Music News

The Charlatans took a "completely different approach" to working without Jon Brookes.
The 'One to Another' group - who were left devastated after the drummer passed away from a brain tumour last year - found it "cathartic" recording new material but didn't worry about getting a replacement for their late bandmate until they needed to.
Frontman Tim Burgess said: "I suppose it felt a little bit different making it, but we just kind of made it with lots of optimism.
"It was a completely different approach. We wrote the songs without drums. We wrote them with drums in mind, and then decided who we would like to play the drums after. "
His bandmate Martin Blunt added: "We started in January and finished in June and as the process went along with the songs, it was quite cathartic for the rest of us. We've probably done our most optimistic second record."
One track on the album, which is entitled 'Modern Nature' and will be released in January 2015, was partly written by John and they hope its inclusion is a "fitting tribute" to their friend.
Martin told BANG Showbiz: "Before Jon suddenly passed away, he began to write some lyrics for a song he had in mind. He'd started to demo it with a friend of his, and we managed to unravel that. It's like an extra track on one of the CDs.
"He wrote them in hospital. Pretty heavy, but, it's not the end."
Tim added: "We just did our best and did it very slowly, a fitting tribute I think."
However, the singer admitted he found it tough to sing Jon's words so opted just to take backing vocals.
Asked if he found it hard to sing the song, he said: "You know what, it was, so I didn't. Jon had this song in mind and he presented it to the band, in a written demo form, with some kids singing it, some students from a music college. It just sounded so great that I only did backing vocals. They were pretty tough to sing."

One Direction were "gutted" 'Steal My Girl' didn't make it to number one in the UK.
The group saw their latest single peak at number three last month and though they were upset not to top the singles chart, they think Meghan Trainor's 'All About That Bass' deserved to take the number one position.
Louis Tomlinson said: "'Steal My Girl' didn't go to number one and we were gutted to be honest.
"But that's just the way it is - there's tough competition out there. 'All About That Bass' is just a monster."
Niall Horan added: "I'm all about that bass."
Despite their disappointment, the 'You & I' group - which also features Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles - never fail to be astonished by the support of their fans.
Louis told Britain's OK! magazine: "Everything we do, the fans are so incredibly supportive. Going into an album you think, 'We've had such incredible support over the past three albums, surely this won't be received on the same level. But they do."
Zayn added: "That's why it amazes us even more, because it's persistent."

Emeli Sandé is not happy with Band Aid 30 and wants a "whole new song".
The 27-year-old featured on the fourth incarnation of the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' but was unhappy with the lyrical changes made to the track and believes a new song is needed instead of the classic hit.
Posting on Twitter, she said: "Dear friends, Yes I agree the lyric needed 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. (sic)"
Despite admitting its downfalls, the 'Next To Me' singer - who recently revealed she split from her husband Adam Gouraguine after a year of marriage - praised the Band Aid single, which is raising money for the fight against Ebola in Africa, acknowledging organiser Bob Geldof for his dedication to the cause.
She continued: "Aside from my feelings regarding the lyric, there was no doubt in my mind or heart that this project came from a place of pure and respectful intent. Sir Geldof made this clear when he addressed us all: I haven't heard a man speak with such passion and sincerity in many years.
"I am so proud of my Zambian heritage. No offence or disrespect to the beautiful and prosperous continent was ever intended. In my eyes, this song is specifically addressing a medical crisis, which is very real and in urgent need of awareness and support. The response from world governments has been horribly slow and media coverage has been minimal though thousands and thousands are dying. (sic)"
The 'What I Did For Love' singer ended the message with an apology for anyone offended by the single - which is the biggest selling track of 2014 in the UK - once again defending the song by assuring fans that its purpose was to raise money and awareness.
She added: "I apologise if the lyrics of the song have caused offence. I wish the changes had been kept but that is out of my control. The sole objective is to raise awareness and money to provide medical aid to those suffering the Ebola outbreak, which is being worsened and amplified by poverty.
"Thank you so much for your support (sic)."

Zayn Malik is reportedly ready to leave One Direction.
The 21-year-old musician is said to be tired of being famous and wants to quit the band - who released their fourth studio album, 'Four', this week - in favour of a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle.
An insider revealed: "Zayn is fed up with the whole fame thing. He loves singing and his fans but he just wants a quiet life now."
The 'Steal My Girl' singer is also thought to be considering the departure in order to spend more time with Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, as he wants to settle down with the singer who he proposed to in August 2013.
Talking to the Sunday People newspaper, the source continued: "He has become increasingly disappointed with the little amount of time he can spend with Perrie.
"Unfortunately she is in a band too, they have so little time together.
"Zayn appreciates how lucky he is, but life is about family for him and he is seeing too little of his loved ones."
Their struggle to fit quality time together into their busy schedules has also meant the couple have not been able to make plans for their nuptials.
He admitted: "We are engaged... I've had a few questions about plans for the marriage; we haven't really had any plans yet."
Despite an imminent ceremony being unlikely, Zayn's bandmates - Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - have already started planning a pre-wedding celebration, and hope to whisk the handsome hunk off to Las Vegas for a debaucherous stag party.
Niall told OK! magazine: "You know where we're taking you, don't you Zayn ... Vegas!"

Mariah Carey wants to do a mini residency in the US.
The '#Beautiful' singer, who split from Nick Cannon earlier this year after six years of marriage, reportedly wants to ink a multi-million dollar residency deal like Britney Spears, but doesn't want to move to Las Vegas.
A source said: "Mariah doesn't want to go to Vegas. She put out feelers to the Borgata in Atlantic City and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut about a mini residency."
The 44-year-old beauty, who has three-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, believes she can make a lot of money from the gigs as she was recently forced to add another date to her upcoming Christmas concert series in New York City due to high demand.
The insider added to US Star magazine: "She wants a stable, high-paying gig that will keep her close to her New York home. Mariah is crossing her fingers that she can figure out a way to make money on her own turf."
While Mariah is still shopping around for a deal, Jennifer Lopez is rumored to have agreed to $350,000-a-show 72-date residency in Las Vegas recently.
But a source previously claimed she is waiting for promoters to sign off on her list of demands, including an all-white dressing room, before she signs the contract.

