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Matthew Perry’s words of advice in last interview: “People do change”

Matthew Perry’s last interview before his death has resurfaced, in which he gave some advice to those going through addiction. The actor, who was best known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, died yesterday (October 28) aged 54 and was reportedly found unresponsive due to a suspected drowning. Authorities have said no foul play was involved, and no drugs were found at the scene. Now, a video from that interview has begun re-circulating. It took place in November 2022, around the time Perry released his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, and sees him address the camera as he speaks about his experience with addiction. Advertisement “I’ve been asked to give any general life advice, which is kind of funny that I’ve been asked to do that,” Perry said in the clip. “I want people to understand that they’re not alone, that there are other people feeling exactly the way they’re feeling, that their behaviour is not insane, that they have a disease and it’s not their fault. “There’s a very famous line that people don’t change. I happen to know that people do change and I see that every day. I see people getting better. I see the lights in their… Read More →

29OCTNews

Jay-Z reveals the unexpected origins of Blue Ivy’s name

Jay-Z has shared the reason why he and Beyoncé named their daughter Blue Ivy. It was previously rumoured that the rapper had named his daughter after his acclaimed ‘Blueprint‘ albums. However, in a new interview with Gayle King, the Brooklyn rapper revealed a very different reason. At around 17 minutes 50 seconds, King asks Jay-Z why he named his daughter Blue Ivy. In response, Jay-Z said: “Her name was meant to be Brooklyn. That was the name we had in theory, but when we got the sonogram, it was super small and we was calling her blueberry. Like, ‘Look at the little blueberry!’ It was a nickname. Advertisement “For nine months, we were like, ‘Look at the little blueberry,’ so it was natural. We just took the ‘berry’ off and called her Blue.” [embedded content] Jay-Z has made several media appearances since he returned to Instagram after a two-year hiatus to promote his upcoming film, The Book of Clarence. The film, out for release on January 12, 2024, will reportedly feature LaKeith Stanfield, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Teyana Taylor, and more. A synopsis for the film says: “Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah and His apostles, [Clarence] risks… Read More →

29OCTNews

Matthew Perry has reportedly died, aged 54

Friends actor Matthew Perry has reportedly died at the age of 54. Perry was reportedly found unresponsive due to suspected drowning on Saturday (October 28), per reports from TMZ and the LA Times. TMZ reports that no drugs were discovered at the scene, and that authorities say no foul play was involved. According to the LA Times, detectives from Los Angeles Police Department’s robbery-homicide division are investigating the death. While Perry is believed to have drowned, a confirmed cause of death has yet to be announced. Matthew Perry was best known for playing the role of Chandler Bing in the beloved ’90s sitcom, Friends, alongside Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlac and Lisa Kudro. Besides Friends, Perry has also starred in shows and films like 17 Again, Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, Growing Pains, Beverly Hills 90210, Three To Tango and more. Last year, Matthew released his book Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir. While promoting its release, he opened up about his drug addiction and recovery, saying that doctors had given him a 2 per cent chance of survival after his colon burst due to opioid abuse. He spoke about being put on life support, and being… Read More →

28OCTNews

Critics brand John Cena’s latest film ‘Freelance’ “bizarre and punishingly dull”

John Cena’s new action-comedy movie Freelance has received a swath of negative reviews and scored an infamous zero per rate rating on Rotten Tomatoes.The film sees Cena play ex-special forces soldier Mason Pettits who is hired to provide security for a journalist while they interview a dictator. Eventually coup breaks out and Pettits has to keep the three of them alive. Helmed by Taken director Pierre Morel, Freelance also stars Alison Brie, Christian Slater, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas and Narcos star Juan Pablo Raba. Not yet released in the UK, Freelance premiered in the US on October 27 and has been criticised for its derivative action and poor performances. Advertisement In a scathing review, IGN said: “You’ve seen everyone involved in Freelance present their talents infinitely better in other projects. There is no peace to be made with John Cena’s lead performance; Alison Brie doesn’t endear herself to the filmgoing community. [embedded content] “Pierre Morel’s uninspired work behind the camera goes hand in hand with the film’s nondescript title, dragging viewers through a moodless, toothless action hybrid that, at its best, plays as forgettably inept even with ammunition flying in all directions.” The LA Times was equally scathing. They said: “The confounding, bizarre and punishingly dull… Read More →

