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Paul McCartney: ‘I’ve given up smoking weed for my daughter’

Tom Goodwyn
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Paul McCartney: ‘I’ve given up smoking weed for my daughter’
Paul McCartney has revealed that he's given up smoking marijuana for his daughter. The Beatles legend, who released his new studio LP 'Kisses On The Bottom' earlier this month (February 6), told Rolling Stone that he'd quit the drug because of his parental duties to his daughter Beatrice. He sa...

Paul McCartney has revealed that he’s given up smoking marijuana for his daughter.

The Beatles legend, who released his new studio LP ‘Kisses On The Bottom’ earlier this month (February 6), told Rolling Stone that he’d quit the drug because of his parental duties to his daughter Beatrice.

He said: “I smoked my share. When you’re bringing up a youngster, your sense of responsibility does kick in, if you’re lucky, at some point. Enough’s enough – you just don’t seem to think it’s necessary.”

The singer was famously arrested in Japan in 1980 when touring the country with his band Wings and spent 10 nights in a prison after customs officials discovered half a pound of marijuana in his luggage, although he was eventually released and deported.

‘Kisses On The Bottom’ is made up of songs McCartney listened to as a child as well as two new songs, ‘My Valentine’ and ‘Only Our Hearts’. It was recorded with producer Tommy LiPuma, Diana Krall and her band and also features appearances from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder.

Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon calls Grammys ‘self-important’ after his double award win

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon calls Grammys ‘self-important’ after his double award win

Justin Vernon of Bon Iver has spoken out after winning two Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 12), something he said he was 'uncomfortable' about during his acceptance speech for Best New Artist. Speaking to Spin, Vernon admitted that he didn't think the Grammy's were 'evil', saying: "It's not that the Grammys are evil, they've just been around the longest." Vernon, who also won the award for Best Alternative Music Album for the self-titled 'Bon Iver', went on to add that even though he still has reservations about the awards, he "enjoyed" himself at the ceremony and said: "Ed Droste (Grizzly Bear) wrote me a note that said, 'Hey man, go win one for the indies.' I may not know what he means by 'the indies.' We could sit down and make a ten-point definition of what the indies are; we may not agree on every one on of them. But he's a friend and he's saying, 'We're with you.' You can't deny the fact that the Grammys have a historical significance as far as the industry staying above water. But that doesn't budge some of my personal concerns about it being too self-important." Vernon said he nixed part of his speech because he thought it would be "confusing and too self-referential." The cut part apparently read: "It's hard to accept this award because of all the talent out there, but also because Bon Iver is an entity and something that I gave myself to. A lot of people give themselves to it, so it's hard to think of Bon Iver as an artist. Bon Iver is not an artist. Bon Iver is an idea." US children's cartoon character Bonnie Bear has invited Bon Iver to collaborate with her after Grammy viewers misheard Bon Iver's name as Bonnie Bear after his wins and it started trending on Twitter, reports the Washington Post. A representative from BabyFirstTV said: "Bonnie Bear and all her friends at BabyFirstTV congratulate you, Bon Iver, on your Grammy win! We would be delighted to invite the band to sing along with Bonnie Bear and her best friend, Mr. Gramophone, on BabyFirstTV where she paints beautiful pictures and teaches young children about the world around them."

Justin Vernon of Bon Iver has spoken out after winning two Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 12), something he said he was ‘uncomfortable’ about during his acceptance speech for Best New Artist.

Speaking to Spin, Vernon admitted that he didn’t think the Grammy’s were ‘evil’, saying: “It’s not that the Grammys are evil, they’ve just been around the longest.”

Vernon, who also won the award for Best Alternative Music Album for the self-titled ‘Bon Iver’, went on to add that even though he still has reservations about the awards, he “enjoyed” himself at the ceremony and said: “Ed Droste (Grizzly Bear) wrote me a note that said, ‘Hey man, go win one for the indies.’ I may not know what he means by ‘the indies.’ We could sit down and make a ten-point definition of what the indies are; we may not agree on every one on of them. But he’s a friend and he’s saying, ‘We’re with you.’ You can’t deny the fact that the Grammys have a historical significance as far as the industry staying above water. But that doesn’t budge some of my personal concerns about it being too self-important.”

Vernon said he nixed part of his speech because he thought it would be “confusing and too self-referential.” The cut part apparently read: “It’s hard to accept this award because of all the talent out there, but also because Bon Iver is an entity and something that I gave myself to. A lot of people give themselves to it, so it’s hard to think of Bon Iver as an artist. Bon Iver is not an artist. Bon Iver is an idea.”

US children’s cartoon character Bonnie Bear has invited Bon Iver to collaborate with her after Grammy viewers misheard Bon Iver‘s name as Bonnie Bear after his wins and it started trending on Twitter, reports the Washington Post.

A representative from BabyFirstTV said: “Bonnie Bear and all her friends at BabyFirstTV congratulate you, Bon Iver, on your Grammy win! We would be delighted to invite the band to sing along with Bonnie Bear and her best friend, Mr. Gramophone, on BabyFirstTV where she paints beautiful pictures and teaches young children about the world around them.”

The Beach Boys announce reunion tour dates

Tom Goodwyn
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0
The Beach Boys announce reunion tour dates
The Beach Boys have announced a mammoth run of US dates for their reunion tour this April. The legendary '60s band will play 37 shows across the States as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations and, with the band revealing their plans to play a 50-date international tour in December last yea...

The Beach Boys have announced a mammoth run of US dates for their reunion tour this April.

The legendary ’60s band will play 37 shows across the States as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations and, with the band revealing their plans to play a 50-date international tour in December last year, more shows are expected to be announced in the future.

Founding members Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine played together for the first time in over 20 years at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last Sunday (February 12). They played with touring members Bruce Johnston and David Marks and teamed up with Maroon 5 and Foster The People for a rendition of their classic hit ‘Good Vibrations’.

The tour will kick off with a show at Arizona’s Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre and finish with a gig at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre in Nevada on July 15.

