Music News

Lindsay Lohan sings on Duran Duran for the band's new album.
The 28-year-old star and her model sister Ali, 20, joined band members Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes in the studio on Sunday evening (07.12.14) to put down some vocals on a track for the band's upcoming LP.
Alongside an image taken with the rockers which she posted on Instagram, she wrote: "Recording with some greats!!! (sic)"
The flame-haired socialite joined the 'Girls On Film' hitmakers at a studio in Battersea, south London for the recording, and is believed to have spent almost seven hours ensuring her contribution was perfect.
A source explained: "Lindsay was in the studio with the boys from 6.30pm right through until 1am. They wanted to make sure they got the vocals on point."
However, fans of Lohan's previous albums - 'Speak' and 'A Little More Personal (Raw)' - may be disappointed as her singing voice is not believed to be showcased on the song, although her 20-year-old sister - who also released an album in 2006 - does belt out some notes.
The source added: "Lindsay's contribution is more of a spoken word part, while Ali is singing on the track - the sisters will feature on the same song, which they thought was really cool."
After celebrating her debut album's 10th anniversary on Instagram over the weekend, the 'Mean Girls' actress is believed to be seriously considering a return to music.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the insider added: "She has been thinking of giving music another shot recently after recording with Kate Moss' husband Jamie Hince from The Kills, last year. People forget that she has had two studio albums - as well as some film soundtrack contributions. She loves music."
Duran Duran have been working on their new album with Nile Rodgers and Mark Ronson, who is the brother of Lindsay's ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson.

Ed Sheeran has topped the end of year iTunes chart.
The 23-year-old singer's second album 'x' was released in June and was the most downloaded record from the retailer in the UK in 2014.
Speaking of the announcement, he said: "Absolutely buzzing to hear I've got the best selling album on iTunes this year."
The news comes days after the record was named as the most-streamed album in the world for 2014 on Spotify, with more than 430 million plays since it was released.
Elsewhere in the rundown of the UK's favourite albums, Sam Smith's debut 'In the Lonely Hour' came second, with the soundtrack to hit Disney movie 'Frozen' being the third best seller.
iTunes also revealed the best-selling singles from the past year, with Pharrell Williams topping the list with his worldwide hit 'Happy', and the Grammy-nominated 'Rather Be' by Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne coming in at second place, which was also iTunes UK's pick for best song.
Speaking about the news, the trio said: "Amazing to find out that 'Rather Be' has been chosen as Song of the Year by iTunes. Thank you so much to everyone who bought it and supported us. 2014 has been an incredible year. Happy Christmas to one and all."
Tracks from Meghan Trainor, Ella Henderson, and John Legend were among other songs in the top 10 best selling singles list.
Aside from music, 'Threes!' was named iPhone Game of the Year, while the iPad Game of the Year titled went to 'Monument Valley'. 'Minecraft: Pocket Edition' is the number one selling paid iPhone and iPad App of 2014.

Noel Gallagher says Coldplay will have Chris Martin "hand-deliver" their next album.
The former Oasis frontman has taken a jab at the 'Fix You' singer as he compared them to U2 - who had their 13th album 'Songs of Innocence' automatically downloaded onto iCloud for free in September 2014 - as he joked that Coldplay will visit each fan who buys their record and even offer to help around the house.
The 'Wonderwall' singer said: "I firmly believe we'll all get a knock on the door at some point over the next two years and Chris will be stood there. And he'll say, 'Alright man, you know, here's a Coldplay album.' And you'll go, 'Thanks.'
"And there's a ladder and he'll say, 'Bass player's [Guy Berryman] just fixing the guttering, Johnny [Buckland's] round the back, he's doing the gardening and I think Will [Champion's] going to put the recycling out, so enjoy.' And then he'll come back and say, 'Oh, I forgot - here's a tenner.'"
Despite the light-hearted tone, the 47-year-old rocker was adamant he will never give his music away "for free".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's 'Mastertapes', Noel said: "Who knows what's going to happen. But for the record, no-one's getting anything out of me for free.
"I don't agree with music being given away for free because it costs a lot of money to make a record. Look, [U2] obviously don't need the money, good for them, but it's not something that I would ever consider."

