Music News
Music News
Dexters have been getting advice from Liam Gallagher on how to survive in the music business.
The new band - made up of Tom Rowlett, Chris Heggie, Ben Debo and Vincent Dignan - have been given a few tips from the former Oasis frontman as they prepare to release their debut album 'Shimmer Gold' on Monday (17.03.14).
Frontman Tom told BANG Showbiz: "I went to watch Beady Eye play in King's Cross and then got invited back to a hotel across the road. I was sitting at this table with Liam and other cool people, drinking beers, I thought, 'This is life, I could do this all the time'.
"He was giving us advice saying, 'Don't f***ing listen to anyone else, just do what you wanna do'. How you thought he would be ... he was."
Tom, who formed Dexters two years ago, was a big fan of Oasis growing up and was inspired by their music.
He's now written the tracks for his band's debut album and is looking forward to their tour in coming months.
Tom continued: "It's our first album and they say you have your whole life to write it but I doubt there's one song on the album that we were playing in our first year, most of them were written over the past couple of months.
"[The album is] a retrospective of sh*t I've done and things I want to do and I'm really looking forward to the tour, this is going to be a step up, we're doing loads of festivals over the summer and then hitting Germany."
Tom insists Dexters are out to make their own mark in the industry and doesn't like people comparing them to other indie rock acts.
He said: "One time we got compared to Pigeon Detectives and I went 'F**k off, I'm not f***ing having that'. I get it, we're lively on stage, but we don't wear leather jackets and our songs are about something, not just nonsense.
"I was like, 'Listen [to our music], before you start chatting that b***ks."
Dexters have also released their new single 'Recover' from their debut record.
Dexters getting tips from Liam Gallagher
Dexters have been getting advice from Liam Gallagher on how to survive in the music business.
The new band - made up of Tom Rowlett, Chris Heggie, Ben Debo and Vincent Dignan - have been given a few tips from the former Oasis frontman as they prepare to release their debut album 'Shimmer Gold' on Monday (17.03.14).
Frontman Tom told BANG Showbiz: "I went to watch Beady Eye play in King's Cross and then got invited back to a hotel across the road. I was sitting at this table with Liam and other cool people, drinking beers, I thought, 'This is life, I could do this all the time'.
"He was giving us advice saying, 'Don't f***ing listen to anyone else, just do what you wanna do'. How you thought he would be ... he was."
Tom, who formed Dexters two years ago, was a big fan of Oasis growing up and was inspired by their music.
He's now written the tracks for his band's debut album and is looking forward to their tour in coming months.
Tom continued: "It's our first album and they say you have your whole life to write it but I doubt there's one song on the album that we were playing in our first year, most of them were written over the past couple of months.
"[The album is] a retrospective of sh*t I've done and things I want to do and I'm really looking forward to the tour, this is going to be a step up, we're doing loads of festivals over the summer and then hitting Germany."
Tom insists Dexters are out to make their own mark in the industry and doesn't like people comparing them to other indie rock acts.
He said: "One time we got compared to Pigeon Detectives and I went 'F**k off, I'm not f***ing having that'. I get it, we're lively on stage, but we don't wear leather jackets and our songs are about something, not just nonsense.
"I was like, 'Listen [to our music], before you start chatting that b***ks."
Dexters have also released their new single 'Recover' from their debut record.
Music News
The Temptations singer Otis Williams thinks Beyoncé's performance at the Grammys was too sexual.
The 72-year-old Motown legend is a big fan of the former Destiny's Child star but he is unimpressed with the erotic new direction she has gone in on her latest album 'Beyonce'.
Otis was particularly unimpressed by her performance of 'Drunk In Love' with her husband Jay Z at the awards show in January - which saw her wear a black thong bodysuit as she grinded against a chair, twerked on stage and suggestively danced against the rapper who at one point clasped her butt and kissed her.
Otis - who is the last original surviving member of the soul group - told BANG Showbiz: "I watched Beyoncé at the Grammys, and I have to say I'm a huge Beyoncé fan, but what she did with Jay Z I thought, 'No you ain't girlfriend!'