The Beach Boys first formed in 1961 and enjoyed huge success throughout the following decade.

Brian Wilson last performed with The Beach Boys during the making of their 1996 album ‘Stars And Stripes Vol 1’, and has toured as a solo artist since.

Mumford And Sons say they are in the ‘final stages’ of recording their second album

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Mumford And Sons say they are in the ‘final stages’ of recording their second album
Mumford And Sons have said that they are in the "final stages" of recording the follow-up to their debut album 'Sigh No More'. The band are set to release the album later this year and their multi-instrumentalist Ben Lovett has said that they are almost finished with it. Speaking to MTV News, h...

Mumford And Sons have said that they are in the “final stages” of recording the follow-up to their debut album ‘Sigh No More’.

The band are set to release the album later this year and their multi-instrumentalist Ben Lovett has said that they are almost finished with it.

Speaking to MTV News, he said of the album’s progress: “We are in the final stages, we’re not finished, we don’t quite know the exact tracklisting. We have kind of road-tested some songs, and we have picked up some new songs and dropped some ones that people might have thought we were going to be putting on the record. We just want to make a record that’s cohesive and one that we feel represents us best right now.”

Lovett added that the band had not worked out which of their new songs would make the cut for the album yet and that he couldn’t give any details on when the record would come out.

He said of this: “There just isn’t [a release date yet]. We can’t even say that any particular song is definitely on the record, because we just don’t know. But we’re being urgent with it, we’re trying very hard.”

The band are scheduled to play as part of this year’s Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Ball fundraiser in New York next month.

They’re also penciled in to perform at this year’s RockNess festival in Inverness in June, alongside the likes of Biffy Clyro and Justice.

Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur

Michael Bonner
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Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur

The Canadian went looking for a new producer. What she found, on her fourth album, was love. The story of Voyageur is the very definition of bittersweet. Newly divorced after five years of marriage to Colin Cripps, her guitarist and bandleader, Kathleen Edwards was writing up a storm and itching to break out of the alt-country/singer-songwriter cul-de-sac. Edwards’ search for a new producer led her to the doorstep of Justin Vernon’s Wisconsin studio. Vernon took a break from his labours on this year’s Bon Iver to cut a quick track with Edwards, in order to determine whether the two had any chemistry. She chose the autumnal ballad “Wapusk”, which she’d recently written and recorded for Canada’s National Parks Project (the new version was released last September as a non-LP single). To say that the impromptu session broke the ice would be an understatement; not only did Edwards locate a simpatico co-producer in Vernon, she also found her soul mate. Vernon acknowledged their shared experience in an ardent dedication found in the Bon Iver booklet: “To Kathleen for… bringing the most peace I’ve ever felt in my life”. The album opens on a doggedly hopeful note, as, amid the exuberant, acoustic guitar-driven onrush of “Empty Threat”, Edwards anticipates a fresh start: “I hit my head ’til it bled/I pressed reset, goddammit!/I’m moving to America… It’s not an empty threat”. She’d written the song right after spending several weeks in Seattle and Portland, where she’d done some co-writing with John Roderick of the Long Winters, and though the lyric relates to that experience, it dramatically foreshadows what would subsequently go down in Wisconsin. Two songs later, on the hushed ballad “A Soft Place To Land”, she’s practically crushed under the weight of unfinished business, desperately clawing her way out of the wreckage. “Calling it quits/You think this is easy”, she asks at the top of the song, over her own mournful violin. From these thematic scene-setters, the album erupts into sustained grandeur. The blend of Edwards’ beguiling voice, sticky handcrafted melodies and sing-along refrains with Vernon’s heady arrangements is consistently intoxicating, as the moods and images continually shift between lacerating heartbreak (“A House Full Of Empty Rooms”, “Pink Champagne”) and open-hearted anticipation (the chunky, Tom Petty-style rocker “Mint”, the percolating “Sidecars”). These juxtapositions continue through the course of Voyageur, forming its psychological and its musical dynamic, posed by continual shifts between the visceral and the ethereal. The most striking moments occur when the two extremes collide on “Change The Sheets” and “Going To Hell”, with Edwards’ wounded vocals enclosed in Vernon’s pillowy sonic tapestries like a lover’s embrace. “Change The Sheets” boasts the album’s biggest hook in Edwards’ urgent chanting of “Go ahead, run, run, run, run”, as if she can’t wait for the past to recede and the future to flood over her. Though Voyageur can legitimately be seen as a companion piece to Bon Iver, Edwards’ defining characteristics have never been more dramatically present. Her alternating personas (vulnerable ingénue; ballsy chick).The Neil Young-like elliptical resonance of her lyrics. The homespun elegance of her melodies. As a divorce record, Voyageur is as brutally honest as Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out The Lights, but this is a song cycle that documents a journey from darkness toward a light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout, Vernon’s arrangements and performances come off not as an overlay to Edwards’ songs but rather as an ecstatic outgrowth of them, a literal labour of love. It’s hard to conceive of a more thrillingly romantic record than this one. Bud Scoppa Q&A Kathleen Edwards Were you consciously trying to escape the Americana/singer-songwriter pigeonhole in making this record? I look at my body of work and everything is a snapshot of who I am and where I’ve been, and I don’t think any of it’s dishonest, but at the same time I have all of these musical influences laying under the surface that I’ve never had the opportunity to get on a record: Randy Newman, John Prine, and Richard Buckner. And Wilco has been able to progress as a musical entity without having to reinvent themselves. That’s what you’ve done with Voyageur... I finally got the opportunity to work with somebody who was really committed to the idea of helping me see that through. Someone who could step in and wasn’t just gonna finish the tracks but was actually gonna work on the ideas until they were where they needed to be – for him as a producer and for me as the person, going, “I need something to be different this time, not because I’m desperate but because I haven’t done it yet”. “Empty Threat”, with its “Coming to America...” chorus, seems to anticipate what was about to happen to you. [Laughs] Yeah, it’s pretty fucked up. The going joke with my friends and family is, “Not such an empty threat, is it”? And I’m like, “Well, I couldn’t see that comin’”. INTERVIEW: BUD SCOPPA

The Canadian went looking for a new producer. What she found, on her fourth album, was love.

