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Monster Truck support Nickelback on European tour


Monster Truck are to support Nickelback on their European tour.
The Canadian rockers are thrilled to be returning to Europe in September and October on the 'Photograph' hitmakers arena tour.
Of their slot, guitarist Jeremy Widerman said: "Really excited to be doing an extensive tour of Europe and the U.K. And that we can finally add in many dates that we have been waiting to make our debut in. Also super stoked to be supporting fellow Canadians while playing some of the nicest arenas in the world."
The 'Sittin' Heavy' rockers have an impressive support slot CV having opened up for Guns N' Roses, Slash, Alice in Chains and ZZ Top within the last two years.
Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger first announced their tour on the band's official Twitter account.
He wrote: "Get ready Europe, we are bringing one hell of a loud party to our fans over there!"
The tour announcement comes they revealed they would be rescheduling last year's tour dates after Chad underwent vocal cord surgery in August, forcing them to axe their shows around the globe.
The band are also working on a follow-up to 2014's 'No Fixed Address'.

Nickelback with Monster Truck 2016 tour dates are as follows:

September 2, Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
September 4, Spektrum Oslo, Norway
September 6, Ericsson Globe, Stockholm, Sweden
September 8, Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning, Denmark
September 10, Zalgiris, Kaunas, Lithuania
September 13, Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
September 15, Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
September 16, SportArena, Budapest, Hungary
September 18, O2 Arena - Prague, Czech Republic
September 21, Towar, Warsaw, Poland
September 23, Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
September 24 Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg, Germany
September 27, Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany
September 29, Rockhal, Luxembourg
September 30, Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium
October 2, SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
October 3, Ziggodome, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
October 12, Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, UK
October 14, Genting Arena, Birmingham, UK
October 15, Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, UK
October 17, SSE Arena Wembley, London, UK
October 19, Arena, Manchester, UK
October 20, O2 Arena, London, UK
October 22, Echo Arena, Liverpool, UK
October 24, Hydro Arena, Glasgow, UK
October 25, Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, UK

Tickets will go on sale at www.ilovemonstertruck.com

Ariana Grande’s ‘edgy’ music


Ariana Grande's new music is more "edgy".
The 22-year-old singer has revealed she is trying a new angle for her latest tracks but still thinks it is important to "stay true to who you are".
She said: "My new music has a bit of an edge to it and I've been having fun incorporating that into my style.
"For the Grammys we really wanted to do something classic with that edge - I loved the Ramona Keveza gown I wore! I think it is important to stay true to who you are and pick things that you really really love."
The 'Break Free' hitmaker also praised her fans, insisting she would be "nothing" without them.
She added to Miss Vogue magazine: "I am just really excited about making music that I love and that my fans love. I mean, without my fans I'd be nothing!
"They are the most supportive and loving fans. I like to be able to connect with them and share my life with them."
Meanwhile, Ariana previously revealed her new album is an "evolution".
She explained: "It's my best album yet. It's like an evolution. It's like a progression and it feels very me, but it feels like a more evolved version. It's a little more forward."

Benji Madden: Good Charlotte was ‘breaking down’


Benji Madden felt like Good Charlotte was going to "kill" him.
Whilst reflecting on the rockers last decade as a band, the guitarist - who is married to Cameron Diaz - insists if they hadn't taken time off to find themselves in 2011, they could've ended up in an even darker place and their career could have been over permanently.
He explained: "We were breaking down after doing five albums in 10 years. It was like being thrown out of a plane without any warning, and suddenly we realised that there was no parachute. We hung in there and toughed it out, but eventually I couldn't help thinking, 'This thing's going to kill us if we don't take a second for ourselves.' All of us needed to figure out who we were outside of Good Charlotte, what we wanted to do with our lives, and there was no point doing this if it wasn't exciting any more."
Recalling the same difficult period in the group's history, lead vocalist Joel Madden - who is Benji's twin brother - admits he felt like his whole life was revolving around what everyone else wanted and he wanted a break because he wasn't prepared for his children, son Sparrow, six, and daughter Harlow, eight, and wife Nicole Richie to come second.
The 'Makeshift Love' hitmaker told Rock Sound magazine: "We made a record at the end that almost felt like an exercise. My son (Sparrow) had just been born, and my daughter spent the first two years of her life on a tour bus. I was missing a lot at home, and we all had our families to think of. It had become more about what other people wanted - the fans, the label, not wanting to let anyone down."

