Suki Benjamin

‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ trailer: Naomi Ackie is Whitney Houston in first biopic footage

The first trailer for Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody has just been released – check it out above. The film stars Naomi Ackie as Houston, alongside Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Clarke Peters and more. READ MORE: Naomi Ackie on her musical role in ‘The Score’: “I had quite intense stage fright” An official synopsis for the film reads: “The film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. Advertisement “From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant—and so emotional—journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?” Whitney Houston in Concert at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, 5 November 1993 Credit: Getty Naomi Ackie recently recalled her audition to play Whitney Houston while she was filming The Score, in an interview with NME. “I remember being told about the audition, around the time we were shooting,” she began. “I remember being in a trailer with Will [Poulter] and saying ‘That is insane! There is no way that’s going… Read More →

15SEPNews

Robbie Williams hails Noel Gallagher a “great comedic writer” of insults

Robbie Williams has hailed Noel Gallagher as a “great comedic writer” of insults. READ MORE: Robbie Williams on Damon Albarn, Morrissey and the dark side of Take That: “I have a cannon-full of quotes” Williams had a long-running feud with Oasis that started when Noel called him “the fat dancer from Take That” and also saw Williams challenge Liam Gallagher to a televised boxing match with a £100,000 prize at the 2000 BRIT Awards. More recently, Noel dismissed Williams’ classic song ‘Angels’ as “Oasis-by-numbers” Advertisement Speaking to NME though, Williams has praised Noel as a “great comedic writer”. “There was a lot of back-and-forth about a lot of different people,” Williams said. “And it wasn’t that I was hurt that it was said; it was just fucking annoying that it stuck. But, you know: Noel’s really good at that stuff. He’s said a lot of incredible quotes that stick. “He’s got that sort of brain for those things that cut through the chaff and stay around.” Robbie Williams is getting a Netflix documentary series CREDIT: Farrell Music Ltd. Photograph by Leo Baron Williams went on to say that he believes “we lived in a more fun time” of pop star… Read More →

15SEPNews

Mark Ronson on the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert: “I was on the cusp of rocking out and breaking down”

Mark Ronson has paid fresh tribute to Taylor Hawkins, saying that the “beloved” late drummer “should have played on thousands more recordings”. Ronson spoke to NME as part of this week’s special Big Read cover feature, which offers an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at the recent star-studded Taylor Hawkins tribute concert in London. READ MORE: Inside the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert: “A gigantic fucking night for a gigantic fucking person” The producer made a guest appearance at this month’s Wembley Stadium event, teaming up with Dave Grohl‘s daughter Violet for a performance of The Zutons‘ ‘Valerie’ (made famous by Ronson’s 2007 hit cover with Amy Winehouse). Advertisement Speaking to NME after the show, Ronson explained: “It was Taylor’s day but it felt like the theme of that day was very much about all the other rock ’n’ roll legends that are unfortunately not with us, whether that’s Bowie, Jeff Buckley or Amy. “Without taking the shine away from Taylor, I was just singing about everyone who should still be jamming with us.” He continued: “I knew Taylor a fraction as well as most of the other people performing, but it was amazing to be around all these other people who love Taylor, listening to stories about him,… Read More →

15SEPNews

Coldplay to broadcast ‘Music Of The Spheres’ World Tour live from Buenos Aires

Coldplay have announced they will be broadcasting their upcoming gig at Buenos Aires’ River Plate Stadium. READ MORE: Coldplay live in London: a fantastical, feel-good bonanza that delivers on a bold promise The show, part of Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour, will be shown in thousands of cinemas in over 70 countries. Advertisement Taking place October 28 for fans in North America and Latin America, and shown elsewhere on October 29, the band will also be offering repeat screenings. The full list of participating cinemas can be found here, with tickets on sale now. The show will be directed by Paul Dugdale and shared in partnership with Trafalgar Releasing. Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, said: “We are delighted to be partnering again with the Coldplay team on this major live broadcast, having established a successful partnership with the 2018 documentary release A Head Full Of Dreams. [We are] giving fans the opportunity to experience the phenomenal Music Of The Spheres tour on the big screen across the globe in unison.” ? LIVE BROADCAST from BUENOS AIRES Find your nearest screening and get tickets now, at https://t.co/ucbxKMoI0J A global live broadcast of the Music Of The Spheres… Read More →