"But I guess she feels she's at the point in her life and her career where she can test things out and do whatever she wants, so I'm not mad at her for that."
The 'My Girl' singer also thinks Rihanna's videos and lyrics are too sexually explicit and he believes many modern artists are too eager to push boundaries just to make money.
Otis - who is on tour in the UK with The Temptations and The Four Tops - added: "I love Rihanna but I'm shocked by her and a few others that are coming out with very explicit things but it's very reflective of us as a people. When we started out, if we said 'damn' straight away we'd be told, 'Temps you can't say that' ... When I listen to some of the stuff that's being played on the radio I am appalled, and I'm an artist and I don't try to rain on anyone's parade but some of the stuff I hear today ... it's pathetic. I think to myself, 'Have we really lost our morality for the bottom line of money?'
"Music is simple, a great song will always stand the test of time. Great songs with great melodies, people can easily understand and relate to it."
The Temptations and The Four Tops - featuring Duke Fakir, the band's last surviving original member - are playing a series of concerts of across Britain in March and April.
The two legendary Motown groups will be joined by special guests The Platters and Freda Payne and tickets are available from Ticketline.co.uk
The Temptations and The Four Tops UK tour dates:
March:
Fri 21 - LIVERPOOL, ECHO ARENA
Sat 22 - BOURNEMOUTH, BIC
Sun 23 - BIRMINGHAM, NIA
Wed 26 - GLASGOW, CLYDE AUDITORIUM
Thurs 27 - NEWCASTLE, METRO RADIO ARENA
Fri 28 - NOTTINGHAM, CAPITAL FM ARENA
Sun 30 - CARDIFF, MOTORPOINT ARENA
April:
Tues 1 - LEEDS ARENA
Wed 2 - MANCHESTER ARENA
Thur 3 - LONDON, The O2 ARENA
Otis Williams: Beyoncé was too sexy at the Grammys
The Temptations singer Otis Williams thinks Beyoncé's performance at the Grammys was too sexual.
The 72-year-old Motown legend is a big fan of the former Destiny's Child star but he is unimpressed with the erotic new direction she has gone in on her latest album 'Beyonce'.
Otis was particularly unimpressed by her performance of 'Drunk In Love' with her husband Jay Z at the awards show in January - which saw her wear a black thong bodysuit as she grinded against a chair, twerked on stage and suggestively danced against the rapper who at one point clasped her butt and kissed her.
Otis - who is the last original surviving member of the soul group - told BANG Showbiz: "I watched Beyoncé at the Grammys, and I have to say I'm a huge Beyoncé fan, but what she did with Jay Z I thought, 'No you ain't girlfriend!'
"But I guess she feels she's at the point in her life and her career where she can test things out and do whatever she wants, so I'm not mad at her for that."
The 'My Girl' singer also thinks Rihanna's videos and lyrics are too sexually explicit and he believes many modern artists are too eager to push boundaries just to make money.
Otis - who is on tour in the UK with The Temptations and The Four Tops - added: "I love Rihanna but I'm shocked by her and a few others that are coming out with very explicit things but it's very reflective of us as a people. When we started out, if we said 'damn' straight away we'd be told, 'Temps you can't say that' ... When I listen to some of the stuff that's being played on the radio I am appalled, and I'm an artist and I don't try to rain on anyone's parade but some of the stuff I hear today ... it's pathetic. I think to myself, 'Have we really lost our morality for the bottom line of money?'
"Music is simple, a great song will always stand the test of time. Great songs with great melodies, people can easily understand and relate to it."
The Temptations and The Four Tops - featuring Duke Fakir, the band's last surviving original member - are playing a series of concerts of across Britain in March and April.
The two legendary Motown groups will be joined by special guests The Platters and Freda Payne and tickets are available from Ticketline.co.uk
The Temptations and The Four Tops UK tour dates:
March:
Fri 21 - LIVERPOOL, ECHO ARENA
Sat 22 - BOURNEMOUTH, BIC
Sun 23 - BIRMINGHAM, NIA
Wed 26 - GLASGOW, CLYDE AUDITORIUM
Thurs 27 - NEWCASTLE, METRO RADIO ARENA
Fri 28 - NOTTINGHAM, CAPITAL FM ARENA
Sun 30 - CARDIFF, MOTORPOINT ARENA
April:
Tues 1 - LEEDS ARENA
Wed 2 - MANCHESTER ARENA
Thur 3 - LONDON, The O2 ARENA
Music News
Mel C thinks Little Mix are the new Spice Girls.
