Peter Shep

New Keith Moon biopic to reportedly begin shooting this summer

The long-awaited biopic about The Who drummer Keith Moon is set to begin shooting this summer, according to reports. Moon was the drummer for The Who between 1964 and 1978 when he died from an overdose of Heminevrin, a drug used to treat and prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. The new film project, which is provisionally called The Real Me after the ‘Quadrophenia’ song, will be executive produced by The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Advertisement According to Variety, Paul Whittington (The Crown) is set to direct, while the script has been penned by British screenwriter Jeff Pope. The production company behind George Harrison: Living in the Material World and Ron Howard’s Beatles documentary Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years is helming the production of the project. Keith Moon – CREDIT: Press It’s still undetermined who will play Moon, although Daltrey has previously said the casting will need to be very specific – and will need to be based on the actor’s eyes. “I’ve got to find a Keith Moon,” the star told BBC 6Music’s Matt Everitt back in 2018. “It’s going to be very, very dependent on the actor and the actor’s eyes. Because you’ve got to cast it completely… Read More →

31JANNews

Watch Machine Gun Kelly confess new album title change to Travis Barker

Machine Gun Kelly has changed the name of his forthcoming new album just months after he got a matching tattoo with Travis Barker of the original LP’s title. READ MORE: Machine Gun Kelly: “I’ve been jumping up and down on the table, believing in myself, for-fucking-ever” Back in August, the rapper/rocker shared a video of himself and Barker, the album’s executive producer, both brandishing new tattoos of the title ‘Born With Horns’. “‘Born With Horns’ the album. we’re back for round two…” Kelly captioned the short clip, at the time. Advertisement Now, the pair have appeared in a new TikTok video in which MGK confesses to Barker that he’s now changed the album title to ‘Mainstream Sellout’. @machinegunkelly my bad @travisbarker ♬ original sound – Colson The follow-up to 2020’s ‘Tickets To My Downfall’ is set to be “more guitar-heavy” and lyrically “deeper”, MGK said last year. “It feels more guitar-heavy for sure, lyrically it definitely goes deeper – but I never like to do anything the same,” he added. “Every album is a juxtaposition of the last album. So I went and studied ‘Tickets’, and I heard the bright sound that I had, and for this album I just… Read More →

31JANNews

DJ fined for “lending” soundsystem for warehouse rave days before Downing Street party

A former BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ has been fined £1000 for supplying an illegal rave with a soundsystem during the second lockdown in 2020. READ MORE: The Tories’ funding cuts threaten to make the arts (even more of a) playground for the rich Maressa Innerarity, who is also known as Carmen London, provided equipment at a warehouse rave for 200 people in Bethnal Green, City of London Magistrates’ Court heard. Although she was not the event organiser, she arrived at the event with her own sound system, reports The Mirror. Despite that, prosecutor Nathan Paine-Davey said that her offence was enough to charge her for being involved in holding the gathering. At the time the country was just days into a lockdown which prevented any sort of mass gatherings indoor and out. The prosecutor said: “This relates to November 7 and 8. The defendant has been charged with an offence against the public protection coronavirus restrictions regulations which were in force on November 5, 2020.” Eric Kawoya, defending, said Innerarity had been asked by two friends named if they could borrow her sound equipment. He told the court his client did not know the equipment would be used for a party. Boris… Read More →

31JANNews

The Black Keys announce 2022 ‘Dropout Boogie’ US tour

The Black Keys have announced details of their ‘Dropout Boogie’ US tour – the duo’s first outing since their 2019 studio album ‘Let’s Rock’. Check out full dates and ticket details below. READ MORE: The Black Keys on LP ‘Delta Kream’: “We never thought of it as an album” Band of Horses will be supporting on all 32 dates of the expansive North American tour, with Ceramic Animal, Early James, and the Velveteers opening select performances. The Live Nation produced tour kicks off July 9 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Dropout Boogie tour will also be the band’s first dates following the release of their Grammy-nominated blues album ‘Delta Kream’ last year. Advertisement Speaking to NME in May 2021 singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney shared that they created the album accidentally. “We were doing all these songs from memory,” Auerbach told NME. “We just recorded this stuff for fun. We never even thought about it as being an album.” IT’S OFFICIAL – Our 32-date “Dropout Boogie” North American Tour begins July 9 in Las Vegas with special guest @bandofhorses. @CeramicAnimal, @earlyjamesbham, & @TheVelveteers for select dates! Tickets on sale Friday, February 4 at 10… Read More →

