Music News

Nile Rodgers felt like he was listening to ghosts when he heard old tapes of him and his Chic bandmates.
The 'Le Freak' hitmaker has revealed he was inspired to make Chic's first album for 23 years after he was sent old recordings of him working in the studio with original band members such as Bernard Edwards, who passed away in 1996, and Tony Thompson, who died in 2003.
He said: "The thing that motivated me was listening to the banter in-between the tracks, and there's nothing that sounds like that because we're talking through a talkback mic which was in the centre of the studio.
"So I felt like I was listening to ghosts because all of the guys in my band have passed away. It was amazing, and it was scary, because there's nothing that sounds like that with the talkback mic in the middle of the studio. It was like a time capsule."
The 62-year-old star - who returned to the spotlight in 2013 after collaborating with Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams on hit single 'Get Lucky' - went on to admit that hearing the tapes made him want to release more material before it was too late.
Speaking on 'The Chris Evans Breakfast Show' on BBC Radio 2, he explained: "I realised that I didn't have much time on this earth, especially after listening to the tapes and hearing all my mates had died.
"So I just thought I would play as much music and do as much as I can, and do as many concerts as I could, and then I went on this four year tour which was absurd. That's when I co-wrote 'Get Lucky' with Daft Punk and Pharrell and those guys, and then [worked with] Avicii."

Jennifer Lopez would "absolutely" duet with Rihanna.
The 45-year-old singer has revealed she would love to sing with the 'We Found Love' hitmaker, having recently starred in the animated movie 'Home' with her.
When asked if she would work with her co-star, she said: "Absolutely! Who wouldn't?!"
The chart-topping mother-of-two went on to explain she is such a fan of the Bajan beauty because she is both edgy and feminine.
She told E! News: "I'm a huge Rihanna fan ... and I feel like she's such a girl's girl, which I love, because I'm a girl's girl and she seems very sweet.
"And I love the edginess about her and I think she did a really great job in this film."
The comments come just days after 27-year-old star also expressed her wish to work with the 'Booty' singer, but confessed she would have to add padding to her derriere if they shot a video together so she could compete with Jennifer's round butt.
She said: "I would need some butt pads for that video though."
Continuing to praise the star - who released her debut single 'If You Had My Love' in 1999 - she gushed over how successful she continues to be, despite being older than most pop stars.
She added: "I mean, really? She's shutting down 20-year-olds at forty-something. It's unheard of."

Prince wrote a song about a postman stealing his girlfriend.
The 56-year-old singer-songwriter - who released albums 'Plectrumelectrum' and 'Art Official Age' last year - is known for having hours of unreleased material, and one of his long-term collaborators, Cat Glover, has revealed one of the unheard songs tells the tale of his lover's affair with a delivery man.
She explained: "One of the lyrics in his song said, 'I went out of town for 40 days, she made love to the mail man when I was away. I bet she thought I wouldn't catch her. She had a 15 cent postage stamp on her ass.'"
And while the subject matter is slightly odd, the singer - who worked with the 'Purple Rain' hitmaker on his 1987 album 'Sign o' the Times' and 1988's 'Lovesexy' - insisted it is one of her favourite tracks from the star, despite the fact it has never been heard by his fans.
Speaking in the BBC Radio 4 documentary 'Hunting for Prince's Vault', Cat said: "That's the one I really like.
"That song has never, ever, ever been performed live.
"That is a bad song, and by that I mean awesome."

Pharrell Williams is turning the Empire State Building yellow for the International Day of Happiness.
The 41-year-old will illuminate the iconic New York skyscraper in the bright colour today (20.03.15) to celebrate the occasion, led by the United Nations and Live Earth, in a bid to engage young people with the topic of climate change.
He explained: "In a year where there is so much turmoil in the world, from social conflict to climate change, we need moments to stop and celebrate happiness.
"Protecting our planet is fundamental to the pursuit of human happiness and that is why we have chosen to support Live Earth's movement to raise a billion voices for climate action. We believe that happiness can change the world."
The lights of the building will be changed at 2pm EST (6pm GMT), after which the 'Happy' hitmaker will speak to middle school students, alongside UN officials and climate experts, about the importance of taking action to curb climate change.
As part of the celebration, the chart-topper is also hosting a 'Happy Party'; encouraging people around the world to upload images of themselves to www.globalhappyparty.com which will then be transformed into dancing animated images to raise awareness for the cause.

Nile Rodgers sleeps with his guitar.
The 62-year-old producer and guitarist revealed he still has to practise every day to be on top form, and enjoys playing the instrument in bed which means he ends up snoozing next to it.
He admitted: "It's funny, he said he tried sleeping with it, I still sleep with my guitar. I do most of my practising in bed in night before I go to sleep."
The star - who kicks off his tour of the UK at London's Roundhouse this evening (20.03.15) - made the comments after fellow guest on BBC Radio 2, iconic guitarist Mark Knopfler spoke about how he had attempted to kip with his guitar as a youngster.
He said: "I think when I got my first guitar I tried to sleep with it on the very first [night] but it doesn't work. Electric guitars get very uncomfortable."
However, the Chic musician - who premiered the group's first single in 23 years, 'I'll Be There' on BBC Radio 2 this morning - insisted if he didn't practise every day, his live show would suffer.
He told radio host Chris Evans: "I have to. I always say that if I don't go one day without practise, I know it. If I go two days without practising, you know it."

