Keyshia Luc

Ian McDonald, King Crimson and Foreigner co-founder, dead at 75

Multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, who co-founded the highly influential prog outfit King Crimson along with hard rock titans Foreigner, has died at the age of 75. According to a representative, McDonald “passed away peacefully on February 9, 2022 in his home in New York City, surrounded by his family”. No cause of death has been officially provided. McDonald was recruited into King Crimson by Robert Fripp, along with Michael and Peter Giles, in 1968. Though he only appeared on the band’s debut album – 1969’s ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’ – he was instrumental in defining the band’s lasting prog-rock sound. McDonald co-wrote and co-produced every song on the band’s debut. He also played a wide array of instruments on it, including brass, woodwinds and keyboards – particularly the Mellotron. He left the band the same year the album was released, alongside drummer Michael Giles, briefly forming the spinoff act McDonald and Giles. “Someone asked me, ‘Are you surprised people still talking about this record 50 years later?’ I said, ‘Well, yes. But on the other hand, not really,’” McDonald said of King Crimson’s debut during a 2019 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock. “When we made it… I wanted to make… Read More →

10FEBNews

Listen to members of Fall Out Boy, High On Fire and Russian Circles cover Van Halen

Members of Fall Out Boy, High On Fire and Russian Circles have covered Van Halen – listen to it below. READ MORE: Eddie Van Halen, 1955 – 2020: a colossus who turned guitar solos into a firework display It’s part of Jordan Old’s video series Two Minutes To Late Night, which sees musicians gather remotely to cover classic songs. Jordan Olds brings together Matt Pike, frontman of Sleep and High On Fire, alongside Fall Out Boy drummer Andy Hurley and Russian Circles’ Mike Sullivan. You can listen to the cover of Van Halen’s 1981 ‘Unchained’ here: Back in October, Wolfgang Van Halen paid tribute to his father Eddie to mark the first anniversary of his death. The Van Halen guitarist died from throat cancer on October 6, 2020. He was 65 years old. He said he was “trying to my best here without [Eddie], but it’s really fucking hard”. “You fought so hard for so long, but you were still taken away,” Wolfgang added, “It’s just so unfair.” A memorial plaque to Eddie Van Halen was unveiled in his hometown of Pasadena, California later that month. Recently, Valerie Bertinelli opened up about the final moments she spent with her ex-husband Eddie Van Halen. US actor Bertinelli… Read More →

10FEBNews

Super Bowl: Zendaya sells seashells by the sea shore in André 3000-narrated ad

Zendaya stars in a new André 3000-narrated advert for Squarespace that will air in full at this year’s Super Bowl. READ MORE: Euphoria season two review – still the best teen drama on TV The Euphoria star and musician poses as seashell-seller Sally who is struggling to make her business heard until she creates a new webstore that helps market her products. André 3000 uses parts of the famous seashell tongue-twister to detail her growth. A preview of the commercial shared yesterday (February 9) concludes with Sally’s seashells becoming so successful that “she sailed into the setting sun as a seashell celebrity”. “Shucks”, Zendaya says at the end of the clip. Advertisement Emmy award-winning actress Zendaya said in a statement: “As a creator myself, and a Squarespace customer since 2018, I understand the importance of having an online presence that truly represents you and your business. “I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work and create with Edgar Wright on a story narrated by André ‘3000’ Benjamin.” Elsewhere, Megan Thee Stallion is reportedly set to star in an advert for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos alongside Charlie Puth during Super Bowl LVI [via Billboard]. Stallion said about her partnership with… Read More →

