News

MIA has claimed that the release of her new album was delayed by her US record label for being "too positive". The singer, who last year released the single "Bad Girls", was due to release her fourth album Matangi in late 2012. However, speaking to Australian newspaper Gold Coast Bulletin, she revealed that Interscope were not quite convinced by her work and were hoping for something a little different. "It's due in April, which is the Tamil new year – April 15th – and I'm still working on it," she said.

Paul Weller has confirmed that he will never reform The Jam as "it would be absurd". The Modfather said he admires bands like The Rolling Stones who keep rocking into their late-sixties but admits he couldn't do it, as he doesn't want to be performing songs that are over 30 years old. He told The Sun: "I take my hat off to people like the Stones but it's not for me. I couldn't do that. Jagger is brilliant and long may he rock. I couldn't make my career out of old songs, it would do my head in."

Suede have given fans new song "Barriers" as a free download today (Jan 7). The track is the first to be heard from the band's brand new studio album, which will be titled Bloodsports. Bloodsports will be Suede's sixth studio album and their first since 2002. "Barriers" is the first song to be lifted from the album, due out in March, and is available from their official website now. An official single, titled "It Starts and Ends With You", is due for release in February.

Bobby Womack has released an official statement after revealing this week that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The 68-year-old, who released his first single in 1954, previously admitted he is suffering from the brain disorder and that he struggles to recall the names of his songs and those of his collaborators. He said: “The doctor says there are signs of Alzheimer’s. It’s not bad yet but will get worse. How can I not remember songs I wrote? It’s frustrating. I don't feel together yet. Negative things come in my mind and it's hard for me to remember sometimes."

Brett Morgen, who directed The Rolling Stones film Crossfire Hurricane, has given an outline of the Kurt Cobain film he's been working on for the past five years. Speaking to NME, Morgen said that just as the tone of Crossfire Hurricane had been dictated by its subject, the as-yet-untitled film about the Nirvana frontman would too be an embodiment of his character.

Jack White's Blunderbuss was the biggest-selling vinyl album of 2012. Released between Columbia Records and White's own Third Man Records, his debut solo album sold 33,000. The figure was enough for Blunderbuss to knock The Beatles's Abbey Road from the top spot, which had been the biggest-selling vinyl record for the past three years running.

Dave Grohl will debut a new supergroup, named Sound City Players, at this year's Sundance Film Festival, reports Rolling Stone. The show, due to take place on January 18, will see Grohl take to the stage with guests and musicians featured in his documentary on the now-closed Sound City recording studios in Van Nuys, California, which will premiere at the annual film festival in Park City, Utah. Artists appearing in the documentary include Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age.

London's Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, is set to reopen in July 2013 with a series of rock concerts, reports BBC News.

Neil Young, Patti Smith and Alabama Shakes will perform at a tribute to Bruce Springsteen in Los Angeles next month. The MusiCares show will take in LA on February 8, two days before this year's Grammy Awards and will also feature performances from Mumford And Sons, Elton John, Sting, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, John Legend and Tom Morello. Jackson Browne, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, Kenny Chesney and Juanes will also perform at the show. The gig is being hosted by The Daily Show comedian Jon Stewart.

The new issue of Uncut, out today (January 3), features Gram Parsons, Ray Davies, Morrissey on Mick Ronson, and Uncut's 2013 album preview. Gram Parsons is on the cover, and inside, collaborators and friends tell the whole story of his incredible last stand – his legendary solo albums, GP and Grievous Angel.