Music News

Iggy Azalea refused to dance in her new music video because she thought it would be "obnoxious".
The 'Fancy' hitmaker was encouraged by her 'Pretty Girls' collaborator Britney Spears to join her and perform a little number during their music video but she politely declined.
She said: "I didn't dance! She wanted me to. Since I was co-directing the video, the way I explained it was, it would be kind of obnoxious for me to direct a video and give myself a dance break as well.
"Like, 'Here's the video! And I gave myself a dance scene!' I don't know if it necessarily fits my identity, but I think Britney's identity is really embedded in being a dancer, and that's something she really wanted to do as well. So there's a lot of dancing in the video, but I wouldn't say it's centred around that."
And the 24-year-old singer also let slip a few details about the highly anticipated video, revealing it is inspired by the 1980s.
She told USA Today: "You know me, I like having a narrative. So if it was just like, '80s!' that would be kind of boring for me. But what Britney made clear to me is that she really wanted to do a video where she got to dress up and play a character.
"I think Geena Davis just like the ultimate '80s pin-up hot, cool type of girl, so I told Britney to check her out, and she was like, 'Yes, I love Geena Davis!' So we based our characters on a lot of stuff like that. But there's definitely a narrative. I don't want to give it away, but it's quirky and funny."

Charli XCX says champagne helps her keep up her stamina.
The 'Boom Clap' hitmaker has admitted a glass off bubbly will keep her going whilst touring all over the world.
When asked how she keeps up the pace on her international tours, she said: "I'm not really sure. I'm running on empty right now. But champagne helps."
The 22-year-old singer may have found worldwide success following the release of her latest album 'Sucker' but the star is far from complacent.
When questioned if she ever had any worries about not being able to carve out a career in music, she added: "Totally. Constantly. It's a rollercoaster. You never know what's coming next."
And Charli particularly enjoys seeing her fans whilst out on tour and recalled a special moment when she spent the day with one of her loyal supporters who was very ill.
Speaking to VH1, she said: "I did a hospital visit once whilst I was on tour. I went to see this little girl who was a fan of mine but who was so sick that she was going to pass away. It was really moving.
"I went to see her to hang out with her for a bit and obviously there was nothing I could do but it was nice for us to be happy together for a moment or two."

The Chemical Brothers have announced the release of their new album.
The duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons are set to release their eighth LP - their first in five years - entitled 'Born In The Echoes', on July 17.
To coincide with their summer appearances at Glastonbury, Sonar and Bestival, the band have unveiled details about the 11-track album, which promises machine driven music from one of the world's most famous electronic music duos.
Packed with collaborations with some top names including Grammy Award winner Beck and 'Digital Witness' hitmaker St. Vincent, the album promises music which is sure to excite and impress fans of the group.
The band also dropped the audio for their first single from the album, 'Sometimes I Feel So Deserted', a rhythm track which leads the way with its Escher-esque style.
During the band's hiatus, they were honoured with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection in recognition of their "innovative and popular songwriting".
The duo also recorded a track with Lorde and Miguel for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' soundtrack as well as creating music specifically for the Velodrome at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Full track listing for Born In The Echoes:
1. Sometimes I Feel So Deserted
2. Go (featuring Q-Tip)
3. Under Neon Lights (featuring St. Vincent)
4. EML Ritual (featuring Ali Love)
5. I'll See You There
6. Just Bang
7. Reflexion
8. Taste of Honey
9. Born In The Echoes (featuring Cate Le Bon)
10. Radiate
11. Wide Open (featuring Beck)

Faith No More's Roddy Bottum is "super" flattered to see so many "young" faces at their shows.
The keyboard player admits he has been "staggered" by his band's long lasting popularity and the fact they are attracting so many new fans judging by the amount of teenagers at their concerts.
Roddy, 51, told The Sun newspaper: "I would never have thought we'd have that sort of draw. It surprises me how many young people are there, and that's super flattering."
The 'Be Aggressive' hitmakers split up in 1998 and it was thought it was over good. However, they returned in 2009 for a reunion tour.
The musician recalled: "When we started doing the reunion shows, I was surprised that anyone would really be interested."
He added: "I felt sure we'd get a handful of people that would come back from the nineties era."
But he was proved wrong when tickets went online for their London show on June 17, which sold out in minutes.
Faith No More play a sold out gig at London's Roundhouse in Camden on June 17.

Sarah Harding had an "amazingly productive" day in the recording studio.
The former Girls Aloud member has been busy working on new songs for her solo album and she is very happy with the tracks she has laid down so far.
In a post on her Twitter account, Sarah wrote: "Another long but amazingly productive day in studio writing and recording yesterday! Can't wait for you guys to hear what I've got cookin (sic)"
The 33-year-old singer has been extremely busy of late, having landed a role in 'Coronation Street' as the love interest of Tracy Barlow's long-lost ex-husband Robert Preston.
Speaking about her upcoming four episodes in July, she said: "I can't believe it. I found out a few weeks ago but it was in the pipeline for a while. The producers know that I love the show. I do charity work with them and, at an event, they could tell I was a fan as I was going mental at the cast."
It was announced Sarah - who previously appeared in the two 'St. Trinian's' films - would be making a guest stint last month and she's now hinted she may be set to appear for more than just four episodes.
She added: "I didn't have to do an audition - they YouTubed me and saw what I did, so I was lucky. And it might just turn out to be a longer stint. Watch this space!"

