Music News

The Vamps are "excited" to debut their new material on their UK tour.
The quartet - which comprises James McVey, Bradley Simpson, Connor Ball and Tristan Evans - are looking forward to showcasing some of their newer material to their "home" fans for the first time when their run of shows kicks off later this month.
James said: "We're very excited. It's very, very exciting.
"We love touring the UK because it's home. And we've got a whole new album worth of material we've not gigged over here yet, so we are very very excited.
"We're going into rehearsals tomorrow to put the set together."
Though the group only released their second album, 'Wake Up', in November, they are already looking ahead to the follow-up record and have started writing new songs.
However, it is still too early to know how the record will sound.
Bradley told BANG Showbiz: "We have started writing it but it is an open book at the moment, so I guess we will see how we feel and how it develops."
The Vamps' 2016 tour kicks off in Birmingham on March 25, and runs until April 16.

Keith Emerson has died.
The rock legend - who is arguably most well known as part of progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer - has sadly passed away at the age of 71.
A post on the band's official Facebook page reads: "We regret to announce that Keith Emerson died last night (10.03.16) at his home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, aged 71. We ask that the family's privacy and grief be respected."
The late star inspired and captivated fans as the keyboardist of the group, whilst also being known for his many solo albums and his time with The Nice in the 60s.
In a statement, bandmate Carl Palmer said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend and brother-in-music Keith Emerson. Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come.
"He was a pioneer and an innovator whose musical genius touched all of us in the worlds of rock, classical and jazz. I will always remember his warm smile, good sense of humour, compelling showmanship and dedication to his musical craft."
The group last performed together in 2010, with their final concert taking place at London's High Voltage Festival to mark 40 years since the group was founded.

Sister Sledge want to work with Nile Rodgers again.
The Chic guitarist co-wrote the soul group's biggest ever single 'We Are Family' in 1979 and produced the smash album of the same name with his late musical partner Bernard Edwards which also contained the iconic tracks 'Lost In Music', 'He's The Greatest Dancer and 'Thinking Of You'.
Singer Joni Sledge would love to get in the recording studio with Nile again because he's a "musical genius".
Asked if they'd collaborate with the 'Get Lucky' hitmaker again, Joni exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Why not? I love Nile he's great. He's got his own style he's great to work with. And he is a musical genius it would be nice to work with him again."
The group - also comprised of Joni's siblings Kim and Debbie Sledge - have listened to Nile's forthcoming new Chic LP 'It's About Time' and have told fans to expect more of his "signature vibe" and trademark guitar riffs played on his 'Hitmaker' Fender Stratocaster.
Joni, 59, said: "I have heard the new Chic album. It is very reminiscent of the past and reminds me of his whole signature vibe. As a matter of fact I think the single was very similar to a song we did with him called 'Love Sublime'."
"You can expect some incredible rhythms, some world influences. Some very personal accounts and a lot of upbeat things, a lot of dancing, fun and harmony."
The forthcoming Chic record is expected to feature collaborations with Sir Elton John, Chaka Khan, Miley Cyrus and Janelle Monae among others.
And Nile also teased that there could be another Pharrell song on their.
He previously hinted: "Maybe, Pharrell ... maybe. I think maybe is a really good answer to that question! I want to leave some surprises until the album is out."
Sister Sledge will perform at Women of the World festival at London's Southbank Centre on Sunday March 13.
They also have a new track out in April, 'Women are the Music of the World'.

Britney Spears is working with Beyoncé's songwriter.
Carla Marie Williams - who has worked with numerous pop stars, including the 'Halo' hitmaker and Kylie Minogue - has revealed she's helping the 'Toxic' singer on her new album.
She said: "Recently I've been working with Britney, which has been great."
Carla has also been busy in the studio with Beyoncé and has revealed fans can expect to listen to songs that deal with a lot of "real issues" on her upcoming "powerful" sixth solo album, from which 'Formation' has already been released.
The tunesmith told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "When I am in the studio with Beyoncé she makes you feel at ease you forget she's a superstar. I'm loving where she's going. I haven't heard the whole album but we're talking real issues. The new single we've done is very powerful."
As for Britney's eagerly-anticipated ninth studio LP - her first since 2013's 'Britney Jean' - the pop megastar believes it contains some of the best material she has recorded for some time.
Britney previously 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."

Garbage are releasing their first album in four years.
The rock group - consisting of Shirley Manson, Steve Marker, Duke Erikson and Butch Vig - are returning with 'Strange Little Birds', an 11-track LP which they have self-produced.
The record will be released on June 10 via the band's STUNVOLUME label and it comes amidst their tour of Europe and the UK - which kicks off on May 24.
The 'Why Do You Love Me' hitmakers announced the album release and artwork on Twitter yesterday (10.03.16), tweeting: "We're very excited to officially announce our new album 'Strange Little Birds' will be released on June 10th, 2016."
Frontwoman Shirley described the album's overlying principle as "keeping it fresh, and relying on instinct both "lyrically and musically."
She also compared it to their 1995 self-titled debut, which the group reissued and took on tour for its 20th anniversary last year.
She said: "To me, this record, funnily enough, has the most to do with the first record than any of the previous records. It's getting back to that beginner's headspace."
Working initially in Butch's basement and then at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Garbage drew on a variety of sources, from their recent fan letters back to the albums they loved growing up.
The 'Strange Little Birds' is "less fussed over" than anything they've done before
Butch added: "We fell in love with immediacy."
'Strange Little Birds' is the follow-up to 2012's 'Not Your Kind of People', and here's the new album's full tracklisting and their European tour dates:

'Strange Little Birds' tracklist:

01 Sometimes
02 Empty
03 Blackout
04 If I Lost You
05 Night Drive Loneliness
06 Even Though Our Love Is Doomed
07 Magnetized
08 We Never Tell
09 So We Can Stay Alive
10 Teaching Little Fingers To Play
11 Amends

Iggy Pop's 'Post Pop Depression' LP could be his last.
The 68-year-old rocker teamed up with Eagles of Death Metal's Josh Homme, Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders and Dean Fertita from the Dead Weather for the record and he is so pleased with how 17th studio album has turned out he wouldn't mind if it was his last ever release.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper, he said: "I shacked up in the desert with a bunch of guys to do the record. But then you find you've got a tiger by the tail and suddenly there is more travelling and a tour. I just don't think it would be wise for me to engage on this level constantly. I thought I would just throw my dice out on the table right now. I feel good about the record. I would be fine if this was my last album."
Before this collaborative project came along the Stooges frontman felt like a "creative failure" and admits he was "frustrated" after his 1993 record 'American Caesar' and it wasn't until 2009's 'Préliminaires' and 2012's 'Après' that he got his music-making mojo back.
He explained: "I was feeling like a creative failure in the recording sense. I felt stifled as vocalist, as a lyricist and as a person. I felt frustrated really with everything I had done since my 1993 album 'American Caesar'. That was the last one where I was really able to put pedal to the metal.
There had been a little daylight more recently in the form of 'Preliminaries' and 'Apres', the two albums I made which looked towards France.
I could forget the whole straitjacket and work on lyrics and vocals. But ultimately the time had come to help me and give it one big shot."

Damon Albarn thinks more artists should be like Kanye West.
The Blur frontman has followed the controversial rapper's career ever since he emerged in the early 2000s and he believes modern pop stars could learn a thing or two from the 'Real Friends' hitmaker, whom he is a fan of.
Damon - who former animated band Gorillaz away from Blur and has numerous other side projects - said: "I've known Kanye since he first arrived. Some of his ideas are brilliant and some of them are really bad, but that doesn't matter ... He's interesting, definitely. I'd rather people were like that than just really safe."
The 'Song 2' hitmaker - who is the chief songwriter for Blur - also offered his thoughts on Kanye's decision to stream his latest LP 'The Life of Pablo' exclusively on Jay Z's paid-for streaming service Tidal.
Damon doesn't think it's the right platform for Kanye's music and he thinks he should want to reach as wide an audience as possible with his music.
The Britpop legend told website Noisey: "He's put it on Tidal has he? That's probably not the best place for it."
Damon's comments come after Kanye said he will not be releasing his music on CD any more because he thinks the format is dead.
He previously tweeted: "I was thinking about not making CDs ever again ... Only streaming ... the Yeezus album packaging was an open casket to CDs r.i.p ... uuuuuuum, so there it is ... No more CDs from me (sic)"

Kiefer Sutherland has announced his debut album and tour.
The '24' actor is preparing for the release of the "folk-tinged" 'Down in the Hole' and will also embark on a 26-city tour in the US to support it.
Speaking about making the jump from acting to music, Kiefer revealed he has bared his soul on the 11-track record.
He said: "It's the closest thing I've ever had to a journal or diary. There is something very satisfying about being able to look back on my own life, good times and bad, and express those sentiments in music."
And Kiefer can't wait to share the tracks with his fans.
He explained: "As much as I have enjoyed the writing and recording process, I am experiencing great joy now being able to play these songs to a live audience, which was something I hadn't counted on."
In 2002, Kiefer founded the Ironworks record label with singer-songwriter Jude Cole, in order to help aspiring musicians to record and release their music.

Gwen Stefani shelved an entire album to make 'This Is What Truth Feels Like'.
The 46-year-old singer had been working with other songwriters on her third solo LP but couldn't relate to any of the songs after splitting from husband Gavin Rossdale last October after 13 years of marriage.
She said: "Every song that people would write for me felt like me 12 years ago, me 10 years ago. And lyrically they could never touch my heart, ever."
Despite recording a full album, Gwen decided against releasing it once sessions for her forthcoming LP began to take off.
However, her record company were unconvinced by the material she was working on for the record.
Recalling a phone call which felt like "five people punching me in the stomach," she told the New York Times newspaper she was told: "We support you, you should put out an artistic record, and don't go for radio. It's over for you, basically."
But the 'Sweet Escape' hitmaker quickly caused a turnaround among executives.
John Janick, the chairman and chief executive of Interscope Geffen A&M, recalled "I said, 'I'm not sure you have the song that's going to really connect with people.'
"And two days later, she sent us 'Used to Love You.' "
Delighted Gwen was then told: "You have a hit".
The 'Used to Love You' singer admitted she is surprised she is still making music after so long.
She said: "I don't even understand how I could possibly have had this long a career, or a career at all.
"And that anyone cares, and that I'm relevant or anything, it just blows my mind."