10FEBNews

Stereophonics and Anne-Marie to headline Alex James’ Big Feastival

Stereophonics and Anne-Marie are set to headline Big Feastival, a music and food festival hosted by Blur’s Alex James on his Cotswolds farm. The Human League will join them at the top of the bill while special guests Sugababes will also perform at the festival, which is set to take place August 26-28. READ MORE: 20 festivals to look forward to in 2022 Stereophonics will play the Sunday night and Anne-Marie will close Saturday, while The Human League are set to headline the Friday night. Advertisement Also appearing across the weekend are Alfie Templeman, The Futureheads, The Sherlocks, The Lottery Winners and Lola Young. Jake Bugg, Gabrielle, Sam Ryder and a Basement Jaxx DJ set have also been confirmed, with more musical acts still to be announced. Big Feastival also has a full line-up of guest chefs and family entertainment to be revealed in the coming weeks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Big Feastival (@thebigfeastival) “We’ve been busy building on last summer’s sold out festival and our strongest line up yet will bookend what promises to be an unforgettable summer of celebration. This is just the tip of the iceberg – best to book camping… Read More →

10FEBNews

Liam Gallagher announces huge outdoor Dublin show

Liam Gallagher has announced details of a huge outdoor solo show he’ll play in Dublin this summer. The former Oasis frontman is set to tour this year in support of his upcoming new solo album ‘C’MON YOU KNOW’, which is set for release on May 27 and is the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Why Me? Why Not.’. READ MORE: Liam Gallagher swaggers towards summer with new Dave Grohl-featuring song ‘Everything’s Electric’ Gallagher has now added an Irish headline show to his tour diary, with the singer set to perform at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin on August 27. Advertisement Tickets are set to go on general sale at 10am on February 17 here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ticketmaster Ireland (@tmie) Gallagher is already set to play his biggest solo shows to date in June, including two sold-out gigs at Knebworth. You can see his upcoming UK tour dates below and find any remaining tickets to the tour here. June 1 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester 3 – Knebworth Park (SOLD OUT) 4 – Knebworth Park (SOLD OUT) 24 – Ormeau Park, Belfast 26 – Hampden Park, Glasgow Earlier this week Gallagher performed his new single ‘Everything’s Electric’ live for… Read More →

10FEBNews

Multiple gigs cancelled as UK concert promoter goes bust due to “COVID-19 setbacks”

M&B Promotions has announced they’ve gone bust, meaning all their upcoming concerts and live events have been cancelled. According to a statement from the company, “setbacks caused by the pandemic mean it’s no longer viable for us to continue trading”. READ MORE: “Normal wasn’t good enough”: why gig-going needs to change after lockdown Following the announcement, a trio of shows at Wicksteed Open Air Theatre have been cancelled after being rescheduled from last year: Craig David on June 2, McFly on June 3 and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell on June 5. Advertisement McFly’s shows on June 10 at Gloucester Park and July 8 at Lincolnshire Showground have also been cancelled, the band have confirmed. According to a statement on McFly’s Twitter, the gigs have been scrapped due to “reasons entirely out of our control”. Craig David has also confirmed his show at Norwich’s Earlham Park won’t be going ahead, with the singer saying he’s “truly devastated”. pic.twitter.com/n72ONpe15P — Craig David (@CraigDavid) February 10, 2022 Following the postponement last year, fans were told they couldn’t get refunds due to the terms and conditions of M&B Promotions’ ticketing company Simple Ticketing, preventing refunds for rescheduled gigs. Jayne Southall, CEO of the Lincolnshire… Read More →

07FEBNews

Blues and soul icon Syl Johnson has died, aged 85

Syl Johnson – an icon of the R&B, soul and blues scenes in the 1960s and ‘70s – has died at the age of 85. Johnson’s family confirmed his passing in a statement to Pitchfork, writing: “It is with extreme sadness that our family announces the passing of Soul & Blues Hall of Fame Legend, Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, MS). “Dad, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle, Friend & Artist, he lived his life as a singer, musician, and entrepreneur who loved black music.” Describing him as “fiery, fierce, fighter, always standing for the pursuit of justice as it related to his music and sound”, Johnson’s family continued: “He will truly be missed by all who crossed his path. His catalog and legacy will be remembered as impeccable and a historical blueprint to all who experience it. To his fans around the world, he loved you all. A lover of music and a Chicago icon, Syl Johnson lived his life unapologetically.” At the time of writing, no cause of death has been confirmed. His death came less than a week after his brother, fellow bluesman Jimmy Johnson, died at 93. Johnson cut his teeth playing with Magic… Read More →