Take That are missing Jason Orange ahead of their 42-date tour.
The 'These Days' hitmakers, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, have revealed its taken time to get used to the departure of Jason - who exited the band last year - but they are still hoping to put on the best show they can for fans when they kick off their Take That Live 2015 tour in Glasgow on Monday (27.04.15).
Howard explained: "Sometimes you think you're used to it then a new thing comes along, and we do miss Jason.
"But we are a three-piece. This is what we've got to do."
Mark added: "It's our biggest arena tour. In the energy of the show you're aware that J's not there. But you don't want people to feel it's missing him.
"That said, we're respectful of J as well. We're not trying to take his place. There are things we haven't done because it was J's thing."
Gary said: "This is the biggest test and challenge for us."
The trio admitted they always hoped Jason, 44, would return to the group and even left space to fit in his vocals on their new album 'III'.
Howard said: "I don't think there's a massive difference vocally. On the album we left that little space for Jason in the hope he would come back."
Having seen both Jason and Robbie Williams come and go from the band over the past 20 years, Gary, 44, admitted the thing he misses most about working as a five piece is spending time with his pals.
He told The Sun newspaper: "It's important to remember we've been friends for years. It's fun with three of us, it's more fun with four and even more with five. We miss them because they're friends, not because we go on stage and perform."

Paul Weller's music got more "indulgent" when he turned 50.
The 'Changingman' hitmaker decided to be more experimental when he celebrated the milestone birthday in 2008 and he is pleased people liked the offerings on '22 Dreams', which inspired him to push himself further on subsequent records 'Wake Up the Nation', 'Sonik Kicks' and the forthcoming 'Saturn's Pattern'.
He said: "I purposefully set out to make the most indulgent record I possibly could. I thought, 'Well, if you get to 50 you can at least indulge yourself' so that was the basis of the record but as it turned out a lot of people liked it.
"You just can't ever tell, you know. I thought it might be the opposite - I thought people might find it self-indulgent, but it got a great reaction. I think that also the reaction to that encouraged me to go a bit further as well, sonically and in terms of writing and methods of working, in every way, keep changing it as much as you can."
The former Jam frontman - who has five grown-up children from previous relationships, as well as twins Bowie and John-Paul, three, with wife Hannah - gave up alcohol five years ago and admits sobriety has made a "massive difference" to both his personal and professional life.
He explained to the Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper: "I'm more sane and healthier but the major thing is...well, it's made a massive difference, really, because I'm just more present now. I'm more present whether it's at work or at home, my mind's clearer, it's as simple as that.
"I'd been at it a long time and it had got its claws in me so it was a good enough time to stop."

Kirk Hammett has "lost" 250 new Metallica riffs.
The 'Enter Sandman' rockers have been working on a new album but progress was hindered six months ago when "something very unfortunate" happened to the guitarist and he mislayed his phone, which contained all his musical ideas, that hadn't been backed up.
He said "When it happened, I was bummed out for about two or three days. I just plain lost it...
"To try to remember those riffs? I can only remember, like, eight of 'em. So I just chalked it down to maybe it just wasn't meant to be and I'll just move forward with it."
While Kirk insists he's moving on from the lost ideas, he hasn't given up hope the phone will reappear some day.
Speaking on Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta's podcast, he added: "I'm still looking for it to this day. I just set it somewhere and ... it still might turn up. I'm hoping it will.
"All you musicians out there who use your phone, make sure it's backed up. Right?!"
Though 250 riffs may be missing, Kirk promised the record - the follow-up to 2008's 'Death Magnetic' - is still "super riffy" and "super heavy".
He added: "It's a lot similar to 'Death Magnetic', but different in certain parts. James [Hetfield] is doing a lot of really, really cool melody stuff these days, a lot of vocal layers. 'Lords of Summer' is a good example of that, the beginning."

Sir Paul McCartney has topped The Sunday Times Rich List of musicians with a net worth of £730 million.
The 72-year-old Beatles legend's worth has increased by an estimated £20 million since last year thanks to a significant boost from his wife Nancy Shevell's £150 million stake in her family's American trucking business.
McCartney is well ahead of his nearest rival on the list, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is estimated to be worth £650 million and Irish band U2 at third place with £431 million.
Pop veteran Sir Elton John and Rolling Stones' frontman Sir Mick Jagger follow with their fortunes, thought to be worth £270 million and £225 million respectively.
For the third year running, singer/songwriter Adele, 26, has topped the list for young music millionaires under the age of 30 in Britain and Ireland, with an estimated fortune of £50 million, while the four members of One Direction plus former bandmate Zayn Malik share the second spot with an estimated wealth of £25 million each.
One of the fastest rising new young stars is Sam Smith, who has already amassed £12 million since rising to fame in late 2012 and his debut album 'In The Lonely Hour' became a worldwide hit.

The Sunday Times Rich List:

Top 10 music earners
1. Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell £730m
2. Lord Lloyd-Webber £650m
3. U2 £431m
4. Sir Elton John £270m
5. Sir Mick Jagger £225m
6. Keith Richards £210m
7. Michael Flatley £195m
=8. Ringo Starr £180m
=8. Sting £180m
9. Roger Waters £160m