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Crazy Frog’s team asks people not to send them death threats over NFTs

Last week, Crazy Frog returned with new single ‘Tricky’ alongside plans for a range of NFTs but the team behind the frog have hit back after receiving death threats.

Alongside the release of ‘Tricky’, an EDM mashup of Run DMC’s iconic ‘It’s Tricky’, Crazy Frog is set to release a range of NFTs via Metabeats on December 23.

However some people have been angered by the move, and Crazy Frog’s social media team have released a statement explaining their motivations behind the release. “There have been quite a few fame/scam NFTs trying to use the Crazy Frog name in the past. The only way we can truly stop them for good, is to make our own.”

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They went on to say they understand “if anyone isn’t for” NFTs and that the drop is meant “for the crypto/NFT communities”, then invited anyone to email them with any concerns.

Four days later though (December 13) the Crazy Frog team once again returned to Twitter to hit back at the people who’d sent them death threats over the NFTs.

“We would like to start this message by acknowledging that while we appreciate all the valid criticism toward NFTs, sending us death threats and other nasty things to our email isn’t cool or productive,” started the thread.

“If you don’t like crypto, don’t buy the drops! If you’ll do, that’s awesome! They’re using Delegated Proof of Stake validation, which has been proven to be more environmentally friendly, than other means (such as Ethereum’s Proof of Work).”

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They finished with the threat/promise that “this is only the beginning. We have so much more planned out, that was YEARS in the making and for YEARS to come. We’re incredibly excited to share it with you all in the future.”

Crazy Frog was originally marketed by the ringtone company Jamba! back in 2005, before famously beating Coldplay to Number One in the UK albums chart in May that year. This time, the amphibian has their sights set on TikTok.

Wolfgang Boss, president of A&R at Sony Music, said: “When we started Crazy Frog, there was no TikTok, it didn’t exist. But right now TikTok is super important. It’s basically the number one platform for people to share new music and funny things connected with music.”

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Watch IDLES’ unsettling new video for ‘When The Lights Come On’

IDLES have shared the unsettling new video for their song ‘When The Lights Come On’ – you can check out the clip below.

The song is taken from the Bristol band’s fourth album ‘Crawler’, which was released last month.

  • READ MORE: IDLES live in London: gleeful mayhem from British rock’s darlings

Directed and edited by IDLES guitarist Lee Kiernan and written by frontman Joe Talbot, the video for ‘When The Lights Come On’ stars Heavy Lungs’ George Garratt.

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Garratt is seen in the black-and-white clip riding a bicycle at night while wearing spike-pronged body armour and sunglasses – footage of which is interspersed with clips of him dancing topless in the street and falling over in slow motion.

You can watch IDLES’ video for ‘When The Lights Come On’ below.

“When the lights come on. Our third offering from ‘Crawler’,” Talbot wrote in a statement about the song.

“A poem of light and sound exploring the cold light of day. Thank you x”

IDLES will embark on their rescheduled UK and Ireland tour next month – you can see the dates below.

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JANUARY 2022

16 – London, O2 Academy Brixton
17 – London, O2 Academy Brixton
18 – London, O2 Academy Brixton
19 – London, O2 Academy Brixton
21 – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
22 – Birmingham, O2 Academy
24 – Dublin, Vicar Street
25 – Dublin, Vicar Street
26 – Dublin, Vicar Street
28 – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
29 – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
30 – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse

FEBRUARY 2022

1 – Sheffield, O2 Academy
2 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
3 – Glasgow, Barrowland
4 – Glasgow, Barrowland
5 – Glasgow, Barrowland

Over the weekend IDLES featured in the latest instalment of Kenny Beats’ YouTube series The Cave, where the two artists made “an instant fucking classic”.

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Michael Nesmith has died aged 78

Michael Nesmith has died aged 78, his family have confirmed.

  • ORDER NOW: Paul Weller is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut

“With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes,” his family said in a statement.

Nesmith was born on December 30, 1942 in Huston, Texas. Famously, Bette Nesmith, his mother, invented Liquid Paper. After training as an aircraft mechanic for the US Air Force, Nesmith moved to Los Angeles and began singing in folk clubs around the city, including The Troubadour.

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Via his connections into the LA music and arts scene, Nesmith was offered a part in The Monkees alongside Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. Nesmith was the group’s guitarist, and also one of its songwriters, writing the likes of “The Girl I Knew Somewhere”, “Listen To The Band” and “Mary, Mary”.

Although he didn’t participate in the Monkees’ 20th anniversary reunion, he gradually came round to the idea of revisiting his earliest success, re-joining his former bandmates for the Justus (1996) and Good Times! (2016) albums.

