Music News
Music News
Aloe Blacc has criticised 'Blurred Lines' - branding the track "immoral".
The 'Wake Me Up' hitmaker has spoken out about Robin Thicke's controversial number one single and says he's glad his collaboration with dance artist Avicii was competing with it in the charts because it provided a "balance" to the "immoral" messages.
He said: "There's really no problem with the song ['Blurred Lines'] aside from the subtle innuendos that are made glaringly apparent in the music video.
"It's an important thing what we do with music. Music is a spiritual experience whether you want to admit it or not, music opens your senses and has been used historically as a conduit to your inner psyche.
"So when we do this as musicians ... to open people up and then to dump trash into them, is to me, no matter what your religion is it's sacrilege, it's immoral."
The 35-year-old star, who has seven-month-old daughter Mandela with his wife Maya Jupiter, thinks the lyrics in 'Blurred Lines' provides a confusing message to young boys and girls about what is and isn't acceptable.
He explained to BANG Showbiz: "The machismo, the misogyny, the violence, the disrespect ... I just don't think it's necessary and I actually think it's damaging to the psyche of young girls and it's damaging to the psyche of young guys who sort of fantasise in this world of being macho and sexist."
Aloe Blacc slams Blurred Lines
Aloe Blacc has criticised 'Blurred Lines' - branding the track "immoral".
The 'Wake Me Up' hitmaker has spoken out about Robin Thicke's controversial number one single and says he's glad his collaboration with dance artist Avicii was competing with it in the charts because it provided a "balance" to the "immoral" messages.
He said: "There's really no problem with the song ['Blurred Lines'] aside from the subtle innuendos that are made glaringly apparent in the music video.
"It's an important thing what we do with music. Music is a spiritual experience whether you want to admit it or not, music opens your senses and has been used historically as a conduit to your inner psyche.
"So when we do this as musicians ... to open people up and then to dump trash into them, is to me, no matter what your religion is it's sacrilege, it's immoral."
The 35-year-old star, who has seven-month-old daughter Mandela with his wife Maya Jupiter, thinks the lyrics in 'Blurred Lines' provides a confusing message to young boys and girls about what is and isn't acceptable.
He explained to BANG Showbiz: "The machismo, the misogyny, the violence, the disrespect ... I just don't think it's necessary and I actually think it's damaging to the psyche of young girls and it's damaging to the psyche of young guys who sort of fantasise in this world of being macho and sexist."
Music News
Eliza Doolittle wants to work with Pharrell Williams and Calvin Harris.
The 'Big When I Was Little' singer, who is working on the follow-up to her 2013 album 'In Your Hands', dreams of teaming up with the 'Get Lucky' hitmaker and superstar DJ.
Speaking at the Beats by Dr. Dre Drenched in Colour nail event in London last night (24.04.14), she told BANG Showbiz: "I'd love to work with Pharrell but it's annoying because everyone is working with him now and you don't want to be like, 'Oh, I want to work with you too'. But he is the dream.
"There are loads of people I'm looking to collaborate with that are on my list. Calvin Harris would be cool. I'm in the process of planning my next album but it's early stages at the moment."
The 26-year-old star went along to the Beats by Dre party, which celebrated the colourful range of Beats Solo headphones, to support friend and model Zara Martin, who was Djing at the event and has been spending time with Calvin's girlfriend Rita Ora in Los Angeles.
Zara said: "I know Rita, we've hung out in LA and London, it's crazy in America when she's there, when I was there last time she was pretty big, the paparazzi are so prevalent in LA, it's quite scary.
"I do have really good friends who are in the industry but I'm not going to exploit it by feeling like I have to get a picture or a selfie to post on my Instragram."
Eliza Doolittle: I want to work with Pharrell
Eliza Doolittle wants to work with Pharrell Williams and Calvin Harris.
The 'Big When I Was Little' singer, who is working on the follow-up to her 2013 album 'In Your Hands', dreams of teaming up with the 'Get Lucky' hitmaker and superstar DJ.
Speaking at the Beats by Dr. Dre Drenched in Colour nail event in London last night (24.04.14), she told BANG Showbiz: "I'd love to work with Pharrell but it's annoying because everyone is working with him now and you don't want to be like, 'Oh, I want to work with you too'. But he is the dream.
