Peter Shep

Robbie Williams claims a hit man was once hired to kill him

Robbie Williams has claimed that he was the target of a hitman at the height of his career. READ MORE: ‘Better Man’: eight classic stories the Robbie Williams biopic should include The soloist, who started his career in boyband Take That, said in a new interview that he had “a contract” put on him to “kill” him. He told The Mirror: “I’ve never, ever said this, but I had a contract put on me to kill me. I’ve never said that publicly before. It went away. I have friends. That stuff is the unseen stuff that happens when you become famous.” Advertisement “At one point in my life I was ridiculously famous, Michael Jackson-style famous,” he added. “I became famous when I was 17, doing a boy band when I was 16, the boy band took off,” Williams said. “When I was 21, I left, and then I had a solo career, sold 80 million albums, held the record for the most tickets sold in a day for a tour and blah, blah, blah…” Robbie Williams performs live in 2019. CREDIT: Carla Speight/Getty Images for Bauer Media The singer, who last released an album, ‘The Christmas Present‘, in 2019, continued by… Read More →

14JANHit Singles

Mary Wilson – The Motown Anthology

The writing was on the wall for Mary Wilson long before “Reflections”, The Supremes’ 1967 hit, and 13th consecutive million-seller. It may have been the first single where the name of the group on the label was prefaced by the words “Diana Ross And…”, but lead vocal opportunities were already scarce – Wilson was afforded the middle-mic spotlight on just three tracks from the trio’s previous half-dozen albums. ORDER NOW: Johnny Marr is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut Yet, even when Motown founder Berry Gordy stepped back from overseeing the trio three years later to focus on the departing Ross’ solo career, Wilson continued, to a degree, playing second fiddle to Ross’ replacement, Jean Terrell. She’s front and centre for two big-hitters from the post-Diana era, trading verses with Terrell on 1971’s “Floy Joy” and whisperingly seductive on the following year’s “Automatically Sunshine”, and this two-disc compilation sets out to retrieve less lauded performances that fell between the cracks. The division of labour to come is absent on 1960’s soaring, Spector-like Motown prequel “Pretty Baby” when the group were still trading as The Primettes (a female counterpoint to the all-male Primes before they evolved into The… Read More →

14JANHit Singles

Cat Power – Covers

A cover can be a disguise or a source of warmth. Or it can be someone else’s song. For Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, all definitions apply. Ask her to explain the process of choosing which songs to record on her third album of covers and she will respond with a rush of consciousness that mirrors the way the record was made. ORDER NOW: Johnny Marr is on the cover in the latest issue of Uncut Some of the songs evolved through live performance, sometimes as reactions to Marshall’s own compositions. She took to singing Frank Ocean’s “Bad Religion” as an antidote to performing “In Your Face” (from 2018’s Wanderer) on tour, seeing it as a way of not getting pulled down by the weight of her own composition. Clearly, the line between resilience and despair is drawn in chalk, because “Bad Religion” is a confessional about a long night of the soul, with a taxi driver in the role of therapist, or at least an empathetic pair of ears. In Ocean’s version, the religious imagery is foregrounded by the arrangement. Ocean’s driver is Muslim, and the cultural awkwardness he described prompted some wayward interpretations of the lyrics. Marshall swerves… Read More →

13JANNews

Yungblud says his third album features “the most personal music I’ve ever written”

Yungblud has spoken further about his forthcoming third album, revealing that it features “the most personal music I’ve ever written”. The Doncaster artist is working on the follow-up to his December 2020 studio album ‘Weird!’, which followed his 2018 debut ‘21st Century Liability’. READ MORE: Yungblud at Reading Festival 2021: “I’ve got two new albums ready to go” After previously telling NME that he had “album three and four done and ready to go”, Yungblud has now elaborated further on his upcoming third LP in a new interview with Apple Music’s Hanuman Welch. Advertisement “I’ve been in London. I’ve been making kind of the third record, and I’m just so excited about it,” he said. “This is, for me, the most personal music I’ve ever written. And I think people are going to be a bit shocked about that because all my other music is pretty personal. Yungblud performs on stage at The Barrowland Ballroom on December 07, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. Credit: Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns “I think I just need to say it as it is: completely uncensored, completely outrageously. And I think this is what this album’s doing. You know what I mean? That’s what I do. And my… Read More →