Blink-182 finish album


Blink-182 have completed work on their new album.
The 'All the Small Things' rockers - who parted ways with founder member Tom DeLonge last year and replaced him with Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba - scrapped 16 songs for the record and are thrilled with the replacement tracks.
Drummer Travis Barker told Punkvideosrock.com: "The album's done, I'll be honest with everybody.
"It's just a matter of picking what 12 to 14 songs are going to be on the album. I think we wrote 26 or 27? So everyone right now is really pushing for their favourites."
There is no release date yet for the record - the follow-up to 2011's 'Neighborhoods' - but the group have been working hard to get it finished.
Travis said: "We've been working probably like 15-20 hour days so it's been a lot of time in the studio ... I was literally at (producer John Feldman's) house until 2 or 3am the day before the Grammys ... I was recording Blink drums."
And working with Matt has made things much easier for the trio.
Travis explained: "It was great to have someone who wants to be in the studio all the time with us. It has been amazing. I think the days of making great records, at least with Blink, the proof has been shown that it's great when we're all in the studio together.
"I think just sending track and sending ideas back and forth through the internet, it can't be as collaborative as it should be. I love us all being in the studio and throwing around ideas and really collaborating."
A new single will be revealed in the coming months, while a tour will be announced within the next six weeks.

Massive Attack to headline BST in Hyde Park 2016


Massive Attack are to headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park.
The 'Teardrop' hitmakers will take to the Great Oak Stage on July 1, where the will showcase a new audio-visual live show designed by Robert Del Naja and United Visual Artists.
James King, Senior Vice President of AEG Live, said: "With powerful beats, orchestral arrangements, beautiful melodies by incredible vocalists, inspired video art - it's hard to think of a more important moment for the World to listen to Massive Attack than right now.
"The band's production has always been a shining light in live music and to see their video art across 900m2 of screen on the Great Oak Stage will be a truly breathtaking sight."
Joining Massive Attack in Hyde Park, London, will be Patti Smith, Young Fathers - who supported the group on their recent European tour - TV On The Radio, Warpaint and Ghostpoet, with further acts to be announced in the coming weeks.
A Barclaycard pre-sale starts today (07.03.16), with an AEG pre-sale on Thursday (10.03.16), a day before tickets go on general sale.
As previously announced, this year's Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park will see Florence + the Machine and Kendrick Lamar take to the stage on July 2, Mumford & Sons, Alabama Shakes and Wolf Alice perform on July 8 and Take That, Olly Murs and Ella Eyre make an appearance on July 9.

Robbie Williams ready to make new music


Robbie Williams is to start recording new music.
The 'Candy' singer hasn't released a solo album since 2013's 'Swings Both Ways' after taking a break from the pop world to help care for his two children, daughter Theodora, three, and 17-month-old son Charlton.
But he's been telling friends he "misses" making music and has decided now is the right time to get back in the studio, as his kids - who he has with wife Ayda Field - now have a settled routine and life.
A source close to the 42-year-old pop star told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Robbie is keen to get back in the studio and get his creative juices flowing. He misses making music."
Before taking a break from recording and touring, Robbie had a busy few years rejoining his old band Take That in 2010 for an album 'Progress' and a huge stadium tour in 2011 and also bringing out solo LP 'Take The Crown' in 2012.
Just last week he teased on social media he was ready to "entertain" again.
Using a play on words from his song 'Let Me Entertain You', the pop star wrote on Instagram: "I feel as though it's my duty to entertain you. RW x (sic)"
Meanwhile, Robbie is also believed to be keen to reunite with his Take That bandmates Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald and potentially fellow ex-member Jason Orange to mark the group's 25th anniversary next year.
A source previously revealed: "Robbie says he is up for coming back and performing again. He feels that he is at peace with the group and wants to help commemorate their astonishing rise."

