Music News

Stereophonics have "hot girls with cellos" on their rider for London's Royal Albert Hall.
The Welsh rockers have been announced as one of six headline acts for a series of shows at the iconic venue to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust in March, and are looking forward to the performance because of the attractive musicians they will be joined by on stage.
Speaking to Absolute Radio Breakfast Show host Christian O'Connell, frontman Kelly Jones said: "We're still trying to work out how we're going to do the gig. I think we're gonna get some people to do the 'Graffiti on the Train' - bring out some hot looking girls with some cellos. The hot girls with the cellos are only on our rider when we play the Albert Hall. You can't play cellos in sweaty clubs and pubs or big venues like Wembley."
As well as performing for the fundraiser on March 23, the 40-year-old star confirmed the band - which also features Richard Jones, Adam Zindani and Jamie Morrison - will release a new album this year to follow-up the success of 2013's 'Graffiti on the Train'.
He said: "We're bouncing ideas back and forth at the moment but we're definitely going to be playing a few shows in the UK over the summer, showcasing a few new songs.
"We're very happy with the album so far. We made a lot of tracks on the last record so we've used some of them and some others. We're looking at the album to be released sort of September, October time, but will be releasing some songs around May first."
The 2015 series of Teenage Cancer Trust shows will see performances from Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, and The Who - who all performed at the first of the shows 15 years ago - with 'Brown Eyed Girl' hitmaker Van Morrison and comedian Kevin Bridges also gracing the stage.
Tickets to the performances go on sale at 9am on Friday January 30. Absolute Radio is the official radio partner for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcasting highlights from the 15th Anniversary shows.
The line-up for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall is as follows:
March 23 - Stereophonics, plus very special guests
March 24 - An evening of comedy hosted by Kevin Bridges, plus very special guests
March 25 - Van Morrison, plus very special guests
March 26 - The Who, plus Wilko Johnson
March 27 - Paul Weller, plus Johnny Marr
March 28 - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, plus Future Islands

Chris Brown has postponed his US tour.
The 'Between the Sheets' tour with Trey Songz and Tyga was due to begin on Tuesday (27.01.15), but the rapper has been forced to pull-out after a judge banned him from travelling until he has met his community service target.
Taking to Instagram to explain the move to his disappointed fans, he said: "I would first like to apologize to all the fans and people who have been supporters of me and all the music over the years. The beginning of the BTS tour has been moved to later dates now. The judge would not sign off on my travel to do the tour until I finish these last 100 hours of community service. (sic)"
The string of 26 dates was due to start in Hampton, Virginia with other shows in Atlanta, Brooklyn and Nashville amongst other cities, and although the performances have been put on hold, he promised fans he is doing everything he can to overcome his court-ordered sanction.
He continued: "I promise that I am busting my ass doing it everyday until it's complete. This is the most disappointing news I've gotten in a while. Everything happens for a reason so I wanted to personally inform my fans. The show must go on. Out of 1000 hours I only have 100 left. I will work my ass off to complete it and I will be on that stage. (sic)"
The news comes just weeks after the 'Loyal' hitmaker's probation was revoked for leaving Los Angeles to perform without gaining approval, and before he had completed his community service.
As well as apologising, the 25-year-old musician said he hopes the rescheduled tour will kick off within the next few weeks, although he is due to return to court in March where he will be tried for violating his probation which may result in further jail time.
He added: "Once again I'm sorry for the delay. I love yall! We will let yall know the dates that are changed. It's not cancelled. Just moved around a couple weeks. (sic)"

Nick Jonas can't see himself reuniting with the Jonas Brothers.
The 22-year-old star insists he would never say never to getting back together with the band - which was made up of himself and his brothers Kevin and Joe - but admits it's not something he's planning any time soon.
He said: "I don't know. My life has changed so much in 12 months that I can't predict what tomorrow is going to bring, you know? It's hard to imagine saying "never". But for this moment in time that I'm in right now, I don't see that happening."
The hunk has launched his own solo career since parting ways with his brothers and is trying to lay down a "foundation" so he can continue to make music and entertain people for the rest of his life.
He explained: "I think part of the beauty of being a pop phenomenon is that you're going 1,000 miles per hour, and it's all happening - and that's also the hard part about it.
"It's very easy to get used to certain things going at that speed, with that frenzy behind it. But it's not necessarily the foundation for the best, long lasting career.
"This time around, I'm trying to set up a foundation so that I can do what I love for the rest of my life. I see my career as not just music, but as hopefully an entertainer on all mediums, and someone who can have real influence and make great art."
The 'Jealous' singer added he is inspired by the career journeys of music legend Elvis Presley and 'Take Back the Night' hitmaker Justin Timberlake.
Quizzed on who his biggest role models are, he told Rolling Stone magazine: "Elvis, for sure. He was one of the first ones to do acting and singing at the same time, and he's obviously an icon. On top of that, I think that Justin Timberlake has done a good job of not only transitioning from where he started, but also balancing acting and singing."