Redfoo believes the music industry wanted LMFAO! to be a "one-hit-wonder".
The 39-year-old singer was worried his breakthrough material was too "new and radical" when he and his musical partner Sky Blu started off in 2008.
Redfoo - real name Stefan Kendal Gordy - explained: "They wanted us to be a one-hit-wonder. Sometimes when you are that new and radical. The industry says, 'Woah, no.'
"[Music critics] just didn't get it, they didn't understand it. Now everybody understands it because where we were coming from - such a deep dance place. It was destiny."
He then added: "I didn't know it was going to go in this direction, I just knew that I wanted it to."
When asked if he ever doubted his potential, the 'New Thang' rapper told BANG Showbiz: "A little bit. I always felt like I had great stuff. But people were saying I would be a one-hit-wonder. That's why 'Sexy and I Know It' was the second US single and I was destined to make that a number one as well.
"Because once people started saying 'one hit wonder' - boom. We had two number ones."
Although the eccentric musician explained how he would continue to make music even if he wasn't successful.
Redfoo said: "I actually had a heartbreak and the only thing that made me happy was 80s dance music and EDM stuff. Just made me happy, naturally. It was a natural remedy. I was going to make this music regardless.
"Then I guess we did it so well or so honestly, it was us. We started making our own clothes and it was all to feel good. And then we just sold that feeling."
Redfoo's latest single 'New Thang' is out on December 15.

Phil Collins cancelled his first solo performance in four years.
The 63-year-old singer-songwriter had been scheduled to perform at the Fillmore in Miami on Saturday (06.12.14) at a fundraising gala for his Little Dreams Foundation, but pulled out of the concert due to a mystery illness.
Writing on Facebook, the organisers said: "We were just as disappointed as everyone else that [Phil's] voice did not return in time to sing and he could only make an appearance,"
Although the singer was only due to perform a handful of tracks, he appeared on stage to explain he was suffering from a neurological condition which meant he would not be singing, especially as the sound checks had not gone well.
He told audiences: "Trust me, you wouldn't enjoy it [if I sang]."
Despite refusing to belt out hits such as 'Easy Lover' and 'In The Air Tonight', the Genesis star's 13-year-old son, Nick, performed as part of a band, with other musical showcases coming from Richard Marx, Laura Pausini and Gigi D'Alessio.
The musician has not taken to the stage as a solo artist since a series of shows in 2010 to promote his covers album 'Going Back', aside from a small appearance at his children's school. However, in September the music icon told fans not to expect him to perform live, when he said he is "not ready to return to the full concert stage at this time."

Sam Smith feels proud he hasn't "gone mental."
The 22-year-old musician released his debut album 'In The Lonely Hour' earlier this year - which was already become the biggest-selling debut album in the US in 2014 - but is more impressed he has managed to stay grounded than by the record's success.
He explained: "The thing I'm most proud of at the moment - and people might get angry with me for saying this - is the fact that I actually haven't gone mental. I've been able to keep myself completely the same person I was two years ago. If not, I'm actually a little more aware than I was before."
The 'Stay With Me' hitmaker - who has been nominated for six Grammy awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist - said he has been too busy with his hectic schedule to stop and think about what he has achieved.
He continued: "If I sit back and start thinking about those figures, it's not going to help in my mission to stay grounded and attempt to stay a little bit normal - even though I'm completely not normal anymore!"
The chart topper went on to say he doesn't think he'll ever feel confident writing such honest music, because many of his fellow musicians do not write songs about themselves.
Talking to Digital Spy about his honesty on the album, he said: "I'll never be comfortable with it. It's going to be an ongoing battle. Even at the American Music Awards the other week, I was mixing with celebrities and people who... there's a made-up reality, if you know what I mean, in the pop world.
"By the way, it's something that I love. I love watching crazy performances that don't require a lot of singing and there's more glitter and stuff like that. But it's sometimes a little bit daunting being the only person who's just standing there and singing and not twerking. I find being honest, in the way that I am, challenging every day."

