Music News

Angus Young has grown closer to his brother Malcolm since he was diagnosed with dementia.
The 61-year-old rocker was forced to leave their group AC/DC earlier this year after being gripped by the condition - which causes memory loss and confusion - but his younger sibling and bandmate was "surprised" at how much he wanted to plan for the 'Back in Black' star before he was unable to continue.
Angus, 59, said: "His symptoms started around the 'Black Ice Tour' [during 2008-2010] but he said he wanted to continue. I kept asking him if he wanted to go on and he did.
"Then when he'd seen a few different people and was diagnosed, he said he would go on with the band for as long as he could play. He did very well."
Did it make us closer? Yes for sure. Even when he was ill. When touring he didn't have great days. So I'd sit with him and we'd talk.
"He'd surprise me, by talking about things such as how we should do some open-air shows. But then he's always been our leader and it was just good to have that feedback."
Though Malcolm - who is now in a full-time nursing home in Sydney, Australia - gave his blessing for the band to continue and has been replaced on rhythm guitar by his nephew Stevie Young, the group found it "hard" recording new album 'Rock or Bust' without him.
Guitarist Angus told The Sun newspaper: "We missed Malcolm from the very start. Especially when we've got tough decisions to make.
"But I'm pleased he got to hear the album. One of my other nephews in Australia took the record in for him to hear. And he loved it.
"My nephew said Malcolm was happy and had a big smile on his face. That was very moving to hear."

will.i.am thinks current music sounds too dated.
The Black Eyed Peas star is worried that records hitting the charts sound too much like the material that was being released over 10 years ago.
He said: "Everything around music right now is so 2000s, like 2003."
And the 'I Gotta Feeling' hitmaker was unimpressed by the performances at the recent American Music Awards (AMAs), which included Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Jessie J and his own bandmate Fergie.
However, he thinks it is difficult for such televised shows to engage with audiences nowadays because gadgets such as smart phones and tablets are more suited to a short attention span.
He told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: "Nothing was like, 'Oh my!'.
"It's like, I don't know how you compete with 'refresh. "Everyone is 'refreshing' their phones, and songs just always seem to be in the background. You're competing with my thumb flipping channels."
The 39-year-old producer recently admitted he is planning to "energise" and has no desire to retire.
Quizzed on whether he was planning to leave the music industry behind, he said: "You know what rhymes with retire? Expire. We ain't expiring, we ain't retiring. If it rhymes with something bad you don't want it ... [I'll just] energise the batteries. Lithium. Lithium pop."

Adele has turned to Damon Albarn for help with her new album.
The 'Skyfall' hitmaker met with the Blur frontman at his west London recording studio earlier this week in the hope he will collaborate with her on her much-anticipated comeback record - which was expected to be released this month - as she isn't happy with the material she has so far.
A source said: "Damon and Adele had a chat about her new album and they could work together in future.
"He has produced and written brilliant pop songs for Gorillaz and slower material for acts such as Bobby Womack. He has advice to give from 25 years in the business.
It seems Damon isn't the only person Adele is planning to work with.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "Adele's exploring loads of different avenues for the music and isn't rushing anything but the album will be released next year."
The 26-year-old star - who has son Angelo, two, with boyfriend Simon Konecki - tweeted earlier this year that the album, the follow-up to 2011's '21', would be released later in 2014, but it is now expected to hit stores in spring 2015.
She has already worked with a number of songwriters and producers, including Ryan Tedder, Diane Warren, James Ford and Paul Epworth.
'In the Air Tonight' hitmaker Phil Collins recently revealed he had also worked on the album but was later told his contribution had been dropped.

