Peter Shep

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Albums by Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, Eurythmics, The Clash and more re-released for UNICEF’s ‘Blue Vinyl’ fundraiser

Albums by Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, Eurythmics, The Clash and more acts are being re-released for UNICEF’s ‘Blue Vinyl’ fundraiser. READ MORE: Ukrainian artists on the Russian crisis – “Now is the time to push for change” The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) has pressed limited edition releases of 10 acclaimed albums for its charity series to raise money for the UNICEF UK Children’s Emergency Fund, which helps children affected by conflict and disaster. Only 48 ‘Blue Vinyl’ copies have been pressed for each of the 10 albums. The 10 albums are: Dylan’s ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’; Carole King‘s ‘Tapestry’; The Clash’s ‘Combat Rock’ (40th anniversary edition); Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’; Foo Fighters’ ‘Medicine At Midnight‘; Janis Joplin‘s ‘Pearl’ (50th anniversary edition); Jimi Hendrix‘s ‘Live At Monterey’; Leon Bridges‘ ‘Coming Home’; Little Mix‘s ‘Confetti’; and Prince’s ‘The Rainbow Children’ (20th anniversary edition). Advertisement Fans can enter a prize draw for each artist on the ‘Blue Vinyl’ Crowdfunder website here to be in with a chance of winning one of the available albums. ‘Blue Vinyl’ version of Bob Dylan’s 1963 album ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’. CREDIT: Press The campaign will highlight “UNICEF’s ability to respond to an… Read More →

Crazy Horse on Neil Young’s Toast

It’s been another momentous year for Neil fans. Just as we’d settled down to enjoy the rowdy delights of Barn, the Official Bootleg Series truffled out new perspectives on his storied ’70/’71 and the Eldorado reissue brought back into focus Young’s creative rehabilitation at the end of the ’80s. ORDER NOW: Wilco are on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut This week, Young releases Noise & Flowers – a live album taken from his 2019 European tour with Promise Of The Real. Young started the tour a few weeks after the death of his long-serving manager, Elliot Roberts, which freights this album with a certain rugged pathos. There’s amazing version of “On The Beach”, too. But, for me at least, the biggest Neil release so far this year has been Toast – the mythical ‘lost’ album recorded in 2000 at the end of a scorching run of records with Crazy Horse. You can read my full review of Toast here – but I thought now the issue is off-sale it wouldn’t hurt to run the Q&As with Frank “Poncho” Sampedro and Billy Talbot that accompanied my review. It’s worth reading to the end, as Billy gives some tidbits… Read More →

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Frank Ocean’s luxury goods company Homer is selling a $25,000 cock ring

Frank Ocean has released a luxury cock ring as part of the latest capsule from his luxury goods company, Homer. The new collection from Homer – which Ocean debuted last August – is highlighted by the XXXL H-Bone Ring, an 18-karat yellow gold cock ring retailing at $25,000 (£20,700). There are other styles of cock rings being made available through the Homer website, all falling within a range of $1,365 to $5,695 (£1,130 to £4,710). Also among the new range of goods are premium pendants, earrings, and key rings. Advertisement The artist modelled the XXXL H-Bone Ring himself in a censored Instagram post shared to the Homer account on Sunday (August 7), which you can see below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Homer (@homer) Last August, Ocean gave his first interview in two years, discussing Homer when it was in its infancy. Speaking to the Financial Times, Ocean spoke of the high-end jewellery line – “I didn’t want our work to be any less expensive than Cartier,” he said – among a slew of other topics, though he never mentioned his music. Since then, the artist – real name Christopher “Lonny” Breaux – has shared previously unreleased… Read More →

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Lizzo gushes over J-hope’s spin on ‘About Damn Time’