"There are loads of people I'm looking to collaborate with that are on my list. Calvin Harris would be cool. I'm in the process of planning my next album but it's early stages at the moment."
The 26-year-old star went along to the Beats by Dre party, which celebrated the colourful range of Beats Solo headphones, to support friend and model Zara Martin, who was Djing at the event and has been spending time with Calvin's girlfriend Rita Ora in Los Angeles.
Zara said: "I know Rita, we've hung out in LA and London, it's crazy in America when she's there, when I was there last time she was pretty big, the paparazzi are so prevalent in LA, it's quite scary.
"I do have really good friends who are in the industry but I'm not going to exploit it by feeling like I have to get a picture or a selfie to post on my Instragram."
Music News
David Bowie has hinted that he is working on a new record.
The 'Starman' hitmaker has seemingly let slip he is making a "new album this year" during a congratulatory message to Columbia Records US chairman, Rob Stringer, who was honoured with the prestigious Strat Award at the Music Awards in London on Thursday (24.04.14).
In the tongue-in-cheek message to his record label boss, David joked: "When he asked me if I minded if he took a few Saturdays off from his duties as percussionist on my new album this year in order to catch the Luton Town football club fixtures, how could I refuse? It's the least I could offer to the man who with his own hands pulled my album to Number One throughout the world."
According to NME.com, representatives for David are yet to comment and while it's likely his comments were made in jest, fans have been speculating as to whether the singer is secretly recording new material.
In 2013 David Bowie returned to the charts with 'The Next Day', his first album in 10 years, and the album's producer Tony Visconti revealed that that there are two or three "astounding" tracks left over from the sessions for the LP.
David Bowie hints at new album
David Bowie has hinted that he is working on a new record.
The 'Starman' hitmaker has seemingly let slip he is making a "new album this year" during a congratulatory message to Columbia Records US chairman, Rob Stringer, who was honoured with the prestigious Strat Award at the Music Awards in London on Thursday (24.04.14).
In the tongue-in-cheek message to his record label boss, David joked: "When he asked me if I minded if he took a few Saturdays off from his duties as percussionist on my new album this year in order to catch the Luton Town football club fixtures, how could I refuse? It's the least I could offer to the man who with his own hands pulled my album to Number One throughout the world."
According to NME.com, representatives for David are yet to comment and while it's likely his comments were made in jest, fans have been speculating as to whether the singer is secretly recording new material.
In 2013 David Bowie returned to the charts with 'The Next Day', his first album in 10 years, and the album's producer Tony Visconti revealed that that there are two or three "astounding" tracks left over from the sessions for the LP.
Music News
Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs claims Liam Gallagher's cryptic Twitter posts could have been about a trip to the pub.
The frontman sparked rumours the band were set to reform last night (24.04.14) when he took to the social networking site to individually tweet a letter of the band's name every half an hour, but his former band mate claims he might have just been reminiscing.
Bonehead, who had spent the night drinking with Liam, told NME.com: "What did he tweet, was it regarding fig rolls or something? There were no fig rolls involved officer," referring to a joke Liam's previous tweet about Bonehead: "THE OASIS YEARS THEY FORGOT TO MENTION BONEHEAD USED TO STICK FIG ROLLS UP HIS A*** HA HA X (sic)"
Asked what Liam's latest tweets mean, Bonehead responded: "Probably the fact that I texted him going, 'Meet me in the beer garden'. That probably rattled his cage. Maybe that. I don't know though, because I meet him every f***ing month. Maybe he's just reminiscing."
The musician then took to his own Twitter account to spell out the word "PUB".
Liam's mysterious posts come just two months after Oasis announced they are re-releasing their debut album 'Definitely Maybe' with previously unheard tracks to celebrate the LP's 20th anniversary on May 19.
The band split in August 2009 after Liam and his brother Noel had a huge backstage bust-up in Paris, France, but rumours are beginning to circulate that they could be planning to headline at Glastonbury this year.
However, Noel turned down £20million to reunite with the Beady Eye frontman for an Oasis world tour in December last year.
Oasis Bonehead: Liam’s tweets were about the pub
Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs claims Liam Gallagher's cryptic Twitter posts could have been about a trip to the pub.