31JANNews

Alice Glass on referencing Crystal Castles on new album: “If I intentionally piss anyone off, then good”

Alice Glass has revealed that the title of her forthcoming album is a nod to her former band Crystal Castles. READ MORE: Alice Glass: “I never thought I would be talking openly like this… about anything” Glass was speaking to NME for last week’s Big Read and reflected on her time leaving Crystal Castles after the release of their third album ‘III’. Three years after that in 2014, Glass released a statement about bandmate Ethan Kath, alleging that she’d been physically, sexually, and psychologically abused by her former bandmate. Kath has consistently denied the allegations. “Leaving Crystal Castles was the single most difficult decision I’ve ever made — that band was everything to me,” she wrote at the time. “My music, my performances and my fans were all I had in the world. I gave that up and started over not because I wanted to but because I had to. “As difficult as it was, I knew that leaving was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It has taken me years to recover from enduring almost a decade of abuse, manipulation and psychological control. I am still recovering.” Kath responded with his own statement: “I am outraged and hurt by the… Read More →

31JANNews

Arlo Parks announces new single ‘Softly’: “I’m very proud of this one”

Arlo Parks announced her new single ‘Softly’ will be arriving this week, which she describes as a “piece of absolute yearning”. READ MORE: Arlo Parks: “I’d like to just still be really enjoying what I do because I’m so happy right now” The Mercury Prize winner shared that her first single of 2022, and follow-up to last year’s critically-acclaimed debut ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams‘ will be released on Tuesday (February 1). She also shared a link to pre-save the song on streaming services, as well as the single artwork which features Parks sitting alone on the hood of a dimly lit car. “Softly. 01/02/2022. Smash the link to pre-save this piece of absolute yearning. I’m very proud of this one,” said Parks. Softly. 01/02/2022. Smash the link to pre-save this piece of absolute yearning. im very proud of this one.https://t.co/Pyr4skECWc pic.twitter.com/XmNvz65izj — Arlo Parks (@arloparks) January 28, 2022 Advertisement Speaking to NME in December 2021, Parks discussed the evolution of her songwriting. “My sonic palettes and tastes have definitely expanded, and the kind of music that I want to make has changed,” she told NME. “But I think internally, the way that I write my lyrics, the way that I put songs together,… Read More →

31JANNews

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting a child together

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting a child together. READ MORE: Rihanna: every album ranked and rated New photographs captured the pair together in New York’s Harlem district last Friday (January 28). Rihanna unveiled her baby bump via an open coat accessorised with a chain as the pair walked around New York together. NME has reached out to representatives of Rihanna for comment. Advertisement You can see some of the images and reaction to the news here: OMFG RIHANNA IS WITH CHILD IM GOING TO BE AN AUNT THANK U GOD ?????????? Congrats sis I’m soooo happy!!!!! pic.twitter.com/rvw4RqUblc — BIA (@BIABIA) January 31, 2022 Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting ?? ?: Diggzy pic.twitter.com/IRTsqscjRm — Rap Alert (@rapalert6) January 31, 2022 rihanna looks so gorgeous and radiant pregnant.. like LOOK AT HER pic.twitter.com/gSbKCyQzMj — ➹ (@CARDIXTOWN) January 31, 2022 Rihanna really stole Sue’s thunder there — Rebecca Lucy Taylor (@SELFESTEEM___) January 31, 2022 Back in May last year, A$AP Rocky confirmed that he was dating Rihanna, after years of on-and-off speculation about their relationship. Advertisement The pair were first linked in 2013 when A$AP supported the Barbadian singer on her ‘Diamonds World Tour’. In an interview with GQ, Rocky described her as “the… Read More →

