Music News

Frank Turner doesn't care what people think about his background.
The 'Way I Tend To Be' singer - who was offered a scholarship to attend a private school when he was younger - doesn't think upbringing should impact on artists' "ability to engage" and can't understand why some people find it a problem.
He told BANG Showbiz: "I'm an egalitarian, so I don't think somebody's start in life or class barrier or however you want to put it should affect their ability to engage if that's what they feel driven to do in their life, but it obviously does.
"I occupy a slightly weird middle ground because I got a scholarship to a private school, so I can see both sides.
" I thought James Blunt had a point when he said the music industry is one of very few avenues impacted by private education."
Despite his "middle ground" upbringing, the 34-year-old singer couldn't care less what people think of him in relation to his educational background.
He added: "The music industry is full of people who want to call me a **** because of where I went to school. But I've grown out of giving a f**k about that.
"But then James Blunt f***ed up by saying his alternative in life is to become a stockbroker. So I think it's a difficult debate, I don't think there's a simple and easy answer to it."

Il Divo have vowed to put on a "fantastic" tour in 2016.
The classical crossover group - which includes Carlos Martin, David Miller, Urs Buhler and Sébastien Izambard - are heading off on the road in support of new album 'Amor & Passion' and say their New Year's resolution is to ensure fans have a great time at their shows.
Band member Carlos Marin said: "My resolution is going to be to have a fantastic tour, and then we are going to do a new album.
"Next year I just want to show the people that Il Divo are alive and will be as long as we have the fans."
And ahead of the shows, Carlos will be working hard to get back in shape as he knows he'll gain weight over the festive season because he loves to dine on huge meals with his loved ones.
Speaking about his Christmas plans ahead of the big day, he told BANG Showbiz: "We have the typical thing that you eat at Christmas and we have a pig and we eat fish and prawns and it's really big meal to make me really fat and then I have to lose everything I have gained so I can look good in a suit. That is for sure.
"I'm usually with my family in Spain and they come to my house. About 30 people. And then we have a big party."

Kendrick Lamar wants to win all 11 Grammys he is nominated for.
The 28-year-old singer leads this year's awards - which will be held on February 15 - with the most nods and wants to take them all home so he can make a statement for hip-hop "culture.
Asked about his staggering number of nominations, he said: "I want all of them. Because it's not only a statement for myself, but it's a statement for the culture. They're all important, because of the foundation the forefathers laid before me. Nas didn't get a chance to be in that position. 2 Pac. So to be acknowledged and to actually win, it's for all of them."
Meanwhile, Kendrick, who is up for Album of the Year for 'To Pimp a Butterfly', Best Rap Album for the same record and the coveted Song of the Year with 'Alright', says he's always writing music but won't know when his new material will be released because it has to be a natural progression.
He told The New York Times: "I'm just writing, writing, writing. I keep these tablets on me until I'm inspired to go back in and make the music. I never take a break from my pen, because I pride myself on that. As far as a break from music, yeah, I can't just go in and force myself. I have to come from an original and organic place. It can come tomorrow; it can come two years from now."

Nick Jonas is not a jealous person.
The 23-year-old singer penned his single 'Jealous' following an "uncomfortable" situation with his then-girlfriend and an unknown guy because it was so out of character for him to feel that way.
He said: "'Jealous' is a song, it kind of came out of a real life situation.
"I was out with my girlfriend one night and this guy was staring at her for an uncomfortably long time and I was getting frustrated about it.
"It's not really in my nature to be a jealous person but in that moment it was there.
"So I went into the studio the next day and wrote the song and it's weird because it's pretty personal but it ended up being a very universal topic and something a lot of people connected with which feels amazing."
The 'Chains' hitmaker insisted he never felt envious of his siblings and former Jonas Brothers bandmates Kevin and Joe Jonas, and thinks that is down to their upbringing.
Asked if he ever got jealous of his brothers, he told BANG Showbiz: "No, there wasn't a whole lot of jealousy. I think my parents did a really good job of really making us all feel special in our own way and I really don't think there was any jealousy which was good because siblings are already competitive but when you add our situation it was probably heightened."

