Music News

Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie says the band are open to headlining Glastonbury in the future.
The 70-year-old singer yesterday (22.05.14) confirmed that she had rejoined the band as she accepted her Lifetime Achievement gong at the Ivor Novello Awards in London, and she later confessed that she'd be more than happy to headline the festival in Somerset, if it's founder provided her with some waterproofs.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "If Michael Eavis provides the wellies I'll be there."
The 'Go Your Own Way' hitmakers had been one of the acts rumoured to be headlining the music event before it was announced that heavy metal band Metallica had filled the final spot.
Christine first left the group, which includes bandmates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, 16-years ago but, after performing with them at the O2 Arena in London last September, Mick announced in January that she'd be returning.
The singer has now revealed that they are working on new material for an album and are preparing for their upcoming world tour.
Speaking at the Ivor Novellos, she said: "I would like to announce that I have re-joined Fleetwood Mac and we're in the process of writing a new album for next year.
She added to the Daily Star newspaper: "We are making new music right now. It's half done, then the world tour starts in September."

Arctic Monkeys wanted Prince to join them at their London gigs this weekend.
The 'Do I Wanna Know?' hitmakers want some special guests at their massive shows in Hyde Park, and though the 'Purple Rain' hitmaker was at the top of their wish list, they didn't ask him as they knew he wouldn't accept their request.
Bassist Nick O'Malley said: "We were talking about bringing Prince in to do the high backing vocals - they'd probably be low backing vocals for him anyway.
"But we've never met him and I doubt he'd be up for that. For the size of the show though, you really should do something."
The group admits they could have headlined such big gigs - which will see them perform to 50,000 people over the course of the weekend - earlier in their career, but think they will give a better performance because of the way their latest album, 'AM', has connected with fans.
Frontman Alex Turner added to NME magazine: "Probably in terms of selling tickets, we could have done something like this before but we weren't as on fire then as we are now.
"We couldn't do what we're doing now without that record. Had we done it before, I think it would have, in some way, still have been based on the first album and its success. To some extent, everything is built on that, but now, it's the new record most people want to hear."

Alastair Griffin thinks pregnant Kimberley Walsh was a "soldier" on the video set for their new single.
The 36-year-old singer - who duets with the Girls Aloud star on his new track 'The Road' - was impressed when the heavily pregnant singer turned up for a promo shoot on a Yorkshire hillside with a broken wrist.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "The brilliant thing about her is it was all work from the outset and she was going to work right through to the live performances, video, the lot. All credit to her for that.
"There we were on a cold hillside in Yorkshire, she was pregnant and she had a broken wrist at the time. I think she just tripped when she was at home and fell over, she was incredibly laid back about the whole thing. It was just cold. She was a little bit cold. I was cold. She soldiered on."
Despite her injuries, Alistair credited the 'Biology' singer for bringing "glamour" to the shoot.
He said: "It was great working with someone like Kimberley. She's done a lot ... Girls Aloud, Strictly Come Dancing, [she's] a public figure and she brings a bit of glamour and magic dust to the whole record.
He added: "She's been cool to work with. We had great fun when we did the video. She was vary laid back about the whole thing."
'The Road' - which will be released next month - has been chosen as the official anthem to Yorkshire's 'Grand Depart - The Tour De France' and Alistair revealed Yorkshire-born Kimberley was top of the list of possible collaborators for the track.
He said: "I always had it as being a duet in mind, with a girl, and we wanted someone, a singer from Yorkshire, and Kimberley was top of the list.
"I'm waiting for the call from Cheryl but Kimberley has always been my favourite."
'The Road' will be released on June 30 through Elbow Grease Records. The video for the single can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=DagQili02Qk.
Alistair releases new album 'From Nowhere' on July 7.

John Newman thought being nominated for an Ivor Novello in the same category as London Grammar was "horrible".
The singer, who was up for the award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for his track 'Love Me Again', co-written by Steve Booker, insists although he was glad to have made the list, he didn't like going up against his friends - Hannah Reid, Dot Major, Dan Rothman - who went on to win the award for their song 'Strong'.
Before the show at London's Grosvenor House today (22.05.14), John told BANG Showbiz: "It was horrible when I found out they were nominated against me because I believed in them from the start. I supported [them] from the start and believe they're an act that deserve to win an Ivor Novello, it's a bit gutting that we're against each other."
Despite his competition worries, the 23-year-old star, who was also up against Palma Violets, is getting used to award shows and dealing with red carpets and the press.
He said: "I don't mind the interviews because you get to meet people and talk to people but with the cameras outside when you're coming in, it's a bit [daunting]. I'm a studio worked not a red carpet walker really. I still get a little bit nervous but I'm getting used to it now."
But he insists he couldn't drink at the lunch before the show because he'd end up going on stage naked, which would no doubt embarrass his family.
He added: "I've got my mum with me today, which is lovely, it's her first one."