Mel C is "stepping away" from showbiz.
The former Spice Girls singer - who has five-year-old daughter Scarlet from her relationship with Thomas Starr - no longer feels "comfortable" with life in the spotlight.
She said: "I've just started questioning things about the celeb world - I've recently stepped away from it a bit because I don't feel comfortable with it all.
"I have a daughter and I don't want her to grow up in that kind of world."
And the 'Stop' singer also slammed the celebrity trend for taking selfies, insisting putting so many pictures online is "narcissistic".
She added: "I've had a year of wanting to lie low for a bit, regroup and see exactly where I want to be.
"Maybe it's turning 40, but I just find the whole trend of selfies really narcissistic as it's so based on self-promotion.
"I've backed away from Twitter in the past year for that reason."
While Mel enjoys seeing her former bandmate Mel B judging on 'The X Factor', she isn't a fan of what the show stands for.
She told Closer magazine: "I really support Mel and she's brilliant on 'The X Factor'. She brings the perfect dynamic because Cheryl [Fernandez-Versini] is very diplomatic, whereas Mel just says it how it is.
"It makes good TV, but what bothers me is that young people go on it really hopeful and it's quite rare to get a big career from that.
"I'd say I'm a fan of Mel on the show, but not the show itself."

Rocker Angus Young says Phil Rudd won't be fired from AC/DC.
The 59-year-old guitarist has suggested that Phil - who was arrested last month - would still be a part of the hard rock band, although he wouldn't take part in their upcoming tour to promote the group's new album 'Rock or Bust'.
Rudd, 60, was originally charged with attempting to procure a murder, making threats to kill and possession of illegal substances on November 6.
The charge of attempted murder was eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence, although the drummer still faces the remainder of the charges and remains on bail until November 27.
Speaking to US radio host Howard Stern, Angus 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."
Insisting the band will tour with a replacement sticksman, he added: "We are talking about criminal charges here. We are talking about judges, we are talking about juries. We are going to go on tour. Nothing is going to stop us. In the past we have had good drummers who have worked with us."
Recalling the moment he saw his bandmate being led away by the police, AC/DC's singer Brian Johnson added: "My wife woke me up and said, 'Phil's been up to no good.' Someone said, 'Who was he trying to hit?' It was his drug dealer.
"There was this guy getting led out of a car with no shoes on looking like he was f***ing drugged and his head was on backwards."
AC/DC were further shaken this year when rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young - Angus' older brother - had to be admitted to a care home after developing dementia.

Noel Gallagher is up for performing at the Glastonbury festival next year.
The 47-year-old musician made the declaration in response to comments made by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl earlier this month, who said he would headline the festival's Pyramid Stage with his bandmates if Oasis reformed to top the bill as well.
Dave said: "If Prince does it, and Oasis does it, you've got the Foo Fighters, how about that?"
The Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds star has now said he would be available for Michael Eavis' iconic event - which will take place at Worthy Farm in Somerset, South West England, from June 24-28 - but wouldn't be drawn on whether he wanted to reunite with his brother Liam for the festival.
Noel said: "I'm available that weekend - it's not up to me though, is it?"
The 'In The Heat Of The Moment' singer was also full of praise for Dave and his band, insisting they are among the loveliest guys in rock.
Noel told XFM Radio: "What they say about him is true. He is genuinely one of the nicest men in rock. We've done some big gigs with them down the years. Great lads, all of them."
Noel quit Oasis in 2009 following a huge backstage bust-up with Liam, which ended with the volatile singer trying to hit his sibling over the head with a guitar.
The pair didn't speak for years but the animosity has eased between them in recent months, with Noel admitting that they are on "good terms, well as good as we can be".
However, a reunion doesn't seem to be a possibility for the near future, with the guitarist previously saying: "It's not on the cards. From where I sit now it's purely a creative thing.
"I really, really enjoy where I am with my music and where I am with my band. I wouldn't be willing to give that up for anything."

Cher has cancelled her 'Dressed to Kill' tour due to a viral infection.
The 68-year-old music legend has announced she has been forced to call off the second leg of her 'Dressed to Kill' tour after doctors advised her she needed more time off to recover the illness.
In an statement, Cher said: "Nothing like this has ever happened to me. I cannot apologise enough to all the fans who bought tickets. I'm so proud of this show. It is my best ever. I sincerely hope that we can come back again next year and finish what we started."
A post on her official website read: "While her progress has been consistent, Cher's doctors have advised her to take more time to ensure and complete and total recovery."
She later took to Twitter to express her regret to her 2 million followers.
Cher wrote: "I'm SORRY I Couldn't B the 1 to tell you about postponing my tour. I Tried SO HARD 2b Strong enough, but my Will couldn't force my Body time (sic)"
She then added: "Let's talk about it tomm. Between gut wrenching Sadness of not being Able 2go on stage, sing, b Silly, & wear new Mackie's & Mike Dying, I'm [heartbroken] (sic)"
The 'Believe' songstress has cancelled a total of 29 concerts which would have taken her across America and Canada.
The second leg of the tour was due to kick off in New York City on September 11, but that was called off after she contracted an infection "that affected her kidney function".
The music icon had already played 49 concerts during the first leg of her 'Dressed to Kill' tour earlier this year, where she was joined by her support act Cyndi Lauper.
The first run of shows all sold-out and banked Cher a reported $54.9 million.