Darkness announce new Dreams On Toast album and 2025 UK tour

The Darkness have announced the new album 'Dreams On Toast' and a 2025 UK tour. The 'I Believe in...

Michael Kiwanuka fears touring costs could put off musicians

Michael Kiwanuka admits that performing live is a costly venture. The 37-year-old singer has played a number of outdoor...

Chesney Hawkes inspired by Saltburn as he strips off for Get A Hold Of Yourself music video

Chesney Hawkes took inspiration from Barry Keoghan's nude scene in 'Saltburn' for his new music video. The 52-year-old star...

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Damon Albarn: It’s not a given that I’m solo


Damon Albarn insists it's "not a given" he has now become a solo artist.
The Blur singer, who is set to release his first solo album 'Everyday Robots' on April 28, waited 25 years to put out his own record and thought it might never happen.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "I just never imagined it was something I'd do. Who doesn't love playing in a band? It's f**ing brilliant. The best. Maybe I was just subconsciously avoiding a solo album.
"You could say that I'm embarking on a new stage in my life, but really I could turn around next time and do something else. So it's not a given that I've become a solo artist."
The 45-year-old singer claims it's the most "collaborative record" he's ever worked on, having joined forces with XL Recordings boss, Richard Russell.
He said: "We wanted to keep exploring what we were doing. We had the inevitable conversation about starting a band. It was fun to come up with concepts and names, but one day he came in and said, 'Look, if you ask me what I want to do, I want to produce you.' And I went, 'Alright, I suppose that means I've got to put it out under my own name.' Some of the songs just came from the two of us experimenting in the studio."
Damon will play a number of intimate London gig to launch his solo debut, at the Rivioli Ballroom in Crofton Park on April 30, followed by People's Palace in Mile End on May 1.
The singer will also be honoured with the NME Award for Innovation at this year's NME Awards with Austin, Texas. The Blur frontman will pick up the award in person on tomorrow (26.02.14) at the London's O2 Academy, Brixton.

Chris Brown accuses old boss of leaking album


Chris Brown has accused his former manager of leaking his new album.
The R&B star, whose record 'X' is set to be released May 5, warned his fans on Twitter that there are "snakes in the grass" and claimed his former boss, Tina Davis, was trying to "sabotage" the release, the follow-up to 2012′s 'Fortune'.
He tweeted: "My old manager is leaking my NEW album and refuses to give me my back up hard drive to sabotage my album. That's F'd up G! (sic)."
Chris later deleted the tweet but added, "Snakes in the grass ... Just stay positive."
Tina, who worked with Chris from the beginning of his career until they parted ways earlier this year, was quick to hit back and deny trying to leak the material.
She posted on Twitter: "@chrisbrown Trace it! Find out where it originated from.RCA can do that for you. Then send a defaming tweet out on who really did it (sic)."
The 'Fine China' hitmaker recently completed his 90-day court-ordered treatment for anger issues but decided to remain in the facility in Malibu for a few days to ensure he didn't slip up again.
A source said: "After Chris left rehab, he headed to a music video shoot, where he broke out some impressive moves for his new single, 'Loyal'."
Chris' friends and family, including his mother Joyce Hawkins, threw him a small homecoming party on Saturday night (22.02.14).

Downton Abbey will ‘quit while ahead’


The producer of 'Downton Abbey' has vowed to "quit while we're ahead".
Show boss Gareth Neame says he and creator-and-writer Julian Fellowes are wary of the show outstaying its welcome and will end the hit period drama when they feel it is the right time.
However, the producer says 'Downton' is still in its prime and won't be ending any time soon.
He told Vulture.com: "We have to get out right before people realise they want us to get out. We quit while we're ahead, while people still love the show, and while we've still got stories to tell. I still don't know when that will be yet.
"We don't want to jump out of it too early. We are working on a great big hit show, and one doesn't want to stop working on a great big hit show until you're ready."
Gareth also touched on the status of Julian's long-planned US-set period drama 'The Gilded Age', which is being produced by American network NBC.
The acclaimed writer has previously said he won't begin work on the series until 'Downton' ends.
Gareth explained: "We make eleven episodes of 'Downton' every year, and Julian writes all of it. It's a huge amount of writing for one person to do. There's no way he can do that and work on another show at the same time.
"NBC of course would like to have 'Gilded Age' but everyone accepts that 'Downton' is still a massive success. We're all part of the same company, too. My company is owned by NBC Universal, and as a group we all know 'Downton' is a very important property for the whole company."

Samuel Anderson joins Doctor Who


Samuel Anderson will have a recurring role in the new series of 'Doctor Who'.
The former 'Emmerdale' actor has signed up to appear in Peter Capaldi's first series as the Doctor, playing school teacher Danny Pink, who works with the Time Lord's companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman), at Coal Hill School.
Samuel said in a statement: "I was so excited to join 'Doctor Who' I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started! It's a quintessential part of British culture and I can't believe I'm part of it. It's an honour to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can't wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!"
'Doctor Who' executive producer Steven Mofatt commented: "For the fourth time in 'Doctor Who' history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS. In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the First Doctor. These days it's the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi's first series of 'Doctor Who'!"
Production on the eighth series of the BBC sci-fi drama is currently under way in Cardiff, Wales, and will air on BBC One later this year.