31JANNews

British folk legend Norma Waterson has died aged 82

Legendary British folk singer Norma Waterson has died at the age of 82, her family have revealed. The news was revealed by Waterson’s daughter Eliza Carthy, also a folk singer and part of the Carthy folk family alongside her mother and father, Martin Carthy. No cause of death has yet been revealed, but in a recent fundraiser attempt, Eliza revealed that her mother had been hospitalised with pneumonia. “Not much to say about such monumental sadness, but mam passed away yesterday afternoon, January 30th 2022,” Eliza wrote on Facebook. “Thinking of everyone who has supported and donated and just been there for us the last few weeks, the last few years, and through all of her triumphs and trials. “Our only hope is that she is with Lal and Mike and her mum and dad now, being held and welcomed and finally without pain. Her message concluded: “We love you Mam. Going to bring you home as soon as we can.” Hello all. Not much to say about such monumental sadness, but mam passed away yesterday afternoon, January 30th 2022. … Posted by Eliza Carthy on Monday, January 31, 2022 Carthy’s message also featured a link to a fundraiser set up… Read More →

31JANNews

Sam Fender to perform at the BRIT Awards 2022

It’s been confirmed that Sam Fender will perform at The BRIT Awards 2022. He’ll be sharing the stage with previously announced artists Doja Cat, Dave, Ed Sheeran, Holly Humberstone, Liam Gallagher and Little Simz. READ MORE: Sam Fender: “This album is probably the best thing I’ve done in my life” Advertisement Fender won the Rising Star Award in 2019 and has been nominated for Artist Of The Year and Rock/Alternative Act Of The Year at the 2022 event while second album ‘Seventeen Going Under’ has been shortlisted for Album Of The Year. “It’s beyond a dream to be performing at the BRIT Awards this year. Me and the band are so excited to get up on that stage, it’s going to be mega,” said Fender. The ceremony takes place February 8 at London’s The O2 Arena. We’re going to be performing at the @BRITs !!! Absolute insanity ?? it’s gonna be mint! You can help us pick up an award? 3 days left to vote! https://t.co/3ZEdF57nbO pic.twitter.com/NBcTOqc52X — Sam Fender (@samfendermusic) January 31, 2022 In March, Sam Fender will be performing at Brixton Academy as part of the Bandlab NME Awards 2022, sharing the stage with Griff, Rina Sawayama, CHVRCHES… Read More →

31JANNews

Wheein opens up about her personal connection to her latest mini-album ‘WHEE’

Wheein of MAMAMOO recently shared that her latest mini-album, ‘Whee’, drew inspiration from parts of her lifestyle and personality. READ MORE: Wheein – ‘WHEE’ review: a serene portrait of an artist in transition In a recent interview with the South China Morning Post, Wheein shared that the concept of her latest record was to “focus and concentrate on the light in myself and surrounding me.” “This album is about highlighting my charms and my comforting, and comfortable, vocal style, and that’s the message I kind of wanted to showcase,” the singer elaborated. “I feel like this album equals ‘Wheein’.” Elsewhere in the interview, the singer acknowledged that the mini-album’s concept also showed a different aspect of her personality. “I thought it was the right idea to go with all the glitter and being a little more feminine, a little more girly,” Wheein explained. Advertisement “I wouldn’t say that’s an artistic concept I want to push forever, but I would say I am just trying to be an artist who puts on the right clothes and the right concepts for every different song and album.” With ‘Whee’ marking the idol’s first solo release since her departure from RBW Entertainment, Wheein briefly… Read More →