Jack Steadman wishes Bombay Bicycle Club had a different name.
The four-piece band formed under the name The Canals when Jack was just 15, but soon adopted their current name which the frontman now thinks is "silly."
When asked if he wishes they had chosen a different moniker for the group, he said: "Every day. It's a silly name. Everyone does silly things when they're 15, but not many people have to deal with it for the rest of their lives."
The 'Carry Me' singers released their fourth studio album, 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' in February, which was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize - an award which is given to the act deemed to have created the best British album.
The band was one of 12 acts shortlisted for the award alongside FKA twigs and Damon Albarn, but lost out to Scottish trio Young Fathers who scooped the prize for their debut studio album, 'Dead'.
Discussing the prize - which has previously been won by PJ Harvey, James Blake and Alt-J - the 24-year-old singer admitted while he was thrilled to have been nominated, he wasn't bothered about being beaten by the 'Get Up' hitmakers.
When asked if he was disappointed, he told Shortlist magazine: "Not really. At the time I was having an incredible evening. I hadn't really heard of the other bands, embarrassingly. I got to sit there for three hours watching them all perform and I found it really inspiring."
Jack - who is in the indie group with bandmates Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram and Ed Nash - continued to say he is skeptical about what benefits the prize would have because they are not a new act.
He added: "For a band like us, who are quite established with four albums... I don't really know what the Mercury would have done. I was happy for it to go to an up and coming band. That's where an award like that should go."

Wilko Johnson has found it "tricky" readjusting to life after beating cancer.
The Dr Feelgood guitarist was told he had just months left to live when he was diagnosed with the deadly disease in January 2013, but since being given the all-clear a few weeks ago he admits it has been difficult coming to terms with the fact his end isn't imminent.
He said: "After a year of believing my fate was settled, coming back is kind of tricky. I'm still trying to adjust to the idea things aren't going to end. I've got to bloody carry on, man!"
Following an operation in April which removed the 7lb 11oz cancerous tumour, which was "the size of a baby", the 67-year-old musician has started worrying about his future again, as it wasn't something he had to think about when he was ill.
He told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: "When you think you're going to be dead by Christmas, it gets a whole lot of botheration out of the way. You don't have to worry about the future because you haven't got a future. And that's been given back to me."
Wilko - who has starred in four episodes of HBO fantasy series 'Game of Thrones' as mute executioner, Ilyn Payne - is now anxious the stress of life may plunge him into depression, which is something he has suffered with in the past.
He explained: "It's like waking up from a strange dream and being a little bit baffled. I'm hoping that I will mentally engage with the world again. I'm a miserable so-and-so really, and I have been all my life."
Now that he is on the mend from his scrape with death, the star is hoping to return to the stage, but confessed he is too weak at the moment as he recovers from the surgery that saved him.
He added: "I don't know if I've got the stamina for a whole gig. I could certainly play two or three numbers and then I might fall over and never get up again!"

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd turned up late for his court appearance.
The 60-year-old percussionist was charged with threatening to kill and possession of drugs earlier this month and behaved strangely during his short time in front of the judge in Tauranga, New Zealand.
After missing the scheduled time of his hearing, a judge was forced to issue an arrest warrant, but this was revoked minutes later when he arrived at the courthouse.
The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported the musician exhibited odd behaviour once the hearing began, winking at reporters who were present for the case, and drumming a rhythm on the dock with his hand while the judge spoke.
When departing the building, Phil jumped onto the back of his security guard who then carried him to a sports car.
The star - who is known for being in the band which created hits such as 'Back In Black' and 'Highway To Hell' - was originally charged with attempting to arrange a murder as well as the other incidents, but this was dropped a day later due to a lack of evidence.
Instead, the father-of-six was accused of possessing the illegal substances methamphetamine and cannabis, but chose not to enter a plea during the appearance.
Earlier this month, Phil's AC/DC bandmates Angus Young, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson and Stevie Young issued a statement which said the arrest would not impact the band's plans to release their upcoming album 'Rock or Bust', or their subsequent tour.
The statement read: "Phil's absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour next year."
Speaking to US radio host Howard Stern recently, 59-year-old Angus revealed Phil will be staying in the band despite facing possible jail time.
He said: "I don't think we need to do any firing. The situation will take care of itself. He has gotten himself into a pickle. There is nothing we can do about it."