Queens Of The Stone Age are currently "taking a break" but have not split, bassist Michael Shuman has revealed.
The musician insists the rock band - fronted by Josh Homme - are taking a much needed rest after two years on the road but has assured fans they are planning to reunite for a new album.
In an interview with Gigwise, Shuman said: "There will be future stuff with Queens, we're just taking a break since we had a long, long two years of touring. We'll take a break to do other stuff."
After completing their tour, the band did intend to head straight into the studio to record the follow-up to their 2013 album '...Like Clockwork'.
But after discussions between the five members - Homme, Shuman, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore - they made a collective decision to take some time for themselves.
Shuman added: "We were eager because we were in a good spot, having fun and the record had done really well. But we decided to take a break because we had been going so hard for so long, and we really worked on that record for a long time. It's not like we're sick of each other and don't want to do it - it's just better to step back for a second and come back once the world has had a little bit of a break from you."
Shuman is spending his time away from Queens of the Stone Age concentrating on his Mini Mansions side project.
The group - compromised of Shuman, Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford - release their second album, 'The Great Pretenders', on March 23, and the LP features Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson.

5ive's Sean Conlon found fame "overwhelming" as a teenager.
The 33-year-old singer revealed he found life in the band difficult when they first launched because everything in his life suddenly changed.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I think we were too young to process the success. It was overwhelming. You're dealing with a lot of life-changing experiences and because you're so young, you're dealing with that stuff. People telling you that you've changed. All the things that, when you're 17, you can't really comprehend ... moving away from home, things like that. You know, when you're 17, it's a lot to take in."
The band - which also featured Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, J Brown and Abz Love - enjoyed huge success with their hit singles such as 'If Ya Gettin' Down', 'We Will Rock You' and 'Keep On Movin', and while he admitted it was tough when the band were first around, he is enjoying it a lot more, having reformed with bandmates Scott and Ritchie several years after they split.
He explained: "Where we've been away from it, we've had a lot of time to process it and have a bit of normality, and then you come back and you have a bit more clarity and more perspective on it."
The star - who will head out on a UK tour in April - now insists he is enjoying being in the band because he is such good friends with his fellow musicians.
He added: "I think we're more understanding of each other's different personalities. We're more mature about it, and I think we're having more fun now than we ever did. We were so overwhelmed when we were young that it was just too much to take in, whereas now we're doing it because we actually really, really enjoy it."
Five kick off their 'Loud and Intimate Tour' next month. Visit www.kililive.com for tickets.

Example and Gorgon City are among acts confirmed for We Are Rockstars in Ibiza.
The series of shows will return to the Ibiza Rocks Hotel for a fourth year, boasting a line-up of some of the most exciting UK talent including the 'Kickstarts' hitmaker.
Other acts confirmed for the string of shows - which will happen at the iconic hotel every Friday from June 5 to September 18 - include grime star Skepta, drum and bass duo Sigma, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ MistaJam, rising star Sinead Harnett and popular DJ Hannah Wants.
Gorgon City's return to the event will also be a live exclusive for the island following their appearance at the festival in 2014, once again taking to the world famous open-air Rocks stage.
The acclaimed DJ David Rodigan will also make his debut appearance in Ibiza to present 'Ram Jam' with support from SHY FX, Toddla T and Ms Dynamite, which the 63-year-old star admitted he is thrilled to be heading to the Balearic island for.
He said: "Very excited to be bringing Ram Jam to the Island for the very first time with my good pals Shy FX & Toddla T in tow! Sunshine and reggae, the killer combination!"

Iggy Azalea hopes to release her new "up-tempo" album later this year.
The 'Fancy' hitmaker has revealed she is hard at work on the follow-up to 2014's 'The New Classic' and is hoping to get it finished in the next few months after having to reschedule her spring tour until September due to "production delays."
She explained: "I didn't anticipate having any time to completely finish it, but now that I have kind of the time, I'd love to have an album at the end of 2015."
The 24-year-old singer - who recently worked with Britney Spears on the as-yet unreleased single 'Pretty Girls' - also spoke about the themes which will influence her next release, saying it will be a lot more "fun" and "girly" than her debut release, because that was all about the struggle of breaking into the music industry, which she has now done.
She elaborated: "My first album got pushed back so many times and it was really, probably like two years of recording on and off, not the entire time, but it was a real struggle and I think that was something that really like reflected in my album a lot -- I talk about trying to make it, trying to breakthrough.
"So my second album, now I don't have this problem. So I hope it's a little bit more up-tempo and just really fun. I just want to have something so summer and so girly, so loud and obnoxious and braggadocios."