The 40-year-old singer recently teamed up with the 'Move' hitmakers for a Sport Relief video for their single 'Word Up' and praised the band who are following in the footsteps of her and band mates Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton.
She told BANG Showbiz: "It was great filming with them, they are such fun girls ... I think they're the closest thing to the Spice Girls."
The 'I Turn To You' singer has also teamed up with up-and-coming artist Peter Aristone to record the track 'Cool As You' and jumped on stage with the singer at the trendy Queen of Hoxton pub in east London last night (12.03.14) to perform the song live for the first time at a free gig.
Peter introduced Mel C as "the sexiest woman in the world" and gushed about playing her lover in their new video.
He said: "It's quite a simple scenario, I'm driving to her house and she's sat on her bed singing 'Cool As You'.
"At the end of the video we meet up, we don't kiss, " he jokingly added: "But she kisses me all the time anyway. She's very supportive and we would like to do more together and play live shows."
Meanwhile, Mel C laughed off the idea of the Spice Girls having a Las Vegas residency, after band mate Emma said it would take more than Britney Spears' rumoured £195,000-per-show to make the girl band reunite again.
'Cool As You' will feature on Peter's forthcoming album '19 Days in Tetbury' and will be released on March 31 with the album coming out in the Autumn.
Mel C: Little Mix are the new Spice Girls
Mel C thinks Little Mix are the new Spice Girls.
The 40-year-old singer recently teamed up with the 'Move' hitmakers for a Sport Relief video for their single 'Word Up' and praised the band who are following in the footsteps of her and band mates Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton.
She told BANG Showbiz: "It was great filming with them, they are such fun girls ... I think they're the closest thing to the Spice Girls."
The 'I Turn To You' singer has also teamed up with up-and-coming artist Peter Aristone to record the track 'Cool As You' and jumped on stage with the singer at the trendy Queen of Hoxton pub in east London last night (12.03.14) to perform the song live for the first time at a free gig.
Peter introduced Mel C as "the sexiest woman in the world" and gushed about playing her lover in their new video.
He said: "It's quite a simple scenario, I'm driving to her house and she's sat on her bed singing 'Cool As You'.
"At the end of the video we meet up, we don't kiss, " he jokingly added: "But she kisses me all the time anyway. She's very supportive and we would like to do more together and play live shows."
Meanwhile, Mel C laughed off the idea of the Spice Girls having a Las Vegas residency, after band mate Emma said it would take more than Britney Spears' rumoured £195,000-per-show to make the girl band reunite again.
'Cool As You' will feature on Peter's forthcoming album '19 Days in Tetbury' and will be released on March 31 with the album coming out in the Autumn.
Music News
The 1975 will headline Bushmills Live 2014 in Ireland.
The Manchester band, who have supported the likes of The Rolling Stones and Muse, will perform at the event held at the Old Bushmills whisky distillery.
The festival, previously headlined by Snow Patrol, Jake Bugg and Of Monsters and Men, will see 700 whiskey and music fans descend on the site on June 11 and June 12.
The 1975 frontman Matthew Healy said: "We've never played a show in a distillery before so it's a first for us.
"We've gigged all over the place but to play a festival like this, in a setting as unique as this, will be pretty special."
Matthew and his band mates - Adam Hann, George Daniel and Ross MacDonald - are also embarking on a world tour this year which will see them perform in the likes of Australia, Japan and America.
To celebrate the launch of Bushmills Live 2014, whiskey makers have collaborated with two local artists to craft the world's largest barrel oak headphones, which stand at over 10ft high and will be the centrepiece at the festival with music blasting out from them.
Tickets cannot be bought but instead fans can win them by entering a prize draw at facebook.com/bushmills before Monday, March 17.
The 1975 headline Bushmills Live 2014
The 1975 will headline Bushmills Live 2014 in Ireland.
