Music News

Kodaline want to work with Rick Rubin and Pharrell Williams.
The Irish rock band - made up of Steve Garrigan, Jason Boland, Vincent May and Mark Prendergrast - are writing and recording their second album and are looking for a producer to work with.
Guitairst Mark told BANG Showbiz: "Rick Rubin would be amazing! Pharrell would be a lot of fun, he's untouchable, he's king of the world right now.
"It's starting to get serious now [for the band] ... We're in a good place at the moment.
"There are about 15 songs that are there, we're probably going to write and record about another 15 and then pick our favourite 10 or 11 and go into the studio."
Mark insists the band won't be veering away too much from their original sound on 'In a Perfect World' when it comes to their new album but say the recording process will be a lot different.
He explained: "It's obviously going to sound similar. But on our first album, Jay, our bass player, didn't have a lot to do with writing because he wasn't around, we didn't have him yet.
"He's writing some great songs now. So it's the whole influence of having somebody else involved and he'll have a huge impact on the second album. It's probably a lot better."
Meanwhile, the band will release a cover of the Paul McCartney's 'Coming Up' on 7" vinyl for this year's Record Store Day on April 19.
They will also perform at Benicassim in Spain in July and V Festival, along with shows in London, Leeds and Liverpool in coming months.

Victoria Beckham has given the Spice Girls "her blessing" to reunite without her.
The British fashion designer's former bandmate Mel C says the group, which also includes Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Mel B, may consider getting back together as a four-piece in the near future.
She told the MailOnline website: "We've talked about it. Victoria doesn't want to, which we completely understand. We are so proud of her and her incredible foray into fashion, it's incredible what she's achieved as a designer."
She added: "The four of us could consider it maybe. We have Victoria's blessing to do that."
Victoria previously insisted that she would never get back together with the girls after they reunited for a sell-out 2008 world tour, 'The Return of the Spice Girls' and then again to perform at 2012 Olympics in London.
Meanwhile, Mel is preparing to release her upcoming single, 'Cool As You,' and hopes to continue performing either alone or with the Spice Girls for the rest of her life.
She said: "My number one love is performing and I want to be doing this forever. My current priorities are my spring/summer tour with Jules Holland and working on my own album."
The brunette beauty is a single-mother to daughter Scarlett, five, and admitted it can be "exhausting."
She explained: "Scarlett is going through the phase of waking up a lot in the night but she is so wonderful and great company."

Kurt Cobain has inspired a new comic book.
The late Nirvana frontman will have his life documented in a new animated biography - which documents the rock singer's rise to fame and battle with drugs in his last few years.
The book, entitled 'Tribute:Kurt Cobain', will be released on April 9, to coincide with the anniversary of Kurt's death on April 4, 1994, after he committed suicide.
In a statement, Darren G. Davis of Bluewater Publishing said: "Not only is this a great way to understand the importance of his contribution to music, but it is a great tool for kids to read about him in a different medium. Our biography comic books are now taught in schools and libraries for students and reluctant readers."
The 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' hitmaker's biography follows a string of celebrity biopics by Bluewater Publishing, with notable books in their tribute series looking at the lives of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Keith Richards.
Darren added: "The tribute line of comic books tells the stories of people that have made a significant difference in the world while they were with us.
"It is a way for us to honour these people who have made a difference in the world."
It's thought Freddy Mercury and Monty Python comic books are also being lined up for future release.

Kelly Rowland is pleased she split from her old record label and insists there are "no hard feelings".
The 33-year-old singer has confirmed she wasn't "dropped" from Universal Republic and instead decided to cut ties with the label after the release of her last solo record 'Talk A Good Game' is now recording new material with Motown Records.
She told HuffPost Live: "It's been wonderful so far, a fresh new spin on everything, with writers, producers, just being inspired, just creativity.
"I feel like right now, I just needed something new and I've earned the right to make my own choices and make my own decisions. I wish them well, they wish me well. No hard feelings, I just needed a fresh, new start."
The 'Kisses Down Low' hitmaker has revealed her latest music includes new instruments such as horns and flutes and she was inspired by some of her favourite female singers, including Diana Ross.
Kelly said: "I've been inspired by the queens that have gone before us, incredibly strong women who aren't afraid to take risks and just be innovative.
"There are different offers on the table. I just want to see what it feels like. I'm just in the studio on my own and just having a really good time just being creatively free."

Marcus Mumford is using unheard Bob Dylan lyrics for a new project.
The Mumford and Sons frontman has penned new words to unfinished tracks written by the legendary folk singer in the late sixties during his 'The Basement Tapes' period, for a new album entitled 'Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes'.
Producer T Bone Burnett, who also worked with Elvis Costello, 59, for the project, told the LA Times newspaper: "These are not B-level Dylan lyrics. They're lyrics he just never got around to finishing."
Dylan's 1975 album 'The Basement Tapes' was mostly recorded in the basement of the The Band's Big Pink House - a home the Canadian-American rock group shared in New York - after they toured with the singer in 1966, however this time the material is being recorded at Hollywood's Capitol Studios.
T Bone added: "This is the exact opposite of 'The Basement Tapes'. We're in the best recording studio in the world, and we're not in a basement."
The producer has already recorded almost 50 tracks for the project which also includes Carolina Chocolate Drops singer Rhiannon Giddens and Dawes guitarist Taylor Goldsmith.
The whole process will be documented in a film directed by Sam Jones which will be aired on American television network Showtime.