Lizzo has responded to J-Hope‘s take on her recent smash-hit, ‘About Damn Time’. READ MORE: J-hope live at Lollapalooza 2022: BTS rapper arrives as true solo great in history-making headline set In an interview with NME backstage at Lollapalooza, the BTS member was asked what his favourite song is right now. He jumped right into a brief rendition of the second verse of ‘About Damn Time’, complete with slick dance moves. Check out J-Hope in action on our TikTok account below: @nme It’s ?? about ?? damn ?? time — #jhope tells us backstage at #lollapalooza what song’s stuck in his head and shows us his dance moves #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #jhope_bts #bts #btsarmy #bts_official_bighit #army #trending #nme #lizzo #aboutdamntime ♬ original sound – NME – NME Advertisement Simultaneously brushing off haters who oppose ‘About Damn Time’ (the lead single from her latest album, ‘Special’) as being the “song of the summer” and praising J-Hope’s spin, Lizzo took to TikTok last Thursday (August 4) to share the clip of the K-pop superstar with the caption: “Be like J-hope!” @lizzo J-Hope streams about damn time ! Be like J-hope! ?? ♬ About Damn Time – Lizzo J-Hope headlined the final night of Lollapaloza… Read More →

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The Impressions’ Sam Gooden has died, aged 87

Sam Gooden, one of the founding members of legendary Chicago soul outfit The Impressions – and the only member to have stuck with the group for its entire six-decade run – has died at the age of 87. The news of Gooden’s passing was confirmed by his daughter, Gina Griffin, who said (as reported by the Associated Press) that her father was surrounded by family when he died peacefully on Thursday (August 4) in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was less than a month away from celebrating his 88th birthday, which would have come around on September 2. No cause of death has been confirmed, however according to Chattanooga Radio And TV, Gooden’s health waned in his later years “as he suffered from breathing difficulties and kidney problems”. Advertisement Gooden formed The Impressions in 1958 alongside Jerry Butler (who stuck around until 1960), Curtis Mayfield (until 1970) and the Brooks brothers, Richard and Arthur (both until 1962). He was 19 when the band broke out, and was the only member to last the entire duration of its 60-year tenure. The band would call it a day in 2018, with their final roster being the duo of Gooden and Fred… Read More →

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Whitesnake pull out of North American tour with Scorpions due to health issues

Whitesnake have removed themselves from a 24-date tour of North America, which they were scheduled to co-headline with Scorpions, due to frontman David Coverdale’s ongoing health issues. Coverdale broke the news in a statement shared to the band’s official Instagram yesterday (August 6). In it, he noted that he’s been forced to step away from the mic “due to my continued treatment for a persistent upper respiratory infection that affects my ability to perform”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Coverdale (@whitesnake) Advertisement As a result of Coverdale’s continuing health issues, Whitesnake’s own headline shows in the US have also been cancelled. At the time of writing, there’s no word on whether they’ll be rescheduled, or how refunds will be handled. As reported by Loudwire, the cancellation comes after Whitesnake axed a handful of their European tour dates in June and July. Scorpions will embark on their ‘Rock Believer’ tour without Whitesnake in tow, having Stockholm rock outfit Thundermother open for the run instead. The outfit’s shows begin in Toronto on Sunday August 21, rolling on for exactly a month until it ends in Las Vegas. See the full list of dates here, and find tickets… Read More →

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Drake confirms new date for Young Money reunion concert with Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne

Drake has bounced back from his recent tussle with COVID-19, and as promised, has confirmed a new date for his Young Money reunion concert with Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne. READ MORE: Drake – ‘Honestly, Nevermind’ review: rapper’s house makeover provides long-overdue career boost The show was initially booked to go down last Monday (August 1), but was postponed just hours out from kick-off when Drake revealed that he’d tested positive for COVID-19. At the time, the rapper said he would reschedule the show “to the SOONEST date possible”, assuring fans that “the moment I test negative I will give you everything I got on stage (except the covid)”. The show will now go ahead tonight (August 6) at its original venue, the 16,000-capacity Budweiser Stage in Drake’s hometown of Toronto. It rounds out a trilogy of shows Drake is hosting for his ‘October World Weekend’, a new concert series that the rapper says will precede the worldwide expansion of his own music festival, OVO Fest. Advertisement Announcing the new date on Instagram, Drake wrote: “This was the only date available until the fall and because the family is so solid everybody is flying back in to make it happen… Read More →

