Music News

Graham Coxon is happy to take the "blame" for "crazy" things his Blur bandmates have done over the years.
The 'Song 2' guitarist has addressed the indie quartets' past and current mistakes, like the time he called Kanye West a "f***ing idiot", and said he will shoulder the blame because no one else will.
Talking about the band's antics, he said: "We were all nuts we all did crazy things. But because I've stood up and said, "Yeah, I made a mess of things", I take the blame for anything that happens now, in the future or the past. Nobody else has said that they made a mess of it so it falls on me."
The particular "mess" Graham got himself into occurred when he slammed the 'All Day' rapper earlier in the year.
He said in a previous interview: "He's a f***ing idiot, isn't he? Does he even make his own albums?
"People aren't interested in learning instruments and putting effort and time into it. They want it immediately. It's McDonalds, isn't it? It's convenient. "
Elsewhere, bassist Alex James has no idea what the future holds for Blur, but he isn't worried and he finds the prospect of not knowing "quite exciting".
He told Loaded.co.uk: "F**k knows what happens next, but that seems to be our default setting. For a moment I knew what was happening with Blur - there was some shows. But now I'm back to not knowing what's going to happen next, and that's quite exciting."

Jack Garratt has won with the BRITs 2016 Critics' Choice Award.
The 22-year-old singer beat off stiff competition from Izzy Bizu and piano maestro Frances among other names to be selected for the honour.
Upon discovering he was receiving the prize, he said: "I am so humbled to have received this year's BRITs Critics' Choice Award. To have been nominated alongside Frances and Izzy Bizu was already a huge honour and a testament to the calibre of new UK music. To have been given this award is truly mind-blowing, considering I am one name in a hugely exciting time for music in this country. Thank you to everyone who voted, it means so much to me."
Previous winners include Adele, Emeli Sande, Sam Smith and James Bay.
The 'Weathered' singer will be presented with the accolade at the televised 'The BRITs Are Coming!' nominations show on Thursday January 14 and he will perform on the night along with Jess Glynne and Years & Years.
Jack is gearing up to release his debut album 'Phase' on February 19, 2016 through Island Records and hot off the heels of his sell-out UK tour this autumn, he will also be supporting Mumford & Sons on their UK arena tour this month.
The BRIT Awards 2016 take place at The O2 in London and will be aired on ITV on February 24, 2016.

Noel Gallagher believes record sales will die out by the end of the decade.
The 48-year-old rocker is stunned his 'Chasing Yesterday' LP is the best-selling vinyl release of 2015 but doesn't think the sales figures are actually very impressive because people prefer to stream music these days.
And in the next five years, the songwriter is sure the majority of people will ditch purchasing copes of albums in favour of streaming.
Noel - who has sold over 70 million albums throughout his career with Oasis and as a solo artist - said: "For the people who still want to buy and own music, for me to be sat at the top of that list really is great.
"Until you look at how many people are actually buying it and it's like a thousand albums. F***ing hell, I've probably got more than a thousand sat in my office right now. But it's the streaming thing, there will be no record sales by the end of the decade I think."
Noel himself rarely buys music any more because he finds it such a hassle going into record shops.
He explained to Q magazine: "Where do you buy records these days? I can't go to HMV. How long do you think it would take me to get out of HMV if I went in? If I go into a record store they usually turn into autograph sessions so I avoid them now.
"I think that's the way music is going now though, for me anyway, I'm more into tracks."

Geri Horner has been working with Ronnie Wood.
The former Spice Girl originally met up with the Rolling Stones rocker to get some advice on her upcoming album but the pair have now decided to hit the studio together to work on some tracks.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "They have been friends for a while but it's a shock that they've actually worked on a song."
Meanwhile, it was previously revealed Geri is considering having a folk sound on her new LP.
An insider said at the time: "It's going to be a new, much more mature sound for Geri. A few songs sound very folky, but there are other styles as well. It tells a story of her life."
And whilst Geri continues work on her solo career, rumours circulate about the possibility that the 90s girl group will make a comeback next year, with Geri admitting she finds it "really flattering" that they have that support.
She said: "I think it's really flattering that people are still supportive of the Spice Girls individually and collectively, that's beautiful, it's really nice.
"It almost feels you know that it (the Spice Girls) belongs to everyone, like a generation. So I think it's one of those things that's been discussed, but until it's concrete I wouldn't announce it."

Ben Haenow would like to work with Rudimental and Disclosure.
The 2014 'X Factor' winner has only just released 'Second Hand Heart' with Kelly Clarkson, but he's already thinking about future collaborations with the 'Not Giving In' hitmakers and chart-topping dance duo, brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "The idea of two vocals on a track, and just working with other people generally, it's a cool thing to get inspiration from.
"Rudimental would be a good one or Disclosure. I really like what they do and they are more producers really but I really like what they do with their songs and with other people they collaborate with."
Elsewhere, Ben - who released his self-titled debut LP earlier this month - says he has "a little" friendly competition with fellow 'X Factor' star Fleur East but they are really "supportive" of each other.
He said: "There's a little bit of competition but what you have to understand is we're two completely different styles of music and completely separate artists so we've got bigger fish to worry about.
"We love what's happening for each other and we really are supportive and it's great."
Ben was speaking after his performance at Amazon Fulfilment Centre in Peterborough as part of Amazon.co.uk's Black Friday Deals Week.