28OCTNews

Arnold Schwarzenegger says he once used an “accent-removal coach”

Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that he used an “accent-removal coach” during the early stages of his career. Appearing on last night’s (October 27) Graham Norton Show, Schwarzenegger said he had a coach during his early career to remove his famous Austrian accent. “I had an English coach, an acting coach, a speech coach, and an accent-removal coach,” the actor told Norton. He then explained that his accent-coach “has passed away since,” but then joked: “I should have otherwise gotten my money back.” Advertisement Schwarzenegger explained how the trainer’s process did help him, although not as intended. “It was very helpful [for enunciation],” he told Norton, “but it didn’t get rid of my accent!” Schwarzenegger went on to say his accent played a big part in him getting a part in his two biggest movies, Conan the Barbarian and Terminator. He recalled a story in which John Milius, the director of Conan, told the press: “If we wouldn’t have had Schwarzenegger, we would’ve had to build one.” He also said: “Jim Cameron said what made Terminator work, and what made it successful, is that Schwarzenegger talks like a machine.” [embedded content] Elsewhere in the interview, Schwarzenegger admitted that his rivalry with Sylvester Stallone got “out of control” when… Read More →

28OCTNews

Keith Richards says recording with Paul McCartney felt “like the old days”

Keith Richards has said that recording on the latest Rolling Stones album with Paul McCartney felt “like the old days.” McCartney recently appeared on the Stones’ new album track ‘Bite My Head Off’ playing bass. Speaking to Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1 in a new interview about the collaboration, Richards said it reminded him of the “old days”. Advertisement “I felt that it was bloody time…I’ve known Paul for 60 years, just about. Although him and John [Lennon] did do a few backup vocals with us in the ’60s. Great fun to play with.”He continued: “At the end of it, I just said, ‘Well, that’s just like the good old days,’” Richards recalled of the McCartney’s studio session with the band. Keith Richards and Paul McCartney in the 1960s – CREDIT: Getty [embedded content] Richards also opened about the collaboration recently to The Telegraph. “Paul happened to be in town…And we couldn’t keep him away, bless his heart,” Richards told the publication. “And hey, if you can get one of the Beatles on your track, you know, you do it. Paul’s a very amiable cat to play with; we’ve been great friends forever.” In the same interview, Richards said that… Read More →

28OCTNews

The Human League announce 2024 UK arena tour

The Human League have announced details of a 2024 UK Arena tour. The legendary ’80s synth-pop band will tour the UK in late 2024 with their ‘Generations 2024’ tour hitting Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, Bournemouth, Glasgow, Leeds and London. Tickets for the event will go on sale on November 3 from 10am here. Advertisement Check out the full list of UK dates here: DECEMBER5 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff6 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham9 – Brighton Centre, Brighton10 – Windsor Hall (BIC), Bournemouth12 – Ovo Hydro, Glasgow13 – First Direct Arena, Leeds14 – OVO Arena Wembley, London The new wave band formed in 1977 and achieved huge success in the ’80s with hits including ‘Don’t You Want Me’, ‘Mirror Man’ and ‘Tell Me When.’ They won a BRIT award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1982. Lead singer Philip Oakey has been the band’s consistent member since 1977 while keyboard players Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh both left the band to form Heaven 17. The group now consists of Oakey and long-serving vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Anne Sulley. The band have been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Blossoms last year who performed a rendition of ‘Don’t You… Read More →