The story of Voyageur is the very definition of bittersweet. Newly divorced after five years of marriage to Colin Cripps, her guitarist and bandleader, Kathleen Edwards was writing up a storm and itching to break out of the alt-country/singer-songwriter cul-de-sac. Edwards’ search for a new producer led her to the doorstep of Justin Vernon’s Wisconsin studio. Vernon took a break from his labours on this year’s Bon Iver to cut a quick track with Edwards, in order to determine whether the two had any chemistry.

She chose the autumnal ballad “Wapusk”, which she’d recently written and recorded for Canada’s National Parks Project (the new version was released last September as a non-LP single). To say that the impromptu session broke the ice would be an understatement; not only did Edwards locate a simpatico co-producer in Vernon, she also found her soul mate. Vernon acknowledged their shared experience in an ardent dedication found in the Bon Iver booklet: “To Kathleen for… bringing the most peace I’ve ever felt in my life”.

The album opens on a doggedly hopeful note, as, amid the exuberant, acoustic guitar-driven onrush of “Empty Threat”, Edwards anticipates a fresh start: “I hit my head ’til it bled/I pressed reset, goddammit!/I’m moving to America… It’s not an empty threat”. She’d written the song right after spending several weeks in Seattle and Portland, where she’d done some co-writing with John Roderick of the Long Winters, and though the lyric relates to that experience, it dramatically foreshadows what would subsequently go down in Wisconsin. Two songs later, on the hushed ballad “A Soft Place To Land”, she’s practically crushed under the weight of unfinished business, desperately clawing her way out of the wreckage. “Calling it quits/You think this is easy”, she asks at the top of the song, over her own mournful violin.

From these thematic scene-setters, the album erupts into sustained grandeur. The blend of Edwards’ beguiling voice, sticky handcrafted melodies and sing-along refrains with Vernon’s heady arrangements is consistently intoxicating, as the moods and images continually shift between lacerating heartbreak (“A House Full Of Empty Rooms”, “Pink Champagne”) and open-hearted anticipation (the chunky, Tom Petty-style rocker “Mint”, the percolating “Sidecars”).

These juxtapositions continue through the course of Voyageur, forming its psychological and its musical dynamic, posed by continual shifts between the visceral and the ethereal. The most striking moments occur when the two extremes collide on “Change The Sheets” and “Going To Hell”, with Edwards’ wounded vocals enclosed in Vernon’s pillowy sonic tapestries like a lover’s embrace. “Change The Sheets” boasts the album’s biggest hook in Edwards’ urgent chanting of “Go ahead, run, run, run, run”, as if she can’t wait for the past to recede and the future to flood over her.

Though Voyageur can legitimately be seen as a companion piece to Bon Iver, Edwards’ defining characteristics have never been more dramatically present. Her alternating personas (vulnerable ingénue; ballsy chick).The Neil Young-like elliptical resonance of her lyrics. The homespun elegance of her melodies. As a divorce record, Voyageur is as brutally honest as Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out The Lights, but this is a song cycle that documents a journey from darkness toward a light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout, Vernon’s arrangements and performances come off not as an overlay to Edwards’ songs but rather as an ecstatic outgrowth of them, a literal labour of love. It’s hard to conceive of a more thrillingly romantic record than this one.

Bud Scoppa

Q&A

Kathleen Edwards

Were you consciously trying to escape the Americana/singer-songwriter pigeonhole in making this record?

I look at my body of work and everything is a snapshot of who I am and where I’ve been, and I don’t think any of it’s dishonest, but at the same time I have all of these musical influences laying under the surface that I’ve never had the opportunity to get on a record: Randy Newman, John Prine, and Richard Buckner. And Wilco has been able to progress as a musical entity without having to reinvent themselves.

That’s what you’ve done with Voyageur…

I finally got the opportunity to work with somebody who was really committed to the idea of helping me see that through. Someone who could step in and wasn’t just gonna finish the tracks but was actually gonna work on the ideas until they were where they needed to be – for him as a producer and for me as the person, going, “I need something to be different this time, not because I’m desperate but because I haven’t done it yet”.

“Empty Threat”, with its “Coming to America…” chorus, seems to anticipate what was about to happen to you.

[Laughs] Yeah, it’s pretty fucked up. The going joke with my friends and family is, “Not such an empty threat, is it”? And I’m like, “Well, I couldn’t see that comin’”. INTERVIEW: BUD SCOPPA

The Make-Up reform to play ATP event in London

Tom Goodwyn
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0
The Make-Up reform to play ATP event in London

Cult garage soul band The Make-Up will reform in order to play this May's I'll Be Your Mirror event at London's Alexandra Palace. The band, fronted by Nation Of Ulysses' Ian Svenonius, released their last studio album, 'Save Yourself', in 1999. This was followed by a live album, 'Untouchable Sound', which was released in 2006, after their split. Following the band's dissolution, Svenonious went on to play in Weird War with The Make-Up bassist Michelle Mae, and then fronted Chain And The Gang. The reformation of The Make-Up is being billed as a UK exclusive. This year's I'll Be Your Mirror takes place between May 25 and 27, and will be co-curated by Mogwai and see sets from Slayer, Dirty Three, Mudhoney, Yuck and Melvins. The Make-Up play the final day of the event (May 27). The current line up is below: May 25 – Curated by ATP Slayer performing 'Reign In Blood' Sleep Melvins Wolves In The Throne Room Yob Death Grips May 25 - Curated By Mogwai Mogwai Dirty Three Codeine Mudhoney Chavez Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat Harvey Milk Floor The Soft Moon Balam Acab Antoni Maiovvi May 27 – Curated by ATP The Afghan Whigs Ultramagnetic MCs The Make-Up Archers Of Loaf Thee Oh Sees Yuck Sleepy Sun Tennis Tall Firs Forest Swords Demdike Stare Siskiyou

Cult garage soul band The Make-Up will reform in order to play this May’s I’ll Be Your Mirror event at London’s Alexandra Palace.