28JANHit Singles

Imarhan – Aboogi

Imarhan have long been anointed as official heirs to Tinariwen’s desert-rock throne. Frontman Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane (aka Sadam) is the cousin of Tinariwen’s bassist Eyadou Ag Leche and has joined them as a touring member on occasion. The bond between the two bands continues on this album, with Tinariwen’s Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni and Mohammed Ag Itlale (aka Japonais) contributing guest vocals – the latter, poignantly, in his final recording session before his death in February. ORDER NOW: Johnny Marr is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut While the music Imarhan make draws from the same well, combining blues and rock with Tuareg folksong and its distinct flavour of “assouf” (which broadly translates as longing or solitude), they always set out to distinguish themselves from their forebears by incorporating poppier influences and appealing to a younger generation. Press photos around the time of their 2016 self-titled album showed the quintet dressed in jeans and leather jackets rather than the traditional allichu veils, while the promo clip for the following year’s terrific “Azzaman” found them cruising around the suburbs in fancy shades and pulling donuts in the desert, in a knowing nod to hip-hop culture. The video for… Read More →

26JANNews

Watch Kacey Musgraves cover Fleetwood Mac at impromptu Philadelphia performance

Kacey Musgraves gave an impromptu performance in Philadelphia on Monday (January 24), covering a Fleetwood Mac classic. The star is currently on her ‘Star-Crossed: Unveiled’ tour in North America, which began in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 19. READ MORE: Kacey Musgraves – ‘Star-Crossed’ review: a powerfully honest depiction of heartbreak Before she headlines the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tonight (26), Musgraves stopped by local gay bar Tavern On Carmac. On stage, joined by a pianist and backing singer, she delivered a rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 track ‘Dreams’. Advertisement When the song got the chorus, the crowd joined in with the country singer. Watch fan-shot footage of the performance below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gayborhood Famous (@gayborhoodfamous) Musgraves’ ‘Star-Crossed: Unveiled’ North American tour will continue through February 25, when it concludes in Toronto. The musician will bring her live show to Europe this summer, with performances at festivals including Primavera, Pinkpop and Lollapalooza Stockholm. Last month, the CEO of the Recording Academy explained why Musgraves had been deemed ineligible to be nominated for Best Country Album at the 2022 Grammys. “You’re seeing genre lines blurring,” Harvey Mason Jr said, referring to ‘Star-Crossed’’s pop-leaning moments…. Read More →

26JANNews

Marcus Rashford apologises for partying with Wiley following rapper’s antisemitism controversy

Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford has apologised after being photographed partying with Wiley following the rapper’s antisemitism controversy. Back in 2020, Wiley faced backlash after making anti-Semitic comments that led to his eventual suspension from social media sites. He began the tweets by talking about the music industry, writing: “A record deal is not to benefit you it’s to make the person who gave you the advance rich as hell while you take 17 or 18 per cent of net profit after costs.” He continued: “If you work for a company owned by 2 Jewish men and you challenge the Jewish community in anyway of course you will get fired.” Advertisement This week, the Jewish Chronicle posted an article featuring an image of Rashford and fellow Manchester United player Jesse Lingard partying with Wiley in Dubai, which gained backlash online. England footballers pictured partying with disgraced rapper Wiley https://t.co/khv2CNRBaj — The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) January 25, 2022 In response, Rashford tweeted yesterday (January 25): “This picture has been brought to my attention which I understand now, given context, could easily be misconstrued. I would like to reinforce that I do not and will not condone discriminative language or behaviour of… Read More →

25JANNews

Elton John tests positive for coronavirus, postpones US tour dates

Elton John has revealed he’s tested positive for coronavirus which has forced him to postpone a pair of upcoming shows. READ MORE: Elton John: “I’m not interested in the past – not even Elton John’s past” The legendary singer-songwriter, who is currently in the US on his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, took to Instagram Stories this evening (January 25) to share with fans that he’s having to postpone a pair of shows in Dallas because he’s caught COVID-19. “Hi everyone, wanted to send a message to let you know that I have contracted COVID and so have had to reschedule my shows in Dallas,” he wrote. “If you have tickets, you’ll be contacted with the new dates really soon. It’s always a massive disappointment to move shows and I’m so sorry to anyone who’s been inconvenienced by this but I want to keep myself and my team safe. Advertisement “Fortunately, I’m fully vaccinated and boosted and my symptoms are mild so I’m fully expecting to be able to make the Arkansas shows this weekend.” He concluded the post: “As always, thank you for all your love and support and I can’t wait to see you all soon!” CREDIT: Instagram/Elton… Read More →