Prince is planning a Grammy Awards performance.
The 'Purple Rain' singer is set to play a special set at the star-studded ceremony on February 8 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, adding to an already impressive line-up including Madonna, AC/DC and Pharrell Williams.
A source told Us Weekly: "He has something very, very special in the works."
The music icon will join other acts such as Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Miranda Lambert and Sam Smith if he does perform at the ceremony, which would be his first time singing at the show since 2004.
During that performance 11 years ago, the 'Red Corvette' hitmaker sang with Beyoncé - who has racked up six nominations at this year's ceremony - performing a medley of 'Purple Rain', 'Let's Go Crazy' and 'Baby I'm a Star' as well as the 33-year-old musician's debut solo single 'Crazy in Love'.
It wouldn't be the 56-year-old performer's first appearance at an awards show this year as he attended the 2015 Golden Globe Awards earlier this month, where he presented the Best Original Song category.

Blink-182's Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have slammed Tom DeLonge as "disrespectful and ungrateful".
The pair have blasted their former bandmate after he insisted he hasn't "quit" the group, shortly after they issued a statement saying he had left "indefinitely" and will be replaced by Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba for their upcoming show at the Musink Festival in California.
Explaining how they hadn't spoken to Tom in person "for months", Mark said they had booked a recording studio for January 5 but received an email from the singer's manager saying he "has no interest in recording and he wants to do his other, non-musical stuff and is out indefinitely."
Travis added: "I think he's just bummed because Mark and I were finally honest. We always covered up for him before. It was always, 'We're going to record an album,' then 'Tom refuses to get into the studio without a record deal.'
"So everyone does hella amounts of work to get a record deal and now Tom isn't part of Blink-182. It's hard to cover for someone who's disrespectful and ungrateful. You don't even have the balls to call your bandmates and tell them you're not going to record or do anything Blink-related. You have your manager do it.
"Everyone should know what the story is with him and it's been years with it."
The pair insist they are relieved that Tom will no longer be a part of the group because they feel he has been holding them back.
Mark told Rolling Stone magazine: "When Tom finally said, 'I'm not going to go into the studio or play this show,' it was kind of a gigantic relief because at least he finally said it. But to then say, 'I didn't quit the band' it's just not true. It's disingenuous.
"I just wish Tom does whatever makes him happy and stops holding Blink-182 back from what we all agree that we're going to do, play shows, record music, continue this legacy and have a good time doing it."
Despite their insistence that Tom has left the band indefinitely, the 'All the Small Things' singer used his Instagram page to blast the claims.
He wrote: "To all the fans, I never quit the band. I was actually on a phone call about a Blink-182 event for New York City when all these weird press releases started coming in.
"Apparently those reports were 'sanctioned' from the band. Are we dysfunctional - yes. But, Christ. #Awkward".
Another statement was later issued via his agent, in which he said: "I never quit the band... The ONLY truth here is that I have commitments that limit my availability this year. I love Blink-182 and I'm not leaving."

The first acts have been announced for the FIB Benicàssim Festival 2015.
The Prodigy, Florence and the Machine, Portishead and Los Planetas are to headline the festival, which takes place in the Spanish town from the 16th to the 19th July 2015.
Speaking about the line-up, the festival's director Melvin Benn, said: "FIB. The international festival that started the concept of international festivals enters its third decade and what a wonderful feeling it is for me to be part of it.
"The third decade represents the real start for me and, as well as a stellar line up of Main and Second Stage acts we are announcing today - The Prodigy - among them, I'm also very keen to highlight the new areas of the festival we are developing this year, Trenchtown and Bearded Kitten. New and fresh ideas and areas to reset the bar for Spanish festivals in the same way the Moran brothers did in 1995. The FIB 2015 Benicàssim Festival is the future."
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Bastille, Public Enemy, Crystal Fighters, Clean Bandit and MØ will also join the festival's line up in what promises to be an exciting event for music fans.
The Prodigy are expected to belt out some of their most well known tracks including 'Firestarter', whilst Florence and the Machine are likely to wow crowds with their biggest hits such as 'Cosmic Love', 'Dog Days Are Over' and 'You've Got The Love'.
There are more acts which have yet to be announced and tickets can be purchased from www.fiberfib.com or through Ticketmaster.

