Music News

Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones was one step away from becoming a BBC film writer.
The 'Have A Nice Day' singer temporarily shelved his film-making career after Virgin label boss, Richard Branson, offered the welsh rockers a record deal.
The 40-year-old star told the Metro newspaper: "When I left school, BBC World offered me a writing job. It was one of the best months of my life, as Richard Branson also offered me a record deal.
"So I took the record deal but I have been writing on tour buses ever since."
Kelly insists he has never given up on his screenwriting dream and is working on several movie-related projects.
He said: "I've been developing feature-length screenplays with people at Bafta and nearly got one financed last summer.
"Directing videos gives me experience in case one of the screenplays comes to pass."
However, Kelly has also assured fans of the band he is in no rush to give up music.
He added: "But I don't ever want to stop doing music."

Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher are "up for" collaborating.
The 56-year-old mod rocker has revealed he has thought up a "really good idea" for a collaborative project with his pal, former Oasis star Noel, but they have struggled to find a time to record together.
He said: "It could be really good ... hopefully it will happen anyway. We've both got different writing styles. I'm quite up for it."
The 'Broken Stones' hitmaker continued to say the pair were keen to produce new music to appear on the former The Jam guitarist's new LP, 'Saturns Pattern' - his first release since 2012's 'Sonik' - but never got round to hitting the studio to work on any of the concepts.
He explained: "We have been trying to write some things together, and we've still got a really good idea but it just never made the record."
As well as speaking about a collaboration with the 47-year-old musician - with whom he has worked on numerous records in the past - Paul confessed he prefers Noel Gallagher's solo music over his extensive back catalogue with Oasis.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "If I'm really honest I think Noel's (new solo) record and the one before are his best work.
"Obviously I'm biased as he's my mate but I'm impressed by the writing more than anything else."

Ciara doesn't see herself "beneath Beyonce and Jay Z".
The 'Love Sex Magic' hitmaker has insisted she's just as big as superstars such as the 'Drunk In Love' singer, her rapper husband, or Rihanna, and instead believes her biggest competition when it comes to music is herself.
She said: "Everything's about timing. I've had records just as big as those artists, I've had No 1 songs around the world. My biggest competition is me.
"I faced those challenges. I don't see myself beneath Beyoncé and Jay Z; I don't see myself above them. I'm in my own world, hungry to grow. (sic)"
The 29-year-old star originally topped charts around the world with her debut single 'Goodies' a decade ago, and with the release of her sixth album 'Jackie' earlier this month, she believes she will continue to become even more well known.
She said: "There's no doubt in my mind how high up this train can go."
However, after 10 years in the music industry, and having recently given birth to her son, Future Jr, Ciara confessed she is unsure how much longer she will be making music because she has dreams of becoming a businesswoman.
She told The Guardian newspaper: "I don't know if I'll still be doing music 20 years from now. It's the foundation of my business, but I want to be a successful entrepreneur. I know I'm gonna be it."

Noel Gallagher "destroyed" his LP with Amorphous Androgynous.
The 47-year-old rocker recorded the album with Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans of the electronic band in 2011, but claims he grew fed up with the musicians and got rid of the only copy ever made of the album because he wasn't a fan.
He explained: "The album got finished. We spent a lot of time working on it, but the way that they work is that they get me in and I play all day then they take it away.
"Then the next thing you hear, you go, 'Well, that's not what I was thinking'. It became apparent that they weren't making a record for me but I was making a record for them. You know me, that's not going to f***ing work.
"There's no bootleg because I own the master and I destroyed it. My manager's not even heard it. I wouldn't play it."
Although two collaborations with the duo appeared on his most recent album 'Chasing Yesterday' - 'The Right Stuff' and 'The Mexican' - the former Oasis guitarist said the music they recorded together was "underwhelming", so he never wanted his fans to hear it.
He told Noisey: "It was so underwhelming to me that I never played it to anybody. I'm not going to put records out to please people and their imagination, then they hear it and go, 'Actually, it's a bit s**&'. I know it's s*** that's why it's not coming out and that's the end of it."

The Rolling Stones are taking part in their first ever Twitter Q&A session.
The 'Satisfaction' hitmakers will take to the social media site at 6pm on Monday 18th May to personally respond to questions from users through a series of messages and videos.
The band's members, Sir Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, will each respond to the questions using their own Twitter handles with another special announcement planned to surprise fans on the night.
According to NME, the band - who are set to embark on a North American tour over the summer - have also said they are going to keep fans up to date on Twitter about their upcoming LP 'Sticky Fingers'.
Meanwhile, the group's US tour will be their first since their saxophone player Bobby Keys passed away in December, aged 70.
However, Sir Mick, 71, has made it clear he has no plans to retire just yet.
He recently said: "I'm thinking about what the next tour is. I'm not thinking about retirement. I'm planning the next set of tours, so the answer is really, 'No, not really'."
He also said it'd be "very nice" if the band recorded a new album, adding: "It would be very nice and I've got a lot of new songs and songs I've written over the last couple of years. I've done really good demos for all of them, which I would love to record. So, let's hope so."