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The Weeknd shares remix of ‘Dawn FM’ song ‘Best Friends’ featuring Summer Walker

The Weeknd has released a remix of his ‘Dawn FM‘ song ‘Best Friends’, which features Summer Walker – listen below. READ MORE: The Weeknd – ‘Dawn FM’ review: soulful star meets a new day with hope and hindsight It’s the latest track from his fifth album to get the remix treatment following Kaytranada’s rework of ‘Out Of Time’, Oneohtrix Point Never’s ‘Dawn FM’, Swedish House Mafia’s ‘Sacrifice’ and more. The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) wrote online that Walker “fucking CRUSHED it“, adding that “she carried”. Listen to the new remix below. Advertisement ‘Dawn FM’ is the follow-up to 2020’s ‘After Hours‘. In a four-star review NME wrote that his latest record marks a “period of reflection with perhaps his most mature, emotionally robust collection yet”. In other news, The Weeknd has announced that he is set to launch two haunted houses at Universal Studios in Hollywood and Universal’s Orlando resort inspired by ‘After Hours’. The houses, named The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare, have been designed by Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights in collaboration with the singer himself. They are based on the visuals and aesthetics from the album, and inspired by various horror and science fiction films. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly The Weeknd noted that… Read More →

Earl’s Closet – The Lost Archive of Earl McGrath, 1970-1980

Earl McGrath sounds like a character from a Paul Thomas Anderson film. A socialite and bon vivant, he was born into poverty in Wisconsin before leaving a troubled home at 14 to join the merchant navy. Having broadened his geographical horizons, he started on his cultural ones, meeting WH Auden, Henry Miller and Leonard Bernstein before organising a music festival in Italy in 1959 featuring Cecil Taylor and Jack Kerouac. While there, he met and married an Italian countess, moving effortlessly into high society. An art collector and cultural dabbler, he worked in Hollywood – he bought pot from Harrison Ford and claimed to have conceived Midnight Cowboy, The Monkees and Saturday Night Live – before enabling a crucial meeting between Ahmet Ertegun and The Rolling Stones. ORDER NOW: Wilco are on the cover of the latest issue of Uncut In return, Ertegun helped McGrath form Clean Records with Robert Stigwood. When that failed, he became president of Rolling Stone Records. When McGrath died in 2016, writer Joe Hogan discovered a cupboard in his apartment filled with 200 demos and masters that McGrath had accumulated over the decades. Twenty-two tracks feature on Earl’s Closet, including previously unheard recordings by Hall… Read More →

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Watch the moment Eddie Vedder joins The Strokes for ‘Juicebox’ in Seattle

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder joined The Strokes on stage in Seattle this week. READ MORE: From the archives – Pearl Jam rock for freedom and equality in the free world at Mad Cool 2018 The band were opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers when Vedder joined them for a rendition of ‘Juicebox’. Vedder has long been a fan of the song, which appeared on The Strokes’ 2005 album, ‘First Impressions Of Earth’. The grunge frontman previously joined the New York band on stage back in 2019, when they performed ‘Juicebox’ and Pearl Jam’s ‘Hard To Imagine’. Advertisement He’d called it one of his “favourite” songs and has previously recalled telling The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas how much he liked the song. Casablancas admitted later that it was inspired by Pearl Jam’s ‘Not for You.’ “I would have had no idea, I still don’t really hear it… I think it’s totally original,” Vedder said. “Every time I get to play it with them, I’m more than happy.” Check out the moment here: Pearl Jam returned to the stage last week after cancelling three recent shows due to Vedder suffering from vocal issues. Advertisement On July 20, the group scrapped a scheduled performance in Vienna after the… Read More →

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Måneskin on “getting recognition” in the US and topping the charts with ‘Supermodel’