15SEPNews

R. Kelly convicted on six counts of child pornography and sexual abuse

R. Kelly has reportedly been found guilty by a federal jury in Chicago on six of 13 counts on child pornography and sexual abuse. These include charges of producing child pornography, conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive child pornography, enticing of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Per reports from Rolling Stone and The Guardian, on Wednesday (September 14) Kelly was convicted of three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing minors to engage in sexual activity. Each child pornography charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years, while each enticement charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years. He was acquitted of one pornography count and of conspiracy to obstruct justice relating to an allegation he fixed his state trial in 2008 on child pornography charges. The singer’s co-defendants – Kelly’s former business manager Derrell McDavid and former employee Milton “June” Brown – were acquitted of charges of obstruction of justice, in relation to accusations of them covering up Kelly’s history of sexual abuse. The verdict – which took place in Chicago at Dirksen U.S Courthouse – occurred after 11 hours over two days of… Read More →

15SEPNews

Cardi B donates £87,000 to her old school during surprise visit

Cardi B made a surprise visit to her old middle school to announce a $100,000 donation (£87,000) for after school activities. READ MORE: New doc ‘Queens Of Rap’ reinforces the importance of ‘WAP’, more than a year on Sharing footage of her visit to the Alexander Macomb School in Morris Heights on Instagram, Cardi can be seen suggesting the money be spent on “something fun, maybe a music program”. “This school means a lot to me, more than any school I’ve ever been to. The decisions you make now are very pivotal,” she continued. Advertisement Writing alongside the clip, Cardi B said she tried to “do this last year but couldn’t because of all the COVID rules at the time.” HAPPENING NOW: Cardi B announces she’s donating $100K to I.S. 232 in the Bronx, where she used to be a student. @NBCNewYork #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/2w597RKWhz — Kay Angrum (@kayangrum) September 13, 2022 “This middle school, IS 232 in the Bronx [and] has a very special place in my heart,” she continued. “It turned me from an 11-year-old girl into a little teenage adult. Kids in the Bronx have to grow up quickly due to our circumstances and our environment. While some… Read More →

15SEPNews

Billie Eilish speaks on becoming more outgoing since rise to fame: “I’m more comfortable in it”

Billie Eilish has revealed that she’s become more outgoing, following a period during which the singer was “scared to step outside.” READ MORE: Billie Eilish: “I owe it to everyone to put on a good Glastonbury show” Eilish shared the revelation in an interview with Australia’s Nova Network yesterday (September 14). The popstar recounted the times when she “used to go out and walk around”, but admitted that she ultimately didn’t “do that as much because life is a little different.” Referencing the difficulties that come with being out in public, Eilish said there was a time when she “was just scared to step outside, because I was just worried.” Eilish went on to explain, however, that her fears have lessened in recent years. “I’ve been going out more for the last couple years,” she said, “I’m more chill about it [and] I’m more comfortable in it.” Advertisement Eilish credited the change to having a busy schedule, and cited a recent bike ride in New Zealand as a particularly helpful excursion. Eilish spoke on a similar topic of fame last year during an interview with LA Times, during which she admitted that she “hated going outside” and “hated going to… Read More →

14SEPNews

Lars Ulrich’s sons’ band Taipei Houston announce debut album ‘Once Bit Never Bored’