The band, fronted by Nation Of Ulysses‘ Ian Svenonius, released their last studio album, ‘Save Yourself’, in 1999. This was followed by a live album, ‘Untouchable Sound’, which was released in 2006, after their split. Following the band’s dissolution, Svenonious went on to play in Weird War with The Make-Up bassist Michelle Mae, and then fronted Chain And The Gang.

The reformation of The Make-Up is being billed as a UK exclusive. This year’s I’ll Be Your Mirror takes place between May 25 and 27, and will be co-curated by Mogwai and see sets from Slayer, Dirty Three, Mudhoney, Yuck and Melvins. The Make-Up play the final day of the event (May 27).

The current line up is below:

May 25 – Curated by ATP

Slayer performing ‘Reign In Blood’

Sleep

Melvins

Wolves In The Throne Room

Yob

Death Grips

May 25 – Curated By Mogwai

Mogwai

Dirty Three

Codeine

Mudhoney

Chavez

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat

Harvey Milk

Floor

The Soft Moon

Balam Acab

Antoni Maiovvi

May 27 – Curated by ATP

The Afghan Whigs

Ultramagnetic MCs

The Make-Up

Archers Of Loaf

Thee Oh Sees

Yuck

Sleepy Sun

Tennis

Tall Firs

Forest Swords

Demdike Stare

Siskiyou

Bruce Springsteen’s gig in Hyde Park at risk

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Bruce Springsteen’s gig in Hyde Park at risk

Gigs set for this summer in Hyde Park, London are reportedly at risk because of complaints by local residents. The London Evening Standard writes that Mayfair residents have complained about the noise from the regular shows which take place in the public park every summer. Rihanna and Drake are set to headline Wireless Festival over the weekend of July 6-8, while Madonna will play the park on July 11 and Bruce Springsteen on July 14. The acts most at risk of being pulled are dance acts who play repetitive beats. A report says last summer 109 complaints about the noise were made, which was double the number from 2010. The Environmental Health Department at Westminster City Council has now filed a report in application for a review of the licence to hold concerts in Hyde Park, with Westminster councillors set to make a decision on the review tomorrow (February 17). The report recommends that the number of shows is cut from 13 to six each summer, and also proposes that the capacity for four of those gigs is reduced from 80,000 to 65,000 people. The remaining two shows would hold a capacity of 50,000. The Evening Standard quotes two local residents who say of the noise: "It's pretty bad. There are two issues for us - the number of concerts and noise they're allowed to make. If you sit here with the windows open on a hot day, you can hear every word," says Mike Dunn, vice-chairman of the Mayfair Residents Group. Meanwhile, Councillor Glenys Roberts said: "I like to watch the men's Wimbledon final but there's always a concert on that Sunday and the noise completely drowns out the television." Mayor of London Boris Johnson has also stepped into the debate, adding: "I want to see Madonna in Hyde Park and so does everybody else, I hope a good solution will be reached this week."

Gigs set for this summer in Hyde Park, London are reportedly at risk because of complaints by local residents.

The London Evening Standard writes that Mayfair residents have complained about the noise from the regular shows which take place in the public park every summer. Rihanna and Drake are set to headline Wireless Festival over the weekend of July 6-8, while Madonna will play the park on July 11 and Bruce Springsteen on July 14.

The acts most at risk of being pulled are dance acts who play repetitive beats. A report says last summer 109 complaints about the noise were made, which was double the number from 2010. The Environmental Health Department at Westminster City Council has now filed a report in application for a review of the licence to hold concerts in Hyde Park, with Westminster councillors set to make a decision on the review tomorrow (February 17).

The report recommends that the number of shows is cut from 13 to six each summer, and also proposes that the capacity for four of those gigs is reduced from 80,000 to 65,000 people. The remaining two shows would hold a capacity of 50,000.

The Evening Standard quotes two local residents who say of the noise: “It’s pretty bad. There are two issues for us – the number of concerts and noise they’re allowed to make. If you sit here with the windows open on a hot day, you can hear every word,” says Mike Dunn, vice-chairman of the Mayfair Residents Group.

Meanwhile, Councillor Glenys Roberts said: “I like to watch the men’s Wimbledon final but there’s always a concert on that Sunday and the noise completely drowns out the television.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has also stepped into the debate, adding: “I want to see Madonna in Hyde Park and so does everybody else, I hope a good solution will be reached this week.”

Kraftwerk to play eight night ‘3D’ residency at New York’s Museum of Modern Art

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Kraftwerk to play eight night ‘3D’ residency at New York’s Museum of Modern Art

Iconic German synth band Kraftwerk are set to play an eight-night residency at New York's Museum of Modern Art in April. The band will appear in 'Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8' from April 10-17 in The Donald B. and Catherine C Marron Atrium at the museum. They will play each of their albums live, in order, accompanied by a '3D visualization' of the record. Kraftwerk will also play additional songs from other albums at each show. Kraftwerk will play: 1 – 'Autobahn (1974) (April 10) 2 – 'Radio-Activity' (1975) (11) 3 – 'Trans Europe Express (1977) (11) 4 – 'The Man-Machine' (1978) (13) 5 – 'Computer World' (1981) (14) 6 – 'Techno Pop' (1986) (15) 7 – 'The Mix' (1991) (16) 8 – 'Tour de France' (2003) (17) Tickets will go on sale February 22. For more information, visit: MoMA.org Kraftwerk last performed in the UK in 2009, at Bestival and the Manchester International Festival. At the latter they appeared at the Manchester Velodrome and whilst playing 'Tour de France' were accompanied by members of the GB cycling team, who cycled around the track along with the music.

Iconic German synth band Kraftwerk are set to play an eight-night residency at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in April.

The band will appear in ‘Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8’ from April 10-17 in The Donald B. and Catherine C Marron Atrium at the museum. They will play each of their albums live, in order, accompanied by a ‘3D visualization’ of the record. Kraftwerk will also play additional songs from other albums at each show.