Lionel Richie will return to the UK in June and July 2016 for three arena shows.
The international superstar has vowed to perform all of his hits including 'Hello', 'Dancing on the Ceiling' and songs from his career with the Commodores, spanning several decades, at Manchester Arena and London's The O2 next summer.
The 'All Night Long' hitmaker says the UK is a very "special place" for him to perform and is thrilled to be coming back.
In a statement, he said: "It's been an unforgettable year and I can't wait to return to the UK to see my fans. It's always been a really special place for me and this year in particular the UK has been incredible to me. I'm excited to be getting out there and seeing some new faces and I'm sure some old ones too!"
The 66-year-old pop legend returns to the UK following a sell-out tour in 2014 which culminated in a phenomenal performance at Glastonbury festival, where Lionel drew the biggest crowd of the weekend with over 100,000 fans flocking to the Pyramid Stage to see him in all his glory.

The three tour dates are as follows:

June 28 - Arena, Manchester
July 2 - The O2, London
July 3 - The O2, London

Adele has announced a 2016 arena tour of the UK & Ireland and admitted she's been "bluffing" about not touring her new LP '25'.
The 'Hello' hitmaker posted a video on her Instagram account on Thursday (26.11.15) saying she'd been teasing about not doing shows in support of her third studio album and said she's "excited" to get back on the road.
In the video, she said: "Hello, it's me, Adele... God, I can't even say that anymore! I have been bluffing this whole time and I am so relieved to finally tell you that I am, of course coming on tour, and I can't wait to see all of you there. So see you all very very soon(sic)!"
The 27-year-old singer hasn't been on tour in five years and last played a series of dates in 2011 in support of her second record '21'.
Adele has been keeping tight-lipped about the shows by saying in interviews she has a "fear" of performing in front of large crowds.
She previously said: "I always wish I had the nerve to do a few more things. I would love to tour, I really would."
And recalling a scary moment at Glastonbury, she added: "I went to Glastonbury to watch Kanye.
"It was the biggest crowd I've ever seen. I froze of fear."

Adele's upcoming 2016 tour dates are:

February 29 - March 1 - SSE Arena, Belfast
March 4 - 5 - 3Arena, Dublin
March 7 - 8 - Arena, Manchester
March 15-16 & 18-19 - The O2, London
March 25-26 - SSE Hydro, Glasgow
March 29-30 - Genting Arena, Birmingham

Ben Haenow thinks Kelly Clarkson has "really good banter".
The 'Something I Need' singer worked with Kelly, 33, on their duet 'Second Hand Heart' and says when they got together to make the music video she was "really funny".
Talking about working with the American songstress, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "It was amazing. She's an absolute legend. Her voice is incredible and her kind of coming from that background as well, a TV talent show, and with her being so successful I think it's an inspiring thing to see.
"We got to record the video together but we did the vocals separately. Originally we just had the solo track and then she kind of put her vocal down later on then I had to meet her to do the video like I said. But yeah she's a really funny girl. Really good banter. Really nice but really professional as well."
The 2014 'X Factor' winner added that the whole process was over really quickly and that he felt really inspired being the same room as her.
He added: "Really really quick with all takes and that. Wicked.
"Just watching her work and seeing how she was that was what I took away from it."
Ben was speaking after his performance at Amazon Fulfilment Centre in Peterborough as part of Amazon.co.uk's Black Friday Deals Week.

John Lydon still gets "nervous" before performing on stage.
The Sex Pistols and Public Image LTD legend has stormed live shows with both bands with his anti-establishment anarchy anthems, but the outspoken rocker has learnt no matter how hard you try nerves never go away.
But Lydon - also known as Johnny Rotten - insists having nerves is no bad thing because it drives his "adrenaline" up.
He said: "I still get nervous. When I first started I thought it was just me. I'd watch other bands and think, 'What confidence these singers have got!'
"Gradually you learn it's normal. What you don't learn is how to deal with it. I read books by actors on stage fright. I learned that nerves are an important gift. That's what you need to get your adrenaline."
The 59-year-old singer also insists he can't go on stage with a full stomach and spends the whole day ahead of playing a gig worrying he will let people down.
He told ShortList magazine: "I can't eat before I go on.
"The whole day is one of nerves. Fear of letting people down.
Once on: bingo! It's like the curtains open in the mind. It's a complete relief, and you become yourself. It's a strange process, but there it is."