12JANNews

Britney Spears hints that she’s set to write a memoir

Britney Spears has heavily hinted that she’s set to write a memoir about her life and experiences in the music industry. Since the singer’s notorious conservatorship was finally ended after 13 years last November, Spears has been the subject of a number of documentaries that have focused on her ongoing legal battles and bids for freedom. READ MORE: Controlling Britney Spears review: toxic conservatorship back under the microscope In a new Instagram post published yesterday (January 11), Spears has now hinted that she could also soon be telling her own story herself. Advertisement Sharing a photo of an old-school typewriter, she wrote: “Shall I start from THE BEGINNING???” See the post below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) In February 2021, a first documentary about Spears’ conservatorship – Framing Britney Spears – aired on FX and Hulu in the United States. After its premiere, Britney criticised the film, saying: “I didn’t watch the documentary but from what I did see of it I was embarrassed by the light they put me in. I cried for two weeks and well … I still cry sometimes !!!!” She also wasn’t a fan of its follow-up, September’s… Read More →

12JANNews

Ted Nugent says “there was no hate” in his comments about Joan Jett

Ted Nugent has sought to clarify his recent controversial comments about Joan Jett after he criticised the decision to include her in a list of the 100 greatest guitarists. Late last month, Nugent took issue with Jett’s inclusion in a list that was compiled by Rolling Stone‘s David Fricke back in 2003 (and was reposted online in 2010). READ MORE: Joan Jett: Rock icon talks narrating ‘Seven Decades Live’, Miley Cyrus, and Blondie collaboration “You have to have shit for brains and you have to be a soulless, soulless prick to put Joan Jett,” Nugent said about the list in question during a YouTube livestream on December 30, though he later added that he also “love[s] Joan… ‘Put another dime in the jukebox, baby’; great rock and roller”. Advertisement Nugent was asked about his Jett comments during a new video interview with David Spuria of The Real Music Observer, during which he downplayed his criticism of Jett’s inclusion in the list. “I started off by praising Joan Jett’s genuine shitkicker, down-to-earth, all-American rock and roll credentials,” Nugent said. “I started off by praising her. I even saluted the lesbian thing. “Here’s the question: how on God’s good green earth could… Read More →

12JANNews

Los Bitchos share whimsical music video for new single ‘Pista (Fresh Start)’

London-based band and NME 100 members Los Bitchos have shared ‘Pista (Fresh Start)’, the third single from their upcoming debut record, ‘Let The Festivities Begin!’. READ MORE: The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2022 ‘Pista (Fresh Start)’ arrived on streaming platforms on January 11, along with a Tom Mitchell-directed music video that concludes a trilogy of visuals. The video kicks off with the quartet frolicking around a compound before they realise that they’re being stalked by a feline, human-sized creature. Watch the music video for ‘Pista (Fresh Start)’ below. Advertisement Per a press statement, the band have revealed that the video drew inspiration from Italian horror filmmaker Dario Argento and the Are You Afraid Of The Dark? franchise. “The video transports you to our life in witness protection following our game show/courtroom victory – the good life and new beginnings. Things aren’t quite what they seem though… We had so much fun shooting this video and didn’t want to leave our cosy, wholesome nest,” said Los Bitchos. ‘Pista (Fresh Start)’ follows November’s ‘Good To Go!’, which came with a music video starring Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos as a gameshow host, and October’s ‘Las Panteras’. ‘Let The Festivities Begin!’ is… Read More →