Måneskin spoke to NME backstage at Lollapalooza 2022 and told us how they feel about topping alternative charts, their favourite performance in the states, and how proud they are to receive recognition in the US. Watch our interview above. Just before taking the festival’s main stage and performing to an audience of over 65,000 fans on Sunday (July 31), Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi, and Ethan Torchio told us that topping US charts has been “super cool.” READ MORE: Måneskin: “Nobody is keeping rock ’n’ roll alive – it’s just impossible to kill” The Italian glam rocker’s single, ‘Supermodel’ has been the No 1 song on US alternative radio for two weeks and counting. Advertisement “‘Supermodel’ has been our first global release,” frontman David told us. “To see such great feedback for our first release makes us really confident for the future. Of course, we didn’t expect that so we’re truly happy and we can’t wait to come out with other music.” Måneskin have continued to see recognition in the US, and were recently nominated for both Best New Artist and Best Alternative Video for this year’s MTV video music awards. “It’s amazing,” bassist De Angelis told us when… Read More →

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Killer Mike and 2 Chainz call for preservation of Black-owned Atlanta businesses

Killer Mike and 2 Chainz have criticised a recently introduced nuisance ordinance in Atlanta that they claim is penalising small and Black-owned businesses in the city. READ MORE: “There should be an anarchist’s drop of blood in each of us – Killer Mike on his sick Netflix show ‘Trigger Warning’ The rappers, both Atlanta natives, attended a city council meeting on Monday (August 1) to call for the preservation of small businesses. The father of rapper Young Thug, Jeffrey Williams Sr., was also there and argued that the ordinance’s “catch-all approach” of trying to reduce violence in proximity to clubs and establishments “penalises uninvolved parties”. In April, Mayor Andre Dickens introduced the nuisance order which aims to allow the city to close any establishment considered a “nuisance” after two reports of “violent crime or conduct” within a two-year span. It would also address businesses that previously managed to avoid closures by allegedly exploiting loopholes, such as changing property ownership. Advertisement Killer Mike explained that he’d last attended a meeting in May to address “the importance of small and local businesses” but said he doesn’t feel like much has changed in the time since. Instead, he highlighted that Atlanta’s continued development… Read More →

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Hundreds of venues sign up to not take cut of artists’ merchandise sales – but campaigners want more

A campaign to stop music venues from taking a cut of artists’ merchandise sales is proving successful, but campaigners say that more live music spaces still need to sign up. Back in January, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) announced a new directory highlighting music venues that charge zero commission on the sale of merchandise. The ‘100% Venues’ database aimed to address the “outdated and unfair” practice of performance spaces taking a cut of acts’ merch proceeds at gigs. Now, the FAC have told NME that over 400 venues have now signed up, but a number of the UK’s large arenas and venue groups are still not part of the database. Advertisement Along with former Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess has been one of the more vocal supporters of the campaign. The frontman made headlines when his band played Nottingham’s Rock City to find that the venue had waived their traditional cut of merch sales earlier in the Spring. An amazing thing happened last night. Rock City usually take a percentage of band merch income, just something they’ve always done. But they’ve listened to what artists are saying and as we left they returned the… Read More →

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Palaye Royale unveil details of extensive European and UK 2023 tour

Palaye Royale have unveiled details of an extensive European and UK tour for 2023 – check out the dates below. The band will tour from January to March and in the UK, they will play a night at London’s Brixton Academy. You can get tickets for the shows here from August 12 onwards. Advertisement Palaye Royale European and UK Tour 2023: JANUARY 21 – Krakow, Poland 22 – Warsaw, Poland 24 – Berlin, Germany 26 – Copenhagen, Denmark 28 – Stockholm, Sweden 29 – Oslo, Norway FEBRUARY 5 – Cologne, Germany 7 – Manchester, UK 8 – Glasgow, UK 10 – London, UK 12 – Wolverhampton, UK 13 – Paris, France 15 – Barcelona, Spain 17 – Lisbon, Portugal 19 – Stuttgart, Germany 20 – Zurich, Switzerland 25 – Munich, Germany MARCH 1 – Vilnius Lithuania 2 – Riga, Latvia 3 – Tallinn, Estonia 4 – Helsinki, Finland 7 – Sofia, Bulgaria 8 – Bucharest, Romania 10 – Istanbul, Turkey It comes after the band recently announced the release of their fourth studio album ‘Fever Dream’, their first since 2020’s ‘The Bastards’. The band have released four singles in support of the album so far, including, its title track, ‘No Love… Read More →