Nile Rodgers was reduced to tears after being presented with the Legend Award at this year's Ivor Novello Awards.
The Chic man, who was presented with the prize by Johnny Marr, was emotional after the former Smiths man delivered a moving speech and he was given a standing ovation.
On stage at the ceremony at London's Grosvenor House today (22.05.14), Johnny said: "Thanks on behalf of everyone who has moved their feet to 'Good Times' or bopped their head to 'Get Lucky' on the school run.
"Thanks for setting an example to me to show me what a guitar player could be and what a musician could [be]."
He continued: "He's always carried himself with such dignity and grace, and positivity, enthusiasm and hard work.
"He's one of the greatest, I hope he feels the love because it's there for you man. This award goes the great Mr. Nile Rodgers."
The 61-year-old star, who co-founded Chic with Bernard Edwards, has inspired countless musicians over the past three decades and shed tears as he stepped up to accept the prestigious award.
He said: "This is the best award ceremony I've ever been to. I knew all night why I was laughing but I kept crying all night too and I couldn't understand why ... it's because I love music so much.
"I still get the same feeling when I walk into the studio with David Bowie or Madonna or a basement studio with Disclosure and end up recording all night and having the time of our lives. It's never changed for me, it's exactly the same and I can't believe I get to do this and get paid."
Meanwhile, other big winners on the night including London Grammar, Tom Odell, James Blake and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

London Grammar, Tom Odell and James Blake were the big winners at this year's Ivor Novello Awards.
The trip-hop trio - made up of Dominic Major, Hannah Reid and Daniel Rothman - won Best Song Musically and Lyrically for their track 'Strong' at the 59th Ivor Novello Awards, which were held today (22.05.14) at London's Grosvenor House.
Talking before the show, Hannah told BANG Showbiz: "It feels really good because it's a songwriter's award and that's why we do what we do, it's a little more chilled than the BRITs as well, it's great."
Tom won Songwriter Of The Year, while James picked up the accolade for Best Contemporary Song for 'Retrograde' but hadn't considered himself to be a songwriter.
He said: "Until my second album [Overgrown] I didn't think I was a songwriter, and now maybe I do."
Mike Rosenberg won the award for PRS for Music Most Performed Work for Passenger's hit song 'Let Her Go', while Arctic Monkeys and Laura Mvula missed out on the Best Album Award, which went to Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for 'Push The Sky Away', performed by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
Chic musician Nile Rodgers picked up the Legend Award from former Smiths man Johnny Marr, after he delivered a moving speech.
Ahead of the ceremony, Nile told BANG Showbiz: "I've just got in from Ibiza at about four in the morning, I haven't slept at all."
Talking about receiving the Legend Award, he said: "I was laughing when they told me, I was like, 'You think I'm a legend? I'll take it.'
"One thing I know as a songwriter and composer [is that] this is what I consider [to be] if not the most prestigious event, it is one of the most prestigious events."
He joked: "When they called me and asked me to come, I was like, 'I'll come, do I get free food?'"
Mumford and Sons won the International Achievement Award and after a video montage was played for the audience, Marcus Mumford joked: "That felt a bit like a f***ing obituary."
Other awards on the night went to Jeff Beck for PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music, Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons from The Chemical Brothers for Outstanding Song Collection and Christine McVie for Lifetime Achievement.

Ivor Novello Awards 2014 full list of winners:


PRS for Music Most Performed Work:

'Let Her Go' - (written by: Mike Rosenberg, performed by: Passenger)

The Ivors Classical Music Award:

John McCabe

Best Television Soundtrack:

'Ripper Street' - (composed by: Dominik Scherrer)

Best Contemporary Song:

'Retrograde' - (written by: James Blake)

International Achievement

Ed Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall and Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons)

Best Original Film Score:

'The Epic of Everest' - (composed by: Simon Fisher Turner)

The Ivors Inspiration Award:

Jerry Dammers (The Specials)

Album Award:

'Push the Sky Away' - (written by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis)

PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music:

Jeff Beck

Best Song Musically and Lyrically:

'Strong' - (written by Dominic Major, Hannah Reid and Daniel Rothman - London Grammar)