06FEBNews

Watch documentary about late dub legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry online

A documentary on the late dub legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is now available to watch online – check it out below. READ MORE: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, 1936-2021: eccentric, brilliant dub legend who heard what we couldn’t The Upsetter: The Life & Music Of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is part of the Roots & Revolution: Reggae On Film series, documenting the genre’s worldwide impact, and was released in 2009. Narrated by Benicio del Toro and starring Perry himself, alongside directors Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough, the film arrives six months after the reggae legend passed away at the age of 85. Advertisement According to the Jamaica Observer, Perry (real name Rainford Hugh Perry) died at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Western Jamaica after battling illness. No cause of death has yet been revealed. The Upsetter is now available to watch here on the Criterion Collection, and you can check out a snippet of the film below. Born in rural Jamaica in 1936, Perry – also known as The Upsetter – moved to Kingston in the early 1960s. He described his upbringing in an interview with NME in 1984: “My father worked on the road, my mother in the fields. We were very poor. I went… Read More →

06FEBNews

Watch RZA take on his alter ego in music video for ‘Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater’

RZA and producer DJ Scratch have released an official music video for their single ‘Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater’, which originally dropped last year. The Danny Hastings and RZA-directed clip arrived on Friday (February 4), and plays out like an old-school martial arts movie. It draws inspiration from films made by the Hong Kong production house Shaw Brothers (Shaolin Prince, The One-Armed Swordsman, The Five Deadly Venoms), featuring RZA as himself and his alter ego, Bobby Digital, whom he faces off against. Check it out below. Advertisement ‘Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater’ is the titular single off RZA and Scratch’s forthcoming collaborative album, formally titled ‘RZA vs Bobby Digital’. After a delayed release, the LP is set to drop on March 4 via 36 Chambers ALC/MNRK Music Group. “Lyrically the hip-hop part of me had a chance to re-emerge during quarantine,” RZA said in a press statement. “Giving Scratch the reins as a producer and me taking the reins as an MC, that’s what frees me up creatively and lets me play more with lyrical gags and lyrical flows because I don’t have to be focused on everything.” “He delivered tracks that resonated and brought me back to a sound that… Read More →

05FEBNews

The Strokes announce Mexican headline show with Mac DeMarco

The Strokes have announced a Mexican headline show, with Mac DeMarco and The War On Drugs as support. READ MORE: The Strokes’ world-changing ‘Is This It’ at 20: “They had a ‘last gang in town’ mentality” The concert will take place at Foro Sol in Mexico City on May 19. Tickets for the gig go on sale Friday, February 11 with a presale taking place on February 9. All the details can be found here. The Strokes last performed in Mexico in 2019 as part of Corona Capital festival. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Strokes (@thestrokes) Advertisement Mac DeMarco will also be supporting The Strokes at their rescheduled New Year’s Eve concert. The band were originally due to perform at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on December 31, 2021 with IDLES and Hinds before a spike in the Omicron coronavirus variant forced them to cancel. Now, The Strokes will play the same venue on April 6, this time with DeMarco replacing IDLES. The Strokes have been added to the line-up for next year’s Best Kept Secret alongside Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Alt-J while the band will also touch down in the UK… Read More →

05FEBNews

Ex-Mumford & Sons member Winston Marshall calls Spotify controversy “Soviet-style censorship”