Kraftwerk will play:

1 – ‘Autobahn (1974) (April 10)

2 – ‘Radio-Activity’ (1975) (11)

3 – ‘Trans Europe Express (1977) (11)

4 – ‘The Man-Machine’ (1978) (13)

5 – ‘Computer World’ (1981) (14)

6 – ‘Techno Pop’ (1986) (15)

7 – ‘The Mix’ (1991) (16)

8 – ‘Tour de France’ (2003) (17)

Tickets will go on sale February 22. For more information, visit: MoMA.org

Kraftwerk last performed in the UK in 2009, at Bestival and the Manchester International Festival. At the latter they appeared at the Manchester Velodrome and whilst playing ‘Tour de France’ were accompanied by members of the GB cycling team, who cycled around the track along with the music.

Paul McCartney: ‘We never reformed The Beatles in case it ruined our legacy’

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Paul McCartney: ‘We never reformed The Beatles in case it ruined our legacy’
Paul McCartney has revealed that The Beatles considered reforming while they were all still alive, but decided against it in case it ruined their legacy. The singer, who released his new studio album 'Kisses On The Bottom' earlier this month (February 6), told Rolling Stone that the Fab Four had ...

Paul McCartney has revealed that The Beatles considered reforming while they were all still alive, but decided against it in case it ruined their legacy.

The singer, who released his new studio album ‘Kisses On The Bottom’ earlier this month (February 6), told Rolling Stone that the Fab Four had discussed reuniting on several occasions but the arguments to do so were “never convincing enough”.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, he said: “There was talk of reforming The Beatles a couple of times, but it didn’t gel, there was not enough passion behind the idea. More importantly, it could have spoiled the whole idea of The Beatles, so wrong that they’d be like, ‘Oh, my God, they weren’t any good’.”

He went on to reveal that he and his three former bandmates had never all been persuaded that it was the right thing to do, adding: “The reformation suggestions were never convincing enough.

“They were kind of nice when they happened – ‘That would be good, yeah’ – but then one of us would always not fancy it. And that was enough, because we were the ultimate democracy.”

‘Kisses On The Bottom’ is made up of songs McCartney listened to as a child as well as two new songs, ‘My Valentine’ and ‘Only Our Hearts’. It was recorded with producer Tommy LiPuma, Diana Krall and her band and also features appearances from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder.

Kings Of Leon to begin writing new album this year?

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Kings Of Leon to begin writing new album this year?
Kings Of Leon have hinted that they could start work on a new studio album this year. Speaking to MTV, drummer Nathan Followill said the band had repaired their relationship after a tumultuous 2011 and would "probably start kicking around" some new ideas in the studio in the next six months. Th...

Kings Of Leon have hinted that they could start work on a new studio album this year.

Speaking to MTV, drummer Nathan Followill said the band had repaired their relationship after a tumultuous 2011 and would “probably start kicking around” some new ideas in the studio in the next six months.

The Tennessee stadium rockers were forced to cancel their entire US tour last year after frontman Caleb Followill stormed offstage in Dallas on July 29 and was deemed too ill and exhausted to tour, with his bandmates later plagued by rumours that they wanted to kick him out of the band and were forcing him to go to rehab.

However, Nathan claimed that the band were now on good terms, stating: “Over the holidays, [you] break some bread, have some turkey, everyone makes up. I don’t think it was as big as people thought it was, but the press machine takes it and runs with it.”

The sticksman also revealed that they had recently purchased a studio in Nashville and were hoping to start working on new material there soon, adding: “We’re going to spend the next few months getting that up and running; kind of make it our little clubhouse to get there and just kind of goof off whenever we want to. But, I’d say within the next six months, we’ll probably start kicking some stuff around.”

Meanwhile, his brother Caleb revealed that he had already started work on new ideas and was in the early stages of the writing process. “I’ve been writing a lot,” he said. “Kinda want everyone to get a little break from each other, but whenever they’re ready, I want to play some stuff.”

Speaking of his early efforts, he added: “The melodies are really strong, and the lyrics that I have written I think are pretty good, but we’ll see. These guys are always a good judge of if I’m going the right way with something or not.”

Kings Of Leon released their fifth studio album ‘Come Around Sundown’ in October 2010.

Singer-songwriter Dory Previn dies aged 86

Tom Goodwyn
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Singer-songwriter Dory Previn dies aged 86

US singer-songwriter Dory Previn has died aged 86. Previn, who was formerly married to composer Andre Previn and collaborated with him on two Oscar-nominated songs, passed away in Massachusetts, according to the New York Times. Her death was confirmed by her current husband Joby Baker. She was born in 1925 as Dorothy Veronica Langin and embarked upon a career as an actress and a dancer before she met and married Andre in 1959. The pair received an Oscar nomination for their song 'Faraway Part Of Town' from the film Pepe in 1961, and picked up another nod from the Academy in 1961 for 'Second Chance', which featured on the soundtrack of Two For The Seesaw. Previn was briefly institutionalised in 1965 after she suffered a nervous breakdown. Her classic 'Valley Of The Dolls' soundtrack was written in 1967, but in 1970 she and Andre divorced after he had an affair with actress Mia Farrow. She responded by releasing six albums that decade directly inspired by the split, and also married for a second time in 1984 to Canadian actor Joby Baker. According to the BBC, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is amongst the artists to have publicly stated that they were influenced by Previn. He chose her track 'Lady With The Braid' as one of his Desert Island Discs in 2005, and also paid tribute to her in his 2011 tome Mother, Brother, Lover.

US singer-songwriter Dory Previn has died aged 86.

Previn, who was formerly married to composer Andre Previn and collaborated with him on two Oscar-nominated songs, passed away in Massachusetts, according to the New York Times. Her death was confirmed by her current husband Joby Baker.

She was born in 1925 as Dorothy Veronica Langin and embarked upon a career as an actress and a dancer before she met and married Andre in 1959. The pair received an Oscar nomination for their song ‘Faraway Part Of Town’ from the film Pepe in 1961, and picked up another nod from the Academy in 1961 for ‘Second Chance’, which featured on the soundtrack of Two For The Seesaw.