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Cousin of Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio has joined New York Yankees

The cousin of Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio has joined the New York Yankees. READ MORE: Baio – ‘Dead Hand Control’ review: killer Vampire Weekend side-project Harrison Bader, a baseball player who broke into the Major Leagues in 2017, was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals just minutes before the deadline yesterday (August 2). He was traded for Yankees left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery. “It’s a dream come true for our family and I’m beyond excited to root for Harrison and our hometown team!” Baio said in a statement via Pitchfork upon hearing the news. Advertisement Bader won his first Gold Glove – awarded to the best fielder at each position – in 2021. The Cousin of Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio Is Now on the New York Yankees https://t.co/sSKLUMRU6r — How To Finance (@howto_finance) August 3, 2022 The cousins both grew up in Bronxville, New York and Bader will now play his home games in the Bronx. Meanwhile, Baio released his third album ‘Dead Hand Control’ last year. In a four star review, NME described the record as “a hopeful collection that shifts from electronic dreamscapes to Talking Heads-style art-rock”. The review added: “The record teams with hope, which couldn’t be more apt… Read More →

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David Crosby thinks he’s “too old to tour anymore”

David Crosby fans hoping to catch him on tour soon will be disappointed to know that the iconic songwriter, aged 80 for a few weeks more, has ruled out the possibility. READ MORE: David Crosby: “Making music is crucial – and it’s keeping me alive” The former Byrds legend – who will turn 81 on August 14 – confirmed as much on Twitter overnight, responding to a fan who’d suggested he announce a new run of tour dates in the near future. “I think I’m too old to tour any more… sadly,” he wrote. I think I’m too old to tour any more ….sadly https://t.co/1y6dFscymL — David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) August 2, 2022 Advertisement Crosby’s last full touring cycle took place in 2019, with a sprawling run of shows across North America running from May into September. The last of those dates – September 17, 2019 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado – remains his most recent public performance. He did, however, play a private show in Toronto the following month, performing four songs for a live album with Michelle Willis. In 2021, Crosby told NME that he didn’t envision himself returning to the stage any time soon. “I think… Read More →

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Listen to Life’s introspective new track, ‘Duck Egg Blue’

Life have released an introspective new track today (August 2) – check out ‘Duck Egg Blue’ below. READ MORE: LIFE launched their new album in a kebab shop in Camden, so we went down and asked, “Why?” The single is the latest taken from their upcoming new third album, ‘North East Coastal Town’, which arrives on August 19. A statement describes the song as “more introspective than any of the band’s material to-date.” Advertisement Speaking about the new release, the band’s Mez Green says: “‘Duck Egg Blue’ is a realist’s love song. The journey of trying to navigate through each other’s feelings and emotions, the strains of close quarters trapped in a tiny flat, the minutiae of everyday life. “The overarching sentiment is that no matter what happens, after all that is said and done, we love each other, and we are there for each other.” The single is also accompanied by a new video, the visual of which is taken from bassist Lydia Palmeria and her girlfriend painting their bedroom. Speaking about it, the band added: “The video for Duck Egg Blue is mix of paint and sentiment, of love and frustration, and the process of turning house into home.” Talking… Read More →

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Carly Rae Jepsen unveils details of new album, ‘The Loneliest Time’

