Harry Styles in talks for one-off show at Las Vegas’ Sphere

OHMYGOSSIP — Harry Styles is said to be in talks for a special Las Vegas show.
The ‘As It Was’ hitmaker, 29, is reported to have had a four-hour meeting with the bosses at the MSG Sphere in Sin City after witnessing U2’s show at the revolutionary venue.
A source told The Sun on Sunday’s Bizarre column: “This would truly cement the Sphere as a major venue.
“Die-hard fans of Harry and One Direction will be desperate to get their mitts on a ticket. It would undoubtedly sell out in minutes.”
The immersive performance would reportedly be streamed globally.
Harry’s talks to perform at the venue come after it was claimed Beyonce is reportedly eyeing a $10 million show there.
The ‘Cuff It’ hitmaker is said to have toured the state-of-the-art venue with her manager in tow.
She has since had discussions with the executive chairman of MSG Networks, James Dolan, about doing a residency there next year, according to the New York Post.
The multi-billion-dollar immersive MSG Sphere at the Venetian sees gig-goers placed in a “360-degree sonic spectrum” where the sound is the same wherever they are sitting.
It would be a huge win for the venue after Beyonce raked in a reported $579 million for her ‘Renaissance World Tour’, which became the highest-grossing tour ever by a female artist.
The likes of Lady Gaga and Bon Jovi are also said to be keen to book the venue.

Source: IconInsider.com

Jack Antonoff insists Hey Joe is not about Taylor Swift’s ex-boyfriend

OHMYGOSSIP — Jack Antonoff’s new song ‘Hey Joe’ is not about Taylor Swift’s ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn – it’s actually a tribute to his dad.
The musician is due to release a new self-titled record with his band Bleachers next year and he’s revealed fans of his longtime collaborator Taylor have already looked and the track list and speculated one of the songs is about her ex Joe but Jack is adamant they are going to be disappointed
He told the Guardian newspaper: “There’s a community of people that will be pretty disappointed when they find out it’s [‘Hey Joe’] a meditation on my father and his friends walking the Ho Chi Minh trail in their 60s.”
The 39-year-old musician went on to add that the album touches on his grief after losing his younger sister Sarah to brain cancer in 2001 when she was just 13 and the death of his cousin fighting in the Iraq war.
Antonoff said the album explores “tribute living” which he says it a way of living for a lost loved one. He explained: “It was about a character – myself, when I was sort of stuck – who wants to find something outside of this living-in-tribute, where every move in one’s life is for the person who can’t be here .. [I wrote] songs that were extremely present. I started to see my writing not beyond, but in addition to, the lens of grief.”
He added of recording music: “The truth is, when you make records, you’re not thinking about it at all – because if you are, you know what it is and it’s not interesting. All of the songs that I’ve ever written, they feel like something that scares me and is really deep, and I’m figuring out as I’m doing it.”
Bleachers is due for release on March 8.

Source: IconInsider.com

Take That ‘don’t know’ where Jason Orange is

OHMYGOSSIP — Take That “don’t know” where Jason Orange is.
The 53-year-old singer left the group in 2014 and while he occasionally gets in touch with his former bandmates – Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Gary Barlow – they are unable to maintain contact with him and wouldn’t know how to find him.
Howard told The Sun newspaper: “I don’t know where he is. He’s difficult to get hold of, and I believe that’s the way he wants it.
“When an album is coming out he’ll send an email saying, ‘I wish you all the success in the world’. And then the next day you try replying to it and it’s a no-reply email address.
“Wherever he is, I really hope he is happy.”
Gary admitted the lack of contact would have been “easier” to cope with if they had had a big row with Jason as then they’d have been able to understand his absence, but he does find it reassuring to know his former pal is still looking out for them.
He said: “It’s a tricky one with Jay. I almost think if there had been a big argument it would be easier, but there wasn’t.
“He just wanted a change in his life. But he does keep an eye on us. And it’s nice to know that.”
And despite rarely hearing from their old bandmate, the ‘Patience’ group admitted they’d still happily welcome him back to the fold if he ever wanted to return.
Howard said: “He’d done his time in Take That — although he’s welcome back anytime.”
Despite the band having formed in 1990, they have no plans to stop although Howard, 55, admitted they may have to slow down and adapt to getting older.
He said: “This is my life and I don’t ever want it to stop.
“We will get to a point where the dance moves may stop, but we will always have an energy.
“Next year’s tour will be amazing and different to previous ones. They’ve all been unique.
“We are so proud of how far we’ve come and what we’ve achieved with this album.
“It’s a new era and it almost makes me feel like we are just getting started.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Ozzy Osbourne back to smoking weed as he fears he has only 10 years to live