Previn was briefly institutionalised in 1965 after she suffered a nervous breakdown. Her classic ‘Valley Of The Dolls’ soundtrack was written in 1967, but in 1970 she and Andre divorced after he had an affair with actress Mia Farrow.

She responded by releasing six albums that decade directly inspired by the split, and also married for a second time in 1984 to Canadian actor Joby Baker.

According to the BBC, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker is amongst the artists to have publicly stated that they were influenced by Previn. He chose her track ‘Lady With The Braid’ as one of his Desert Island Discs in 2005, and also paid tribute to her in his 2011 tome Mother, Brother, Lover.

Watch Jack White’s new video for ‘Love Interruption’

Tom Goodwyn
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Watch Jack White’s new video for ‘Love Interruption’
Jack White has revealed the new video for his debut solo single 'Love Interruption' - scroll down to the bottom of the page and click to watch. As promised, the former White Stripes man released the video, which he also directed, for St Valentine's Day. The track sees him work with singer Ruby Ama...

Jack White has revealed the new video for his debut solo single ‘Love Interruption’ – scroll down to the bottom of the page and click to watch.

As promised, the former White Stripes man released the video, which he also directed, for St Valentine’s Day. The track sees him work with singer Ruby Amanfu, who provides backing vocals, and Emily Bowland on bass clarinet and Brooke Wagonner on Wurlitzer electric piano.

White has also announced plans for his debut solo live shows, which will take place in March in the United States.

Prior to his show at Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend on June 23-24, alongside Lana Del Rey and The Maccabees, White will play a number of Stateside shows, appearing in Chattanooga, Birmingham, Memphis and Tulsa.

White’s debut solo album ‘Blunderbuss’, produced by the man himself and recorded at his Third Man Studio in Nashville, will be released on April 23. Of the album, he said it was a record he “couldn’t have released until now”.

He said: “I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colours on my own canvas.”

Jack White will play:

Chattanooga Track 29 (March 10)

Birmingham WorkPlay Soundstage (12)

Memphis New Daisy Theatre (13)

Tulsa Cain’s Ballroom (15)

London ATP venue gets restoration grant

Tom Goodwyn
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London ATP venue gets restoration grant

Alexandra Palace, where All Tomorrow's Parties holds its now yearly I'll Be Your Mirror event - headlined in 2011 by Portishead - has received a £320,000 grant from English Heritage for "urgent repairs". The roof of the Victorian theatre, which has been closed to the public for years, will be fixed up, as will the south terrace, reports the Hornsey Journal. Alexandra Palace has been on English Heritage's Buildings At Risk Register for 15 years. ATP campaigned for money to help with the restoration of the Victorian theatre last year. This year's I'll Be Your Mirror takes place May 25-27, and will be co-curated by Mogwai and see sets from Slayer, Dirty Three, Mudhoney, Yuck and Melvins. The Black Keys recently played three nights at the iconic venue in Wood Green, North London, and the London landmark has seen shows from Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the White Stripes over the years.

Alexandra Palace, where All Tomorrow’s Parties holds its now yearly I’ll Be Your Mirror event – headlined in 2011 by Portishead – has received a £320,000 grant from English Heritage for “urgent repairs”.

The roof of the Victorian theatre, which has been closed to the public for years, will be fixed up, as will the south terrace, reports the Hornsey Journal. Alexandra Palace has been on English Heritage’s Buildings At Risk Register for 15 years.

ATP campaigned for money to help with the restoration of the Victorian theatre last year. This year’s I’ll Be Your Mirror takes place May 25-27, and will be co-curated by Mogwai and see sets from Slayer, Dirty Three, Mudhoney, Yuck and Melvins.

The Black Keys recently played three nights at the iconic venue in Wood Green, North London, and the London landmark has seen shows from Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the White Stripes over the years.

Jamie Oliver finds Joy Division and New Order master tapes in restaurant basement

Tom Goodwyn
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Jamie Oliver finds Joy Division and New Order master tapes in restaurant basement

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has apparently found rare Joy Division and New Order master tapes when digging up the basement of a new restaurant in Manchester. The new restaurant, which is being built in a former branch of Midland bank, was being excavated when the tapes were found, alongside guns, gold and jewellery. The total value of the haul is £1.1 million, reports Holy Moly. Oliver has since given everything found in the basement to the treasury. New Order have just been announced as the Saturday night (September 8) headliner at this year's Bestival. Bestival will take place from September 6–9 at Robin Hill Park on the Isle Of Wight. For more information about the event, see Bestival.net. Prior to that, the Manchester band tour the UK for the first time in over five years. New Order will play: O2 Apollo Manchester (April 26, 27) Birmingham Ballroom (29) O2 Academy Brixton (May 2, 3) O2 Academy Glasgow (5)

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has apparently found rare Joy Division and New Order master tapes when digging up the basement of a new restaurant in Manchester.

The new restaurant, which is being built in a former branch of Midland bank, was being excavated when the tapes were found, alongside guns, gold and jewellery. The total value of the haul is £1.1 million, reports Holy Moly. Oliver has since given everything found in the basement to the treasury.

New Order have just been announced as the Saturday night (September 8) headliner at this year’s Bestival.

Bestival will take place from September 6–9 at Robin Hill Park on the Isle Of Wight. For more information about the event, see Bestival.net.

Prior to that, the Manchester band tour the UK for the first time in over five years.

New Order will play:

O2 Apollo Manchester (April 26, 27)

Birmingham Ballroom (29)

O2 Academy Brixton (May 2, 3)

O2 Academy Glasgow (5)

Paul McCartney will not make a cameo appearance in ‘Mad Men’

Tom Goodwyn
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Paul McCartney will not make a cameo appearance in ‘Mad Men’
Paul McCartney will not be making a cameo in US television show Mad Men, despite earlier reports suggesting he would. McCartney, who released his new album 'Kisses On The Bottom' last week (February 6), has signed a deal with the show's producers giving them permission to use his songs. A sourc...