11JANNews

Snoop Dogg files trademark for “Snoop Doggs” hot dog brand

Snoop Dogg has filed a trademark for a brand of hot dogs called “Snoop Doggs”. READ MORE: Snoop Dogg – ‘Algorithm’ review: Snoop’s shot at making old-school hip-hop great again According to Billboard, the rapper’s lawyers submitted an intent-to-use trademark application for the term “Snoop Doggs” at the US Patent and Trademark Office, stating that he plans to use it to sell hot dogs and other types of sausage. This means that he has not yet launched the brand but fully intends to do so sometime in the future. The rapper also made a similar trademark application for an ice cream company called “Snoop Scoops” in 2011 but no products were ever released under that venture. Advertisement In 2020 Snoop did however launch his own brand of gin called INDOGGO. He teamed up with Trusted Spirits’ co-founder Keenan Towns to create a “laid- back California style” drink that was inspired by his 1994 single ‘Gin And Juice’. In 2018 he broke the Guinness World Record for creating the globe’s largest gin and juice beverage. Measuring more than 132 gallons, the drink was made up of 38 jugs of orange juice, 154 bottles of apricot brandy and 180 bottles of gin. View… Read More →

11JANNews

Listen to Cate Le Bon woozy new song ‘Remembering Me’

Cate Le Bon has shared the final preview of her new album ‘Pompeii‘ – watch the video for ‘Remembering Me’ below. READ MORE: Cate Le Bon and Bradford Cox – ‘Myths 004’ review The Welsh musician/producer will release the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Reward’ on February 4, 2022 via Mexican Summer, which you can pre-order here. ‘Remembering Me’ follows the singles ‘Running Away‘ and ‘Moderation’. Advertisement Le Bon said of the song: “‘Remembering Me’ is a neurotic diary entry that questions notions of legacy and warped sentimentalism in the desperate need to self-mythologise.” Its accompanying, sparse music video is directed by Juliana Giraffe and Nicola Giraffe of Giraffe Studios and features costumes by Monica Adriana Rowlands. Of her sixth album, Le Bon said: “‘Pompeii’ was written and recorded in a quagmire of unease. Solo. In a time warp. In a house I had a life in 15 years ago. I grappled with existence, resignation and faith. I felt culpable for the mess but it smacked hard of the collective guilt imposed by religion and original sin. “The subtitle is: You will be forever connected to everything. Which, depending on the time of day, is as comforting as it is terrifying. The sense of… Read More →

11JANNews

The Weeknd heads to a sinister club in new ‘Gasoline’ video

The Weeknd has shared the official video for his latest single ‘Gasoline’ – you can watch it below. The song appears on the Canadian singer-songwriter’s new album ‘Dawn FM’, which was released last Friday (January 7). READ MORE: The Weeknd – ‘Dawn FM’ review: soulful star meets a new day with hope and hindsight Following on from the official clip for ‘Sacrifice’, the latest visuals see The Weekend – aka Abel Tesfaye – lose radio signal in his car before he crashes into a “DO NOT ENTER” signpost. Advertisement The dazed star – appearing as his much older moniker that appears on the ‘Dawn FM’ cover art – then stumbles out from the smoking vehicle as the titular radio station kicks back into action. After ‘Gasoline’ begins to play on the channel, we follow The Weeknd’s character to a busy nightclub where he comes face-to-face with the present-day Tesfaye. See how it all unfolds here: Yesterday (December 10) The Weeknd suggested that ‘Dawn FM’ is part of “a new trilogy”, with 2020’s ‘After Hours’ serving as its first instalment. Many fans are speculating that a third part – rumoured to be titled ‘After Life’ – is in the works. “I wonder…… Read More →