Brandon Flowers believes the current music industry would have been a "disaster" for The Killers.
The four-piece band featuring singer Brandon, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. rose to fame with their debut album 'Hot Fuss' in 2004, but Brandon believes the state of the music industry nowadays means they would have struggled to get played on the radio so wouldn't have achieved the same success.
He explained: "Record deals have changed. The radio now only looks at the charts. They play a song a few times, see how well it's doing on iTunes and if it's not doing well, they'll stop promoting it. That would have been a disaster for The Killers."
The 'Human' hitmaker - who will release his second solo album 'The Desired Effect' next week - continued to say he believes one of the band's most famous tracks, 'Mr Brightside', probably wouldn't have the same impact today as a result of lack of promotion.
He told Shortlist magazine: "'Mr Brightside' was released twice [in 2003 and 2004]. It didn't go down well first time. It wouldn't have the opportunity in the current climate."
And while he is enjoying making music on his own, the 33-year-old singer/songwriter recently revealed The Killers will definitely make another album because their last release, 2012's 'Battle Born' "wasn't good enough".
He added to NME magazine: "Once [the band] all get on the same page, it'll work.
"I need to persuade them to like the same things as I do."

Sam Smith won't be able to speak on his birthday.
The 'Stay With Me' hitmaker is scheduled to have an operation on his haemorrhaged vocal cords later today (14.05.15) and afterwards he won't be able to talk for the next three weeks which includes his 23rd birthday on May 19.
Sam took to Instagram to pre-warn anyone who sees him out and about over the next month that he is not a "d***head" for not acknowledging them it's because he can't communicate.
His post - accompanied by a photo of him in a New York park - read: "Enjoying my last day of speaking. After today no speaking for three weeks. So if you see me on the streets sorry if you think I'm a d***head and can't say hello. Also gonna be silent for my birthday. Sounds fun aye? (sic)"
Sam is dreading having the surgery - which will take place in a New York City clinic - but knows it's completely necessary to repair his voice and he is thankful to his fans for all their good luck messages.
He posted on Twitter: "Can't sleep. Op tomorrow. Looking through all your beautiful messages. Makes me emotional to know I have so many people wishing me well ... I hope every single one of you know how thankful I am. I love you all sincerely xx (sic)"
The 'La La La' hitmaker will spend his birthday in The Big Apple recovering from his operation.

The Prodigy will headline Sea Dance Festival 2015.
The 'Firstarter' hitmakers will take to the stage at the coastal festival to play hits from throughout their career, while drum and bass quartet Rudimental, who are gearing up to release their sophomore album, will also perform a DJ set at the event, which will be held on Jaz beach in Montenegro from 15 to 18 July 2015.
The event - which won the title of Best Medium-Size Festival at the European Festival Awards in January - will also feature a set from one-half of electronic music duo Moloko, Roisin Murphy, who will be playing tracks from her latest EP 'Hairless Toys'.
Other acts confirmed for the three-day event include 'Nobody to Love' and 'Changing' chart-toppers Sigma and young London-based talent Wilkinson, who shot to fame in 2013 with his hit 'Afterglow'.
Developed by the team behind one of Europe's largest festivals, EXIT, the second annual event will also feature up-and-coming electronic acts such as Bondax, Gramatik, Fred V & Grafix, Snakehips, ODESZA, Star Slinger, Pillow Talk and Black Sun Empire.
Three-day tickets to Sea Dance cost £54, while the 10-day EXIT & Sea Dance package costs only £170, and includes tickets, accommodation for both festivals as well as airport transfers.
For more information about Sea Dance Festival, visit the website: http://www.seadancefestival.me

Paloma Faith has had to cancel her Australian tour due to illness.
The 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This' hitmaker has had to cut her concerts Down Under short and is "so sad" she hasn't been able to finish the sell-out dates due to the mystery sickness which resulted in her being hospitalised.
Paloma will fly back to the UK at the earliest opportunity to undergo tests to determine what is wrong with her.
Writing on Twitter, she revealed: "Australia! Im so sad I couldn't complete this tour. Im trying to get well enough2be able to fly home&have tests to see what the root cause is (sic)"
The 33-year-old singer believes her illness may have been caused by her tiring travel schedule for her tour.
She tweeted: "I don't think all the flying is very good for the body if I'm honest. I'm am so disappointed (sic)"
Paloma had performed three nights on her debut Australian tour but was taken ill ahead of her second show at Sydney's State Theatre on Tuesday (12.05.15). That date and her other axed shows at the AEC Theatre in Adelaide and at the Concert Hall in Perth are due to be rescheduled.
A statement from promoters Live Nation Australia stated: "Paloma hopes to return to Australia at her earliest opportunity to perform for her fans."