The Manchester band, who have supported the likes of The Rolling Stones and Muse, will perform at the event held at the Old Bushmills whisky distillery.
The festival, previously headlined by Snow Patrol, Jake Bugg and Of Monsters and Men, will see 700 whiskey and music fans descend on the site on June 11 and June 12.
The 1975 frontman Matthew Healy said: "We've never played a show in a distillery before so it's a first for us.
"We've gigged all over the place but to play a festival like this, in a setting as unique as this, will be pretty special."
Matthew and his band mates - Adam Hann, George Daniel and Ross MacDonald - are also embarking on a world tour this year which will see them perform in the likes of Australia, Japan and America.
To celebrate the launch of Bushmills Live 2014, whiskey makers have collaborated with two local artists to craft the world's largest barrel oak headphones, which stand at over 10ft high and will be the centrepiece at the festival with music blasting out from them.
Tickets cannot be bought but instead fans can win them by entering a prize draw at facebook.com/bushmills before Monday, March 17.
Music News
Cheryl Cole is working on a new track with Eminem songwriter Jon Bellion.
The 'Call My Name' hitmaker, who has revealed her new album is "almost done", has recorded a hip-hop track co-written by Jon, who helped to pen Eminem and Rihanna's number one hit 'The Monster', and producer Jesse Shatkin confirmed she has also been working on a new ballad.
He said: "It's strong, it's powerful and really from the heart. She loved it. She sounds awesome."
Jesse has worked with huge stars including Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Kylie Minogue and has worked on a number of other songs on Cheryl's fourth studio album, the follow-up to 'A Million Lights' in 2012.
Cheryl was forced to shelve the third single from the record to commit to the Girls Aloud 10th anniversary reunion before taking a break from music when the band split.
She said: "I just took this time and partied and have just been me and normal for the past six months.
"Then I started recording the new album and that's almost done. There's no delay on the album. I've got things in the pipeline."
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old singer revealed that Simon Cowell was "begging" for her to return to 'The X Factor'
She said: "There's only so much begging one can take.
"It's not nice to see a grown man cry, so I finally succumbed."
Cheryl Cole working with Eminem songwriter
Cheryl Cole is working on a new track with Eminem songwriter Jon Bellion.
The 'Call My Name' hitmaker, who has revealed her new album is "almost done", has recorded a hip-hop track co-written by Jon, who helped to pen Eminem and Rihanna's number one hit 'The Monster', and producer Jesse Shatkin confirmed she has also been working on a new ballad.
He said: "It's strong, it's powerful and really from the heart. She loved it. She sounds awesome."
Jesse has worked with huge stars including Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Kylie Minogue and has worked on a number of other songs on Cheryl's fourth studio album, the follow-up to 'A Million Lights' in 2012.
Cheryl was forced to shelve the third single from the record to commit to the Girls Aloud 10th anniversary reunion before taking a break from music when the band split.
She said: "I just took this time and partied and have just been me and normal for the past six months.
"Then I started recording the new album and that's almost done. There's no delay on the album. I've got things in the pipeline."
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old singer revealed that Simon Cowell was "begging" for her to return to 'The X Factor'
She said: "There's only so much begging one can take.
"It's not nice to see a grown man cry, so I finally succumbed."
Music News
Lily Allen claims MTV want to ban her music video during the daytime because it promotes anti-social behaviour.
The 'Hard Out Here' singer is seen in the video for her song 'Our Time' drinking from a flask in the back of a taxi before fighting with another version of herself dressed as a hot dog.
Lily revealed the ban on Twitter by posting an email sent to her by her management, along with the caption, "Age of Beige (sic)".
The email read: "MTV want to ban the 'Our Time' video during the daytime, unless they get a clean edit that show you a) NOT DRINKING FROM A FLASK and b) NOT DISPLAYING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR FROM DRINKING BY FIGHTING WITH THE HOT DOG. I told the label we are NOT making a clean version of the video. Bring on the controversy! (sic)"
Lily then hit back at the channel by writing on Twitter: "I thought MTV just played Catfish and My Super Sweet 16."