11JANNews

Watch Ozzy Osbourne preview his new “CryptoBatz” NFT collection

Sharon Osbourne has shared a preview video for Ozzy Osbourne‘s “CryptoBatz” NFT collection – tune in below. As announced last month, the former Black Sabbath frontman will launch the nearly-10,000-piece range of non-fungible tokens on January 20. READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne: “This album saved my life” Yesterday (January 10) Ozzy’s wife and manager Sharon posted a one-minute-20-second clip to social media, explaining how the NFT venture came about. Advertisement “[Ozzy] started thinking, he started working,” she said. “He was locked away in his library for weeks working on something big. He teamed up with a company called Sutter Systems. Their mission was to create an NFT project that wasn’t another celebrity rug pull. Ozzy launched an NFT project called @CryptoBatzNFT Probably nothing…. Join the discord now: https://t.co/BFd0sP1z7W pic.twitter.com/YNra1FVDiZ — Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) January 10, 2022 “They wanted to build something wonderful, something full of utility, something unique. They’ve called them… CryptoBatz.” As Sharon narrates the preview, Ozzy is seen rummaging around his workspace, making phone calls and rifling through paper copies of various bat designs. You can tune in via the tweet above. The upcoming ‘CryptoBatz’ range will be comprised of 9,666 unique NFT bats in reference to one of the… Read More →

11JANNews

Jazz and funk musician James Mtume has died, aged 76

James Mtume, the influential jazz and funk musician who founded the band Mtume and worked with a host of music legends, has died at the age of 76. Mtume’s family confirmed that he died on Sunday (January 9), with his granddaughter Yamani writing on Instagram: “Thank you for all your kind words. The entire Mtume family is absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. “We are so grateful to have shared him with you.” Mtume was the biological son of jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath, and changed his name to Mtume (which is Swahili for “messenger”) during his time with the Cultural Nationalist Organization US in the late 1960s. In the early 1970s he switched his focus to music, touring and recording as a percussionist with jazz legend Miles Davis, as well as the likes of Duke Ellington, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard and Sonny Rollins. In 1978 he released ‘Kiss This World Goodbye’, the debut album by his Mtume group. The band’s other records included 1983’s ‘Juicy Fruit’, with the title track becoming one of the band’s biggest hits (and was later sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. for his 1994 song ‘Juicy’). Mtume also worked as a songwriter and producer, forming… Read More →

11JANNews

Ex-Day6 member Jae Park reveals he personally called Jamie to apologise

Former Day6 member Jae Park has revealed that he personally contacted singer Jamie to apologise for the derogatory comments made about her. READ MORE: Ex-Day6 member Jae Park apologises to Jamie for derogatory comments Since taking a step back from group activities last year – and JYP Entertainment later confirming he was no longer a part of Day6 – Park has been communicating with fans through Twitch streams and broadcasts. In one recent stream on January 9, he spoke about Jamie, saying, “now that I’m not in K-pop anymore, I can say this. Why is Jamie trying to be a thot?” He went on to laugh at his words and told fans to tell her what he’d said. Advertisement He has since posted a public apology to his Twitter page, following backlash from his comments. “It was most definitely a comment made in poor taste and I feel terrible for making Jamie feel the way she does,” he wrote. On January 10, Park held another livestream to address the controversy. During the broadcast, the musician revealed that he texted and called Jamie right after the stream to apologise – an act that, according to the musician, cemented the severity of the situation for him. “I… Read More →

10JANNews

The Weeknd says ‘Dawn FM’ is part of “a new trilogy”

The Weeknd has suggested that his new album ‘Dawn FM‘ is part of “a new trilogy”. READ MORE: The Weeknd – ‘Dawn FM’ review: soulful star meets a new day with hope and hindsight Abel Tesfaye’s fifth LP was released last Friday (January 7), and follows last year’s ‘After Hours‘. Taking to Twitter tonight (January 10), he wrote: “I wonder… did you know you’re experiencing a new trilogy?” alongside picture of his older self that features on the front cover of his new record. Advertisement Many fans are speculating that a third album is in the pipeline, and is likely to be called ‘After Life’. i wonder… did you know you’re experiencing a new trilogy? pic.twitter.com/G5TfjvJVyM — The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 10, 2022 IT’S REAL OMG pic.twitter.com/qODwK3mcIm — miguel FM ? (@mcmalveiro) January 10, 2022 Yes we know. The character died in after hours and is in a purgatory state in Dawn FM, in the 3rd chapter he’ll either go to heaven or hell. pic.twitter.com/kMFLVTGIpu — 슈가⁷Dawn FM?? (@hvbibvtaXO) January 10, 2022 Some also believe that his character died in ‘After Hours’, and is in a purgatory state on ‘Dawn FM’. “In the 3rd chapter he’ll either go to heaven… Read More →