Former Mumford & Sons member Winston Marshall has written a piece for Bari Weiss’ Substack criticising artists taking action against Spotify. In the essay entitled ‘When Artists Become the Censors’, Marshall takes aim at those he believes are threatening free speech, including Neil Young, who recently pulled his music from Spotify. On January 24, Young published an open letter – which has since been deleted – expressing his feelings about content like the Joe Rogan Experience podcast “spreading false information about vaccines”. This sparked a wider protest, with the likes of Joni Mitchell and Crazy Horse member Nils Lofgren following suit. Advertisement “Something resembling a bottom-up authoritarianism has become the norm,” Marshall writes in the essay. “Or perhaps one could call it lateral censorship. It’s artists shutting down other artists—or trying to.” Winston Marshall goes on to note: “Spotify is a private company; they’re under no obligation to platform anybody. So while this campaign doesn’t breach Rogan’s First Amendment rights, it is a clear stand against the cultural norm of free speech.” When artists start censoring each other, who can be surprised that self-censorship becomes the norm? Me for ⁦⁦@bariweiss⁩’ Common Sense https://t.co/aGZ6F9ht3a — Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) February 3, 2022 Marshall’s argument then turns to… Read More →

04FEBNews

Listen to Foals’ teaser of trance-y new single ‘2AM’

Foals have teased a trance-y new single called ‘2AM’ – listen to it below. READ MORE: Foals talk ravey single ‘Wake Me Up’ and party-ready new album The group shared a short video clip featuring frontman Yannis Philippakis soundtracked by a trance-led new single, which was captioned “#2AM.” You can listen to it here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by FOALS (@foals) Advertisement Back in December, Foals shared a new remix of their recent single ‘Wake Me Up’ by Gaspard Augé and Victor Le Masne. The Oxford band returned with the track in November, marking their first material since 2019’s sister albums ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost: Part One’ and ‘Part Two’. The remix was a disco-tinged, synth-filled reimagining of ‘Wake Me Up’ courtesy of Augé and Le Masne, who are renowned for their work with Justice and Housse de Racket. The duo have previously remixed Jungle‘s ‘Keep Moving’ as well as Myd and Mac DeMarco‘s collaborative song ‘Moving Men’. Advertisement The original ‘Wake Me Up’ landed at Number 12 in NME‘s 50 best songs of 2021 list. It was described as “the spiritual sequel to dancier moments like ‘My Number’ and ‘In Degrees’, but in truth it’s the… Read More →

04FEBNews

ArrDee and Aitch link up on rip-roaring new track ‘War’

ArrDee and Aitch have linked up on a brand new single – you can check out the video for ‘War’ below. READ MORE: Aitch: “My debut will 100,000 per cent be a proper Manchester album” The much-talked about collaboration between the UK rap wonder kids sees them trade slick verses over a high-energy drill instrumental produced by LiTek and WhYJay. “See, I remember this time, I was flat on my arse/ Mum lost the yard and I’m tryna graft/ Studio was my time apart/ I’d go bake off back at Muli’s yard/ Schemin’ how we’d get our mulas up/ Stupidness for a few quid more/ Thank God everyday that music bussed,” Arrdee raps in his opening verse, recalling tougher times. Advertisement When it’s time for Aitch to get his bars off, he puts his foot down and goes into full-blown bragging mode: “Yo, alright, I got sixteen, fifteen left/ Armz Korleone when I lift these reps/ Hard to moan when you live this blessed/ Bro don’t park the chrome, he just rips and press/ Swipe and go, I spend quids on creps/ Multiply my dough when I flip this cheque.” The track comes alongside a video directed by Gabriella Kingsley, which sees the two rappers face off with rivals battalions – complete… Read More →

04FEBHit Singles

Jeff Parker – Forfolks

In his 1889 essay “The Decay Of Lying”, Oscar Wilde argued that, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” But the literary giant never lived through the shuttering of rock clubs, salons and hole-in-the-wall bars that are a sole source of promotion, incubation and performance for an artist and his work. That’s not to say Jeff Parker’s latest is a pandemic album, but it is one that effortlessly transmits the heart of a society in exile, just a man with a guitar in his house, improvising to no-one but himself and a friend who’s set up the mics. A man alone with his thoughts and hands. ORDER NOW: Johnny Marr is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut The premise is simple, but the result is remarkable – a multitudinous work of solo electric guitar that’s a testament to Parker’s versatility, intuition and skill, a low-key display of self-effacing virtuosity that doubles as a balm for our time. Ambient jazz at its finest, and further proof that Parker’s playing is impressive in almost any setting, even if it’s a far cry from the ensembles he rose to prominence with, and from the paths he has worn… Read More →