Suzanne Shaw writes musical with Ben Adams


Suzanne Shaw has written a musical with A1's Ben Adams.
The recently eliminated 'Dancing on Ice' contestant has teamed up with 'The Big Reunion' hunk to pen a theatre show, which is described as a "geeky 'Glee' versus 'Star Trek'."
Suzanne said: "I'm a huge fan of musicals. I love everything about them - the music, the costumes, the stories. The largest part of my career has been spent on the musical stage."
The former Hear'Say singer added: "Ben is an extremely talented writer and I'm privileged to be working with him on this."
Suzanne, 32, was eliminated from the all-stars series of 'Dancing on Ice' last week after finding herself in the skate-off with Kyran Bracken, who was himself eliminated last night (23.02.14).
Meanwhile, the star could be in line to join her former Hear'Say bandmate Myleene Klass on another ITV show, 'Loose Women'.
The bubbly blonde is in talks to join the ITV panel show and says her conversations with Myleene often feel like an episode of 'Loose Women'.
She said: "We often get on the phone and our bitching sessions are basically an episode of 'Loose Women'.
"Myleene has had a hell of a lot of changes in her life but we are both at a point where we are not bitter, we are not angry, but we are now very much changed women."

Harry Hill launches Fairtrade campaign


Harry Hill and Cheska Hull have backed a new Fairtrade campaign to end supermarket price wars over bananas.
The two TV stars were in London's Clapham Common this morning (24.02.14) for the unveiling of a giant billboard made from over 5,000 of the fruits to mark the start of the Fairtrade Fortnight 'Make Bananas Fair' campaign, which has seen the organisation team with Colombian farmer Foncho Cantillo to petition the government to intervene after retail prices of bananas fell by almost half over the last decade, sparking financial problems for struggling growers.
Harry said: "While the banana business is booming, not everyone is enjoying the benefits. Price wars in supermarkets, coupled with the rise in the cost of producing bananas, mean many banana farmers and workers are unable to put enough food on the table or provide basics such as education and healthcare. We need a much fairer system."
Cheska added: "I was privileged enough to visit Fairtrade banana plantations in Ghana earlier this year and learnt how Fairtrade can change communities. That's why I am sticking with Foncho to make bananas fair."
Other famous faces backing the campaign include Amanda Holden, Caroline Flack, Eddie Izzard, Rankin, Helen Skelton, Sarah Parish, Sara Cox, Aggie MacKenzie, Simon Rimmer, Simon Reeve and Angela Griffin.
The 6x4 metre billboard - which took artists Henry Coate and Toby Crowther three days and 11 hours to make - features the iconic raised fist clutching a banana, and all the fruit used to create the signage will be donated to local food banks and Battersea Park Children's Zoo.
To sign the petition, find out more about the campaign and create your own personalised sticker, visit stickwithfoncho.org.uk.

Academy Awards presenters announced


A full list of presenters for the 86th Academy Awards have been announced.
Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were thrilled to release the names of the A-Listers who'll be "turning out in force" to take to the stage on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
In an announcement made on Monday (24.02.14), they said: "We are very excited that the Hollywood community will be turning out in force for Sunday's Oscar ceremony.
"We sought to include a tremendous diversity of stars to represent not only this year's nominees, but the legacy of the motion picture business as well."
The Hollywood stars who will join the already announced quartet which includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence and Christoph Waltz include 'Dallas Buyers Club' stars, Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey, American Hustle's Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper and 'August: Osage County' actor Ewan McGregor.
They will be joined by previous Oscar-winners including Kevin Spacey, Charlize Theron, Sidney Poitier, Goldie Hawn, Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie Foxx, Sally Field, Penélope Cruz and Robert De Niro.
In addition, former Academy Award-nominees John Travolta, Gabourey Sidibe, Anna Kendrick, Bill Murray, Samuel L. Jackson, Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Will Smith, Glenn Close, Viola Davis and Harrison Ford are also in the line-up.
Angelina Jolie and fiance Brad Pitt and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Bell, Emma Watson, Tyler Perry, Jessica Biel, Michael B. Jordan, Kim Novak, Jim Carrey, Kerry Washington, Zac Efron, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum and Chris Hemsworth will also present.

Ray Liotta cast in The Field


Ray Liotta will star in 'The Field'.
The 'Goodfellas' actor, 59, will play an arms dealer who is caught in the middle of the erupting war and director Rohit Karn Batra is thrilled to have him on board, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Batra said: "Being an avid fan, it's an honour to have Ray sign on to play such a pivotal role, a character I wrote specifically for him."
Guy Louthan and Jai Khanna of Brillstein Entertainment Partners are producing while Atul Kasbekar and Adam W. Rosen will executive produce.
Filming for the forthcoming flick is expected to begin in India later this year.
Khanna added: "Ray has a career that is unequalled for its remarkable variety. We're thrilled to have him on board.
"He has never worked in India, and that was his motivation... here is a veteran actor keen to play this role and shoot in the country, and support a young director."
The Field's cast also includes Ronit Roy, Neeraj Kabi, Vineet Singh and actress Radhika Apte.
Liotta is set to hit the big screen in this year's 'Stretch', 'The Identical', 'Revenge of the Green Dragons', 'Kill the Messenger', 'Flock of Dudes' and 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For'.