The frontman sparked rumours the band were set to reform last night (24.04.14) when he took to the social networking site to individually tweet a letter of the band's name every half an hour, but his former band mate claims he might have just been reminiscing.
Bonehead, who had spent the night drinking with Liam, told NME.com: "What did he tweet, was it regarding fig rolls or something? There were no fig rolls involved officer," referring to a joke Liam's previous tweet about Bonehead: "THE OASIS YEARS THEY FORGOT TO MENTION BONEHEAD USED TO STICK FIG ROLLS UP HIS A*** HA HA X (sic)"
Asked what Liam's latest tweets mean, Bonehead responded: "Probably the fact that I texted him going, 'Meet me in the beer garden'. That probably rattled his cage. Maybe that. I don't know though, because I meet him every f***ing month. Maybe he's just reminiscing."
The musician then took to his own Twitter account to spell out the word "PUB".
Liam's mysterious posts come just two months after Oasis announced they are re-releasing their debut album 'Definitely Maybe' with previously unheard tracks to celebrate the LP's 20th anniversary on May 19.
The band split in August 2009 after Liam and his brother Noel had a huge backstage bust-up in Paris, France, but rumours are beginning to circulate that they could be planning to headline at Glastonbury this year.
However, Noel turned down £20million to reunite with the Beady Eye frontman for an Oasis world tour in December last year.
Music News
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer thinks there is "almost no reason" for the band to ever release another album.
The 63-year-old musician claims records don't make any money and the 'Crazy' hitmakers would have to pay for it themselves.
He told Ultimate Classic Rock: "It would be great to make another record, but it's almost [like], 'Why bother?'
"Records don't sell, and they don't do anything. There are no record companies to pay for it, so you have to pay for it out of your pocket.
"Especially with us now, because we're a free agent - we're no longer with a record company."
The drummer insists the band - also made up of Steve Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford - used to make money from selling records but their last album, 2012's 'Music from Another Dimension!' didn't do as well as expected and their income now comes from touring the world.
He continued: "Artistically, it would be fun to make another record and it would be a beautiful thing if we can put it together.
"There's almost no reason to do it, you know, judging from the last one and how it went over.
"It's frustrating, because personally I think it's a really good record. It's an Aerosmith record and it was done the way we used to do them."
But he claims certain things held it back, including the state of the music industry at the moment.
Joey added: "Music now is so disposable. It's so, like, 'Okay, here it is and five minutes later there's something else'. We're not the Justin Biebers and the Nicki Minajs of the world, so unfortunately, records don't make sense."
Aerosmith: There’s no reason to record ever again
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer thinks there is "almost no reason" for the band to ever release another album.
The 63-year-old musician claims records don't make any money and the 'Crazy' hitmakers would have to pay for it themselves.
He told Ultimate Classic Rock: "It would be great to make another record, but it's almost [like], 'Why bother?'
"Records don't sell, and they don't do anything. There are no record companies to pay for it, so you have to pay for it out of your pocket.
"Especially with us now, because we're a free agent - we're no longer with a record company."
The drummer insists the band - also made up of Steve Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford - used to make money from selling records but their last album, 2012's 'Music from Another Dimension!' didn't do as well as expected and their income now comes from touring the world.
He continued: "Artistically, it would be fun to make another record and it would be a beautiful thing if we can put it together.
"There's almost no reason to do it, you know, judging from the last one and how it went over.
"It's frustrating, because personally I think it's a really good record. It's an Aerosmith record and it was done the way we used to do them."
But he claims certain things held it back, including the state of the music industry at the moment.
Joey added: "Music now is so disposable. It's so, like, 'Okay, here it is and five minutes later there's something else'. We're not the Justin Biebers and the Nicki Minajs of the world, so unfortunately, records don't make sense."
Music News
Lily Allen is planning to apologise to Rita Ora and models Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn over songs on her new album.
The 'Hard Out Here' hitmaker, who is about to release her new record 'Sheezus', appears to hit out at the stars by joking about celebrities who attend corporate events.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: "I still need to write letters to Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne.
"The song where I appear to slag off Rita and Jourdan is very much the same premise as Cheryl Tweedy. It's not about them, it's about the idea of them."
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old star, who has made her comeback after a four-year hiatus, was copied into harsh emails about her new material from a focus group when her record label carried out market research for her new album.