Taipei Houston – the band comprising Myles and Layne Ulrich, sons of Metallica drummer Lars – have announced their debut album. The Ulrich brothers announced the formation of their band in the summer of 2021, and played their first gig together in Long Beach, California last September. On November 4, they will release debut album ‘Once Bit Never Bored’ via C3 Records. Today (September 14), it is being previewed by new single ‘The Middle’. Advertisement The track follows the band’s debut single ‘As The Sun Sets’, which was shared earlier this year. Of their new band, the brothers said in a statement: “To us, Taipei Houston is about going against the grain in every aspect. We live in a time that is ripe with extremely difficult and confusing challenges. “Technology grips the world more and more, politics have become so polarised, we are heading towards climate disaster. This music is born and bred out of the contemporary, buzzing digital anxiety we all experience, and how we can try to escape those feelings – even for a second.” Listen to ‘The Middle’ below. In Taipei Houston, Myles has followed in his father’s footsteps by taking up drums, while Layne has taken… Read More →

14SEPNews

Katy Perry hints at plans to “make another record soon”

Katy Perry has hinted that she could be starting work on a brand new album “soon”. Talking to the The Drew Barrymore Show last night, the singer opened up about her plans to make the follow up to 2020’s ‘Smile’. Discussing her Play Las Vegas residency, where Perry will perform at The Theatre at Resorts World until September 22, Perry said of writing new music: “I’ll probably go and make another record soon and write it and tour the world after this, which will be so great.” Advertisement The album will serve as the first bit of new material since Perry featured on Thomas Rhett’s single ‘Where We Started’ – a song which the pair both performed on American Idol. Watch the pair’s performance of ‘Where We Started’ below. As well as chatting about wanting to make a new record, Perry also opened up about her struggles to separate her personal and professional life. “I think, obviously, there is an on stage persona,” she said. “I save a lot of that energy for being onstage and I dial it up. I really love this show that I put on. It’s my favourite show, it’s bringing the most joy.” Meanwhile, Perry… Read More →

13SEPNews

Public Enemy’s Chuck D sells publishing rights to over 300 songs

Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has sold a huge stake of his back catalogue to his longtime publisher. READ MORE: The Roots Of… Public Enemy Reach Music has acquired 100 percent of the rapper’s writer royalties along with half of his copyright interest as a publisher. The sale doesn’t cover the entirety of Chuck D’s output, but it includes over 300 songs including Public Enemy’s most formative work released between 1987 and 2012. Advertisement During that period, Chuck D and Public Enemy released several classic albums, including ‘It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back’, ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’ and ‘Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Back’. Chuck D co-wrote most of Public Enemy’s songs during this period, including the likes of ‘Bring The Noise’, ‘Fight The Power’, and ‘Welcome To The Terrordome’. “[D]oing this deal was the right timing for a forward and logical evolution of our business together in an ever changing industry,” Chuck D said in a statement via Rolling Stone. “Reach has always been ahead of the curve on establishing respect for the HipHop genre songwriting and publishing-wise, and they will continue taking care of my works.” Chuck D follows a number of artists… Read More →

13SEPNews

Harry Styles encourages fans to vote in the US midterm elections

Harry Styles is encouraging fans to vote in the forthcoming midterm elections in the US. READ MORE: Harry Styles – ‘Harry’s House’ review: grounded star finds home is where the heart is The pop star has partnered with the non-profit voter registration organisation, HeadCount, to help to encourage his followers to get involved in the elections in November. The elections will decide which seats will go to the two main parties in both houses of Congress. Advertisement “In 2020, 78 per cent of the people that HeadCount registered turned out to vote, so we know these artist partnerships are effective,” HeadCount’s co-founder and executive director Andy Bernstein told Billboard. Billie Eilish also recently called on her fans to vote in the midterm elections. CREDIT: Getty “Having the support of individuals like Harry Styles has a tremendous impact. This is especially important for the midterms, which often receive less media attention than the presidential elections. It helps us reach more potential voters and ensure people get their voices heard.” Fans who check their voter registration status through HeadCount here can also win a chance to travel to Los Angeles for ‘Harryween’, the second year of Styles’ fancy dress party. Last year, he… Read More →

13SEPNews

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Jim Root considering new musical project