25JANNews

Crown Prosecution Service to review use of drill lyrics in criminal trials

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is to review its guidance on the use of drill lyrics as evidence against defendants in criminal trials. While the CPS have said that they are not aware of any cases where drill music has been wrongly used as evidence, defence lawyers and academics have raised concerns about the use of lyrics in prosecuting drill artists. They say it can prevent a fair ruling. Currently, The CPS’ existing guidance for prosecutors’ says that gangs are “increasingly using drill music and social media to promote gang culture, glamorise the gang lifestyle and the use of weapons”. It adds: “They may post videos online that seek to taunt rivals, incite violence or glamorise criminality. “The videos often show the brandishing of weapons, include incendiary remarks about recent incidents of young people being killed or seriously injured, and threats to stab or shoot specific individuals and members of rival groups.” The guidance also states that issues can “escalate very quickly” due to the “instant nature of social media”. However, the CPS is now completing a “listening exercise” with academics, barristers, civil liberty campaigners and youth groups to see how trails can be affected by stereotyping youths who have expressed… Read More →

25JANNews

Watch Chris Martin crash Dakota Johnson interview to fix video issue

Chris Martin was spotted on camera fixing his girlfriend Dakota Johnson’s connection issues during a virtual event for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. READ MORE: ‘The Lost Daughter’ review: Olivia Colman’s latest Oscar-worthy performance The Coldplay frontman appears briefly in a clip shared via the Sundance Institute’s YouTube channel, seemingly after being asked to help sort things on the IT front. Advertisement Johnson was scheduled to talk about her film Cha Cha Real Smooth but when the host Charlie Sextro introduced her, he was met with silence for several seconds. Martin and Johnson then came into view, with Martin throwing a peace sign before exiting the room. It was a rare sighting of the couple, who have been dating since 2017, and followed Johnson recently addressing the relationship in an interview with ELLE UK. “We’ve been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes, but we both work so much that it’s nice to be at home and be cozy and private,” she said, before adding that “most of the partying takes place inside my house”. Meanwhile, last November Johnson said that Alfred Hitchcock “terrorised” her grandmother Tippi Hedren and “ruined her career”. Hedren worked with the director… Read More →

25JANNews

Halsey, Kid Cudi and J. Cole to headline Governors Ball 2022

Halsey, Kid Cudi and J. Cole will headline this year’s Governors Ball festival in New York – check the full line-up below. READ MORE: 20 festivals to look forward to in 2022 The three-day event is due to take place at the Citi Field complex in Queens, New York City, between June 10 and June 12, 2022. Tickets go on general sale here at 12pm EST this Thursday (January 27). Joining the aforementioned bill-toppers at the festival will be the likes of Migos, Jack Harlow, Flume, Playboi Carti, Glass Animals, Clairo, Roddy Ricch, Skepta, Beabadoobee, Japanese Breakfast and Soccer Mommy. Advertisement There’ll also be performances from Black Pumas, Paris Texas, Denzel Curry, 100 Gecs, Becky G and more across the weekend. Organisers have promised further announcements in the coming weeks. You can see the first official line-up poster below: CREDIT: Press J. Cole, who released his sixth album ‘The Off-Season’ last May, will also headline Rolling Loud Portugal and Bonnaroo this summer. Following a performance at Governors Ball, Halsey will top the bill at Reading & Leeds 2022 in support of her acclaimed fourth record ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’. In March, the singer will receive the Innovation… Read More →

25JANNews

Musicians defend Taylor Swift after Damon Albarn says she “doesn’t write her own songs”