28OCTNews

We Came As Romans cancel show due to “aggressive” security guards

We Came As Romans cancelled show in Providence earlier this week (October 22) following an incident fans allegedly had with security guards. The group was set to play the Fete Music Hall in Providence, when the alleged incident occurred during the set of Bodysnatcher, one of the bands supporting the show. The band alleged fans were “wrongfully and aggressively dragged out of the venue.” In their statement, the band said: “Our show in Providence, RI last night had to be canceled. During Bodysnatcher’s set, multiple attendees were wrongfully and aggressively dragged out of the venue. Some of our touring crew went outside to de-escalate the situation with security, as we had approved moshing & crowd surfing with the venue & security teams during a security brief earlier that day.” Update on last night’s show in Providence. pic.twitter.com/PVOUHsmFiY — We Came As Romans (@wecameasromans) October 23, 2023 Advertisement They continued: “The security team did not respond well, & the situation escalated further, even to the point of spitting in our crew’s faces, spitting on gear, threatening physical violence & someone having to be physically restrained. “Out of an abundance of caution for the protection of all of the fans, our own… Read More →

27OCTNews

Listen to Sampha’s cover of Steve Lacy’s ‘Bad Habit’

Sampha performed a reworked rendition of Steve Lacy‘s ‘Bad Habit’ for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Month. The singer-songwriter chose the 2022 hit as the cover for his Live Lounge Mouth appearance last week, during which he sang and played the piano over a sizzling, pared-back drum beat. He also played his own song ‘Only’ from new album ‘Lahai’, which came out last week. Advertisement Check out the performances below. [embedded content] [embedded content] Sampha’s rendition of ‘Bad Habit’ is one of many covers to come out of BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge month, which also saw Usher cover Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.’s ‘Best Part’ and Troye Sivan rework Billie Eilish‘s ‘What Was I Made For‘. Doja Cat was the final guest for the month-long segment this October, who covered Hiatus Kaiyote’s ‘Red Room’. Ahead of the release of Sampha’s new album, he opened up about how he wanted to “interrogate spirituality” on the LP. Advertisement He started working on the album in 2019 before “a lot of things happened” and he welcomed his first daughter in 2020. “I became a dad,” he explained in a recent Q&A. “I was just wondering about life and big questions, feeling the need to hold… Read More →

27OCTNews

Jean-Claude Van Damme is embarrassed by his ‘Friends’ appearance

Jean-Claude Van Damme has been talking about the awkwardness he experienced during his one-episode appearance on Friends in 1996. The Belgian action star played himself on the Season Two episode of the sitcom ‘The One After the Super Bowl: Part 2’. The plot finds Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Monica (Courteney Cox) competing for Van Damme’s affections while he is on set shooting a film in New York City. Speaking to the New York Post, though, the actor has revealed that he is embarrassed to look back at the episode. Advertisement “My acting is so bad. I look so like a ham… I’m ashamed of myself,” he said. “Those girls, they go and they kiss me and they kiss me on the lips. I didn’t know what to do, how to do … It was strange.” [embedded content] Van Damme has admitted that he was not very familiar with the show before appearing on it, but is complimentary about how he was treated, describing it as “a good memory” and “amazing”. “I didn’t know much about the show. So when I go to the show, I see those two beautiful girls and they say this is the hottest show right now… Read More →

27OCTNews

Former QOTSA bassist Nick Oliveri announces two compilations and shares ‘Chains And Shackles’ featuring Slash

Nick Oliveri, the former bassist of Queens Of The Stone Age, has announced two new compilations and shared the track ‘Chains And Shackles’ featuring Slash. READ MORE: Queens of The Stone Age: “This album sounds as brutal as it feels to be alive right now” The two compilations feature tracks that span Oliveri’s career. Titled ‘N.O. Hits At All Vols.8’ and ‘N.O. Hits At All Vols.9’, both albums are set for release on January 19 via Heavy Psych Sounds. Pre-order the albums here. The musician shared ‘N.O. Hits At All Vols.8’s opening song ‘Chains and Shackles’ which marks the first official release of a 2010 collaborative track with Slash. Advertisement The song was an outtake from the iconic guitarist’s 2010 self-titled LP and will receive an official release via Olivier’s compilation album. ‘Chains and Shackles’ was produced by Eric Valentine, who previously produced Queens Of The Stone Age’s 2002 album ‘Songs For The Deaf‘. Both of Oliveri’s upcoming compilations contain unreleased material that spans across various bands and solo projects the musician has been involved with over the years. Some of these bands and projects include Mondo Generator, his Death Acoustic project, Dead End America and others. [embedded content] ‘N.O. Hits… Read More →

