Music News

Spandau Ballet are planning a world tour next year.
The 80s pop stars - fronted by Tony Hadley - are set to hit the road in support of their new LP which they are currently recording, their full album for 25 years.
Gary Kemp told The Sun: "Everything is back on track. We want to go back on tour. We didn't patch things up for money but because we had a deep history with each other."
The band - which includes brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, Steve Norman, Tony Hadley and John Keeble - reunited in 2009 after a bitter split for a run of shows and could make £20 million collectively from their proposed 2015 tour.
The five band members - who between them produced hits like 'Gold' and 'True' - split up in 1990 and had not spoken for 20 years after disagreements over royalties.
The band have been busy releasing a movie about their musical life titled 'Soul Boys of The Western World' which will be available in October.

Chris Martin wants to write songs for Rihanna.
The Coldplay frontman personally approached the 'Rude Boy' hitmaker to ask if he can submit some tracks for her next album because he is such a big fan of her.
He told Fresh 102.7 New York radio station: "I don't even think she asked. I just said, 'Please can I try something?'"
Despite his impressive back catalogue, the singer/songwriter - who previously collaborated with Rihanna on the Coldplay track 'Princess of China' - is still worried his songs won't make the final cut.
He said: "She has so many amazing people writing for her. It's like trying to win 'American Idol', getting a song on Rihanna's album."
Chris - who split from his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, earlier this year - confirmed him and Rihanna have been working in the studio together.
The 37-year-old musician - whose hits with Coldplay include 'The Scientist' and 'Fix You' - said: "I love being in the studio with Rihanna. It wasn't necessarily with ... I was working for her."
Chris also revealed he wants the 26-year-old pop superstar to appear on Coldplay's next album.
When asked if she would be making an appearance, Chris said: "I hope so, yeah. I have a really nice song which ... maybe, I hope so."

Janet Jackson is expected to release a new album later this year.
The 'All For You' singer has reportedly been working on an upcoming project and it is said she will pay tribute to her late brother Michael, with plans to cover one of his tracks for the record.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "The label are really pushing Janet and have made her a priority act for the year, which means a big budget.
"It's the first album she's released since Michael died in 2009 so she felt it was fitting to include a nod to him.
"If it sells well she will look at doing a world tour in 2015."
Meanwhile, songwriter Jamie McGrone has hinted at his involvement in the "project" - which would be her first album since 'Discipline' in 2008.
He took to Instagram and revealed his "team" would be working on the record, but refused to go into any more detail on what exactly they would be working on.
He wrote: "Guess whose team is going to New York to work on the new Janet Jackson project."

Nathan Followill has been hospitalised after a road accident.
The Kings of Leon drummer suffered broken ribs when the group's tour bus was forced to make an emergency stop when a pedestrian jumped in front of the vehicle.
The 'Sex on Fire' rockers announced the news on their Facebook page, writing: "The band was en route to their hotel after their show in Boston when a pedestrian jumped in front of their tour bus, causing the bus to stop short, injuring Nathan Followill.
"Nathan is being treated for broken ribs, but is doing well."
Following the news, Nathan was inundated with messages of support from fans and has promised to be back "better than ever".
He tweeted: "Thank you for all of the get well soons. I'm a little banged up but will be back better than ever. (sic)"
As a result of the 35-year-old musician's injury, the group were forced to postpone a show in New York last night (10.08.14). Fans have been offered refunds.
Guitarist Jared Followill - Nathan's brother - admitted he felt "so sad" about the accident, especially because the band are enjoying the tour so much.
He tweeted: "So sad this a.m.. Bus accident last night. Nathan has broken ribs. This was the most fun tour in a while. We'll be back ASAP. #GetWellNate (sic)"

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo admits he feels terrible for taking the group in the wrong musical direction in the past.
The 44-year-old singer pours his heart out on the group's upcoming single 'Back To The Shack', on which he admits he hasn't always made the right decisions on behalf of the 'Buddy Holly' hitmakers and at times he went too far.
He said: "Lyrically I'm talking about how I feel bad about some of the musical experiments I took Weezer on and how I want to make a classic alt-rock record.
"Sometimes I've gone over the edge. Right now it feels like we want to go back and balance it out with some more classic elements of geek rock.
"There's definitely still some experimentation but it sounds like experiments that only Weezer could do."
Rivers also used his feelings to help inspire him to pen Weezer's upcoming ninth album, 'Everything Will Be Alright In The End', which partly focuses on the group's relationship with father-figures.
He added to NME magazine: "My father was in the army, stationed in Germany, when I was growing up, so I didn't see him much. That gave me a lot to write about, and I explored the father figure theme in other ways, too. There's a song called 'Eulogy For A Rock Band' about Weezer's musical forefathers. 'The British Are Coming' is about the American colonies' relations with their imperial father, the British Empire. And 'Foolish Father' could be me singing about my father or me singing about my daughter."