Carly Rae Jepsen has unveiled details of her upcoming new album, ‘The Loneliest Time’. READ MORE: Carly Rae Jepsen: “My relationship with ‘Call Me Maybe’ was a rollercoaster” The album will arrive on October 21 via 604/Schoolboy/Interscope and collaborators on the new project include include Tavish Crowe, Rostam Batmanglij, Bullion, Captain Cuts, John Hill, Kyle Shearer, and Alex Hope. Announcing the album on social media, Jepsen wrote: “I’m quite fascinated by loneliness. It can be really beautiful when you turn it over and look at it. Just like love, it can cause some extreme human reactions.” Advertisement You can pre-order the new album here. Check out the tweet and the album’s artwork below: THE LONELIEST TIME ? Oct 21. I’m quite fascinated by loneliness. It can be really beautiful when you turn it over and look at it. Just like love, it can cause some extreme human reactions. Preorder now. ????https://t.co/Sui6vttiR9 pic.twitter.com/hLCVDrmbXS — Carly Rae Jepsen (@carlyraejepsen) August 2, 2022 Last month, Jepsen teamed up with French singer and musician Lewis OfMan on a new song called ‘Move Me’. It followed on from Jepsen’s recent single, ‘Western Wind’ and comes after the singer wrapped up a UK and European tour. Speaking of the collaboration, she said: “In September of 2020 I heard… Read More →

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Listen to Hot Chip’s glitchy new single, ‘Freakout/Release’

Hot Chip have shared the latest single from their upcoming new album today (August 2) – check out the glitchy ‘Freakout/Release’ below. READ MORE: Alexis Taylor – ‘Silence’ review: the Hot Chip frontman shows his sensitive side The latest single follows on from the previously released ‘Eleanor‘ and ‘Down‘ and is the title track from their upcoming album, which is due on August 19. A statement about the song says: “Freakout/Release is more akin to their brilliant cover of Beastie Boys’ Sabotage which is what kickstarted the writing process of the new album.” Advertisement Talking about the song, singer Alexis Taylor said: “Freakout/Release is about pent-up energy and the need for release, and escape. It’s also about making sense of music, and at times being plagued by the thing you focus on – music never leaves my head for a second, which is usually a good feeling, but it can feel claustrophobic at times too. “It’s also about finding your place in relation to music and to performing. The riff should feel brutal and dumb and elemental and Joe was thinking about Seven Nation Army and the simplicity of that swinging from quiet to loud and back and forth.” Hot Chip’s… Read More →

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Jamal Edwards died of cardiac arrest after using cocaine, coroner concludes

Jamal Edwards died of a cardiac arrest after taking cocaine, a coroner has ruled. The DJ and founder of SBTV passed away on in Acton, west London on February 20. He was 31 years old. READ MORE: RIP Jamal Edwards, an inspiration who turned SB.TV into a Black British cultural dynasty Back in June, his mother Brenda Edwards said that her son’s death was the result of him taking recreational drugs. “I wanted to address this myself to everyone who loved, admired and respected my son,” she wrote on social media. A coroner has now confirmed that there was evidence of cocaine toxicity in Jamal’s body, adding that the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia following cocaine use. A toxicology report found a presence of cocaine and alcohol, which is likely to have resulted in his death (via BBC News). As ITV News reports, the record of inquest said: “After drinking some alcohol with a friend, [Jamal’s] behaviour changed and became erratic and he appeared paranoid, before he collapsed and became unconscious. “Attempts at resuscitation failed and life was declared extinct at 10.36am […]” It added: “Sampling established recent cocaine use, causing cocaine toxicity and resulting cardiac arrhythmia.” Jamal Edwards. Credit:… Read More →

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Dave Grohl to play solo set at Joe Walsh’s veteran benefit concert

Dave Grohl will play a solo set at Joe Walsh’s veteran benefit show ‘VetsAid’ later this year. The Foo Fighters frontman is billed as a “special guest” at the event, which is due to take place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on November 13. He’s joined on the line-up by Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys and The Breeders. Walsh’s band James Gang – completed by drummer Jim Fox and bassist Dale Peters – will headline the show, performing together for the first time in over 15 years. Their reunion slot is being billed as “one last ride”. Advertisement Per an official announcement post, all net proceeds from VetsAid will go directly to veteran services charities. Tickets go on sale at 10am local time this Friday (August 5) – buy yours here. This year’s line-up consists of acts that originate from Ohio. Grohl was born in Warren, Ohio while NIN formed in Cleveland. The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney were both born in Akron, Ohio. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VetsAid (@vetsaidofficial) “It all started in Ohio,” Walsh said in a statement to announce this year’s event (via Billboard). “Picking up my… Read More →