Music News

Shane MacGowan says The Pogues are no longer together.
The 58-year-old frontman says the 'Fairytale of New York' hitmakers - consisting of Spider Stacy, Jem Finer and James Fearnley - aren't active as a group and even grew to "hate each other" after they reformed in 2001.
Asked if they are still together, he said: "We're not, no."
The band - also including Andrew Ranken, Darryl Hunt and Terry Woods - reunited Christmas 2001 and went on to play shows in the UK and Ireland right up until 2013.
And while the Irish rocker said the band members are still close pals of his, he added that he'll only maintain their friendship as long aren't on the road together, as they get "sick of each other" when they tour.
Expanding on why the band fell apart, he told Vice: "They'd grown to hate each other all over again.
"I don't hate the band at all - they're friends. I like them a lot. We were friends for years before we joined the band. We just got a bit sick of each other. We're friends as long as we don't tour together. I've done a hell of a lot of touring. I've had enough of it."

Coldplay is keen to team up with Rihanna and Beyoncé for next year's Super Bowl 50 half-time show.
Chris Martin, 38, has asked the Barbadian babe, 27 and the 'XO' hitmaker, 34 to join the band's 12-minute slot at the annual championship game of the National Football League at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California in February.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Chris and his band know they're not typically as showy as recent performers like Katy Perry and Madonna with all the dancers and, while they love a light show, they still want to bring a few surprises out. Beyonce and Rihanna are both keen to join in the high-profile ceremony and will add just the spark needed to make it an amazing and unforgettable show."
But the 'A Sky Full of Stars' hitmakers, which is the first British act to take the slot since The Who in 2010, will be watched live by an audience of 115 million in the US alone on February 7, so it's no wonder they're feeling the pressure.
Chris said recently: "We get a couple of weeks off but then we're preparing for the Super Bowl.
"It's a huge show so there's a lot of pressure and we've already started planning what we want to do."

The Fratellis wants to collaborate with Mark Ronson.
The 'Chelsea Dagger' rockers have been a band for over a decade and although they have never worked with any other musicians during that time, Jon Fratelli admitted he is a fan of the 'Uptown Funk' hitmaker and would love the opportunity to work with the superstar DJ.
Asked who he would like to collaborate with, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I like that Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson song 'Uptown Funk'. Everybody loves that. It would be down to work with him, we are not going to say no."
However, the frontman confessed the main reason why they have never collaborated with any other acts is because he doesn't know any other musicians.
He explained: "I just have to know people. I know my band and that's it. I've never found myself in positions where I bump into other musicians that often. In fact, I don't think I know any.
"I literally don't know any. It's just not my world if you like. I hear things that I like but I never pay attention to who made them."
And while the band don't pay attention to which artists are popular, Jon thought it was "funny" when Kanye West proclaimed himself as "the greatest living rock star" while at Glastonbury, insisting Elvis Presley will always hold that title as he doesn't believe he ever died.
He said: "Well he may be right. I always figured Elvis never really died, so Elvis will always be the greatest living rock star. But, it's quite funny really if he said that."

Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister has passed away following an "aggressive" battle with cancer.
The legendary musician's death was confirmed on the group's Facebook page as they paid tribute to a "lovely, wonderful man".
The post on the social networking site 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)"
The 'Ace of Spades' hitmakers also asked their fans to have a drink in honour of Lemmy.
They continued: "Have a drink or few. Share stories. Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself.
"HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT. Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister. 1945 -2015. Born to lose, lived to win. (sic)"

Frank Turner wanted his latest album to be "angrier" than his previous efforts.
The 'If Ever I Stray' hitmaker is proud of 'Positive Songs for Negative People' - which was released in August - and it's "defiant" theme, admitting it is more "heavy" than its predecessor, 2013's 'Tape Deck Heart'.
He told BANG Showbiz: "It's a bit heavier, a bit more punk rock. I wanted to make it a bit more in-your-face, an angrier record.
"The last record I did was about a c**p year I had and I had my first taste of castigation in the press, and the new record is about dusting yourself down, and saying, 'It's going to take more than that to kill me. I'm still here.' So it's kind of defiant but with a smile on its face."
The 34-year-old singer particularly enjoyed recording with his "spirit animal" Butch Walker and only wishes he'd met the producer sooner.
He added: "I worked with a guy called Butch Walker, an American producer, we recorded the record last December and January. I wish I'd met him 10 years ago, he is my spirit animal, he is a solid gold genius.
"Unlike pretty much every other producer I've ever worked with, he is also a songwriter and performer himself, which is how I knew about him because I'm a fan of his work. And that makes such a huge difference, but that's not disrespecting the other people I work with."