Kimberley Walsh is pregnant


Kimberley Walsh is pregnant.
The former Girls Aloud singer and her boyfriend Justin Scott - who have been together for over 10 years - are "so happy" to be expecting their first child together.
Kimberley tweeted: "Justin and I are so happy to let you all know we are having a baby!!! Couldn't wait to share our lovely news with you all (sic)"
Kimberley's former bandmate Nicola Roberts was among the first to send her congratulations to the couple.
She tweeted: "Secrets out!! I am BURSTING with love! Kimberley & Justin are having a baby! I am so happy and so literally beside myself with excitement!!! (sic)"
Kimberley's happy news comes just a few months after she admitted she was ready to start a family.
The 32-year-old star said in September: ''We're both really broody. Friends laugh at us and say we're the best babysitters, which we are. I really don't think it's going to be long now.''
The 'Promise' hitmaker also admitted she expects she and Justin will marry soon.
She said: ''I always sort of saw it happening after Girls Aloud finished [earlier this year]. I didn't want getting married to get lost in everything else. Justin knew that and would never have asked me when he knew it wasn't the right time.
''But he does really want to get married at some point and it will happen. I've never been one of those girls who wanted a big extravagant wedding, though, so I think I'll be more, 'Can we just do this really quickly please and really simply?' "

Kendall Jenner wants to move out


Kendall Jenner wants to move out of her family home.
The 18-year-old model - who has reportedly split from One Direction hunk Harry Styles - is keen to forge some independence and live alone, much to the dismay of her mother Kris Jenner.
Looking at properties in Malibu, California with her husband Bruce Jenner, she said on last night's (23.02.14) 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians': "I'm getting really serious about the house-hunting thing."
However, her mother moaned: "I will never be ready for Kendall to leave home. They're dropping like flies."
Kris grew angry with Bruce - who she split from in October after 22 years of marriage - for supporting their daughter's scheme,
She complained: "I'm upset because you keep taking Kendall's side and allowing her, like, to move out and she's 18 years old...
"Why are you in such a rush to get her to move out and to move to Malibu?"
Bruce replied: "It's time for her to take that next step in life."
However, Kendall intervened between her parents, warning them not to use her decision as an "excuse to fight".
She said: "I am legally an adult and I can do what I want. I don't want you guys to use this as an excuse to fight."

Una Foden worried daughter wants real pony


Una Foden is worried her daughter will ask for a real pony.
The Saturdays star is concerned her 23-month-old daughter Aoife Belle - whom she has with her husband Ben - will want a real horse because she's taken a liking to jumping on people's backs and pretending she's riding the four-legged animal.
Writing in a blog post for Hello! magazine, she said: "Every day she becomes more and more playful. The other day I was cleaning up and picking up her toys, and she jumped on me, pretending I was a horse!
"I think she plays that a lot with her grandmother and thought I wanted to play, so I went along with it. She absolutely loved it - I'm a bit worried she's going to ask us for a real pony!
"Luckily, we have a big antique rocking horse that Ben's mother got her, so we can give her that, but at the moment she's still a bit too small, I worry she would fall off!"
The toddler has also got into the habit of calling her father by his first name, Ben, rather than saying, 'Daddy' after she heard Una, 32, shouting out his moniker recently.
Una explained: "Aoife did something really cute the other day. Ben was watching television and I was in the kitchen calling out to him, but he didn't hear me. Suddenly, Aoife ran in and yelled, 'Ben!' at him, and found it so much fun she didn't stop.
"Since then he keeps protesting, 'I'm daddy! Not Ben! daddy!' but she's not having it. I'm not going to help him, I think it's funny!"

Miranda Kerr to release Elvis Presley cover


Miranda Kerr is planning to release an Elvis Presley cover.
The 30-year-old model has teamed up with Jersey Boys' Bobby Fox and recorded their version of the late singer's 'You're the Boss', which featured in the 1964 movie 'Viva Las Vegas'.
However, the brunette beauty - who also wants to try her hand at acting - insists she's not planning a career change and only set up the collaboration for "a bit of fun".
She took to Twitter yesterday (23.02.14), writing: "I usually just sing in the shower but @thedancingfox convinced me to record a duet with him, not a career change, just a bit of fun! (sic)".
Miranda - who has three-year-old son Flynn with estranged husband Orlando Bloom - was persuaded to do a duet with Bobby - who is based in Australia - for his debut album.
The 31-year-old singer flew to New Zealand, where Miranda was working on a shoot, and they recorded the song in one night.
A spokesperson for Bobby told the MailOnline: "Miranda was amazing to work with.
"She didn't take herself too seriously - she just got into character and had a ball recording it."
'You're The Boss' is set to be released on iTunes on March 14.