Years & Years, George The Poet and James Bay have been shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award.
The three acts have been tipped for a musical breakthrough in the next 12 months, with the winner - who will follow in the footsteps of Sam Smith, Emeli Sande, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J and Adele in taking the prize - being announced on December 4 before being presented with the accolade at the Brit Awards ceremony on February 25.
London trio Years & Years - comprised of Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy, Emre Turkmen - are stunned to have made the shortlist.
They said: "We're so grateful to be making music and having this sort of recognition is crazy and ridiculous and nuts in a really good way."
George The Poet - whose real name is George Mpanga - has already worked with 'Let It Be' singer Labrinth and 'La La La' hitmaker Naughty Boy, but was amazed he had been shortlisted for the prestigious prize.
The Cambridge-educated spoken word artist said: "I feel privileged to have been shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award. I always dreamed of reaching people and this nomination shows me that I'm on track."
The third nominee, singer-songwriter James Bay, also found it difficult to comprehend his nomination for the prize, despite having supported talents such as Tom Odell and John Newman in concert.
The 24-year-old emerging talent gushed: "I still can't believe it. As much as I hoped, being nominated for the Brits Critics' Choice Award is not something I ever imagined would actually happen. What a huge honour,"
Last year saw 22-year-old Sam Smith scoop the gong from competitors Chlöe Howl and Ella Eyre, and has since gone on to top charts around the world with his debut album 'In The Lonely Hour'.

Sinead O'Connor thinks Band Aid 30 critics should "shut the f**k up".
The 'Nothing Compares 2 U' hitmaker was one of the artists who appears on the new version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time?' and has blasted stars including Emeli Sande - who also appears on the record but has complained about the lyrics - Lily Allen and Damon Albarn following their gripes about the charity track.
Sinead told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I think everyone should shut the f**k up. If you didn't like the lyrics you shouldn't have agreed to sing the song.
"I think it's smug of Lily Allen to say it's smug. The assumption that anyone performing on the record has not privately given money is exactly that, an assumption. And who gives a f**k what Damon f***ing Albarn thinks?"
Sinead's comments come after 'Air Balloon' singer Lily branded the record "smug" and insisted stars who took part should have donated to the Ebola crisis privately if they really wanted to help the situation in West Africa.
She said: "I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in a with a bunch of people like that.
"It's like the success club and I'm not really in that club. I don't think I'm above it all - I'm way below it. But there's something a bit smug about it."
And Emeli took to twitter at the weekend to apologise if the song "caused offence" and claimed she tried to write her own lyrics to the song.
She said: "I agree the lyric needs changing. In fact I feel a whole new song is required. Angelique Kidjo and I made and sang our own edits. Unfortunately, none of these made the final cut."
Meanwhile, Blur singer Damon questioned whether the single was the right way to tackle the problem, proclaiming there are "problems with our idea of charity" when celebrity campaigns "balloon out of nothing".

Coldplay have unveiled an interactive video for 'Ink'.
The award-winning band has premiered the innovative clip which gives viewers the option to plot their own storyline with more than 300 possible journeys available to choose from.
Written, directed and animated by Los Angeles agency Blind, the video follows an animated traveller searching the world for his missing lover, and allows fans to make real-time choices as to where he journeys next.
The band - made up of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion - will release the track as the fourth single from their sixth studio album, 'Ghost Stories', which is now available along with their 'Ghost Stories Live 2014' concert film and live recording.
The video follows recent comments from Chris Martin, 37, who revealed Katy Perry was an inspiration for his songwriting when making the number one album, explaining he is a big fan of the 'This Is How We Do' singer.
Speaking about the idea behind previous hit 'A Sky Full Of Stars', he said: "I'll tell you the truth. I was listening to a lot of Katy Perry,
"A lot of her songs have the same chord sequence the whole time. Your body feels comfortable with them and then the melody's changing on top so there's a groove you really get in to and then also you're kept interested... So I was like, 'That's an amazing way of doing songs.'
"So I was like f**k it! I love that stuff. So I wanted to have a song that comes from that world."
The 'Ink' video is available to experience on the Coldplay website (http://www.coldplay.com/ink/).