27OCTNews

Pioneering KROQ DJ Dusty Street dies, aged 77

Dusty Street, the pioneering DJ of California’s alternative rock radio station KROQ-FM, has died aged 77. The DJ died on Saturday (October 21) at her home in Eugene, Oregon, where she settled in 2022 as she battled health problems. The news was shared by former KLOS-FM DJ Geno Michellini, who wrote on Facebook: “There have been rumours and stories surfacing. I have been in Eugene the last two days at Dusty Street’s beside. Advertisement “The numerous afflictions that she has been so indomitably fighting these last years finally caught up to her. I am writing with a broken heart to say that Dusty left us tonight.” He added that she “died peacefully, quietly and surrounded by love in a beautifully serene location overlooking the most beautiful lake you could ever want. As befitting the queen that she was”. “There will never be another Dusty Street. The queen is gone, but she’ll never be forgotten,” he concluded. Billy Idol is among artists to have shared tributes, who said on social media that he was “very sad” to hear of Street’s passing. He added: “She backed Generation X & my solo career on radio #KROQ & was one of the first to… Read More →

27OCTNews

Success of ‘Barbie’ film leads to major spike in the toy’s sales

The enormous success of the Barbie film has led to a major spike in sales for the toy for its manufacturer Mattel. Greta Gerwig’s film was released in July this year, and has since become the highest grossing film ever directed by a solo female director and the highest grossing film ever released by Warner Bros., having brought in over $1.4 billion (£1.2 billion). One knock-on effect has been that from July to September, as reported by the BBC, sales of Barbie toys increased by 16 per cent compared with the equivalent window in 2022, lifting the company to its first quarter of sales growth in a year. Advertisement “Our strategy is serving us well,” said Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz in a message to investors. “We are very well positioned competitively and expect a strong holiday season.” Mattel had previously said that it hoped to receive a $125 million (£103 million) boost from the film, most of which has already been realised. According to The New York Times, Mattel earned five per cent of the film’s box office revenue, as well as a portion of the overall profits as a producer on the movie, and additional payments as owner of the Barbie… Read More →

27OCTNews

‘The Killer’ soundtrack: here’s every song in David Fincher’s new film

David Fincher‘s The Killer hits select cinemas today (October 27), before it streams on Netflix from November 10, and comes with a huge soundtrack. The film – as with many Fincher movies including The Social Network, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl and Mank – features a score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as a host of songs including many by The Smiths. Discussing the prominence of The Smiths on the soundtrack, Fincher said (via Indiewire): “The Smiths were a post-production addition because I knew I wanted to use ‘How Soon is Now?’ and I love the idea of that song specifically as a tool for assuaging his anxiety. I liked it as a meditation tape, I thought it was amusing and funny.” Advertisement He added: “I don’t think that there’s a library of music by recording artists that have as much sardonic nature and wit simultaneously [as the Smiths]. And we don’t get an awful lot of access to who this guy is. I thought through his mixtape it would be amusing, that that would be our window into him.” The Killer is based on the French comic book series of the same name, written by Alexis Nolent. The film… Read More →