Slipknot and former Stone Sour bandmates Corey Taylor and Jim Root are discussing the possibility of forming a new band. Root previously stated that he wanted to “get away from that sinking ship” upon departing Slipknot previously, and later admitted that “[Taylor and I] would have just ended up killing each other and driving each other crazy” had he stayed. READ MORE: Slipknot: “I’m just going to tell you the facts: ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ is a masterpiece” Speaking in the new issue of Metal Hammer (via Loudersound), however, Taylor said: “He and I are very different people, and we were both going through our own shit in life. We reconnected, and we’re actually talking about doing some stuff on the side, outside of Slipknot and Stone Sour.” Advertisement The frontman said that he couldn’t “sit here and say that I wasn’t responsible for some of the bad feelings” between the pair, adding: “That can only come with self-reflection, and the fact that the things that were going on in my life rippled and affected other people. Once you own up to that, you can start to mend bridges by showing people that you are truly sorry.” Slipknot performing live…. Read More →

13SEPNews

Taylor Swift ‘Shake It Off’ copyright trial to proceed as judge rejects appeal

A judge has ruled that Taylor Swift’s request for the copyright infringement lawsuit centered on ‘Shake It Off’ to be dismissed is denied, and that the trial will go ahead. READ MORE: Taylor Swift – ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ review: a retread of heartbreak US District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald issued his decision nearly nine months after Swift’s motion to have the case dropped was put forward. In last December’s defence motion, Swift’s lawyers argued that Fitzgerald had failed to consider the “extrinsic test” – the standard whereby it’s determined if copyright is breached when two works of similar nature are presented – within songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler’s claim that Swift copied lines from the pair’s 2001 song ‘Playas Gon’ Play’. Advertisement Swift’s legal team believes that such a consideration would make it clear that Swift’s lyrics are based on phrases in the public domain and not, in fact, copied from Hall and Butler. Taylor Swift. Credit: Kevin Kane/Getty Images “There’s a genuine issue of material fact,” Fitzgerald said upon issuing the ruling yesterday (September 12) in a hearing at a Los Angeles court [via Rolling Stone]. “The motion for reconsideration is denied,” he continued. “I don’t think it meets… Read More →

13SEPNews

Red Velvet’s Seulgi teases debut mini-album ‘28 Reasons’ with a haunting trailer

Red Velvet member Seulgi will be making her official solo debut with her first mini-album ’28 Reasons’ in October. READ MORE: Every Red Velvet song ranked in order of greatness On September 13 at Midnight KST, the singer released an eerie visual for the record via Red Velvet’s official YouTube channel, revealing its title and release details. ’28 Reasons’ will be led by its title track of the same name, and is set to arrive on October 4 at 6PM KST. The trailer for ’28 Reasons’ begins with a bloodied and bruised Seulgi clipping her fingernails by an empty indoor swimming pool as an eerie whistle tune repeats itself. The unnerving new visual goes on to include fragmented scenes of the singer welding a rifle in tears, setting fire to a car and gazing through a broken window. Advertisement “Seulgi will show all of her unique musical colours and ability to take on any concept” said SM Entertainment of the idol’s long-awaited debut release, per KoreaJoongAngDaily. The agency has also released stills from the new clip via Red Velvet’s official Twitter. ’28 Reasons’ is set to comprise a total of six tracks, and will be available for pre-orders starting sometime… Read More →

13SEPNews

Kanye West and Drake lead nominations for the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards

