Music News

Britney Spears has boasted her new album is the "best thing" she has done in a "long time".
The 'Work Bitch' singer is "proud" of her forthcoming LP because of how different it is from her seven previous pop releases.
Britney is still in the process of completing the album and is prepared to spend the rest of the year or longer working on her fresh collection of tracks so they are perfect for her fans.
Speaking to V Magazine about her upcoming record, the 34-year-old star - who is also busy performing her 'Piece of Me' concert residency at the Planet Hollywood resort and Casino - said: "I'm proud of the work, and it's very different; it's not what you would think at all. But I'm not rushing anything. I just want it to be done right, so that my fans will truly appreciate it. I would much rather have it be completely how I want it to be, whether that takes another year for me to do, or two months. I have no idea at this point.
"Honestly, I'm just particular with this record. It's my baby, and so I really want it done right."
She added: "I just know that the direction I'm going in is so good. It's the best thing I've done in a long time."
Britney's manager Larry Rudolph has previously compared her new songs as comparable to R&B singer The Weeknd.
Larry said: "It's different, it's a turn. The last few albums have been pretty straightforward pop. This is almost like if you can imagine Britney meets The Weeknd. It's got a really interesting vibe, it's a lot of really cool stuff."
Although there is no set release date for the hitmakers new musical wonder Larry has teased it will be later this year.
Britney is the cover star of V Magazine's 100th issue which comes out on Tuesday (08.03.16) and for which she was shot by Mario Testino.
Taking to Twitter to share her cover, she also tweeted: "On stands this week!! @vmagazine and @MarioTestino know how to make mag cover magic. #V100 (sic)"

Izzy Stradlin will not be involved in the Guns N' Roses reunion.
The co-founder of the band who quit at the height of the band's success in 1991, has confirmed he's not going to perform with his former bandmates - Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan - when they get back together for concerts in Las Vegas and Mexico and a headline slot at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "At this point in time, I will not be playing at any of the April 2016 GNR shows. I've also not been in the studio recording or writing with any of the others recently. There is so much speculation, but so very little info, [that] I thought I should reach out."
The 53-year-old guitarist - who recorded three studio albums with the 'Paradise City' hitmakers - also shut down rumours he has been in the studio with the rock group, and confirmed that the Twitter account '@Izzystradlin999', where he's seemingly been answering fans' questions, is actually his official presence on the social networking site.
He added: "I know there's a lot of questions regarding my Twitter account. But it's me. I opened the Twitter account. There was just so much speculation going on regarding my involvement and studio recording. There's so much misinformation, so I wanted to clarify that I'm not in the studio recording with any of the Guns N' Roses guys. At this point in time, I'm not involved in the actual shows ... A lot of stuff [fans] are reading isn't true."
The news comes after Alan Niven - the first Guns N' Roses manager who served from 1986 to 1991 - had falsely claimed bassist Duff and Izzy had been in the studio.

The Foo Fighters are to release a band statement tonight (02.03.16) - following break-up rumours.
The news of the big announcement comes after speculation that frontman Dave Grohl could be set to start a solo career.
Taking to their Twitter account on Tuesday night (01.02.16) they wrote: "Official band announcement tomorrow night. Stay tuned."
Many fans have aired their concerns on social media that the 'All My Life' rock group - which also includes Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Nate Mendel - are going to announce they are splitting up.
However, a spokesperson for the band said the claims are "utterly ridiculous".
The heavy rockers are believed to be on a hiatus, however, and a source close to the group has claimed 47-year-old Grohl - who is married to Jordyn Blum - is planning to go it alone.
The insider shared: "The band is billing it as a 'break,' but it's totally Dave going solo, and Taylor is p***ed about it."
It has also been reported that Grohl's acoustic cover of The Beatles song 'Blackbird' at the Oscars on Sunday night (29.02.16) marked his first foray into the industry as a solo artist.

Eagles of Death Metal have cancelled the rest of their European tour after Jesse Hughes injured his finger.
The 'I Want You So Hard' hitmakers were expected to perform eight further gigs, including a show on Saturday (27.02.16) in Italy, however the band released a statement on their Facebook page today (26.02.16) confirming the gigs will no longer take place after Jesse tore a tendon in his finger.
The statement reads: "Eagles of Death Metal has regrettably been forced to cancel the remainder of their European tour due to founder Jesse Hughes tearing a tendon in his finger.
"Hughes has tried to play through the injury during the current tour, but doctors have advised that the only way to properly heal it is to stop playing now, or risk further injury and having to cancel several weeks worth of shows. EODM will be cancelling the last eight shows of their current European run. (sic)"
The 43-year-old rocker himself is "devastated" he can't continue with the European shows - which were rescheduled following the terrorist attacks in Paris, France, last November, during which their concert at Le Bataclan theatre was stormed by gunmen.
However, they group have promised to return "stronger" in the summer when they expect to resume the tour.
He said: "I'm devastated that we cannot continue what has been a life-changing return to Europe, but I need to get repaired so we can continue to play rock music around this beautiful world, including coming back to Europe even stronger in the summer."

Richard Ashcroft wished he'd collaborated with Noel Gallagher "years ago".
The former Oasis rocker admitted last year he was keen to record an album with the ex-Verve singer, and now the 'Sonnet' hitmaker has admitted it could still happen.
Asked if he'd work with Noel, he said: "It's a great compliment for Noel to say something like that, and in the future who knows what might happen. I wish things like this would've happened years ago."
The 44-year-old star - who will release his first solo LP in 10 years, 'These People' on May 20 - said that although they were Britpop rivals in the 90s, on reflection he was proud of Noel and Oasis.
Speaking in the latest issue of NME magazine, he said: "Even the guys we had a bit of friction with, I look back and wish them luck. "
Meanwhile, Richard - who inspired Oasis' song 'Cast No Shadow' - gave his thoughts on the current state of rock music and thinks it has "sold itself up the river" and gone too mainstream because of shows like 'The X Factor'.
He said: "It's sold itself up the river, stabbed people in the back instead of trying to create a good, solid British music alternative. Turn left for Cowell, turn right for this. The mainstream consumed our culture.
"You can get as many songwriters in a room as you want for your new talent show contest winner, it's never gonna sound like a great Noel Gallagher song sung by Liam, it's never gonna reach 'Live Forever', it's never gonna be [Verve song] 'Lucky Man'. We know that."