Green Day's Jason White has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
The 'Basket Case' rockers have asked fans to send "love and positive healing vibes" to the guitarist - who joined the band full-time in 2012 - as he battles the "treatable" strain of the disease.
The band said in a statement on their website: "We have some news to report regarding our brother Jason White, and wanted you to hear it from us before word spread.
"Jason recently underwent a routine tonsillectomy, and his doctors discovered a treatable form of tonsil cancer. Thankfully they caught it early and he should make a full and speedy recovery. Please join us in sending him love and positive healing vibes during this time."
Jason previously performed with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's side project Pinhead Gunpowder in the early 1990s and became touring guitarist for the 'Warning' rockers in 1999.
He continued to perform with the group on the road at every subsequent tour, and was named a full time member in 2012 when they released trio of albums '¡Uno!', '¡Dos!' and '¡Tre!'.

Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran will go head-to-head at the BBC Music Awards.
The two singers have been nominated for the British Artist of the Year prize at the inaugural ceremony, but face competition from music legend David Bowie, modern soul group Jungle, 'One Day Like This' hitmakers Elbow and rock duo Royal Blood.
Meanwhile the nominees for the Best International Artist award have also been revealed.
Country legend Dolly Parton and 'Shake It Off' star Taylor Swift are up for the honour alongside 'Royals' hitmaker Lorde, 'Happy' singer Pharrell Williams, 'Purple Rain' icon Prince and jazz musician Gregory Porter.
The shortlists were selected from a list of the 50 most played artists of the year on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, 1Xtra and BBC Radio 6 from the period of 1st December 2013 to 24th October 2014.
Bob Shennan, director of BBC Music, said: "The BBC Music Awards exist to celebrate the past 12 months in music.
"The shortlists feature an amazing range of hugely talented artists. Each and every one has made a unique mark on the music industry.
"They have experienced phenomenal success and it's wonderful to see new acts featuring alongside some of the biggest names in the business."
The winners will chosen by a BBC Music panel as well as leading music journalists and announced at the awards show at London's Earls Court on December 11.
The ceremony will feature performances from the likes of One Direction, Coldplay, Take That, Paloma Faith, Calvin Harris and Catfish and the Bottlemen, while there are also expected to be some surprise collaborations.
The show will broadcast in the UK across BBC One, Radio 1, Radio 2 and online.

BBC Music Awards 2014 limited nominations:
British Artist of the Year:
David Bowie
Ed Sheeran
Elbow
Jungle
Royal Blood
Sam Smith

International Artist of the Year:
Dolly Parton
Gregory Porter
Lorde
Pharrell
Prince
Taylor Swift

Mary J. Blige is a big fan of Sam Smith.
The 'Right Now' hitmaker - who collaborated with the 22-year-old singer on her latest album, 'The London Sessions' - has revealed that she loves the "honesty" in his songs.
When asked what she was listening to at the moment, she told the Independent's Radar magazine: "Sam Smith's 'In The Lonely Hour'. I love his vocals, his stories and his music.
"There's so much honesty and his voice is so soothing, it just covers you."
Meanwhile, Sam - who co-wrote Mary's latest single, 'Therapy' - recently admitted that he initially wanted the track for himself but gave it to her because she "fell in love" with it.
Speaking about the track, he previously said: "Obviously Mary J. Blige is a huge influence to me, and I adore her. And I would have jumped at the opportunity of course at any time, but the way it happened was so amazing. I almost got to know her before I even began.
"The song 'Therapy', which she sang at the AMAs, I wrote for my record. But then she heard it and fell in love with it and she sang it. And I actually only took two days off, actually, to go in the studio and write.
"But I feel so emotionally invested in it, and it's so weird for me to say that Mary has now become my friend. Seeing her perform that at the AMAs, I was so proud. It was a raw performance, and everyone was playing live, and it just showed the type of artist she is."