Figures from the music world have come out to defend Taylor Swift after Damon Albarn claimed that she “doesn’t write her own songs”. During a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Blur and Gorillaz frontman explained that Swift’s “co-writing” approach is at odds with his “traditionalist” view of songwriting. READ MORE: Taylor Swift – ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ review: a retread of heartbreak When the LA Times journalist put it to him that Swift was “an excellent songwriter”, Albarn responded: “She doesn’t write her own songs.” Advertisement He went on to say that co-writing “doesn’t count”, adding: “I’m not hating on anybody, I’m just saying there’s a big difference between a songwriter and a songwriter who co-writes. Doesn’t mean that the outcome can’t be really great.” Swift later responded to Albarn’s comments, tweeting: “@DamonAlbarn I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this. “I write ALL my own songs. Your hot take is completely false and SO damaging. You don’t have to like my songs but it’s really fucked up to try and discredit my writing. WOW.” Damon Albarn; Taylor Swift (Picture: Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) Albarn subsequently apologised “unreservedly and unconditionally”… Read More →

24JANNews

‘The Wire’ almost had a different theme song by the Cowboy Junkies

The Wire was almost made using a different opening theme song, according to the show’s creator David Simon. READ MORE: Wendell Pierce: “The fight against racism is like fighting cancer” Each of the five seasons of the acclaimed HBO crime drama opened with a different version of Tom Waits‘ 1987 track ‘Way Down In The Hole’, taken from his 10th studio album, ‘Franks Wild Years’. The five versions were sung by The Blind Boys Of Alabama (season one), Tom Waits (season two), The Neville Brothers (season three), DoMaJe (season four), and Steve Earle (season five). Advertisement However, the show’s creator has now revealed that the opening theme could have been very different had it not been for some serious last minute chasing and help from Waits’ wife Kathleen Brennan. Simon, a longtime fan of Waits, first used music by the US singer-songwriter in a fifth season episode of Homicide: Life On The Street titled ‘Bad Medicine’. When it came time to make The Wire, he dipped back into Waits discography to find something suitable for his new show. “The first [song] I found was ‘Get Behind The Mule,’” Simon told Entertainment Weekly. “And it didn’t quite work, lyrically. It worked emotionally, but the verses were all… Read More →

24JANNews

US independent venues now facing ticketholder no-show rates of up to 50 per cent

Independent venues in the United States are facing ticketholder no-show rates of as high as 50 per cent, according to the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). The organisation, which was formed in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic first broke out and represents indie music venues, promoters and festivals, shared the statistic during a January 19 hearing before the US House Small Business Committee titled “The Power, Peril, and Promise of The Creative Economy”. “Today, the rollercoaster ride of the pandemic continues,” said NIVA representative Raeanne Presley, who co-owns the venue Presleys’ Country Jubilee in Branson, Missouri. “Traditionally, about five percent of ticket buyers don’t attend performances. But now, sagging consumer confidence is causing national no-show rates as high as 50 per cent. Advertisement “This is devastating, because most of our venues rely on in-house sales to pay core bills. We are also now confronted with increased costs due to inflation. Just in the past month, I’ve received notices of impending price increases from our trash hauler to our concession suppliers to our janitorial service.” This follows a recent Wall Street Journal report which found that between 17 per cent and 20 per cent of ticketholders did not attend shows in… Read More →

23JANNews

Don Wilson, The Ventures’ co-founder and guitarist, has died

Don Wilson, co-founder and rhythm guitarist for the influential instrumental rock band The Ventures, has died at the age of 88. The news was first reported by Seattle-based journalist Saint Bryan, who shared a message from Wilson’s family on Twitter, confirming that the musician had passed away in his sleep on Saturday morning (January 22). His family says Don Wilson, a founding member of The Ventures, passed away this morning in his sleep. With over 100 million records sold, The Ventures are the best selling and arguably the most influential instrumental rock band of all time. Wilson, the rhythm guitarist, was 88. pic.twitter.com/mgzQS8t4qU — Saint Bryan (@saintbryan) January 22, 2022 It was followed up by a statement from the family. “Our dad was an amazing rhythm guitar player who touched people all over the world with his band, The Ventures. He will have his place in history forever and was much loved and appreciated. He will be missed,” his son Tim told People. Wilson formed The Ventures in 1968 alongside bassist Bog Bogle, when the pair were both employed as construction workers in Seattle. Two years later, their cover of Johnny Smith’s ‘Walk, Don’t Run’ reached Number Two on the… Read More →