Nominations for the BET Hip Hop Awards have been announced, with Kanye West and Drake leading with 14 and 10 nods respectively. Both West and Drake have been nominated for Hip Hop Album Of The Year for last year’s ‘Donda’ and ‘Certified Lover Boy’ respectively, and are up against Future (‘I Never Liked You’), Pusha T (‘It’s Almost Dry’), Nas (‘King’s Disease II’) and Kendrick Lamar (‘Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers’). Me ?? classic Hip Hop albums The #HipHopAwards nominations for Hip Hop Album of the Year are: @Latto@Drake@KanyeWest@1Future@Pusha_T@Nas@KendrickLamar#BET pic.twitter.com/SPu7nCyVgk — BET (@BET) September 12, 2022 Advertisement Notably, Drake has received nominations twice in two categories, Best Hip Hop Video and Song Of The Year, and three times in another two categories; Best Collaboration – for ’21’ with 21 Savage, ‘Wait For U’ with Future and Tems, and ‘Way 2 Sexy’ with Future and Young Thug – and Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse. Future’s ‘Wait For U’, which features Drake and Tems, is among those nods coming up three times, while Drake’s ‘Way 2 Sexy’ – lead single of ‘Certified Lover Boy’ – appears in three categories. Elsewhere among this year’s nominations, Cardi B’s ‘Hot Shit’, a collaboration with… Read More →

12SEPNews

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett launches new project writing and soundtracking his own horror story

Metallica guitarist and passionate horror enthusiast Kirk Hammett has launched a new project, in which he soundtracks an eerie story he has penned comprised of fictional journal entries. READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Metallica’s Kirk Hammett On September 11, Hammett shared a link on social media to a TikTok video that pairs footage of a winding road with moody, fingerpicked acoustic guitar. Alongside that, he linked to his Kirk Hammett Horrors Reddit page, in which he shares the first chapter of a story he’s called I Have to Get Rid of This Guitar I Found. The recording, Hammett explains, is designed to be looped while reading the story. You can listen to that below: @kirkhammett READ part one now ! #whereiswills #nosleep #nosleepreddit #rnosleep #ihavetogetridofthisguitarifound https://www.reddit.com/user/Kirk-Hammett-Horrors/ ♬ original sound – Kirkhammett Advertisement The introduction for the first chapter – which is titled Crossroad Magic Blues – begins with a message from a character called Abigail Forte, who says she recently found a journal and a cassette of “very unusual field recordings” left by her brother, William “Wills” Forte, who has gone missing. “Seeing as the nature of these recordings seemed to push towards an evil energy,… Read More →

12SEPNews

Muse announce 2023 European tour with Royal Blood

Muse have shared details of a 2023 European tour with Royal Blood – see the full list of dates and ticket details below. MORE: The NME Big Read – Muse: “There’s gonna be a big shift. We’re dealing with a disruptive transition” The summer shows will be in support of their latest album, ‘Will Of The People’, and see the Devon-formed rock band play stadiums across Europe. It follows details of the UK leg of the tour, which also see the band joined by Royal Blood. Tickets for most of the new European dates go on sale this Friday (September 16) at 10am local time while the French shows go on sale September 22 at 10am local time. Tickets will be available to buy here. Advertisement Muse added on their social media channels that fans who pre-ordered their new album from their official store prior to August 26 will receive a unique code for pre-sale access. The pre-sale sale opens this Wednesday (September 14) at 10am local time. The #WillOfThePeople tour comes to Europe Summer 2023 with special guests @royalblooduk ?Tickets for most dates are on sale Friday 10am local, French shows go on sale Thursday 22nd at 10am local. pic.twitter.com/XvdNv1gFyL — muse… Read More →

12SEPNews

Megan Thee Stallion talks ‘WAP’ with Hillary Clinton in new docuseries

Megan Thee Stallion has spoken to Hillary Clinton about the song ‘WAP‘ in the latter’s new docuseries Gutsy. READ MORE: Cardi B’s team-up with Megan Thee Stallion is a truly filthy return The rapper, who featured on the 2020 Cardi B song that celebrates female sexuality, said to the former US politician that her life’s mission is to “make sure that I am unapologetically me” and that’s why she was happy to make such an explicit statement in the collaboration. In preview clips shared to promote the show that premiered on Friday (September 9), Clinton admits that she only was introduced to Megan’s music via ‘WAP’. Advertisement Speaking with People ahead of the series debut, Clinton said that her initial reaction to the song was admiration. Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea Clinton talk about “WAP” with Megan thee Stallion. #GUTSY pic.twitter.com/lwMJO2Gtrp — BU Media (@bu_media) September 10, 2022 “I didn’t know what to think, because I’m of a much different generation, but I admired the audacity and the kind of agency that both of those young women were exhibiting, ‘Here I am. Here’s what I want to say, and either like it or not.’ I did respond to that,”… Read More →