Alex James doesn't know if Blur will collaborate together in the future.
The 'Song 2' hitmakers - comprising bassist Alex, guitarist Graham Coxon, drummer Dave Rowntree and singer Damon Albarn - reformed in 2009 and have performed together a number of times since then, but the musician doesn't know what the future holds as they are so busy with other projects.
He shared: "To tell you anything other than 'I don't know' would be completely misleading.
"Getting back with the guys has been emotional each time because fundamentally we all really get on and there were never any major problems between us. I love them all like brothers. But our lives have moved on. We're all busy. That's the great thing, we all found new things to do. So to do it as and when works for us."
The group went on hiatus in 2003, reforming 2009, and though Alex never expected or planned for the break, he thinks it was "important.
Alex told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "We came to a natural hiatus; I didn't choose for it to happen, but spiritually it was important that it did and I certainly don't spend my days moping around wishing I could have that time back."

Charlie Simpson has revealed McBusted are planning to release an album.
The super-group is comprised of McFly and Charlie's former Busted bandmates Matt Willis and James Bourne and although they initially formed for a tour, the solo star has let slip they've been writing songs together for a proposed LP.
When quizzed about McBusted's long-term future, he told BANG Showbiz: "I know they're writing new songs at the moment with a view to putting a record out.
"They've got some great writers in that band, Danny Jones is a great songwriter and so is Tom Fletcher from McFly as well. I think they can definitely do some stuff and it will be interesting to see how they progress. I think they can definitely do more together."
Charlie - who has just released his second solo album 'Long Road Home' - isn't sure how long the group intend to stay together but he knows they're determined to release a record.
He added: "From what I understand I don't think it's a full-time thing for them ... I'm not sure what their long-term plan is but I do know their short-term aim is release an album."
The 29-year-old songwriter can see Busted and McFly's influence on the current crop of pop/rock bands such as The Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer and is pleased to see groups who write their own songs being successful.
Charlie - who is getting ready to perform at The Roundhouse in London on October 14 - said: "I think it's interesting in the charts at the moment. For me it's just good to see pop bands playing guitars and writing their own songs. Regardless of whether or not I like a band's music I'll always have more respect for a band that writes their own songs and plays their own instruments, do you know what I mean?
"I think that it's good that there's a generation of bands coming through that are playing music and writing songs."

Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora are to duet at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards.
Iggy will make her VMAs debut on August 24 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and will be joined on stage by Rita for a rendition of their new single 'Black Widow'.
Australian rapper Iggy is set for a big night at the VMAs as she has been nominated for seven awards and she has a nomination for the highly coveted Video of the Year prize for her 'Clueless'-inspired video for 'Fancy'.
She is also in the race for the Best Pop Video prize and the trophy for Best Collaboration among others, and she has two chances to take home the Best Female Video award as her promos for both 'Fancy' and 'Problem' - her track with Ariana Grande - are included in the shortlist.
Iggy - who was recently announced as the host of MTV fashion series House of Style - and Rita will also be providing commentary on the stars' red carpet style on the night for MTV.
Other confirmed performers for the ceremony - which will air on MTV UK on August 25 at 9pm - include Usher, Maroon 5, Ariana, 5 Seconds of Summer and Beyoncé.
Beyoncé has the most nominations at this year's VMAs with her potentially being able to go home with eight prizes including Video of the Year for 'Drunk In Love' her collaboration with husband Jay Z.

Status Quo's Rick Parfitt is expected to return to the stage next week following his recent heart surgery.
The 65-year-old rocker underwent a major operation to have a stent fitted after he was taken ill earlier this week, but he's hoping to make a rapid recovery and perform with the rest of his band mates at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, next Friday (15.08.14).
The group's manager, Simon Porter, told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "We are all obviously delighted Rick has made such rapid progress, ­especially as the band is shortly to unveil another exciting and innovative new project, details of which will be announced in the next couple of weeks."
Rick, who has battled with drugs and alcohol in the past, was airlifted to Royal Brompton Hospital, South West London, on Monday (04.08.14) after he became unwell on the band's tour bus in Pula, Croatia.
Status Quo were forced to scrap six dates of their European tour following the health scare.
Meanwhile, this isn't the first time the guitarist has undergone a major operation as he had a heart bypass in 1997 after doctors warned him that his wild partying could kill him.
Rick resides in Spain with his wife Lyndsay ­Whitburn, 54, and six-year-old twins Tommy and Lily.