Songwriter of the Year

Tom Odell

Outstanding Song Collection

Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons [The Chemical Brothers]

Lifetime Achievement

Christine McVie

PRS for Music Special International Award

Nile Rodgers

Paul Weller thrilled fans with a surprise encore of 'In The City' at his London show on Wednesday night (21.05.14).
The rocker performed at Dingwalls in Camden and after sending fans wild with a rendition of 'The Changingman' he left the stage, but as people started filing out of the intimate venue he rushed back on stage with his band to play the track, which was his former group The Jam's debut single.
Weller has performed three small shows across the UK capital this week to promote his upcoming greatest hits album 'More Modern Classsics', which features the highlights of the last 15 years of his solo career.
The 55-year-old musician's set was heavily comprised of songs from the LP, including 'Come On Let's Go', 'Wake Up The Nation' and 'The Attic' - from his most recent studio release, 2012's 'Sonik Kicks'.
Weller - backed by his usual band, including Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Craddock - didn't speak much to the crowd other thanking them for their applause between songs, preferring to power through his 90-minute show instead.
Weller did also play older solo hits and got a big cheer when he introduced 'Above The Clouds', taken from his self-titled 1992 debut solo album.
Speaking about 'More Modern Classics' - which is released on June 2 - Weller said: "This is just another few chapters of my life's work, a journey which I would hope you would come with me on ... The music on this compilation is over 15 years but for me it feels like it could be five or six years. I'm rushing through, like, I can't slow it down. I'll cling on tight and see where it ends up."

Guns N' Roses are rumoured to be splitting up.
Frontman Axl Rose is said to be planning to call time on the hard rock group after they complete their Las Vegas residency on June 7, almost 30 years he created the band while living in Los Angeles.
A source told RadarOnline.com: "Band members have been told their calendars are free following Vegas.
"Axl is considering retiring and it's done. Band members and support staff were surprised when told the news and are actively looking for work."
The 52-year-old singer is the only remaining founding member of the band with lead guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Steven Adler and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin having all quit over the years.
The current members of Guns N' Roses are Tommy Stinson, Dizzy Read, DJ Ashba, Frank Ferrer, Chris Pitman and Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal.
The 'November Rain' hitmakers, who have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, begin their Las Vegas residency on May 21, playing nine dates at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Another source said: "Axl has made enough money and wants to stop touring. He is considering retiring."
However, Loudwire.com is reporting that a source has told the site that the split rumours are "bullsh*t" and the band members are taking a break, giving them chance to focus on other projects.
Bass player Duff - who quit Guns N' Roses in 1997 - briefly rejoined the band in April, standing in for Tommy for five shows across South America.
Axl and Slash have barely spoken since the guitarist quit the band in 1996 due to a breakdown in their songwriting partnership and the collaborative process between the entire group.
Their rift only worsened when Axl refused to join the other original band members at their induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in February 2012.

Fatboy Slim still 'loses control' on stage and admits "rave demons" take over.
The 'Eat Sleep Rave Repeat' hitmaker, who has been one of the biggest names in dance music for more than 20 years, has been sober since entering rehab in 2009 for alcohol addiction and insists although he no longer drinks, he enjoys his shows more and still gets lost in the moment.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "I cherish the shows more now. It's nice, actually being able to remember them afterwards. Before, it was me and the crowds having a big party together.
"It's still a party, but I feel directly involved now, and having been a DJ for so long I know how to press people's buttons to get them dancing.
"But I still lose control on stage, especially in the last half-hour. The rave demons take over, and I find myself doing dance moves I didn't know I had in me."
The 50-year-old star, real name Norman Cook, lives in Brighton with wife Zoe Ball, 43, and children Woody, 13, and Nelly, four, but insists he likes to ditch his dad image during festival season and will be heading to the likes of Creamfields and Glastonbury this year.
He said: "Once I'm on stage, I go from being responsible father-of-two to a giggling 15 year old, hell bent on mischief and hedonism.
"The crowds keep me young for those two hours on stage. But as soon as the show finishes, I'm spent. I'm knackered and go straight to bed."
The star also claims his teenage son Woody has started to realise his dad has the "coolest job in the world" and no longer finds it cringe-worthy.
He said: "He was perpetually embarrassed and would say, 'All you do is play loud music to a load of drunk people who shout at you', I'd go, 'Well, yeah, that is my genre'.
"But he came into the DJ booth at a show in Ibiza last summer and he started to feel the same intoxication I get from music. He told me afterwards, 'Dad, I'm beginning to get what you do now."