Paul McCartney will not be making a cameo in US television show Mad Men, despite earlier reports suggesting he would.

McCartney, who released his new album ‘Kisses On The Bottom’ last week (February 6), has signed a deal with the show’s producers giving them permission to use his songs.

A source had told The Sun that the Beatles legend could also make a fleeting appearance in the programme himself, but this rumour has now been quashed by Vulture.com who say a source close to the show has denied that Macca will appear.

Last month Mad Men‘s creator teased more details about the show’s imminent fifth season. Matthew Weiner gave hints about what fans can expect from the opening episode A Little Kiss in an interview with TV Guide.

Of the two-hour special, Weiner said: ”I like the title to have some kind of synergy with the show so it will pique your interest.”

He said that the kiss in question could be between Don Draper and his new fiancé Megan or ex-wife Betty: “Who says Megan’s even going to be part of Don’s life? He may be back with Betty. One of my favourite scenes from [the series four finale] was when Betty offered herself to him again. And let’s face it, those two look really good together.”

After contractual negotiations took the show off air in 2011, Mad Men‘s fifth series begins in the US on March 25, with the UK premiere expected shortly after.

Radiohead confirm another summer festival headline slot

Tom Goodwyn
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Radiohead confirm another summer festival headline slot
Radiohead have confirmed that they will headline this summer's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The festival, which runs from June 7–10, will be headlined by the Oxford band as well as Phish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also on the bill are the newly reunited Be...

Radiohead have confirmed that they will headline this summer’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

The festival, which runs from June 7–10, will be headlined by the Oxford band as well as Phish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Also on the bill are the newly reunited Beach Boys, Bon Iver, Foster The People, Skrillex, Two Door Cinema Club, The Black Lips and a whole host of others.

Radiohead are currently preparing for their extensive world tour in support of 2011 album ‘The King Of Limbs’, They will tour the US in February and March and have booked assorted European shows and festival appearances throughout the summer, including slots at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Bilbao BBK Live festival.

The band are expected to confirm UK dates in the coming weeks, but are yet to say when this will be. Guitarist Ed O’Brien has previously hinted that the band will play arena shows in the UK rather than festival dates.

For more information about Bonnaroo, visit Bonnaroo.com.

The Seventh Uncut Playlist Of 2012, and Dory Previn RIP

John Mulvey
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The Seventh Uncut Playlist Of 2012, and Dory Previn RIP

Sad news this morning, with the announcement of Dory Previn’s death at the age of 86. The first thing I came across this morning at home was a useful comp from a few years back, “The Art Of Dory Previn”, which works well as a primer to this eccentric, wise and mostly undervalued singer-songwriter. It’s often easier to compare women singer-songwriters with others of their own sex, though not always the fairest way to adjudge their talents. Playing again some of my favourite Previn songs – “Beware Of Young Girls”, “Doppelganger”, “Angels And Devils The Following Day” – it’s striking how better they match up against contemporary work by Leonard Cohen, David Ackles, perhaps Randy Newman, too, rather than, say, Joni Mitchell. A fine artist: please check her out today – “Beware Of Young Girls” is here, “Doppelganger” here - if you’re unfamiliar. Apologies for the scarcity of blogs this week: we’ve been a little distracted by finishing up the next issue of our generously reupholstered magazine. The redesign is looking good, I think – though of course I would say that. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts when it goes on sale at the end of the month, anyhow. There has been time, of course, to put a few tunes on: much love, as a consequence, for the Ty Segall and White Fence hook-up, for the rejuvenated Dexys, and for Dan Auerbach’s gris-gris-heavy production makeover of Dr John. Elsewhere, though, it seems a particularly apposite week to point out again that I don’t always personally like all the records we play here and consequently include in the playlist. One or two tough spots to get through here, I found… 1 “Blue” Gene Tyranny – Detours (Unseen Worlds) 2 Ty Segall & White Fence – Hair (Drag City) 3 Lower Dens – Nootropics (Ribbon) 4 Rocket Juice And The Moon – Rocket Juice And The Moon (Honest Jon’s) 5 Rufus Wainwright – Out Of The Game (Polydor) 6 Dexys – Nowhere/Lost (?) 7 Julia Holter – Ekstasis (RVNG ITL) 8 Various Artists – Julia Holter Fact Mix (Fact) 9 Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts (Capitol) 10 The Men – Open Your Heart (Sacred Bones) 11 Hiss Golden Messenger – Fennario (Tompkins Square) 12 Dr John – Locked Down (Nonesuch) 13 Universal Energy – Universal Energy (Harvest) 14 Hannah Cohen – Child Bride (Bella Union) 15 Deer Tick – Divine Providence (Partisan) 16 Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light (Double Six) 17 Dylan LeBlanc – Cast The Same Old Shadow (Rough Trade) 18 Howlin Rain – The Russian Wilds (Agitated) 19 Dory Previn – The Art Of Dory Previn (EMI) Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

Sad news this morning, with the announcement of Dory Previn’s death at the age of 86. The first thing I came across this morning at home was a useful comp from a few years back, “The Art Of Dory Previn”, which works well as a primer to this eccentric, wise and mostly undervalued singer-songwriter.

It’s often easier to compare women singer-songwriters with others of their own sex, though not always the fairest way to adjudge their talents. Playing again some of my favourite Previn songs – “Beware Of Young Girls”, “Doppelganger”, “Angels And Devils The Following Day” – it’s striking how better they match up against contemporary work by Leonard Cohen, David Ackles, perhaps Randy Newman, too, rather than, say, Joni Mitchell. A fine artist: please check her out today – “Beware Of Young Girls” is here, “Doppelganger” here – if you’re unfamiliar.

Apologies for the scarcity of blogs this week: we’ve been a little distracted by finishing up the next issue of our generously reupholstered magazine. The redesign is looking good, I think – though of course I would say that. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts when it goes on sale at the end of the month, anyhow.