She told Pop Justice: "I accidentally got copied in on a whole bunch of it and reading it was one of the most horrible moments of my life.
"They don't actually tell the people what it is that they're listening to. So a lot of it was just people going, 'Is this Lily Allen? It f****ng is Lily Allen', 'If this is her I thought she'd fucking retired, the stupid ****!'"
She insists she found the bad feedback, which she received six months ago, "totally unhelpful" for her career.
Lily added: "The thing is, people who take part in market research: are they really representative of the marketplace? Probably not."
Lily Allen: I need to apologise to Rita and Cara
Lily Allen is planning to apologise to Rita Ora and models Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn over songs on her new album.
The 'Hard Out Here' hitmaker, who is about to release her new record 'Sheezus', appears to hit out at the stars by joking about celebrities who attend corporate events.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: "I still need to write letters to Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne.
"The song where I appear to slag off Rita and Jourdan is very much the same premise as Cheryl Tweedy. It's not about them, it's about the idea of them."
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old star, who has made her comeback after a four-year hiatus, was copied into harsh emails about her new material from a focus group when her record label carried out market research for her new album.
She told Pop Justice: "I accidentally got copied in on a whole bunch of it and reading it was one of the most horrible moments of my life.
"They don't actually tell the people what it is that they're listening to. So a lot of it was just people going, 'Is this Lily Allen? It f****ng is Lily Allen', 'If this is her I thought she'd fucking retired, the stupid ****!'"
She insists she found the bad feedback, which she received six months ago, "totally unhelpful" for her career.
Lily added: "The thing is, people who take part in market research: are they really representative of the marketplace? Probably not."
Music News
The Libertines will headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park.
The indie band have confirmed they will reunite for the London concert on July 5, supported by Pogues, Spiritualized, Maximo Park and The Enemy.
The band posted on their Facebook page today (25.04.14): "It's official... THE GOOD SHIP ALBION IS SETTING SAIL SOONER THAN YOU THOUGHT. We're HEADLINING BST Hyde Park, 5th July."
Frontman Pete Doherty previously hinted the band would play the gig after admitting he is suffering "financial difficulty".
The musician hopes the large sum of money he will receive for reforming with co-frontman Carl Barât, drummer Gary Powell and bassist John Hassall will help clear the huge debt he accumulated after discovering he had fathered an 18-month old daughter.
According to musicharger.com, Pete - who already has son, Astile and daughter Aisling from previous relationships - told an Israeli newspaper: "I'm in debt. It's very complicated for me to say 'No' right now, I have financial problems."
The group also teased their appearance at the festival by posting a picture of Hyde Park to their Facebook page.
Despite splitting up in 2004 following arguments in the band, The Libertines - formed in 1997 - temporarily reunited to play at Reading and Leeds festivals in 2010 and received praise for their performances.
Metal band Black Sabbath, Sir Tom Jones, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The National, McBusted, Little Mix, The Vamps and the Backstreet Boys will also play British Summer Time taking place between July 4 and 13.
Visit bst-hydepark.com for tickets.
The Libertines to headline British Summer Time
The Libertines will headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park.
The indie band have confirmed they will reunite for the London concert on July 5, supported by Pogues, Spiritualized, Maximo Park and The Enemy.
The band posted on their Facebook page today (25.04.14): "It's official... THE GOOD SHIP ALBION IS SETTING SAIL SOONER THAN YOU THOUGHT. We're HEADLINING BST Hyde Park, 5th July."
Frontman Pete Doherty previously hinted the band would play the gig after admitting he is suffering "financial difficulty".
The musician hopes the large sum of money he will receive for reforming with co-frontman Carl Barât, drummer Gary Powell and bassist John Hassall will help clear the huge debt he accumulated after discovering he had fathered an 18-month old daughter.
According to musicharger.com, Pete - who already has son, Astile and daughter Aisling from previous relationships - told an Israeli newspaper: "I'm in debt. It's very complicated for me to say 'No' right now, I have financial problems."
The group also teased their appearance at the festival by posting a picture of Hyde Park to their Facebook page.
Despite splitting up in 2004 following arguments in the band, The Libertines - formed in 1997 - temporarily reunited to play at Reading and Leeds festivals in 2010 and received praise for their performances.
