Music News

Syd Barrett's 70th birthday has been marked with the launch of a new website featuring unseen family pictures.
The late Pink Floyd legend - who performed with the iconic prog rock group between 1965 to 1968 - died of pancreatic cancer in July of 2006 and would have turned 70 on Wednesday (06.01.16).
His career - including his time with former bandmates Roger Waters and Nick Mason - will be showcased with the release of never-seen-before photos and "unique resources" giving fans an insight to the life of the legendary musician and painter's life.
Never-before-seen photos from his childhood will also be shared online.
The official website, sydbarrett.com, has been created by his family and friends and was launched 12pm on his birth date.
Syd's nephew Ian Barrett, commented: "2016 promises to be an exciting year for Syd Barrett's fans and we hope that in keeping with my uncle's talents, this online resource will act as a springboard, inspiring a new generation of artists, both musical and visual."
One of the photos is a black and white shot of a younger Syd posing next to a chimpanzee.
The design of the website has been made in-keeping with the rock star's favourite colour, indigo and provides an intimate insight for Syd's fans.
The site will eventually be filled with memories of Syd and will be regularly updated with exclusive material such as, reviews, features from celebrity guest writers and more images.

Craig David is reportedly planning to make music with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.
The 'Born To Do It' hitmaker spoke with the former Girls Aloud singer backstage at 'The X Factor' live final last year about aligning their busy schedules to spend time in the studio together.
And Cheryl, 32, is keen to work with Craig - who performed with her 'X Factor' finalists Reggie 'n' Bollie - as she wants her follow-up to 2014's 'Only Human' LP to sound "more urban".
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Cheryl and Craig are fans of each other's work. Cheryl listened to Craig as a teenager and also likes his new material. He's keen to help write a track as the timing is perfect for both of them musically - she wants to go for a more urban sound."
Now her commitments to the series are over and 2016 is underway Cheryl is focusing all her energies on her next album and plans to start work soon.
Meanwhile, '7 Days' hitmaker Craig, 34, is gearing up to release his highly-anticipated new album 'My Intuition' this year, his first new record since 2010's covers album 'Signed Sealed Delivered'.
The 'Crazy Stupid Love' singer recently teased she's working on her next record when she posted a black and white selfie, alongside the caption: "Think it's time for the ... Studio!!! It is on 2016... (sic)"

Rihanna has unveiled her penultimate 'ANTIdiaRy' teaser video for her forthcoming album 'Anti'.
The 27-year-old singer has unlocked the seventh room of her promotional campaign and appears in the minute-long clip titled 'The Office'.
She is seen walking into a room full of people printing out receipts before it ends with her grabbing a golden crown from a young girl, it is the same headpiece which she wears on the album's artwork.
After this video the 'FourFiveSeconds' hitmaker will release a final teaser for fans to unlock named 'The Anti Bedroom' which fans are hoping will reveal a release date for her eagerly-anticipated eighth studio album.
Elsewhere, Australian pop star Sia has previewed her new track 'Reaper', which she had originally planned to give to RiRi for the album, but ended up keeping it for her own record 'This Is Acting', which will be released later this month.
The 'Elastic Heart' hitmaker - who co-wrote 'Reaper' with 'All Day' rapper Kanye West - had been working with Rihanna and offered her a plethora of songs, but she's not sure if they will make the final cut.
She previously shared: "The other night she came over and listened to half of 25 songs I played her because she's still looking for songs for her new album.
"She was there to listen to songs and see if there was anything that she was into. It was a business meeting for sure. She took four [songs] but I don't know if they'll end up [on the album]. I'm pretty sure I have one on the new album but I don't know if I'll end up with more than that."

Jason Derulo is planning "lots of energy" for his People's Choice Awards performance.
The 26-year-old singer will be taking to the stage on Wednesday night (06.01.16), where other performers include Shawn Mendes, and says the audience will be stunned with his routine.
He said: "I'm doing a mashup with 'Get Ugly' and 'Want to Want Me'. From a performance perspective, you can expect a lot of energy, tons of dancing. I'm really going to push the envelope dance wise. It's definitely a lost art."
One thing fans can expect is for the buff Jason to show off his artfully sculpted abs at some point during the show.
But Jason insists maintaining such a toned physique doesn't come easily.
He added to E! News: "It's all about taking in calories for fuel and not pleasure. I like to enjoy myself but I think of food more as fuel than a party. For the most part, I've stopped dieting and it's more about a lifestyle.
"It's all about a balance lifestyle but I do eat a high protein, very low-carb. Very rarely will I have a piece of bread. I also work out three times a day sometimes."

Stevie McCrorie doesn't think his debut LP 'Big World' will go to number one.
The 30-year-old singer - who won 'The Voice' in 2015 under the watchful eye of mentor Ricky Wilson - is gearing up to release his first record 'Big World' on Friday (08.01.16) and would love his record to make the top 10.
Asked what it would mean if his first album topped the charts, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "A number one album would mean I'm living in the clouds. I don't think that is going to happen, but if it did happen I'd be over the moon.
I'm not being negative, but I just can't see that happening."
However, Stevie - who's single 'Lost Stars' reached number six in the UK - would be living the "dream" if his album that he wrote himself was a chart-topper.
He added: "If something like that was going to happen for an album that I've wrote myself and deliberately didn't choose any covers that would be a dream come true and is something I could live with for the rest of my life, if I'd wrote a number one album. That would be the dream, but I don't know if that dream is achievable, but you never know. At the moment I'd just be so happy for it to go into the top 10."
Stevie McCrorie's debut album 'Big World' will be released via Decca Records on Friday January 8.