Outside The Monkees, Nesmith also formed pioneering country-rock group, First National Band. In 1970, they released Magnetic South – the first in a trilogy of “red, white and blue” albums. In November 1970, they released Loose Salute and then Nevada Fighter in May 1971.

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The First National Band consisted of Orville J. Rhodes, the pedal steel player, who continued to collaborate on Nesmith’s later solo albums up until Rhodes’s death in 1995.

Nesmith’s last show was in November of 2021 at LA’s Greek Theatre as part of a Monkees farewell tour with Micky Dolenz, who is now the sole-surviving member of the group following the deaths of Jones in 2012 and Tork in 2019.

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Bop Shop: Songs From Normani And Kaytranada, Grace Cummings, Kai, And More

The search for the ever-elusive "bop" is difficult. Playlists and streaming-service recommendations can only do so much. They often leave a lingering question: Are these songs really good, or are they just new?

Enter Bop Shop, a hand-picked selection of songs from the MTV News team. This weekly collection doesn't discriminate by genre and can include anything — it's a snapshot of what's on our minds and what sounds good. We'll keep it fresh with the latest music, but expect a few oldies (but goodies) every once in a while, too. Get ready: The Bop Shop is now open for business.

  • Grace Cummings: "Storm Queen"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIimbDtEEaM

    On her upcoming second LP Storm Queen, not much can compete with the immense voice of Grace Cummings. The title track, unveiled this week, finds a sneaky saxophone making a play for supremacy anyway. After a gripping opening line — “Townes Van Zandt took a hold of my hand / So I wouldn’t feel alone” — the tune finds its way around desert guitars and bold piano, but at heart, it’s a duet between Cummings and the horn. It’s not a competition, but anyway, guess who comes out on top? All hail. —Patrick Hosken

  • Kim Petras: "Coconuts"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcgEXwjAImo

    My life can be divided into two distinct chapters: before I heard Kim Petras invite the world to put her coconuts "in your mouth," and after. The German-born pop singer's latest single is ridiculous but self-aware, with a winking Petras nicknaming the twins "Cart-i-er and Tiff-an-y" over a blissful, beachy beat. It takes on an additional layer of celebratory depth for fans who know Petras is a trans woman. Consider the rack-track market cornered. —Sam Manzella

  • Kai: "Peaches"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUdnTGnm6Yk

    Summer may be over, but if Kai says it's peach season, it's peach season. As the first single from his highly anticipated sophomore solo EP, EXO's Kai exceeds any and all expectations with "Peaches." Utilizing a traditional-turned-modern Korean melody overlaid with sweet, yet seductive lyrics, this comeback stays true to the Kai we know and love, yet continues to push his artistry forward and further establish him as a soloist. Accompanied by a bright and airy, pastel-hued visual filled with traditional Korean garb, complex choreo, and lots of peaches (literally), the track serves as the perfect start to this new era of Kai and leaves fans wanting more. —Sarina Bhutani

  • Normani ft. Kaytranada: "Wild Side (Kaytranada Remix)"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZCanXiv0yo

    Under an interpolation of Aaliyah’s "One in a Million," Normani's original "Wild Side" is deeply sensual, but a tad too patient. Even in its overtly sexual demands, the BPM clips at a cautious pace; a request like "I wanna drive you crazy" feels honest, but not wholly commanding. Kaytranada's interpretation punches the song up with his trademark fusion of electronic synths with hip-hop percussion, purging Cardi's verse for a solo journey. This time, when she hits that same line, the floor of the beat gives out: The heavenly synth suddenly darkens into a freaky, vibrating slink of a groove. Here, she's more in control. —Terron Moore

  • Lady Pills: "My Weight"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN1Op8HdXwE

    I try not to let music videos sway my connection with songs too much, but man, Boston's Ella Boissonnault really did something here. The talented artist at the center of Lady Pills played every instrument on new album What I Want, and in the impressive and very charming video for "My Weight," Boissonnault also leads a gleeful choreographed street routine with some friends. Their collective pep matches the song's flirtatious beckoning ("C'mon, let's get closer / We'll do it right forever") and the playfulness on show throughout, which makes "My Weight" extremely infectious. —Patrick Hosken

  • Lolo Zouaï: "Scooter"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQiy0vk6Ss4