12SEPNews

Harry Styles calls “wasted time” the central theme in LGBT romance drama ‘My Policeman’

At its Toronto Film Festival premiere, Harry Styles described the central theme of his new film My Policeman as “wasted time”. READ MORE: Harry Styles – ‘Harry’s House’ review: grounded star finds home is where the heart is The Michael Grandage-directed film (based on the novel by Bethan Roberts) sees Tom (Styles), a 1950s English policeman, enter into a love triangle with his lover, museum curator Patrick (David Dawson) and wife, schoolteacher Marion (Emma Corrin). Flashing forward to the 1990s, the trio (played by Linus Roache, Rupert Everett and Gina McKee, respectively) attempt to repair their interpersonal damage from 40 years prior. Advertisement Styles attended the My Policeman premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last night (September 11). There, the pop-star-turned-actor shared one of his biggest takeaways about the film – that its concept is about people not making the most of their lives. “The reason why the story is so devastating is that, ultimately, the whole story is about wasted time, and I think wasted time is the most devastating thing,” Styles said (via The Hollywood Reporter) in a press conference ahead of the film’s screening. “It’s the one thing we cannot control,” he continued. “It’s the one… Read More →

11SEPNews

Tommy Lee announces on stage that he’s joined OnlyFans

Tommy Lee revealed to the crowd during a Las Vegas show this weekend that he has joined OnlyFans. Last month, the Mötley Crüe drummer uploaded a full-frontal nude selfie across his social media accounts, later saying he uploaded the picture while on a “bender”. “A couple of weeks ago, we had like a two-week break off the tour, and I went on a motherfucking bender, bro,” he told the crowd during Mötley Crüe’s show in San Antonio, Texas on August 21. Advertisement “I got fucking sideways as fuck and got naked and posted pictures of my dick. And usually, I mean I’m a titty man, so I like to see titties, but tonight is equal-opportunity night. Tonight I wanna see everyone’s dick. C’mon boys, pull your shit out. Pull your fucking junk out. Let’s go.” Now, at a Las Vegas show on Friday (September 9), Lee made reference to the incident again, saying: “In case you guys are fucking living under a rock, I’ve been in trouble a little bit lately. I wanna see what kinda trouble we can get into tonight. We are in fucking Las Vegas, right? And I think that we should dispel that fucking bullshit ‘What… Read More →

10SEPNews

‘Pop Idol’ Darius Campbell Danesh died from accidental inhalation of chloroethane

Former Pop Idol contestant Darius Campbell Danesh died from accidental inhalation of chloroethane, according to a medical examiner. The Scottish singer was found dead in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota last month (August 11). He was 41 years old. An autopsy was carried out by the Southern Minnesota regional medical examiner’s office, which found “toxic effects of chloroethane” and “suffocation” contributed to Danesh’s death. Chloroethane – also commonly known as ethyl chloride – is often used as a topical anaesthetic in hospitals and in dentistry. Danesh’s family said in a statement that he had been suffering from chronic pain, which stemmed from a car accident in 2010 that left him with a broken neck. Darius Campbell Danesh in 2016 CREDIT: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images “The results of medical examinations have confirmed that Darius’s death was an accident caused by chloroethane, which is used to treat pain and that tragically lead to respiratory arrest,” they said in a statement. “Darius was suffering from chronic neck pain following a car accident in 2010. “We would like to thank everyone for their love and kindness, and ask that the family’s privacy is maintained during this difficult time.” When Danesh’s death was announced in August,… Read More →