04FEBHit Singles

Erin Rae – Lighten Up

Erin Rae has been quietly making strides around Nashville these past few years. 2015’s self-released Soon Enough – which found her fronting The Meanwhiles – brought her to the attention of John Paul White, who promptly signed her to his own Single Lock label for Rae’s solo debut, Putting On Airs, in 2018. For all their merits, however, neither of those albums quite prepare you for the major leap forward signalled by Lighten Up. ORDER NOW: Johnny Marr is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut Produced by Jonathan Wilson in his Topanga Canyon studio, Lighten Up is infused with the warm, spacious feel of Wilson’s previous work for Dawes or Father John Misty, with the latter’s frequent collaborator Drew Erickson creating sumptuous string arrangements that give these country-soul songs a semi-symphonic air. Rae’s measured, river-clear voice is a thing to behold too, buoyed by piano, organ, pedal steel and unobtrusive guitar. It’s the kind of record that recalls the muted grandeur of Bobbie Gentry or Judee Sill. Wilson himself handles drums and percussion, plus various other instruments, forming the core band with Erickson on keys and bassist Jake Blanton. Among the handful of guests are Kevin Morby,… Read More →

03FEBNews

Mike Posner opens up about meaning behind ‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza”

Mike Posner has opened up about the meaning behind his 2016 hit ‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza’. In a new interview on the Impaulsive podcast Posner revealed the darker story behind the track. While his breakout song ‘Cooler Than Me’ was a success in 2010, the work released after this wasn’t getting the attention he expected. The only person who helped him during this period he said, was late artist Avicii (real name Tim Bergling) who died in 2018 from suicide. “When I was sitting at home with an empty calendar, he asked me to work on his album,” Posner revealed. He went out to Ibiza to watch Avicii but described the experience as “the saddest thing ever.” While he was “looking at all these people having fun,” he says he never felt more “alone”. Posner explained: “Avicii came and played his show. I was in the crowd and – this was when I still drank, I don’t drink anymore. I’m looking at him on the stage and I was just thinking, ‘Man, I fucked this up man, that used to be me, I wish it was still me and it’s not’. “Imagine the sadness of this moment. I’m… Read More →

03FEBNews

Big Thief to contribute one per cent of tour income to tackling climate crisis

Big Thief have pledged to contribute one per cent of their touring income to tackling the climate crisis, partnering with Brian Eno‘s EarthPercent organisation. READ MORE: Savages’ drummer and Music Declares Emergency co-founder Fay Milton on climate change: “Music needs to get real” The band announced they were joining the initiative on social media yesterday (February 3), adding that it would be inclusive of their US tour last year. “We are grateful to be part of this group which will grant [money] to organizations fighting the climate emergency in the most impactful ways,” they tweeted. “The hope is that something like this could spread to our peers, especially those making money and maybe even become a standard for artists and those around the music industry (labels, DSPs, publishers, managers, booking agents, etc).” Hello. We are now contributing 1% of our gross touring income to @earthpercentorg, including income from last year’s US tour. We are grateful to be part of this group which will grant $ to organizations fighting the climate emergency in the most impactful ways. pic.twitter.com/ebiAHNmMa3 — Big Thief (@bigthiefmusic) February 3, 2022 Advertisement We hope others will join us and commit to this cause. For more information check out… Read More →

03FEBNews

Janet Jackson hints at new music after previewing unreleased ‘Love I Love’