27OCTNews

Trees made famous by ‘Game of Thrones’ may be chopped down

An iconic group of trees made famous in the HBO show Game of Thrones are in danger of being cut down for being “potentially dangerous”. The tunnel of beech trees are found in Armony, County Antrim in Northern Ireland and they remain a popular tourist destination for fans of the series. But as reported by the Coleraine Chronicle, a recently commissioned report has recommended that eleven of the trees should be cut down, while one of them has already died. Advertisement The Department of Infrastructure and Tree Survey have issued the warning, describing the trees as “potentially dangerous and structurally compromised.” Some of the trees are protected by local government, meaning the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council may have the final say on the trees’ future. The trees are part of the cluster known as Dark Hedges, which were planted in 1775, with roughly 80 currently surviving. Rob McCallion from the Save the Dark Hedges campaign group said: “If they don’t do something over these trees, someone is going to be killed, because of the state they’re in.” The trees featured most famously in ‘The North Remembers’, which was Season 2, Episode 1 of Game of Thrones. In the… Read More →

27OCTNews

Listen to The Voidz’ spooky new single ‘Flexorcist’

The Voidz have shared their spooky new single ‘Flexorcist’ ahead of Halloween this weekend – listen to it below. READ MORE: Julian Casablancas and The Voidz on ‘GTA Online’, ‘Alien Crime Lord’ and video game design The new track from Julian Casablancas and co. is nearly six minutes long and sees the frontman sing of “graves lined-up across the hill“, “pistols at dawn” and “friendly face in the firing squad” atop a synthy, indie-pop leaning melody. “I guess I mighta – sounded a little crazy, maybe / I only think of things I shouldn’t do,” Casablancas sings on the off-kilter new single. Advertisement [embedded content] ‘Flexorcist’ arrives with concept art featuring a spectral winged figure staring over a glowing city. The track also comes ahead of the band’s “immersive” Halloween residency in Brooklyn this weekend. The Voidz will be taking over the Murmrr Theatre for four nights from October 31 to November 3. The venue will be reopening its doors after three years. Any remaining tickets can be purchased here. The band previously shared new single ‘Prophecy Of The Dragon’ earlier this year, their first since 2021’s ‘The Eternal Tao 2.0’. Before that, Daft Punk shared a previously unreleased song featuring The Voidz titled… Read More →

27OCTNews

BTS’ V assures fans that he is “all good” after stalking incident

South Korean singer V of K-pop boyband BTS has assured fans that he is “all good” after a recent stalking incident. Earlier today (October 27), South Korean news outlet KBS reported that a woman in her twenties had been arrested for allegedly violating the East Asian country’s anti-stalking act. According to the publication, the woman had reportedly waited for BTS’ V outside of the apartment building where he lives on October 26, before subsequently following the K-pop idol into the residence’s parking lot as he drove in. Advertisement KBS also alleges that the woman later entered the same elevator V was taking, before attempting to speak with the singer and handing him a marriage certificate with her name on it. The woman was arrested on the morning of October 27, after police tracked her down using the information on the marriage certificate. The alleged perpetrator is also said to have a history of stalking V in the past. Big Hit Music, which represents BTS and V, has released a statement about the incident to TV Report. “We are responding with a no-tolerance policy to stalking crimes that disturb our artist’s personal life and threaten their safety,” the agency said, as… Read More →

27OCTNews

Watch LE SSERAFIM’s ‘Perfect Night’ MV, featuring characters from ‘Overwatch 2’

LE SSERAFIM have drooped their first English-language single, ‘Perfect Night’, in collaboration with video game Overwatch 2. The new video for ‘Perfect Night’ follows two simultaneous storylines: one features LE SSERAFIM practicing for an upcoming concert, while the other following characters from Overwatch 2 trying to make it in time for the girl group’s show. “I got all I need / You know, nothin’ else can beat / The way that I feel when I’m dancin’ with my girls / Perfect energy, yeah, we flawless, yeah, we free / There’s no better feelin’ in the whole wide world,” the girl group sing on the chorus of ‘Perfect Night’. Advertisement According to a previously announcement on Weverse, the track “sends an energetic message that even a not-so-perfect day can be fun when you spend it with your crew”. [embedded content] Aside from ‘Perfect Night’, LE SSERAFIM’s collaboration with Overwatch 2 will also feature a new game mode inspired by the girl group, as well as exclusive in-game items and Legendary hero skins. More details here. ‘Perfect Night’ follows the girl group’s first studio album, ‘Unforgiven’, which was released earlier this year. The record saw them work with disco legend Nile Rodgers on the title… Read More →

