Music News

Brian May says David Bowie's death is an "inestimable loss" to music and culture.
The Queen guitarist shared a touching post on his official website (Brianmay.com) on Monday night (11.01.16) in which he hailed the 'Scary Monsters' songwriter as a "fearsome talent".
In the blog entry entitled "RIP David Bowie", he wrote: "I woke up late, after a long night, to shocking news. David Bowie gone. I don't know if I can react immediately. He was a fearsome talent, and the loss to Music and Culture from his passing is inestimable. In and out of our lives, always challenging and innovative, and ... shocking ... (sic)"
May, 68, is finding it "hard" to come to terms with the loss of his friend - who died on Sunday (10.01.16) following an 18-month battle with cancer - and wished he had known Bowie was ill so he could have spoken to his "hero" before he died.
He continued: "This news is hard to take in. I had no idea he was close to death. Would like to have said something ... Very sad. Sincere condolences to his family. But what a life. All hail, David Bowie, Star Man, Hero. RIP. Bri (sic)"
Queen worked with Bowie on their 1981 song 'Under Pressure', which was a worldwide hit and has gone on to be sampled in numerous other hits including Vanilla Ice rap smash 'Ice Ice Baby'
The 'Starman' singer first performed the track live with Annie Lennox and Queen at the 'Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert' in April 1992 - to celebrate the life of Freddie following his death in November 1991.
From then on Bowie included 'Under Pressure' in most of his live sets with bassist Gail Ann Dorsey taking on Freddie's vocal parts.

Natalie Cole was laid to rest yesterday (11.01.16).
The funeral for the 'Miss You Like Crazy' singer - who tragically died of congestive heart failure on December 31 at just 65-years-old - was held at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles where mourners gathered to pay their respects.
Addressing the congregation, Lionel Richie paid tribute to the late star and spoke of the "extra pressure" she was under to succeed, given that her dad, Nat King Cole, was already a "superstar".
He said: "Natalie had one extra pressure that she was faced with every day of her life.
"She was a little girl who wanted to be a superstar in a family that already had a superstar. That's what make her prize of winning so unforgettable."
Smokey Robinson spoke of his "blessing" at knowing Natalie, telling the mourners: "I feel so blessed to have called Natalie my friend, and my buddy, and many times my confidante. You are so real and down to earth. Now I have to say you're so real and up to heaven."
Musical tributes were paid by Stevie Wonder, who sang an a cappella version of the Lord's Prayer, and Chaka Khan during the three-hour service.
Following the celebration of Natalie's life, the congregation gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, where Natalie was finally laid to rest alongside her parents.

Christina Aguilera has hinted she's working on a new album.
The 'Fighter' hitmaker has teased she's planning to release new material this year after she uploaded a photograph to her Instagram account on Saturday (09.01.16) of her taking pen-to-paper in a mystery recording studio.
Christina, 35, last spoke of a new record in 2014 when she revealed she'd teamed up with Pharrell Williams - who she worked with on the American version of 'The Voice' - and was very keen on one of the tracks he'd had suggested.
She previously said: "During my pregnancy, I had a meeting with [Pharrell] and just connected on where I want to take the next album. And we started talking music, and he has one song in particular that I love."
The 'Beautiful' singer - whose last studio LP was 2012's 'Lotus' - wants to ensure her record is "genuine" before she releases it and is determined to "pour" her heart into it.
Christina - who has two children Max, seven, and 16-month-old daughter Summer from two separate relationships - said previously: "I just have to make sure it is right and it is genuine and heartfelt. I'm very excited to pour my heart out into this record fully."

The Rolling Stones have paid tribute to "true original" David Bowie.
The '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' hitmakers hailed the music icon - who died on Sunday (10.01.16) at the age of 69 after a secret 18-month battle with cancer - as a "kind man" and "an extraordinary artist".
The band tweeted from their official account: "The Rolling Stones are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend David Bowie... As well as being a wonderful and kind man, he was an extraordinary artist, and a true original. #DavidBowie (sic)"
Guitarist Ronnie Wood added on his own Twitter page: "Thinking of you David, God bless XR (sic)."
Frontman Mick Jagger collaborated with the 'Space Oddity' hitmaker on their infamous track 'Dancing In The Street' in 1985.
Elsewhere, fans have been laying flowers and tributes for the late star at a mural in Bowie's native Brixton, south London.
The painting, on the wall of Morley's Department Store, includes his trademark lightning flash make-up, which was used as the artwork for his 1973 LP 'Aladdin Sane'.
And a street party is expected to take place at Brixton's Ritz cinema from 7pm on Monday where people will be able to pay their respects, according to a Facebook event page.
A message on the page, reads: "Bowie's time on this earth was brief, but he sure left us some great music. Today is a day to gather together and celebrate."
Bowie was born in Brixton on January 8, 1947.

'Blackstar' was David Bowie's "parting gift".
Bowie's long-term producer Tony Visconti has worked with the music legend - who died on Sunday (10.01.16) following a secret 18-month battle with cancer - since 1967 and said he made his final album for his fans.
Taking to his Facebook page, Tony wrote: "He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life - a work of Art. He made 'Blackstar' for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it."
The 71-year-old music-maker added that it is "appropriate to cry" for the iconic artist, who passed away "peacefully surrounded by his family".
He continued: "He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."
'Blackstar' was the late musician's 25th studio album and was released on his 69th birthday last Friday, (08.01.16).