Lily Allen would like to be "anything like" Kanye West.
The 'Hard Out Here' singer, who named her latest album 'Sheezus', a play on the rapper's 'Yeezus' record, wants to be just like the star and is trying to break the American music market.
Lily told New York radio station Z100: "I'm totally for Kanye, he's a G, he's cool, he's Yeezus, I'd like to be anything like him. (sic)"
Asked what she would say to new American fans who are just discovering her music, she quipped: "[I'd say] pleazus buy Sheezus (sic)"
The 28-year-old singer is currently visiting the US to promote her new music and has been to the likes of New York and Las Vegas and has posted photographs of her trip on Instagram, showing her relaxing in the sun and even taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.
Meanwhile, the 'Air Balloon' hitmaker previously admitted she is "terrified" she might receive a call from Kanye after paying homage to his successful record.
She said: "I'm terrified ... I thought he'd think it was a diss, but it's totally not a diss, I love Kanye I think he's brilliant.
"He speaks his mind, whether what he's saying is ridiculous or not, he honestly does believe it and I think there's a lot to be said for that in this day and age."

Ed Sheeran and Example have stopped collaborating.
Both stars - who are close pals and have worked together numerous times - are eager to shine on their own and have decided not to work together on their respective upcoming albums in order to allow one another to shine individually.
Example told the Daily Star newspaper: "We both battered the collaborations so much on our last albums.
"Ed wants his own voice to take centre stage for a while. I agree. Two years ago I did nine features in one year, so last year all I did was the Pet Shop Boys track. My new album is all me."
The 'Kids Again' rapper - real name Elliot Gleave - admits he has listened to some of his pal's new material and is jealous of Ed's songwriting ability.
He added: "I don't see Ed that often as he's abroad these days, but we met for lunch recently. He played me some of the new album and it sounds so good, every song sounds like a number one.
"He shows me his and I show him mine, but I'm a bit jealous of his."

Johnny Marr doesn't want to make "clever" music with "depth".
The former Smiths guitarist launched his solo career last year and was adamant he wanted to fill his album 'The Messenger' with songs that made people feel "alive" and were full of energy.
He told NME magazine: "Quite often when musicians have been around for a long time, there's this expectation they should be making quite 'clever' mid-tempo music with loads of 'depth'.
"I'm not interested in depth. I want really loud drums. Flash riffs! Good slogans that make you feel alive. Get that done in three-and-a-half minutes, then do another one. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. That's me.
"Sitting around, strumming acoustics? Nah, it's not my thing. No thanks."
Johnny - who recently broke his hand after falling when out running - has almost finished work on his next album, which he says has a "London feel".
He said: "I think I've got all the songs written now. It's cool. It's got a real London feel, this album. I'm recording it down there at a studio near the river - I want to capture this loud, busy, very modern place."

Gene Simmons claims credible bands can kiss his "ass".
The KISS bassist thinks groups shouldn't take themselves too seriously and instead they should take inspiration from early rock and roll bands who made up their own rules.
As KISS feature on the front cover of Rolling Stone magazine for the first time, Gene told the publication: "All the credible bands can kiss my ass, with all due respect.
"The original forefathers who are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - and I don't mean the disco or the hip-hop artists, what the fuck are they thinking? - couldn't spell the word 'credibility' and never thought about it.
"It was an antithesis of the self-imposed mandate, which is, 'Do what you want to do.' In other words, no rules."
The rock band - also made up of current members Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer - will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame themselves next month and Gene insists it's all for the fans.
He said: "The most important thing is that it's validation for fans who were picked on for liking KISS as opposed to, I don't know, Air Supply."
A classic photograph of the band from 1975 - featuring the original line-up of Gene, Paul, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss - appears on the cover of Rolling Stone, although the band are still feuding with the two founding members.
Paul and Gene offered to allow Ace and Peter to play with the current line-up at the ceremony, along with Tommy and Eric, but the pair found that proposition insulting.
Pete said: "I won't be disrespected. How can you put me in the Hall of Fame and then tell me to go sit over there in the corner while another guy puts on my makeup and plays? That's an injustice. To the fans, too."
Meanwhile, Gene thinks the pair "no longer deserve to wear the paint."
He said: "The makeup is earned. Just being there at the beginning is not enough ... And if you blow it for yourself, it's your fault. You can't blame your band members. 'Oh, look what happened to me. Oh, poor me.' Look at my little violin. I have no sympathy."