The Benicàssim 2015 line-up so far:
The Prodigy
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Florence And The Machine
Portishead
Clean Bandit
Los Planetas
Bastille
Public Enemy
Crystal Fighters

Eliza Doolittle wants to release new music this summer.
The 26-year-old singer reached number three with her eponymous debut album in 2010, and despite failing to reach the top 20 in the UK album chart with the record's follow-up 'In Your Hands' in 2013, she is hoping to impress with her third album later this year.
Speaking at the premiere of 'Shaun the Sheep the Movie' she exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I'm working on my album. I'd love to have something to hear in the summer but, you know, no promises. I just really want to do something that comes from a really pure place."
The 'Pack Up' hitmaker - whose real name is Eliza Sophie Caird - revealed she has decided to change her sound for the LP, and is instead trying to emulate the artists she listened to as a youngster.
She continued: "I think this is going to be the album that I love the most. I've only done two albums, you know, [but I'm] really making the music that I kind of grew up on. I'm getting in touch with that more than I ever have."
Although she is aiming to have a new song out in time for the summer, the Nike model admitted she isn't getting too stressed about the prospect because she is in charge of her career, so can do what she wants.
She explained: "The best bit about where I am now, career-wise, is that I don't have a timeline. I have no pressure from anyone, I'm my own boss. I'm just making sure that I get it right. Obviously, I always put a bit of pressure on myself and you can't take too long with these things, so I'm hopeful of having something to play in the summer or definitely before the end of the year. I don't want to rush it."

Giorgio Moroder is working on Lady Gaga's new album.
The acclaimed producer revealed he has written "five or six" songs for the singer's fourth solo studio record but missed a recent studio session with the 'Do What U Want' hitmaker because he fell ill.
He said: "I was supposed to be in the studio with [Gaga] a week ago, but I got a cold.
"I'll see her when I'm back. I have about five or six tracks, just basic ideas. Drums, keyboard, bass. I'm going to be surprised, I think - I don't have a clue about the way she's recording. Will she play the piano? Will I?"
Although the 74-year-old disco star prepared the tracks for the singer's own album, he admitted it would be "incredible" if she also featured on his LP '74 is the New 24', which will be released in the spring.
He said: "This is for her new album - that's the intention.
"I was hoping that maybe I can convince her to have one of the songs for my album. If I could convince her, well that would be incredible."
Giorgio has already confirmed he has collaborated with stars such as Britney Spears, Charli XCX, Kylie Minogue and Sia for the LP - which will be his first full release in 30 years - but said a potential collaboration with the 28-year-old musician would have to "fit" with the rest of the songs he has recorded.
Speaking to Popjustice music website, he added: "If I have a good track that could fit my album but not necessarily hers, that could be ideal."

Nathan Sykes has "surprised" himself with his new music.
The former The Wanted member - who has been working on solo material since the group decided to take a hiatus last year - said he wanted to create a straightforward sound with his debut album but has been shocked by how good the music he has made is.
He shared: "I'm still classing this as a pop album. It was never my mission to do something unexpected, I just wrote music and didn't set any limits and if I'm completely honest I have even surprised myself!"
The 21-year-old musician - who was in The Wanted along with Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Tom Parker - has worked with a range of other song-writing talents on his new material including Diane Warren and Babyface, which were experiences he described as "surreal".
He explained: "Working with Diane Warren and Babyface was two of the most surreal days of my life. There is never a dull moment with Diane and she is one of my favourite people on the planet and the session with Babyface produced probably the most honest and emotional song I've ever written!"
However, the singer confessed the album has been a struggle to make because much of the inspiration came from the heartbreak he felt after his four-month romance with 'Problem' hitmaker Ariana Grande came to an end in late 2013.
He told The Sun newspaper: "The time we broke up was really tough. The Wanted decided to take a break and I lost my grandad. I was not in the best place. She was my first grown-up relationship. But sometimes you have to go into a place like that to be able to find the best music out of it.
"The most emotional song is about me telling myself not to be angry at the break-up because sometimes things just don't work out. That's life."
Despite having worked on the LP for over a year, Nathan is not expecting it to be released until later in the year, but hopes to give his fans a taste of his solo sound with a single in the next few months.
He told Hunger TV: "When can you expect it!? I think that you will probably get the album towards the end of 2015 but we are looking to get my first single to you all within the first few months of the year!"