10JANNews

Miles Kane announces pop-up chicken shop in London

Miles Kane has announced plans to open a pop-up chicken shop in London. READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Miles Kane: “I don’t feel like, ‘Oh, I’ve made it, ma!” The shop – dubbed Kane’s Crispy Chicken Wings – will open for business on January 21, to celebrate release of the Last Shadow Puppets frontman’s new solo album ‘Change The Show’. It’ll see Kane take over Randy’s Wing Bar in Hackney, with tickets (which include entry, food and a live performance from Kane) priced at £15. You can pre-order them from the singer-songwriter’s website here. Advertisement In a press release, Kane said: “The wings will be cooked and served by yours truly and my good friend Big Lew using my very own Buffalo sauce which I worked on with Randy’s Wing Bar. I’ll also be doing an acoustic performance of songs from my new album along with some old favourites.” Take a look at Kane helping to prep the signature wings below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miles Kane (@mileskane) Earlier today (January 10), Kane announced he’d be rescheduling his upcoming UK tour to later in 2022, citing the rising number in COVID-19 cases. “For the safety of… Read More →

10JANNews

Watch ‘Wolf Alice’ perform ‘Smile’ live at The Pool studio in London

Wolf Alice have shared a live video of the band performing ‘Smile’ at London’s The Pool studio. READ MORE: Wolf Alice live in London: spellbinding small venue show from snarling rock superstars The intimate performance, which you can view below, features on the band’s recent ‘Tour Deluxe’ edition of their five-star 2021 album ‘Blue Weekend’. The expanded LP also features three other live versions from the record and a cover of Alex G‘s 2017 track ‘Bobby’. Advertisement It follows a recent live video of the band performing ‘Delicious Things’ with an orchestra and choir at London’s Abbey Road studios. Meanwhile, Wolf Alice recently postponed their UK tour due to the soaring rise in COVID-19 cases. The band said that they were “absolutely gutted” to be axing their current roster, but noted that “people’s safety and access to our concerts is of the utmost importance to us and we feel that is something we can’t ensure at these large indoor shows”. New dates for the UK tour are yet to be confirmed, but the band said they “will be making an announcement in the following weeks”. All tickets for the old shows remain valid, with refunds available for those unable to make… Read More →

10JANNews

Against The Current releases ‘Wildfire’ in collaboration with the LEC

Pop rock band Against The Current have released their latest track ‘Wildfire’, teaming up with the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) to include musical performances from two of the pro scene’s casters. READ MORE: Daniel Drakos explains how music became the defining aspect of Europe’s ‘League Of Legends’ scene As part of its collaboration with the LEC, ‘Wildfire’ (listening platforms here) includes vocals from Andrew ‘Vedius’ Day and a rap interlude by Daniel ‘Drakos’, both casters within the European pro scene. On teaming up with Against The Current, Day shared the following: “The LEC team has had a lot of fun producing music videos in the past but to partner up with Chrissy and her band Against the Current was extra special for us. They’re so well known in the world of esports for their massive hit Legends Never Die, so to collaborate on a song with them was a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment.” Advertisement Meanwhile, Against The Current vocalist Chrissy Costanza said “bringing Wildfire to life was a surreal experience from beginning to end,” adding that “shooting the video for Wildfire was one of the biggest productions we have ever been on”. Against The Current has… Read More →

10JANNews

Kanye West lets fan freestyle for him in the street in New York City

Footage has emerged of Kanye West letting an aspiring rapper freelance for him in the street – check it out below. In the video, Kanye is seen leaving a restaurant in New York City with his girlfriend Julia Fox. A handful of fans are then waiting for him as he gets in a car, with Kanye posing for selfies and speaking to the fans. Advertisement One fan, an MC by the name of Loner, began speaking to Kanye about his burgeoning rap career, before Kanye beckoned him to rap into the camera that was filming the exchange. Once Loner began rapping, Kanye then joined in with a number of ad-libs, before asking the rapper: “Tell ’em what’s your name? What’s your name,” adding: “Give ’em your Instagram! Give ’em your Instagram!” See the exchange below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by blayzenphotos (@blayzenphotos) Elsewhere, Kanye is said to be at work on his 11th studio album, less than six months after the release of ‘DONDA’. In a recent statement to Complex, Steven Victor – who worked with West as COO of his label, GOOD Music – claimed that West was working on what he described as “his new masterpiece”…. Read More →