Janet Jackson has hinted that a new track featured in her recent self-titled documentary could be set for an official release. The new Janet Jackson series, which premiered in the UK earlier this week, offers an unprecedented look into the star’s life and lengthy career. READ MORE: Janet Jackson at Glastonbury: a pop megamix, a stadium production and the making of a new ‘legends slot’ As reported previously, an unreleased song titled ‘Love I Love’ soundtracks the closing credits of the final episode. “You got that love I love,” Jackson is heard singing in the snippet. Advertisement During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon yesterday evening (February 2), the vocalist was asked if fans will get to hear the track in its entirety and whether it was “hinting” at new material to come. “It’s so funny because that’s… it was a song that I recorded, like, three years ago,” Jackson replied. “And, in the documentary, we thought, ‘Oh, this would be cool to put this song right here in this moment, this piece in the documentary’. “And, everyone started reacting to it. So I dunno. We’ll just have to see. Maybe it’ll be a single.” When quizzed… Read More →

03FEBNews

Silk Sonic are joining ‘Fortnite’ with a special radio station

Silk Sonic, the collaborative project between Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, are coming to Fortnite as part of the Icon Series. READ MORE: Silk Sonic – ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ review: an unashamedly retro delight Epic Games and Atlantic Records announced the new Icon Series launch in a press release. Players will be able to purchase new in-game outfits and listen to tracks from Silk Sonic on a new in-game radio station. “When Fortnite asked me if I wanted to create an outfit for the game, I asked, ‘Are CGI muscles off the table?’ They said ‘no.’ I said ‘deal.’ I’ll see you on the Island,” said Mars. Advertisement Paak added: “When Fortnite agreed to give Bruno CGI muscles, I said, I’m in. He could use the help, so I support it. And it makes me cool. Win, win.” Nate Nanzer, VP of global partnerships at Epic Games, said that the duo were “long-time Fortnite favourites, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to Fortnite‘s Icon Series”. “The Icon Series is a celebration of the most dynamic figures in culture — Silk Sonic’s entry will allow players to express themselves as the iconic duo with reactive signature style Outfits and accessories and… Read More →

03FEBNews

Taylor Swift fans believe she’ll feature on Ed Sheeran’s next single

Taylor Swift fans believe she’ll feature on Ed Sheeran’s next single, a reworked version of his 2021 track ‘The Joker And The Queen’. READ MORE: Taylor Swift’s best cover songs, from Jennifer Lopez to Coldplay Ed Sheeran took to Instagram earlier this week (February 1) to share a photo of some signed CDs for “something coming in a bit”. The artwork features the joker from a pack of playing cards, alongside the queen of hearts, which looks suspiciously like Swift. Sheeran previously teased the release of ‘The Joker And The Queen’ last December. He said it would feature an American artist, and he was hoping for a January release date in an interview with Capital FM. who do we think @edsheeran is collabing with ?? pic.twitter.com/ldP8IiYYS1 — Capital (@CapitalOfficial) October 29, 2021 Advertisement Both Swift and Sheeran have also left Easter eggs relating to each other in their various music videos. In the official video for ‘Overpass Graffiti’, Sheeran can be seen wearing a leather jacket with a print of a joker and a queen on the back, with a badge reading “Taylor Swift” just underneath it. And in Swift’s video for ‘I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version)’,… Read More →

02FEBNews

Wolf Alice announce 2022 North American ‘Blue Weekend’ tour

Wolf Alice will tour North America this March and April, taking in shows across the US and Canada on a 20-date run. READ MORE: Wolf Alice live in London: spellbinding small venue show from snarling rock superstars The tour, announced yesterday (February 1), is part of the band’s ongoing world tour in support of their third studio album, ‘Blue Weekend’. It marks their second tour of North America in as many years, following their run of dates in late 2021. Advertisement Along with their headlining dates, the band will also play two shows in June as a support act. They’ll open for Bleachers at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Colorado on Tuesday June 21, and then for Halsey at the Hollywood Bowl the following night. The former is part of Bleachers’ four-month North American tour, while the latter is part of Halsey’s ‘Love And Power’ tour. Wolf Alice’s 2022 is also composed of rescheduled UK tour dates for this month, which will commence on Valentine’s Day in Glasgow with three nights at the Barrowland Ballroom. A run of postponed European dates, meanwhile, are yet to be rescheduled. The band will perform at Tempelhof Sounds in Berlin before returning to the US in… Read More →