Fans were quick to support the 28-year-old star, who is preparing to release her new album 'Sheezus' and one follower wrote: "They're right, hotdog attacks are a real problem nowadays. Don't promote it."
Meanwhile, when she's not fighting to get her music videos on TV, Lily admits she's become addicted to dating app Tinder, despite being married to Sam Cooper, with whom she has Ethel, now two, and Marnie, 14 months.
Lily tweeted: "Just discovered tinder. *Waves goodbye to life* (sic)"
Lily Allen’s video banned from daytime MTV
Lily Allen claims MTV want to ban her music video during the daytime because it promotes anti-social behaviour.
The 'Hard Out Here' singer is seen in the video for her song 'Our Time' drinking from a flask in the back of a taxi before fighting with another version of herself dressed as a hot dog.
Lily revealed the ban on Twitter by posting an email sent to her by her management, along with the caption, "Age of Beige (sic)".
The email read: "MTV want to ban the 'Our Time' video during the daytime, unless they get a clean edit that show you a) NOT DRINKING FROM A FLASK and b) NOT DISPLAYING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR FROM DRINKING BY FIGHTING WITH THE HOT DOG. I told the label we are NOT making a clean version of the video. Bring on the controversy! (sic)"
Lily then hit back at the channel by writing on Twitter: "I thought MTV just played Catfish and My Super Sweet 16."
Fans were quick to support the 28-year-old star, who is preparing to release her new album 'Sheezus' and one follower wrote: "They're right, hotdog attacks are a real problem nowadays. Don't promote it."
Meanwhile, when she's not fighting to get her music videos on TV, Lily admits she's become addicted to dating app Tinder, despite being married to Sam Cooper, with whom she has Ethel, now two, and Marnie, 14 months.
Lily tweeted: "Just discovered tinder. *Waves goodbye to life* (sic)"
Music News
Paloma Faith thinks David Bowie is the last great pop star.
The 'Can't Rely On You' singer reckons pop is dead because of social media and fans know too much about their idols.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "There's no mystery or excitement about being a pop star any more.
"People know everything now, there's no stone unturned with social media."
The 32-year-old star, who has about 460,000 followers on Twitter, praised Bowie for winning the BRIT Award for Best British Male at the ceremony last month.
She said: "It was brilliant that David Bowie won a BRIT Award and totally deserved, he's an incredible artist and the last of a generation."
The singer wishes her fans didn't know as much as they do about her personal life but realises she needs to be active on social media websites to help sell her music.
Paloma continued: "Originally when I got in the music business I wanted to be mysterious but I realised I wouldn't get anywhere so became really open. It's the only way to sell records now."
The star has just released her new album 'A Perfect Contradiction' and revealed the track 'Mouth To Mouth' was inspired by 'Purple Rain' hitmaker Prince.
She said: "I recorded that with Raphael Saadiq after we met at a Prince concert.
"So we honoured that situation by paying Prince his dues in the studio. I was inspired by early Prince and Chaka Khan records, cool late 70s and early 80s soul ... I think we could all do with a bit of dance now."
Paloma will head out on tour in May but is keeping tight-lipped about her upcoming shows.
She added: "I've already started looking into some ideas for the tour, but I don't want to ruin the surprise."
Paloma Faith: Bowie is the last pop star
Paloma Faith thinks David Bowie is the last great pop star.
The 'Can't Rely On You' singer reckons pop is dead because of social media and fans know too much about their idols.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "There's no mystery or excitement about being a pop star any more.
"People know everything now, there's no stone unturned with social media."
The 32-year-old star, who has about 460,000 followers on Twitter, praised Bowie for winning the BRIT Award for Best British Male at the ceremony last month.
She said: "It was brilliant that David Bowie won a BRIT Award and totally deserved, he's an incredible artist and the last of a generation."
The singer wishes her fans didn't know as much as they do about her personal life but realises she needs to be active on social media websites to help sell her music.
Paloma continued: "Originally when I got in the music business I wanted to be mysterious but I realised I wouldn't get anywhere so became really open. It's the only way to sell records now."
The star has just released her new album 'A Perfect Contradiction' and revealed the track 'Mouth To Mouth' was inspired by 'Purple Rain' hitmaker Prince.