    Electric scooters tend to evoke strong feelings from city dwellers for a multitude of reasons. But Lolo Zouaï’s catchy new bop “Scooter” has made them cool again. The French-Algerian-American R&B-pop singer continues to showcase her versatility by experimenting with her voice and beats. On “Scooter,” Zouaï delivers bars at half-whisper over a beat that was produced using sounds created from her voice rather than instruments. In the accompanying video, she rides through the streets of Paris on a fuzzy, fuchsia scooter with swagger as the chorus declares, “Everybody starin' / I don't care and I'm feeling great.” It’s that attitude and fearlessness that make this artist so fun to watch. —Farah Zermane

  • Girlpool: "Faultline"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUOBScv_HjI

    Few bands have evolved as gracefully as Girlpool. Their early punky energy gave way to more widescreen indie rock on the great albums Powerplant and What Chaos Is Imaginary, and last year's one-off "Like I'm Winning It" felt like a darker, more cerebral turn. With "Faultline," led by Harmony Tividad's gilded vocals, the duo (rounded out by Avery Tucker) face the light; it's not a sunny day by any means ("I live at this fault line / Between the edge of solitude and hope"), but Girlpool's latest showing still radiates with pure emotion. —Patrick Hosken

  • Carpetgarden: "IDC"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffKPAo_FUQE

    Carpetgarden make a bold statement at the beginning of their nihilistic, rousing, and rebelling new single: “My life’s a joke but at least it was pretty funny.” The lyric defines the L.A.-based alt-pop musician’s attitude for the rest of the track as they drop zingers like “My body’s vacant like a 100-year-old house” and “Worms in my brain and both my eyes are filled with daisies” over a grungy and swinging beat. Listen a little closer, though, and you’ll realize they’re not just shredding the system, but also the haters, affirming themselves and their identity with every triumphant "I don’t care!" —Carson Mlnarik

  • Jean Dawson ft. Mac DeMarco: "Menthol"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rq6dC2T6J8

    There's something inevitable about a team-up between Jean Dawson and Mac DeMarco. The latter has long mined watery guitar chords in service of increasingly more introspective songs, and while Dawson's music is inarguably more urgent, a song like "Clear Bones" is obviously born from a lot of rumination. "Menthol," on the other hand, dips far further into the chaotic, igniting a slew of guitar distortion and plenty of F-bombs to deliver a specific message that DeMarco helps out with: "Fuck out my face." —Patrick Hosken

  • Suzanna Son: "Bye Bye Bye" (NSYNC Cover)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pppoFutvTsg

    Suzanna Son stars as Strawberry in A24’s Red Rocket (out today), and if the film’s director Sean Baker and lead actor Simon Rex — a former MTV VJ! — did not catch your attention, Son’s dramatic reinterpretation of this NSYNC classic for the soundtrack surely will. There are no frills or stylized synths backing up Son as she gives a theatrical rendition of the early aughts break-up anthem, finding the power in lines like “Now I really come to see / That life would be much better once you’re gone.” There’s an unsettling edge to the way she grips onto the words, begging the question: Is goodbye really good-“bye bye bye?” —Carson Mlnarik

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The Rolling Stones pay tribute to Charlie Watts in secret London club show

The Rolling Stones paid tribute to late drummer Charlie Watts on Monday (6 December) in an intimate show held in Ronnie Scott’s in London’s Soho.

  • ORDER NOW: Paul Weller is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut
  • READ MORE: How Charlie Watts turned the Rollin’ Stones into The Rolling Stones: “We all thought he was a God-given drummer”

Frontman Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, as well as former bassist Bill Wyman were in attendance at the gig, along with friends and family members of Watts.

Jools Holland led a house band consisting of Ben Waters, Axel Zwingenberger and Dave Green, one of Watts’ childhood friends whom often played with him in jazz groups.

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Rolling Stones touring musicians also played that evening, with saxophonist Tim Ries performing a composition titled “Blues For Charlie” and singer Lisa Fischer performing “Trouble On My Mind” before being joined by Bernard Fowler on the gospel tune “Up Above My Head”.

The Stones closed the evening with two blues standards, “Shame Shame Shame” and “Down The Road Apiece”.

Charlie Watts passed away in August 2021 at the age of 80, right before the band embarked on a 13-date tour of the US. Drummer Steve Jordan sat in on those shows as a replacement for the legendary skin man.

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Pixies release date for ‘Live In Brixton’ box set has been pushed back

The release date for Pixies‘ new box set, ‘Live In Brixton’ has been pushed back.

  • READ MORE: Pixies’ Joey Santiago on playing with Pearl Jam, new music and Ian Brown’s conspiracy theories

The eight-disc collection, which will come in both vinyl and CD formats, documents all four of the legendary band’s sold-out reunion shows, which took place at London’s O2 Academy Brixton in June 2004.