Motörhead's Mikkey Dee has announced the band is finished following the sudden death of Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister.
The 52-year-old drummer has confirmed the group - also consisting of Phil 'Wizzö' Campbell - will go their separate ways for good after the legendary musician, who was the sole constant member of the band, passed away aged 70.
Speaking to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Mikkey said: "Motörhead is over, of course. Lemmy was Motörhead. We won't be doing any more tours or anything.
"And there won't be any more records. But the brand survives, and Lemmy lives on in the hearts of everyone."
On Boxing Day (26.12.15), just two days after his 70th birthday, Lemmy discovered he was battling with an aggressive form of cancer.
He sadly died two days later while sitting in front of his favourite poker video game at his home in Los Angeles as he was surrounded by his friends and family.
The rock icon's death was later confirmed on the group's official Facebook page as the 'Ace of Spades' hitmakers paid tribute to a "lovely, wonderful man".
The post read: "There is no easy way to say this...our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer. He had learnt of the disease on December 26th, and was at home, sitting in front of his favorite video game from The Rainbow which had recently made it's way down the street, with his family.
"We cannot begin to express our shock and sadness, there aren't words. We will say more in the coming days, but for now, please...play Motörhead loud, play Hawkwind loud, play Lemmy's music LOUD. (sic)"

Harry Styles is writing new music with Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid.
The One Direction star has been busy penning tracks for his looming solo career - which is expected to commence when the band take a break in the spring - and is being helped in the studio by the Irish musician.
The pair - along with Snow Patrol guitarist Gary Lightbody - have written four new songs titled 'Endlessly', '5378 Miles', 'Already Home' and 'Coco', as the heartthrob gears up to release his highly anticipated new music.
But the news comes just three weeks after it was revealed Johnny and his partner, Hollywood actress Courteney Cox, called off their engagement.
The 'Open Your Eyes' hitmaker has reportedly vacated the 'Friends' star's Los Angeles home and moved back to the UK.
Meanwhile, Harry, 21, recently teased that One Direction song 'Perfect' told his side on his split from 'Bad Blood' hitmaker Taylor Swift in 2014.
The song had the lyrics: "And if you're looking for someone to write your break-up songs about, baby I'm perfect."

Foxes has been inspired by Cyndi Lauper and Fleetwood Mac on her new album.
The solo singer recently completed work on her second studio record and admitted the tracks have "elements of 80s", though they don't all have the same sound as her don't recent single 'Body Talk'.
She said: "The album isn't like that, production-wise I definitely pushed 'Body Talk' to a place that the rest isn't necessarily at, but I felt like the song lent itself to that when I wrote it. So the whole album isn't 80s. But there are elements of Fleetwood Mac I really love and I was inspired by a lot of females like Cyndi Lauper when I was writing the album so there are elements of 80s, but not really sonically, it's more in the way it's written."
The 26-year-old star penned the tracks shortly after breaking up from her boyfriend of four years, but they are not downbeat and she instead wanted the record to be "empowering".
She quipped to BANG Showbiz: "It's empowering and about coming out of something and being stronger, rather than 'I hate him, he's a b*****d.'"

The Specials' John Bradbury has passed away aged 62.
The legendary drummer tragically died yesterday (28.12.15) and his bandmates have paid tribute to their "great friend".
Taking to Twitter, the group wrote: "It is with deep regret that we say goodbye to our great friend, the world's greatest drummer, our beloved Brad. RIP. (sic)"
The family also released a statement, describing the late John as a "powerhouse" behind the group.
They said: "It is with deepest regret that we have to announce the very sad news that our much loved husband and father John 'Brad' Bradbury passed away on Monday the 28 of December.
"Brad's drumming was the powerhouse behind The Specials and it was seen as a key part to the Two Tone sound. He was much respected in the world of drumming and his style of reggae and ska was seen as genuinely ground-breaking when The Specials first hit the charts in 1979.
"He was an integral part of The Specials reforming in 2008 and toured with them extensively up to the present day. His contribution to the world of music can not be understated and he will much missed by family, friends and fans alike. It is the family's sincerest wish that they are allowed the time to remember him privately."
The cause of death has not been detailed publicly.

Rick Parfitt claims The Springfields inspired him to become a musician.
The Status Quo guitarist revealed he was a huge fan of late pop singer Dusty Springfield's original band, which featured featuring her brother Tom Springfield and producer Mike Hurst, and believes he may never have developed such a keen interest for music without the 1960s band.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I've always been a huge Dusty Springfield fan. When I was just a boy I used to listen to The Springfields all the time and I don't think I'd be a musician without them."
As well as being inspired to pick up a guitar and begin learning about music, the 66-year-old rocker - who has a slew of hits to his name including 'Rockin' All Over the World', 'Whatever You Want' and 'Down Down' - Rick explained the first ever band he was in covered the group's single 'Island of Dreams' which drove him to pursue music as a career.
He added: "I was in a band called The Highlights and we did a rendition of 'Island of Dreams' and it made me realise I wanted to do music properly."