Brad Whitford wants Aerosmith to record their next album "live" together in a studio.
The band's guitarist thinks their 2012 LP 'Music' was let down by the fact it was pieced together using digital recording programme Pro Tools and although frontman Steven Tyler is currently pursuing solo projects he is sure they could make a fantastic album if they all get together.
Speaking about 'Music', he told Classic Rock magazine: "I said, 'Let's go record this the same way we recorded 'Toys In The Attic' and 'Rocks'.' Aerosmith is such a good band that I wanted to basically record live, because we play so well together.
"Nobody, including my producer, would go along with that. I was just, 'Man, what's wrong with these guys?' That's the one thing I hate about Pro Tools - you can use it as a tape machine or you can use it as this crutch."
But while the 63-year-old musician thinks it would be "great" for the group - which also includes Joe Perry, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton - to lay down more new songs he isn't sure when it will happen,
Speaking on The Eddie Trunk Podcast, he said: "I really don't know. Joe Perry and I are in the trenches digging away. We're certainly capable of sitting down with the rest of the guys and writing music. If that happens, great. But I'm not going to hold my breath."

Katy Perry wants to "experiment" in 2016.
The 'Dark Horse' hitmaker has vowed to be even more creative in the next year by trying out new things, including with her style, having recently completed her 'Prismatic World Tour'.
She said: "Next year I just want to let go a little bit more and - how can I say this as elegantly as possible - give less f**ks about outside commentary.
"I want to experiment with being creative and artistic."
Katy is hoping to think more about herself as an artist as she embarks on creating her next album and will stop worrying about what other people think of her so much.
She added: "Really tapping into the artist that I am and presenting that in styling. I will look less for people's approval."
All-in-all, the 31-year-old star - who released her fourth studio album 'Prism' in 2013 - explained she has simple hopes for next year as she just wants to stay happy and healthy.
She said: "It's really simple: it's just continued health for my family, happiness, togetherness and get-alongness."

Wiz Khalifa is releasing new music in January.
In a video message posted on YouTube, The Taylor Gang label boss announced that he has been busy writing 'Project Khalifa' and the album is going to drop in the New Year.
In the clip titled 'Wiz sends a Message to his Taylors', the rapper says: "Nobody really knows that I plan on putting out a project with some unreleased music that nobody's ever heard before and I'm going to call it 'Project Khalifa' and that's actually going to be available in January ... get Khalifa when it comes out next month in January."
The 28-year-old Pittsburgh rapper recently released a new mix-tape 'Cabin Fever 3' and as well as 'Project Khalifa' he'll also be releasing a second LP, entitled 'Rollin Papers 2; The Weed Album' - considered a companion album to 2011's 'Rolling Papers' - later in the year.
Wiz released several singles this year which could feature on either project, including 'Burn Slow', 'No Social Media' and 'King of Everything'.
In his YouTube message Wiz also took the opportunity to thank his fans for an "awesome" 2015 - which included him becoming the first hip hop artist to reach one billion hits on YouTube with his 'See You Again' video.
He said: "I want to thank everybody for an awesome year, 2015, went on a good tour, a couple of good tours, thanks everybody for showing up everybody who bought tickets. Thanks everybody for calling in and voting for 'See You Again' the video and the song. Everybody on YouTube who watched the video getting it to over a billion views, shout out to you guys."

Ella Eyre is looking forward to recording her new album in the US -because she loves American food.
The 21-year-old British pop star going to start laying down tracks for her second LP - the follow-up to 2015's debut 'Feline' - in the New Year and wants to craft a record that will resonate with American music fans.
But being Stateside has a bonus for Elle, she gets to dine at all of her favourite American eateries.
She told BANG Showbiz: "I'm definitely going to America to record the next album, I love America. I'm going to focus album two on America. I love being out there it's such a great place to be, it's so diverse it doesn't matter where you go. Oh, and the food is amazing - I'm not joking it's the main reason I want to go back there. I love the sushi out there, but I'm like that anywhere I go. One place I love going to is Poland for the sushi, it's really, really good."
Ella - who is in a relationship with Rixton star Lewi Morgan - is planning on drafting in a whole host of songwriters to work with on the LP.
She has revealed she will definitely be reconnecting with Canadian musician Greg Wells, who penned 'Even If' on her first album and has worked with a host of major artists such as Sir Elton John, Katy Perry and Celine Dion.
She said: "There's a guy called Greg Wells, that I wrote one of the songs on my first album with, it's my favourite song 'Even If', which is a ballad with just a piano. He's one of my favourite people to write with so I want to spend a lot more time with him out in America."