Metal band Black Sabbath, Sir Tom Jones, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The National, McBusted, Little Mix, The Vamps and the Backstreet Boys will also play British Summer Time taking place between July 4 and 13.
Visit bst-hydepark.com for tickets.
Music News
Niall Horan is worried he won't get enough sleep before One Direction's 'Where We Are' stadium tour begins tonight (25.04.14).
The 20-year-old star pleaded with fans outside his hotel in Bogota, Colombia, to "keep the noise down" in the early hours of Friday morning so he can get enough rest before the 'You and I' heartthrobs perform the first show on their 69-date tour.
He wrote on Twitter: "Big day tomorrow! Gona try and get some sleep! Gona be hard!
"I honestly think this hotel is made of paper! Haha! It feels like the people outside are in my room haha! Not a chance of sleep tonight
"Guys! May I ask you to keep the noise down please ! All of our crew are tired! and we have a big day tomorrow! Don't want to sound angry !
"Thank you ! Much appreciated ! Big day for all tomorrow! Love you lots! Goodnight! Xxx (sic)"
Niall's desperate bid for sleep came after he and his bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson - had a "long day" of rehearsals putting the final touches on their stadium show.
He wrote: "Just done a couple of final run throughs of the show! Can't wait now! Been a long day and the fans have been incredible in bogota! Much love (sic)"
Niall Horan desperate for sleep
Niall Horan is worried he won't get enough sleep before One Direction's 'Where We Are' stadium tour begins tonight (25.04.14).
The 20-year-old star pleaded with fans outside his hotel in Bogota, Colombia, to "keep the noise down" in the early hours of Friday morning so he can get enough rest before the 'You and I' heartthrobs perform the first show on their 69-date tour.
He wrote on Twitter: "Big day tomorrow! Gona try and get some sleep! Gona be hard!
"I honestly think this hotel is made of paper! Haha! It feels like the people outside are in my room haha! Not a chance of sleep tonight
"Guys! May I ask you to keep the noise down please ! All of our crew are tired! and we have a big day tomorrow! Don't want to sound angry !
"Thank you ! Much appreciated ! Big day for all tomorrow! Love you lots! Goodnight! Xxx (sic)"
Niall's desperate bid for sleep came after he and his bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson - had a "long day" of rehearsals putting the final touches on their stadium show.
He wrote: "Just done a couple of final run throughs of the show! Can't wait now! Been a long day and the fans have been incredible in bogota! Much love (sic)"
Music News
Damon Albarn took heroin "for years" in the recording studio.
The Blur frontman, who claims the drug helped him to be "creative", admits he took it for a number of years during the band's height of fame and took it five days a week.
He told GQ Magazine: "I used to go to work and take heroin in the studio and then stop when I came home.
"That's why I say it's five days a week and two days off, and that's how I existed for several years."
The singer, who will release his debut solo record 'Everyday Robots' this month, also hinted he took it with Gorillaz music partner Jamie Hewlett when they were working on new music.
He explained: "We probably wouldn't have been able to create a record like that unless Jamie and I were, um, somewhat in our own worlds."
But the star insists his days of taking heroin are over and he prefers to focus simply on his music.
He added: "I still like a night out, but I certainly don't do heroin. I haven't done that for a very long time.
"Music is a compulsion with me. And God help me if I smoke any weed, I'm fucked - I'll just make more music."
Damon Albarn: I took heroin in the studio for years
Damon Albarn took heroin "for years" in the recording studio.
The Blur frontman, who claims the drug helped him to be "creative", admits he took it for a number of years during the band's height of fame and took it five days a week.
He told GQ Magazine: "I used to go to work and take heroin in the studio and then stop when I came home.
"That's why I say it's five days a week and two days off, and that's how I existed for several years."
The singer, who will release his debut solo record 'Everyday Robots' this month, also hinted he took it with Gorillaz music partner Jamie Hewlett when they were working on new music.
He explained: "We probably wouldn't have been able to create a record like that unless Jamie and I were, um, somewhat in our own worlds."
But the star insists his days of taking heroin are over and he prefers to focus simply on his music.
He added: "I still like a night out, but I certainly don't do heroin. I haven't done that for a very long time.
"Music is a compulsion with me. And God help me if I smoke any weed, I'm fucked - I'll just make more music."