09JANNews

Previously unseen footage of Rolling Stones and more at Altamont released

Previously unreleased footage from the infamous Altamont Speedway Free Festival in 1969 has been released by the Library of Congress. The free concert took place at Altamont Raceway Park in northern California on December 6, 1969 and featured performances by The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and more. READ MORE: Charlie Watts, 1941 – 2021: the ballast that kept The Rolling Stones tempered and on-track The event was attended by approximately 300,000 people. Infamously, it was the site of severe violence, including the stabbing of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter by Hells Angels, who were serving as security at the festival. Advertisement While footage from the day has previously been shown in the Maysles Brothers’ documentary Gimme Shelter, the Library of Congress has now shared a home movie that has never been seen before. The video, which comes without audio, shows Rolling Stones, Gram Parsons, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and more performing and hanging out in the crowd. Watch it below now. The footage was acquired by archivist Rick Prelinger in 1996, whose 200,000-reel collection was given to the Library in 2022. The Library’s head of the Moving Image Section, Mike Mashon, wrote in a blog… Read More →

09JANNews

Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones and more pay tribute to songwriter Marilyn Bergman

Marilyn Bergman, the songwriting giant known for her work in film, television and theater, has died at the age of 93. She passed away at her home in Los Angels on Saturday morning (January 8) with husband Alan Bergman and daughter Julie Bergman at her side. The cause of death was respiratory failure (non-COVID related). Bergman’s death was confirmed by ASCAP president, chairman, and songwriter Paul Williams, who issued a statement (via Deadline). “It is with deep sadness that I personally, and all of ASCAP, mourn the passing of Marilyn Bergman – one of the greatest lyricists who ever lived and truly ASCAP royalty,” Williams said. “She was a brilliant songwriter who together with her husband, Alan Bergman, gave us some of the most beautiful and enduring lyrics of all time. “She was a tireless and fierce advocate for music creators not only during her term as President and Chairman of ASCAP but throughout her life. Our community will miss her intelligence, her wit and her wisdom. Alan – we mourn with you.” Bergman was a force in the songwriting world, picking up a variety of awards across her career including three Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards,… Read More →

08JANNews

Timbaland likens The Weeknd’s ‘Dawn FM’ to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’

Timbaland has voiced his approval of The Weeknd‘s new album ‘Dawn FM’, and has likened it to Michael Jackson‘s ‘Thriller’. READ MORE: The Weeknd – ‘Dawn FM’ review: soulful star meets a new day with hope and hindsight The Canadian superstar’s fifth studio album – the follow-up to 2020’s ‘After Hours’ – was released yesterday (January 7) and so far has been met with much acclaim. Among the album’s fans is producer and VERZUZ co-founder Timbaland, who took to social media to express his excitement over ‘Dawn FM’ while comparing it to one of the biggest-selling albums of all time. Advertisement “This album’s different, yo,” Timbo said in an Instagram clip. “This shit right here, this on some ‘Thriller’ shit. Trust me when I tell you. And the way he dropped this shit, yo… congrats. This shit is amazing.” Timbaland compares The Weekend’s new album “Dawn FM” to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson pic.twitter.com/SWzUchAxHS — GlockTopickz (@Glock_Topickz) January 7, 2022 Timbaland knows a thing or two about Michael Jackson, having produced the singer’s last posthumous album, 2014’s ‘Xscape’. The King of Pop’s second posthumous release comprised of previously unreleased tracks that were recorded between 1980 and 2001. L.A. Reid, chairman of Epic Records at… Read More →