Music News

Julian Casablancas wants to make "edgy" music mainstream.
The Strokes frontman has revealed his latest solo album 'Tyranny' - which was released last month - is an attempt to normalise underground music and "make it popular" in its own time.
He told The Guardian newspaper: "If anything I want to make edgier, interesting stuff mainstream. I'm not trying to be weird, I'm trying to make cool things, that are usually underground, popular.
"A lot of what I do is to try and make cool things popular in their own time. But I'm not trying to be new or different. It's just the same as ever - creative ideas come in my mind and I just execute them."
The 'Someday' singer also described the record - which features the tracks 'M.utually A.ssured D.estruction', 'Off to War' and 'Take Me in Your Army' as a "protest" and is a social comment on what he believes to be the failings on modern society.
He explained: "I guess it's kind of a protest record. It feels like one to me. It's more to do with morality than politics. We have the sense that we've moved on from the system where the centres of wealth arbitrarily decide what is law and what wars we fight, etc. But I really don't think that we are removed from that.
"I was actually tapping into the notion of profits at the expense of humanity that I see everywhere. The general human struggle. The point of the record is to try and illustrate the total illusion that we're somehow beyond that sort of thing, in this so-called era of freedom and justice."
The father-of-one confessed he was even close to tears while working on a track 'Human Sadness' and "felt swallowed up" by the emotional message behind the music.
He said: " It was very intense to work on. I've never worked on a song where the people were close to tears.
I wasn't quite crying, but it was really intense. It's like being on the operating table - you're working on making it emotional. But this was a rare time when I felt swallowed up by it."

Take That members begged Jason Orange to stay with the band.
Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald were desperate for their former band mate to stay with Take That, that they continued to ask Jason to join them in the recording studio.
Howard said: "We were hanging on, hoping he would come back.
"At every opportunity, regardless of whether we were writing in the States, we were like, 'Are you coming?' "
Gary also revealed that they had left space on their new album, which is titled 'III', for the absent singer.
He said: "We started the new record just before last Christmas, so until two weeks ago we left this big hole for Jay in case he was gonna say: 'Yes I'm in."
However, the guys were adamant that Jason's departure won't change things for the band and they explained that they plan to keep in contact.
Mark said: "Take That is our most comfortable place, being in this band is a family.
"Even when we're not working we see each other. We saw Jay a few weeks ago and had a sort of goodbye. There's something nice about coming together."
They even hinted that former member, Robbie Williams could return to the band for another tour and album, as Howard said: "The door is always open."
Although the band - whose first single 'These Days' is available from November 23 - are staying positive, it appears as though their work was affected by Jason's absence.
Mark shared: "It was quite downbeat, and we needed to change it to bring more energy to it. I think Gary said, 'We're not writing a retirement record.' "

The Smiths, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails and Bill Withers are among the first-time nominees for the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The four acts are eligible to be inducted next year if they gain enough votes from the public and the Rock Hall voting body.
The other acts nominated include hip hop group N.W.A, the late Lou Reed, Sting, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Kraftwerk, disco legends Chic, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, The Marvelettes, The Spinners, Stevie Ray Vaughan and War.
Speaking about this year's nominations, Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said: "The acts represent a broad, diverse group of artists and demonstrates how rock 'n' roll has evolved over the years."
The Rock Hall voting body is comprised of over 700 members, including recording artists, music historians and industry insiders and their vote will be combined with the fans' choice. Fans can visit www.rockhall.com/vote to choose their favourite acts up until December 9.
In order to be eligible for this year's ballot, acts needed to have released their first single or album in 1989 or earlier.
The induction ceremony will be held on April 18 in Cleveland, Ohio, which is where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is located.
If The Smiths are inducted are attend as a band it would be the first time all four members, singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, have appeared together in years.
They split acrimoniously in 1987 and in 1999 divisions between the four members deepened when Rourke and Joyce sued Morrissey - who this week revealed he is being treated for cancer - and Marr over royalties.

The Who are working on a new album.
The legendary rock group released 'Be Lucky' - their first new song in eight years - last month, and lead singer Roger Daltrey, 70, has confirmed they're working on new material for the eagerly-awaited record.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "The Who have got a new record out. It's 50 years on and we have passed the audition. We've done one song and we are going to do a whole album. It's exciting."
The London-born singer, who also founded the iconic group, explained that being in a band has changed as they have aged.
He said: "It's not as rock and roll, it could never be as rock and roll because we are older..
"There's drugs but they are just different - it's now all Imodium and those types."
It's been confirmed that 'Be Lucky' - their newest single - will appear on the band's upcoming compilation Who Hits 50
The much-hyped release will be The Who's first new material since 2006, when they launched 'Endless Wire'.
Meanwhile, sing-songwriter Pete Townshend, 69, has also confirmed that the group intend to head out on tour to mark the 50th anniversary since the formation of the classic line-up.