There has been time, of course, to put a few tunes on: much love, as a consequence, for the Ty Segall and White Fence hook-up, for the rejuvenated Dexys, and for Dan Auerbach’s gris-gris-heavy production makeover of Dr John. Elsewhere, though, it seems a particularly apposite week to point out again that I don’t always personally like all the records we play here and consequently include in the playlist. One or two tough spots to get through here, I found…

1 “Blue” Gene Tyranny – Detours (Unseen Worlds)

2 Ty Segall & White Fence – Hair (Drag City)

3 Lower Dens – Nootropics (Ribbon)

4 Rocket Juice And The Moon – Rocket Juice And The Moon (Honest Jon’s)

5 Rufus Wainwright – Out Of The Game (Polydor)

6 Dexys – Nowhere/Lost (?)

7 Julia Holter – Ekstasis (RVNG ITL)

8 Various Artists – Julia Holter Fact Mix (Fact)

9 Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts (Capitol)

10 The Men – Open Your Heart (Sacred Bones)

11 Hiss Golden Messenger – Fennario (Tompkins Square)

12 Dr John – Locked Down (Nonesuch)

13 Universal Energy – Universal Energy (Harvest)

14 Hannah Cohen – Child Bride (Bella Union)

15 Deer Tick – Divine Providence (Partisan)

16 Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light (Double Six)

17 Dylan LeBlanc – Cast The Same Old Shadow (Rough Trade)

18 Howlin Rain – The Russian Wilds (Agitated)

19 Dory Previn – The Art Of Dory Previn (EMI)

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnRMulvey

Beth Jeans Houghton set to record in Los Angeles after Neil Young encounter

Tom Goodwyn
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Beth Jeans Houghton set to record in Los Angeles after Neil Young encounter
Beth Jeans Houghton has spoken about her plans to make her second album in Los Angeles, explaining that Neil Young has a lot to do with her decision. The Newcastle-born singer wants to record the follow-up to her delayed debut album 'Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose', released earlier this month, as q...

Beth Jeans Houghton has spoken about her plans to make her second album in Los Angeles, explaining that Neil Young has a lot to do with her decision.

The Newcastle-born singer wants to record the follow-up to her delayed debut album ‘Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose’, released earlier this month, as quickly as possible, and after a special experience in Los Angeles last year, wants to do it in the City Of Angels.

She told NME: “I was with a mate who said ‘I’m going to meet my friend Neil later. You should come.’ When we arrived, it turned out ‘Neil’ was Neil Young. He picked us up in a white Cadillac and we drove around Malibu beach all day. He’s a slow driver, but a lovely man.”

Asked whether Young had any tips for her, Houghton said: “Don’t be daft. I didn’t tell him I was a musician. How do you tell Neil Young that you also write songs?”

Of her LA love, she added: “Whenever I’ve been there I’ve always loved it. It’s such a poetic city, and a great place to work. I love the weather, the palm trees, the feeling it’s still the 1970s and the fact there’s not much around you to prove that it isn’t.”

Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves Of Destiny begin their UK tour at Glasgow Captain’s Rest on February 17.

Sharon Van Etten announces UK tour dates

Tom Goodwyn
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Sharon Van Etten announces UK tour dates
Sharon Van Etten has announced a UK tour for May, which includes her biggest ever UK headline show at London's Scala on May 16. Van Etten, known for her work with The Antlers and The National alongside her solo career, will also release new single 'Leonard', taken from third album 'Tramp' on Marc...

Sharon Van Etten has announced a UK tour for May, which includes her biggest ever UK headline show at London’s Scala on May 16.

Van Etten, known for her work with The Antlers and The National alongside her solo career, will also release new single ‘Leonard’, taken from third album ‘Tramp’ on March 12.

The Brooklyn-based singer songwriter is also one of the first confirmations for December National-curated ATP Nightmare Before Christmas, which takes place between December 7-9 at Butlins in Minehead, Somerset.

She will also appear at London’s Rough Trade East on February 28, and at Cargo on March 1.

You can stream Van Etten’s latest album ‘Tramp’ on NME.com

Sharon Van Etten will play

London Scala (May 16)

Manchester Deaf Institute (17)

Dublin Whelans (18)

Leeds Brudenell Social Club (20)

Brighton Komedia (21)

Arcade Fire record new track ‘Abraham’s Daughter’ for ‘The Hunger Games’ soundtrack

Tom Goodwyn
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0
Arcade Fire record new track ‘Abraham’s Daughter’ for ‘The Hunger Games’ soundtrack
Arcade Fire have recorded a brand new song for the soundtrack to the new fantasy film The Hunger Games. The track, which is titled 'Abraham's Daughter', was recorded last week and is confirmed to feature on the soundtrack along with tracks from The Decemberists, Kid Cudi and The Low Anthem. The...

Arcade Fire have recorded a brand new song for the soundtrack to the new fantasy film The Hunger Games.

The track, which is titled ‘Abraham’s Daughter’, was recorded last week and is confirmed to feature on the soundtrack along with tracks from The Decemberists, Kid Cudi and The Low Anthem.

The film itself will also feature a track titled ‘Horn Of Plenty’ which has been written and recorded by Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Regine Chassagne.

The Hunger Games is set to be released on March 23 in the UK and stars Winter’s Bone actress Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks.

The tracklisting for ‘The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 and Beyond’ is as follows:

Taylor Swift – ‘Safe & Sound’

Taylor Swift – ‘Eyes Wide Open’

Arcade Fire – ‘Abraham’s Daughter’

Kid Cudi – ‘The Ruler & The Killer’

Miranda Lambert – ‘Run Daddy Run’

The Civil Wars – ‘Kingdom Come’

The Decemberists – ‘One Engine’

Glen Hansard – ‘Take The Heartland’

The Low Anthem – ‘Lover Is Childlike’

Punch Brothers – ‘Dark Days’

The Secret Sisters – ‘Tomorrow Will Be Kinder’

Birdy – ‘Just A Game’

Ella Mae Bowen – ‘Oh Come And Sing’

Jayme Dee – ‘Rules’

Carolina Chocolate Drops – ‘Reaping Day’

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