She said: "I recorded that with Raphael Saadiq after we met at a Prince concert.
"So we honoured that situation by paying Prince his dues in the studio. I was inspired by early Prince and Chaka Khan records, cool late 70s and early 80s soul ... I think we could all do with a bit of dance now."
Paloma will head out on tour in May but is keeping tight-lipped about her upcoming shows.
She added: "I've already started looking into some ideas for the tour, but I don't want to ruin the surprise."
Music News
Lil Wayne is recording his 'final solo album'.
The 31-year-old rapper is reportedly planning to retire and only focus on collaborations after his upcoming 11th studio album 'Tha Carter V' drops in May.
He told MTV: "I personally plan on this being my final solo album, yes, and it's definitely the final Carter album. It's the final Carter album. It's stopping at five."
Lil Wayne joked he would only record another solo album for "$25 to $35 million", adding, "I didn't smile when I said it."
The star, who founded record label Young Money Entertainment in 2005, which signed hip-hop stars Drake and Nicki Minaj, has reassured fans he will still work with his artists and collaborate with other stars.
He continued: "I plan on it being my final solo album. Whenever I have to pitch in for a Young Money album, a 'Like Father, Like Son' album and something like that and maybe something out the blue."
But he insists he's working hard on his next record, saying: "It seems like it will be impossible for me to work this hard again for anything else."
Lily Wayne's album 'Tha Carter V' will be released on May 5.
Lil Wayne recording last solo album
Lil Wayne is recording his 'final solo album'.
The 31-year-old rapper is reportedly planning to retire and only focus on collaborations after his upcoming 11th studio album 'Tha Carter V' drops in May.
He told MTV: "I personally plan on this being my final solo album, yes, and it's definitely the final Carter album. It's the final Carter album. It's stopping at five."
Lil Wayne joked he would only record another solo album for "$25 to $35 million", adding, "I didn't smile when I said it."
The star, who founded record label Young Money Entertainment in 2005, which signed hip-hop stars Drake and Nicki Minaj, has reassured fans he will still work with his artists and collaborate with other stars.
He continued: "I plan on it being my final solo album. Whenever I have to pitch in for a Young Money album, a 'Like Father, Like Son' album and something like that and maybe something out the blue."
But he insists he's working hard on his next record, saying: "It seems like it will be impossible for me to work this hard again for anything else."
Lily Wayne's album 'Tha Carter V' will be released on May 5.
Music News
Ashley Roberts says The Pussycat Dolls will be getting back together.
The 32-year-old star and her former group mates have all gone their separate ways since splitting in 2010, but she claims they will "definitely" be reuniting to bring back their hits such as 'Don't Cha' and 'When I Grow Up'.
When asked if there were plans for a reunion, she said: "I don't know, I really don't. Never say never, but I know at the moment we're all on our own paths right now.
"Definitely someday. Not quite yet. It will happen when it's supposed to."
Ashley - who competed on the ITV reality show 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here' in 2012 and has since gone on to judge on 'Dancing on Ice' - claims that although the rest of the dolls, Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, Jessica Sutta, Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton are busy with their own projects at the moment, she's keen to get back to working on music.
She told OK! Magazine: "I'm a music baby, that's the heart and sole of me. I'm going back to my roots."
Ashley Roberts confirms Pussycat Dolls reunion
Ashley Roberts says The Pussycat Dolls will be getting back together.
The 32-year-old star and her former group mates have all gone their separate ways since splitting in 2010, but she claims they will "definitely" be reuniting to bring back their hits such as 'Don't Cha' and 'When I Grow Up'.
When asked if there were plans for a reunion, she said: "I don't know, I really don't. Never say never, but I know at the moment we're all on our own paths right now.
"Definitely someday. Not quite yet. It will happen when it's supposed to."
Ashley - who competed on the ITV reality show 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here' in 2012 and has since gone on to judge on 'Dancing on Ice' - claims that although the rest of the dolls, Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, Jessica Sutta, Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton are busy with their own projects at the moment, she's keen to get back to working on music.
She told OK! Magazine: "I'm a music baby, that's the heart and sole of me. I'm going back to my roots."