Michael Eavis has hailed David Bowie's performance of 'Heroes' in 2000 as the "best Glastonbury moment of all time".
And the festival organiser tried to get the 'Space Oddity' hitmaker - who died on Sunday (10.01.16) after a secret 18-month cancer battle - to play the festival in Somerset, south-west England for a third time after his 1971 and 2000 gigs, but was told there was no chance because he'd vowed not to perform on stage anymore
Remembering Bowie's final Glastonbury performance almost 16 years ago, Michael recalled: "He finished up with an encore of 'Heroes', which is the best song in the world as far as I'm concerned.
"That was a fantastic moment - I think maybe that was my best Glastonbury moment of all time. That was so brilliant. But he never came back again.
"We tried every year to persuade him to return to the festival but a couple of years ago we were told he would never tour again. Maybe they knew about his illness then."
Michael, 80, also remembered Bowie's "magical" first performance at the festival in 1971 when he played for free.
He said: "I remember in 1971 when this lovely looking hippy boy with long flowing hair walked into the farm with an acoustic guitar on his back.
"He just spoke to the stage manager and said: 'Can I play a few songs?'
"None of us had a clue who Bowie was but he played for about an hour on the pyramid stage at 4am just as the sun was coming up. It was magical.
"There were hippies everywhere and he looked the part. He just played some songs and got on with it.
Meanwhile, Michael's daughter and organiser Emily Eavis took to Twitter to pay tribute, sharing a picture of Bowie on his way to the pyramid stage.
She wrote: "This is a great moment, David Bowie on his way from the farmhouse to the Pyramid for his set at daybreak in 1971 (sic)."
A snippet of the interview with Michael Eavis talking about David Bowie can be found on audioboom.com via the following link http://bit.ly/1PnD5VX.

Lady Gaga has promised to release a new album in 2016.
The 'Poker Face' hitmaker - whose last solo LP release was 2013's 'Artpop' - has vowed to bring out a record this year but she can't say when the new tracks may drop.
Speaking at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (10.01.16) - where she picked up the Best Actress for a Limited Series or TV Movie prize for her performance in 'American Horror Story: Hotel' - she confirmed: "I am putting out an album this year. I won't tell you when, but it is coming out this year."
The 29-year-old singer - who released jazz album 'Cheek to Cheek' with Tony Bennett in 2014 - also admitted she wants to give back to her fans "as much" as they have given to her over the years with her new material.
She added: "With my music and my position in the world. I only hope to give back as much to my fans and to the universe as they have given to me through my work and through my life."
Elsewhere, Gaga - who is engaged to beau Taylor Kinney - says her role as Countess in HBO horror series 'American Horror Story: Hotel' has allowed her to gain perspective on her music as it made her realise she's a "little less reckless" now she's settled down and says the new stuff won't be so much of a reflection of her "pain".
She previously shared: "Now I have a safe house for my vices, so when I'm making music I just have a lot more clarity. I have a little less of an instinct to be reckless with my music now because I'm reckless in other places.
"So now I'm thinking more about what it is I want to say and what I want to leave on Earth. It's less an expression of all my pain."

Olly Murs will perform with Take That at Hyde Park this summer.
The 31-year-old singer - who also co-hosts 'The X Factor' with Caroline Flack - is "really excited" to be performing at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park on July 9 with the trio, where he will take to the stage as the 'Back For Good' hitmaker's fourth member for some songs.
He said: "I'm going to be a special guest. I haven't done a gig in Hyde Park before so I'm really excited. I love Gary and the boys. It will be a great gig."
The news comes not long after the 'Wrapped Up' hitmaker revealed he wants to make a Rat Pack-style album with Take That's Gary Barlow, former member Robbie Williams and singer Michael Bublé.
Olly previously said: "I want to do a swing album. Obviously Robbie and Michael Bublé have done them successfully. But I was thinking of doing a two-disc album where I did old songs, but on the second album I cover top hits from the last 20 years.
"I was thinking that me, Robbie, maybe Gary Barlow, Bublé, we could do a Rat Pack-style show at the Royal Albert Hall. We'll do our own songs, covers, it could be really fun."
And 'Angels' hitmaker Robbie - who left the band in 1995 and briefly re-joined in 2012 - has reportedly given Olly his blessing on the gig.
Olly told The Daily Star newspaper: "I've toured with Robbie, he's taught me so much. I'd love it if he came out but if not I'll be there."
And he teased that singer Gary and himself could be writing music together in the future.
He added: "Me and Gary have been talking about writing together for years. Maybe this is the time."

Kanye West leads tribute to the late David Bowie.
The 'Starman' hitmaker died aged 69 following an 18-month battle with cancer yesterday (10.01.16) and stars have flooded Twitter with their tributes of the iconic pop star.
Kanye West said Bowie was one of his "most important" inspirations.
He wrote: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.
"I pray for his family and friends."
And the Foo Fighters referred to him by his first name and said "rest in peace".
They wrote: "Rest in peace, David."
Elsewhere, singers Gary Numan and Alison Moyet also paid tribute to the singer, whose real name was David Jones.
Gary wrote: "A True Legend. David Bowie. RIP."
And Alison added: "David Bowie. Our greatest, gone and here forever. A world's heart breaks. #Bowie (sic)"
Adam Lambert and and Halsey have also shared touching tributes.
Adam ,33, wrote: "RIP Bowie"
And Halsey - whose real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane - was "devastated" to hear the news of his passing and hailed him someone who will "live forever in his cultural impact".
The 21-year-old singer, wrote: "Devastated to hear about David Bowie. A true legend who will live forever in his cultural impact. Wow (sic)"