Gary Barlow offers fans free birthday gigs


Gary Barlow has offered to sing for free at fans' birthdays.
The 45-year-old Take That singer has given his 4.2 million followers the chance to be serenaded by him for their special milestone parties, following his performances at five weddings last year.
Fans must get in touch with Gary via his Twitter account and make their case as to why he should perform at their parties.
Taking to his to his social media account on Sunday (06.03.16), he tweeted: "So 2015 was the year I sang at weddings! And what fun we had ... If you have a milestone birthday this year start your campaign now! ... 21, 30, 40, 60, 110 !!!!! I'll come and sing at your party ... Good luck everyone ! Xx (sic)"
Gary surprised newlyweds Stephen and Katie Hardy when he performed for nothing at the nuptials back in August of 2015. The happy couple had no idea he was going to make an appearance at their reception and were left "speechless" when he sang 2006 hit 'Rule The World'.
In May of the same year he again sang for another couple Anita Booth and Alex Morrissey who were watching an impersonator of the 'Back For Good' hitmaker before Gary himself took over the microphone to sing 'A Million Love Songs' at their wedding in Manchester, North West England.

Kelly Clarkson slams Dr Luke


Kelly Clarkson claims she was "blackmailed" into working with Dr. Luke.
Last month, a court ruled that Kesha must abide by her contract with Sony Music and Dr. Luke, despite her allegations that she was sexually abused by the record producer and although Kelly says she doesn't know anything about Kesha's situation, she claimed he is "not a good person".
Speaking about the producer, who she worked with on 'Since You've Been Gone' and 'Behind These Hazel Eyes', Kelly told Australia's KIIS 106.5: "I'll be honest about the guy, but I don't know that situation. He's not a good person, to me. We've clashed. He's difficult to work with, he's kind of demeaning.
"Obviously he's a talented dude but he's lied a lot. Musically it's been really hard for me because he will just lie to people and it makes the artist look bad.
"When so many artists don't like you, that says something. I only worked with him because literally I was blackmailed by my label. It was a really hard time for me.
"We have a whole crew to support...people that depend on us for their livelihood so sometimes you have to make decisions that you just have to swallow that pill."
However, Kelly added that her problems with Dr. Luke - real name Lukasz Gottwald - were strictly professional,adding: "He never did anything like that [alleged sexual assault] to me."
After Kesha's court ruling was revealed, Kelly took to Twitter to write: "Trying 2 not say anything since I can't say anything nice about a person... so this is me not talking about Dr. Luke (sic)."
Dr. Luke - whose Kemosabe Records is part of Sony-owned RCA - had denied all of Kesha's allegations.

Iggy Pop’s money worries


Iggy Pop "worries constantly" about being poor.
The 68-year-old musician admits he fears blowing all his money and not having enough to get him through his old age.
He said: "What I think about is feeling I'm going to blow it. I have this picture of myself in some little old people's home with a bunch of other old geezers, and a flannel robe with holes in it, waiting for somebody.
"Even 15 years ago, my accountant was saying, 'You will never be poor, don't worry.' But I do worry. I worry constantly. It drives me nuts."
However, Iggy's collaborator Josh Homme believes the 'Passenger' hitmaker's fear is only good news for music as a whole.
Iggy said: "[Michel] Houellebecq has a great line where he says: "Money is an excellent motivator for a great piece of art."
In a joint interview, Josh added to The Guardian's Guide magazine: "As long as it encourages risk. Safety equals death. If you reach a certain status, or age, or a monetary thing, people play it safe, they lose the plot, they quit on themselves, they copy themselves. They're afraid. They say, 'I only play the blues!' I'm like, 'What, why?'"

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