It was originally slated for release on January 28 next year, but it has now been been delayed until February 25.

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‘Live In Brixton’ will mark the first time the recordings from the gigs have been made available officially. They were mastered by Phil Kinrade at Alchemy Mastering at AIR.

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A post shared by Pixies (@pixiesofficial)

The vinyl box set comes in two forms – a limited edition version that is exclusive to select independent retailers and has each show pressed onto splattered and clear vinyl discs, and a standard coloured vinyl version. In the latter, each show is given its own colour – June 2 on red vinyl, June 3 on orange, June 5 on green and June 6 on blue.

All formats will be released with a poster of the box set’s artwork and a 24-page booklet that includes photos and new artwork, plus memories and paraphernalia from fans who were at the gigs. You can pre-order the ‘Live In Brixton’ box set here.

Meanwhile, Pixies recently announced a headline performance at Manchester’s Sounds Of The City 2022.

The Boston band will take to the stage at the outdoor Castlefield Bowl venue on Tuesday July 5, 2022. The Slow Readers Club and Klangstof are set to appear as special guests.

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Sounds Of The City 2022 will also see Foals, Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, Primal Scream (‘Screamadelica Live’) and Crowded House deliver bill-topping performances over the summer.

Pixies are due to support Pearl Jam at British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park on July 8. Additionally, the band have gigs pencilled in for Galway, Dublin, Newcastle and Bingley. You can find their full list of tour dates here.

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Sam Fender and Holly Humberstone tease new ‘Seventeen Going Under’ collaboration

Sam Fender and Holly Humberstone are teasing what appears to be the pair collaborating on a new version of hit single ‘Seventeen Going Under’.

  • READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Sam Fender: “This album is probably the best thing I’ve done in my life”

The duo both shared a picture performing in the studio together tonight (December 8) on their social media accounts with the former posting the caption: “tomorrow” and the latter similarly adding: “Something for u tomorrow.”

Fender also shared a short snippet of music from the new collaboration on his Instagram Story page.

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It is unclear whether the track will be released as a live or a new take of the song.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sam Fender (@sam_fender)

Tweets by HolHumberstone

Meanwhile, Fender is set to make an appearance at the BandLab NME Awards 2022 alongside Halsey, Griff and Rina Sawayama.

After a huge comeback in 2020 and a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, our Awards will return to London’s O2 Academy Brixton on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to celebrate the best in music and entertainment from around the globe. Tickets to the event are on sale now and available here.

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Meanwhile, Humberstone was recently shortlisted for next year’s BRITs Rising Star award alongside Bree Runway and Lola Young.

As was the case in 2018 and 2020, all three nominees for the prize (fka the Critics’ Choice award) are female solo artists. Griff took home the statue at the BRITs 2021, with Celeste winning at the ceremony the previous year.

Humberstone’s latest EP, ‘The Walls Are Way Too Thin’, came out last month. In a four-star review, NME hailed it as “a soul-baring triumph”.

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Zakk Wylde: “If Ozzy Osbourne wasn’t a rockstar, he’d be a stand-up comedian”

Zakk Wylde has opened up about his friendship and working relationship with Ozzy Osbourne.

  • READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne: “This album saved my life”

The Black Label Society frontman was making an appearance on AXS TV‘s ‘At Home And Social With…’, where he was interviewed about his band’s new album ‘Doom Crew Inc.’ and his history with Osbourne.

Speaking of recording 1988’s ‘No Rest For The Wicked’ and 1991’s ‘No More Tears’, Wylde said: “With Ozz, it’s a miracle any work ever gets done just because we’re constantly… All’s you gotta do is hang out with him for, like, five minutes, you’ll be on the floor crying. ‘Cause he’s always taking the piss out of himself or whatever else is going on in the world. He’s the best. If he wasn’t this legendary frontman and singer and everything like that, he’d have to do stand-up [comedy]. He’s the best. He’s hilarious.”

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When asked if Osbourne had listened to ‘Doom Crew Inc.’ yet, Wylde said: “He tried. He goes, ‘Zakk, I really enjoy the new album.’ I was, like, ‘Ozz, what song do you like the best?’ He goes, ‘I like the part before you put it on and when it ends, and I also like the parts in between the songs when it’s just silence.’ I go, ‘Thanks, Ozz.’ And he goes, ‘Carry on. Good luck with the record.’ I’d expect nothing less.”

Wylde was a part of Osbourne’s band from 1987 to 1995, then again in 1998, from 2001 to 2004 and also from 2006 to 2009. He joined the band for a select number of dates during Osbourne’s 2017 summer tour, and then performed as part of the ‘No More Tours 2’ tour.