Dizzee Rascal has joined the line-up for London's SW4 festival.
The 31-year-old rapper will perform his first gig in the UK capital in three years on Saturday 27 August, when he takes to the stage at Clapham Common ahead of fellow headliners Rudimental.
Also appearing this year are Chemical Brothers, who will headline on 28 August, Above & Beyond and Gorgon City.
Electronic duo Chemical Brothers - composed of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons - are thrilled to be a part of this year's festival.
In a statement, they said: "We're both delighted to be playing at SW4 in London in the summertime. It has been a long time, too long. See you there!"
The special set will mark their first outdoor performance in their home city in over half a decade.
Other acts playing are Berlin-based duo Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier aka Booka Shade, Hunter/Game, techno star Joseph Capriati.
The weekender takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Clapham Common in south London.
Tickets for SW4 Saturday, SW4 Sunday and weekend tickets are on sale now. Visit www.southwestfour.com/tickets for more information.

Matt Healy turned to "cigarettes, coffee, drugs and women" to get through a "tough time".
The 1975 frontman admitted he struggled with life on the road before returning to the recording studio to work on the group's latest offering 'I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It', so needed "constant" stimulation, though he insists that doesn't make him a bad person.
Defending his lifestyle, he said: "Any dilemma I have is always met with a very British sense of not wanting to feel sorry for myself.
"I am aware that if a young frontman of a pop band, loved by millions of girls, starts feeling down or emotional, people think, 'Ah, f*** off mate.
"But I really had a tough time before this album. I needed to be constantly stimulated.
Whether it's cigarettes, coffee, drugs or women, I am always there and wanting. And I don't mean I am a misogynist or a sh*g bag d***head.
"By the end of the first album, we were the hardest-working band in the world but we were also exhausted and tired. And when you've been away from home and reality that long, you start finding comfort in other things."
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old rocker - who is the son of actress Denise Welch and actor Tim Healy - said he was worried about sounding like a "w***r" by writing songs and singing about the same stuff they did on their first record on their sophomore album.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper, he said: "Bettering myself, growing up and having self-awareness is an integral part of my music but I feared trying to write about what I did on the first record and coming across as a "w***r."

Grimes has decided to dissociate herself from drugs for the sake of her fans.
The 27-year-old Canadian singer has seen many of her close friends die from narcotic use over the years and now she's decided to make a stand by not letting substances ruin her image as an artist because she's a role model for teenagers.
Speaking to ES magazine she said: "I've had a couple of very close friends die related to complications due to drug abuse. It can't be part of my life any more.
" And I don't want it to be part of Grimes either, because whether I like it or not, people do what I do -- or think what I do is cool. If you meet kids after a show and they're like, 'Yeah, Grimes, I want to do drugs with you.' It's f***ing scary when 13 year olds are like that. You're like: 'Oh my God, I'm like ruining the world' "'
Meanwhile, Grimes - whose real name is Claire Botcher - also admitted she is "allergic" to the idea of her music and work as a producer being judged on appearance because until now she thought she was "ugly".
She explained: "I was always a very ugly person until recently. I had terrible hair and bad skin. So the whole thing is pretty odd.
"My self-identity is so strongly based on my abilities as an artist and as a producer and an engineer, I'm allergic to the idea of ever being evaluated on my physical appearance.
"When people are like, 'Marry me, Grimes' -- I'm like, AGHHHGH. Like I can't... it's every day. Marry me, marry me. It's so weird."

Lorde has been praised for her "egoless" tribute to David Bowie.
The 19-year-old singer was joined by Bowie's former touring band for her rendition of his track 'Life On Mars' at the BRIT Awards at London's O2 on Wednesday (24.02.16) and the late musician's producer called it the perfect tribute to the star.
He wrote on Facebook: "A first class, respectful, sensitive, egoless tribute to dear David. Thank you Gail Ann Dorsey, Gerry Leonard, Mike Garson, Sterling Campell, Catherine Russel and Earl Slick. David loved you and I love you. Lorde, you rocked it! And thanks to The Brits. As the UK is my other 'home' I have to say you did the right thing."
He also praised Annie Lennox and Gary Oldman, who spoke movingly about the late musician, who died in January following a secret battle with cancer.
Visconti, who produced David's final album 'Blackstar', said: "Annie Lennox, love you. Gary Oldman, love you, and thank you for letting me play with your iPhone 6 when you came to listen to Blackstar in the making. You and David were cracking me up! What great friends you were."
David's son Duncan Jones was also touched, writing on Twitter: "Finally found the links to tonight's Brits. Just... beautiful. Thank you (sic)."
The praise comes after Duncan posted a cryptic tweet appearing to blast Lady Gaga following her tribute to his late father at the Grammy Awards.
He posted the Oxford English Dictionary's definition for the word "gaga" on Twitter the ceremony earlier this month, after the 29-year-old star performed nine of the late musician's hits in a stunning six-minute performance.
Bowie's son tweeted: "overexcited or irrational, typically as a result of infatuation or excessive enthusiasm; mentally confused." Damn it! What IS that word!? (sic)"