John Lydon has "no interest" in writing a Sex Pistols musical.
The punk legend - who has recently released an autobiography, 'Anger is an energy' - wouldn't want to rework the group's famous songs for a stage show because he doesn't want to "revist the past".
Asked if he'd be interested in a Sex Pistols musical, he said: "No. It would involve rewriting the songs and I have no interest in revisiting my past. I don't want a bunch of strangers gazing at my navel."
John - who was known as Johnny Rotten in the 'Anarchy of the UK' group - felt he completely changed music in the 1970s with his "assault on mediocrity".
He told BBC Radio 4's John Humphreys: "I changed the face of pop music at that time.
"I was offering a more honest approach, a more sensible message. It was a direct assault on mediocrity."
However, when the presenter noted he hadn't been able to "change society", he insisted that was never his intention.
He said: "No, you silly sausage, I never, ever claimed that I wanted to change society. Society can remain the same ad infinitum if it wishes; it's of no interest to me. I just don't wish to to toe the line like the rest of you. I mean you no harm, so long as you don't try to step into my space."

Depeche Mode are to release a two-hour concert film.
The 'Enjoy the Silence' hitmakers' long-term collaborator Anton Corbijn has directed 'Live in Berlin' - which documents their 'Delta Machine' tour last November - and the group will also release a two-disc live album.
The two-hour film was shot over two concerts at the O2 World Berlin in Germany and a delux package of the DVD, CDs and Blu-ray copy of 'Delta Machine' will also include a second DVD made by the director which sees the live show cut with behind-the-scenes footage, band interviews and even a two-track acoustic session filmed at the Samon Bel Ami brothel.
Anton said in a statement: "Berlin has a special place in the hearts of Depeche Mode.
"Likewise, Depeche Mode has a strong following in the German capital and the film tries to capture the highlights of these concerts as well as that special connection through interviews with fans and bands alike."
The DVD and album will be released on November 17.
The band's 'Delta Machine' tour saw them play to over 2 million fans in 32 countries and took in a variety of venues, including parks, casino showrooms, indoor arenas and stadiums.

Pink Floyd have confirmed 'The Endless River' will be their final album.
The 'Wish You Were here' hitmakers' remaining members, Nick Mason and David Gilmour, admitted it is a "shame" their forthcoming record will be their last-ever release, but think it is the right note to end on.
David said: "This is the last thing that'll be out from us.
"Well Rick [Wright]'s gone, dead. I'm pretty certain that there will not be a follow up to this. Polly, my wife, thought that would be a very good lyrical idea to go out on. It's a shame but this is the end."
However, David admitted he may use some sessions he recorded with late keyboard player Richard - who died in 2008 - on his next solo album.
He added in an interview with BBC 6 Music: "I have a little bit of Rick playing from my solo stuff that will hopefully appear on my next solo album, but not a Pink Floyd album."
Former member Roger Waters recently issued a strongly-worded statement insisting he had no involvement in 'The Endless River', which will be released on November 10 and features music recorded by Richard.
The bassist, who quit the band in 1985, wrote on Facebook: "Some people have been asking Laurie, my wife, about a new album I have coming out in November. Errhh? I don't have an album coming out, they are probably confused. David Gilmour and Nick Mason have an album coming out. It's called 'Endless River'. David and Nick constitute the group Pink Floyd.
"I on the other hand, am not part of Pink Floyd. I left Pink Floyd in 1985, that's 29 years ago. I had nothing to do with either of the Pink Floyd studio albums, 'Momentary Lapse Of Reason' and 'The Division Bell', nor the Pink Floyd tours of 1987 and 1994, and I have nothing to do with Endless River. Phew! This is not rocket science people, get a grip."

Tracey Emin will design the 2015 Brit Award statuette.
The controversial artist will follow in the footsteps of Dame Vivienne Westwood, Sir Peter Blake, Damien Hirst and last year's designer Philip Treacy in creating the iconic prize, which will be handed out at the annual ceremony next February.
And the 51-year-old artist was "thrilled" to asked to design the award.
She said: "I was thrilled to be asked to rework the Brits trophy. It's so nice as a visual artist to have an involvement with the creative side of the music industry and it's such a sweet celebration of the amazing talent we have in Britain today."
Brits organisers were keen to select a designer who represented "British creativity" and were "delighted" when Tracey agreed to their request.
Brits Chairman Max Lousada said: "Tracey is one of the UK's most prominent fine artists and we are delighted that she has agreed to re-work the 2015 BRITs trophy. Having her on board means that we enter a fifth year of iconic and uniquely designed BRIT statues, and with British creativity very much at the heart of the event, it's fitting that Tracey takes the baton and continues this tradition."

Take That will premiere their new single tomorrow (10.10.14).
The 'Patience' hitmakers' first track since Jason Orange's recent departure can be heard on UK radio at 7.30am and the remaining members of the group - Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - hope it will be a hit with fans.
A posting on the group's twitter page read: "We can officially confirm that our new single is premiering tomorrow morning across UK radio! Tune in from 7:30am."
Gary then wrote on his own twitter page: "hope u like it (sic)"
And in response to a fan who said she was excited about hearing the song, he replied: "So r we (sic)"
Howard doesn't think fans will be disappointed by the track, whose name has not yet been announced.
He tweeted: "we can't wait to hear on the radio too!... tis a great song (sic)"
The song marks the group's first new material since 2010 and Howard admitted it has been a long time coming.
He wrote: "About bloody time hey (sic)"
Take That fans were left stunned last month when Jason announced his departure.
He said in a statement: "I want to start by saying how proud I am of what we have achieved together over the years.
"However, at a band meeting last week I confirmed to Mark, Gary and Howard that I do not wish to commit to recording and promoting a new album...
"At the start of this year and with my full knowledge and blessing the guys began writing new material.
"There have been no fallings out, only a decision on my part that I no longer wish to do this."