The Black Sabbath frontman announced details of his ‘last ever’ tour in September 2018, which was due to take place in 2019. However, he was forced to postpone dates in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan in February after he was hospitalised with pneumonia. He then postponed all shows due to a subsequent fall.

Last month, the ‘No More Tours 2’ shows were once again rescheduled due to COVID restrictions. Osbourne was due to begin the tour in January 2022 with Judas Priest providing support, but continued COVID restrictions in Europe have now pushed back the dates again.

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The shows will begin in Helsinki on May 3 2023, with European dates running throughout the rest of the month. The UK leg will then begin in Nottingham on May 31 before the tour finishes with a hometown show in Birmingham on June 14.

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Check out Modest Mouse’s new 2022 US and European tour dates

Modest Mouse have shared details of new 2022 tour dates, taking place across the US and Europe – see the full schedule below.

  • READ MORE: Modest Mouse on their most hopeful album yet: “I found optimism – because I needed it”

The shows, which come on the back of the band’s recent album ‘The Golden Casket’, which came out earlier this year, begin in the United States in April and feature a slot at next year’s Just Like Heaven festival in California, headlining alongside Interpol, The Shins and M.I.A.

After the mix of headline shows and festival dates in the States, the band will then head to Europe next July for two festival shows in Stockholm and at Madrid’s Mad Cool.

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See Modest Mouse’s new 2022 tour dates below:

APRIL 2022
18 – Baltimore, Rams Head Live
19 – Charlottesville, Ting Pavilion
20 – Charlotte, Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
21 – Knoxville, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
23-24 – Charleston, High Water Festival
25 – Atlanta, Tabernacle
28 – Tulsa, Tulsa Theater

MAY 2022
21 – Pasadena, Just Like Heaven Festival

JULY 2022
1 – Stockholm, Lollapalooza
7 – Madrid, Mad Cool

‘The Golden Casket’ was released earlier this year (June 25) via Epic/Sony, marking the band’s first full-length release in six years. Alongside lead single ‘We Are Between’, it features the previously released tracks ‘Leave A Light On’ and ‘The Sun Hasn’t Left’.

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In a five-star review, NME called ‘The Golden Casket’ a spiritual sequel to Modest Mouse’s 2004 smash hit ‘Float On’, with writer Jordan Bassett declaring: “The album is a masterful psychedelic patchwork, bouncing between eerie soundscapes, knotty post-punk and maximalist pop melody.”

Since the album’s release, the band have played a handful of shows in the US throughout September and October, supporting Future Islands on select dates of their forthcoming world tour.

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Kathryn Williams & Carol Ann Duffy pen Christmas ode to Dolly Parton

Singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams and former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy have joined forces on a new Christmas album titled ‘Midnight Chorus’ – listen to their Dolly Parton-inspired song ‘Dear Lord’ below.

  • READ MORE: The Big Read – Dolly Parton: “I take care of business”

The duo initially met while performing at the Niddfest Festival in 2016, becoming friends shortly after. Earlier this year, they were on a working holiday at Scottish creative writing centre Moniack Mhor. When they left the centre, they had two and a half songs that they had worked on together, which marked the start of ‘Midnight Chorus’.

The album includes uplifting festive numbers ‘All Ye Doubtful’ and the more sombre opener ‘Hang Fire’. Lead single ‘Snow Angel’ is a reflective and tranquil song about playing in the snow as a child. ‘Dear Lord’, meanwhile, is a prayer to a higher being to meet a hero, in this case, Dolly Parton. Speaking to The Times, Duffy says it’s about “that kind of tongue-in-cheek wish that everyone has, at some stage in their life, to meet a hero.”

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Listen to ‘Dear Lord’ here:

In the same interview, Williams discussed her partnership with Duffy: “Our roles crossed over. It wasn’t just like, ‘Here’s the lyrics.’ Carol Ann has a real musical sense and [suggested] a lot of the melodies and the ideas for instrumentation.”

Duffy added: “Kathryn had a lot of input in the lyrics as well. I have complete faith in her melodic genius. I could almost anticipate what it would be before I heard it. She’s kind of got that early Beatles gift.”

In recent Dolly Parton news, the singer and her Smoky Mountain businesses raised $700,000 to help residents impacted by floods in Tennessee.

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The flood relief funds were raised by donating a portion of ticket sales from her Dollywood theme park and her Pigeon Forge dinner show properties – Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show and Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud – during the October 2-3 weekend.