The memorial service for the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy has been extended to the whole of Sunset Strip.
The 'Ace of Spades' hitmaker - who passed away aged 70 on December 28 after a short battle with cancer - was initially set to be remembered with a special 12-hour service at The Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood on January 9.
But organisers have now been forced to extend the memorial all the way down the mile-and-a-half strip in order to cater for the high volume of people who want to pay their respects.
A statement released reads: "Due to the overwhelming and supportive response to Lemmy's memorial, we are now using the entire Strip to compensate for overflow.
"The Rainbow will close from 5.00 until 9.00 for a private service - however the Roxy and Whisky will remain open to accommodate those looking to show their respects."
It was announced yesterday (04.01.16) that the Los Angeles bar had been chosen to hold the memorial as it was the late rocker's favourite bar.
The bar's owner, Mikael Maglieri, comforted Lemmy by installing his favourite video game from the drinking venue into his home so he could play it in the lead up to his death.
Since it was revealed Lemmy had tragically passed away on December 28, The Rainbow Bar and Grill has become a makeshift shrine to the rocker - with fans leaving heartfelt tributes and emotional memorials outside the drinking den.

Travis Barker went ahead with his Las Vegas residency show against doctor's orders on Saturday (02.01.16).
The Blink-182 drummer was so determined to play the concert at Hyde Bellagio and despite feeling dizzy, having a high temperature and being told not to continue, he soldiered on and vowed to perform, even if he got to the stage of having to "pass out, throw up or died".
In a statement on his Facebook he wrote: "Thanks to everybody that came to Hyde Bellagio this past Saturday for the show and sound check. I had a 104 temp and was severely nauseous and dizzy. The paramedics demanded I not play and go to the hospital asap. I said I'm playing till I either pass out, throw up or die .... (sic)"
The 40-year-old rocker thanked his fans, some who had travelled from as far as Australia and Mexico to be at the US show for their support, which gave him the strength to complete the entire set of his '#GiveTheDrummerSome' residency show.
He continued: "Met so many of you guys at sound check that came from Mexico, Australia, etc. and there was no way I was gonna let you guys down. I got thru my entire set and I appreciate all the love. @clemente_310 #GIVETHEDRUMMERSOME (sic)."

Stevie McCrorie is "nervous" about how people will react to his debut LP 'Big World'.
The 30-year-old singer - who won 'The Voice' in 2014 with the help of mentor Ricky Wilson - is feeling anxious as he's not released his own music before and wasn't able to express himself fully on the talent show.
Speaking exclusively about his forthcoming record, he told BANG Showbiz: "I am so glad to have it out. I am quite nervous to see how people are going to react to it.
"I really want to get across the real me because when you are on a TV show it's hard to put yourself across. It's a talent show and you are playing a game to win it. Now, this is an opportunity to show people who I really am."
The Scottish rocker - who has three-year-old daughter Bibi with his wife Amy - has his day job as a fireman on hold until March, but is determined to make a go of being a pop star so he doesn't have to go back to his fire-fighting job.
He added: "I want to have a career out of music, it's something I've wanted to do all my life and I don't want to go back to my day job as a fireman. So that is a pressure that I want to be a successful artist. I don't want to be go back but I've got a family to support so I guess we will just wait and see how the album does, but I am going to give a good bash at it and do what I can not to go back."
Stevie McCrorie's debut album 'Big World' will be released via Decca Records on Friday January 8.

The Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood has died at the age of 81.
The Australian music mogul's passing was confirmed on Facebook by Spencer Gibb, the son of late Bee Gees star Robin Gibb, in a touching post.
At the time of writing a cause of death was not known.
In his social media post, Spencer wrote a moving tribute to Stigwood who he knew as "Stiggy" and who steered his father's group to worldwide fame and success.
He wrote on his Facebook page: "My godfather, and the long-time manager of my family, Robert Stigwood, has passed away. A creative genius with a very quick and dry wit, Robert was the driving force behind The Bee Gees career ... I would like to thank Robert for his kindness to me over the years as well as his mentorship to my family. "Stiggy", you will be missed."
Stigwood worked in advertising in his native Australia before moving to the UK at the age of 21 to enter the music and film industry.
He made his name representing English singer John Leyton, securing him a role on the TV show 'Harpers West One', and he went on to record a song 'Johnny Remember Me' which spent four weeks at number one in 1961.
After a period on bankruptcy, in 1966 he became a booking agent for The Who before signing them to his own Reaction Records label, where they recorded the hit single 'Substitute'.
He then managed Cream and Eric Clapton, before signing the Bee Gees in 1967 and going on to forge a working relationship with three brothers, Barry, Robin and Maurice which lasted a lifetime.
In 1968, he began working in musical theatre and his company The Robert Stigwood Organisation (RSO) oversaw the productions 'Hair'
'Oh! Calcutta!', 'Sweeney Todd' and eventually the last of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals 'Evita'.
Lord Lloyd Webber has taken to his Twitter account to pay tribute to his late friend, writing: "Farewell beloved Robert, the great showman who taught me so much. With love, ALW. (sic)"
Elaine Paige - who starred the original run of 'Evita' - also took to Twitter to remember Stigwood, writing: "Upsetting news: passing of legend Robert Stigwood (who,amongst so much,produced theatre prods incl #Evita) ... RIP (sic)"
Stigwood also turned his attention to movies and acted as the producer on 'Grease' and 'Saturday Night Fever' - for which the Bee Gees provided the acclaimed soundtrack.
He was responsible for casting fellow Australian Olivia Newton John in the role of Sandy in 1978 hit movie 'Grease', which also starred John Travolta in the part of Danny Zuko.