27OCTNews

Epik High, SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi tease new single ‘Screen Time’

K-hop-hip trio Epik High have teased their new single, ‘Screen Time’, a collaboration with Hoshi of K-pop boyband SEVENTEEN. Epik High dropped a brand-new teaser for ‘Screen Time’ yesterday, revealing that SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi will feature on the upcoming single. It’ll be the first collaboration between the K-hip-hop trio and the K-pop idol. ‘Screen Time’ will be released on November 1 at 6pm KST. It’ll also drop alongside a music video, which Epik High’s Tablo has since teased as “amazing” on Twitter. Advertisement [embedded content] the official MV is amazing btw 😉 https://t.co/fpXgy6Evg9 — tablo (@blobyblo) October 27, 2023 ‘Screen Time’ will be Epik High’s second release of 2023, following their February EP ‘Strawberry’. That project had featured collaborations with K-pop stars such as MAMAMOO‘s Hwasa, GOT7‘s Jackson Wang and more. In a glowing four-star review of ‘Strawberry’, NME‘s Tanu I. Raj said that the trio “reiterate their renewed, mature ethos” on the EP, calling it an “irreverent, bite-sized beginning to a new chapter”. Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN recently made a comeback with their 11th mini-album, ‘Seventeeth Heaven’. Prior to the project’s release, the boyband made K-pop history by accumulating a record number of pre-orders, with over 5.2million record sold before release. In other… Read More →

27OCTNews

Taylor Swift – ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ review: her best album will never go out of style

Taylor Swift’s journey to re-record her first six albums has been a nostalgia trip through the eras. The pop icon’s first three ‘Taylor’s Version’ re-releases – 2008’s ‘Fearless’, 2010’s ‘Speak Now’ and 2012’s ‘Red’ – revisited the turbulence of young adulthood, reflecting on the ache of infatuation and the fogginess of heartbreak with new perspective, while still honouring the validity of those youthful emotions. For fans, it’s been a chance to both revisit the zeitgeist the albums captured and celebrate the pop star regaining control of her master recordings – all the while hoping they’ll retain the micro-level idiosyncrasies that made them so potent. No wonder ‘The Eras Tour‘ – a career-spanning jaunt that continually smashes records – has proven so successful. So far, the ‘Taylor’s Version’ albums have been tightened up with crisper instrumentals and cleaner production. Swift’s voice has understandably matured and her country lilt has soothed, meaning some lyrics are recited with a touch more wisdom or a knowing wink from the other side of heartbreak, rather than the rawness she first recorded them with. It is an undeniably fascinating exercise. When it came to releasing ‘1989’ exactly nine years ago, Swift decided she was done treading… Read More →

26OCTNews

Lucy Rose shares first new single in four years, ‘Could You Help Me’

Lucy Rose has shared her first new single in four years, ‘Could You Help Me’, and announced an intimate show in London. Picking up from her 2019 LP ‘No Words Left‘, Rose’s latest single is a jazz-pop fusion that discusses parenthood and new challenges within its lyrics. Speaking of the track in a press release, the singer said: “After having my son Otis, I started to suffer from severe back pain that made living my day-to-day life almost impossible. I sought medical help but was dismissed repeatedly.” Advertisement Rose continued: “I put those emotions and exasperation into ‘Could You Help Me’. Although my back prevented me from being able to pick up a guitar, I was able to sit at the piano and play for a few minutes at a time. With Otis patiently listening, I think the music really helped lift me. I’d been listening to a lot of different music; Erroll Garner, Duke Ellington, Kiefer, Debussy, Little Simz, and finding myself drawn so much more to writing at a piano.” [embedded content] Along with the release of her new track, Rose has also announced the details for her one-off intimate show at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in… Read More →