OHMYGOSSIP — Ozzy Osbourne has gone back to smoking weed as he fears he has only 10 years to live.
The Black Sabbath frontman, 74, who is afflicted with Parkinson’s and pain from a string of surgeries, revealed his wife Sharon, 71, recently told him off for puffing in a joint but he told her he does not think he has long left so it didn’t matter.
He told The Sun: “I don’t fear dying, but I don’t want to have a long, painful and miserable existence.
“I like the idea that if you have a terminal illness, you can go to Switzerland and get it done quickly.
“I saw my father die of cancer. I said to Sharon that I’d smoked a joint recently and she said, ‘What are you doing that for? It’ll kill you!’
“I said, ‘How long do you want me to live for?’
“At best, I’ve got 10 years left and, when you’re older, time picks up speed.”
Sharon added in a joint chat with The Sun about her husband’s health: “At times I’ve just felt so helpless and so bad for Ozzy. He’s gone through all these operations and the whole thing has felt like a nightmare.
“He hasn’t lost his sense of humour, but I look at my husband and he’s here while everyone else is out on the road.
“This is the longest time he hasn’t ever worked for. Being at home for so long has been so foreign to him.”
Ozzy is set to turn 75 in December and on Thursday (23.11.23) night picked up the Icon Award at the first Rolling Stone UK Awards.
The rocker is set to retire as he continues to battle a rare – but mild – form of Parkinson’s.
But he said it is surgeries following a fall in 2019 that have resulted in his biggest health fights.
An accident dislodged metal rods which had been inserted into his back after a quad bike accident at his home in Buckinghamshire in 2003 and earlier this year, the rocker underwent spinal surgery for a fourth time in a bid to repair another operation – where a tumour was also discovered.

Source: IconInsider.com

Brit Awards bosses ‘increasing number of Artist of the Year nominations to 10’

OHMYGOSSIP — Brit Awards bosses are reportedly increasing the number of Artist of the Year nominations to 10.
Organisers are said to be making the move following a backlash after they introduced genderless categories for the 2023 event as part of a diversity drive.
The change was slammed as the Artist of the Year gong, which was won by for One Direction singer Harry Styles, 29, had no female artists in the running for the trophy.
A source told The Sun about how bosses are now expanding the category – again in the hope it will add more diversity to the nominees list: “The Brits’ decision to create genderless categories was huge and they’ve now tweaked it again to try to make it more inclusive.
“The move to go genderless was meant to be progressive, and by making this change they are hoping that it reflects this.”
The International Artist of the Year gong is also set to have 10 nominations, and bosses are also bringing in a new category, according to The Sun.
It said the 2024 Brits will now see a dedicated R B genre alongside the long-running Alternative/Rock, Dance, Pop and Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap categories.
The newspaper added the “eligibility period for R and B nominations will be extended from 12 months to 24 months”.
It will apparently let artists who could have been in with a shout this year to be nominated again.
Harry Styles swept the board at this year’s Brits – while acknowledging his “privilege” for triumphing as Artist of the Year.
He also won for album of the year, song of the year for ‘As It Was’ and best pop/R and B act.

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Sarah Harding gave Girls Aloud her blessing to reform

OHMYGOSSIP — Sarah Harding gave the Girls Aloud reunion her blessing, Cheryl has revealed.
Cheryl, 40, Kimberley Walsh, 42, Nadine Coyle, 38 and Nicola Roberts, 38, will hit the road in May and June 2024 for a greatest hits tour which will coincide with it being 21 years since won ‘Popstars: The Rivals’.
The band members had been discussing the plans for some time but put the idea on ice when Sarah – who died in September 2021 aged 39 – was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now, Cheryl has revealed that one of Sarah’s final wishes was for the girls to get back on stage together.
Speaking to British Vogue, she said: “She turned to me once and said, ‘You know, when I’m not here, you girls should do something.’
“But when you’re face to face with someone that’s dying . . . we just thought some miracle was going to occur. We all thought we might be able to do something together.”
The group had been discussing a reunion before Sarah got her cancer diagnosis in 2020 but they could not face planning getting back on stage together in the wake of her death.
Cheryl added: “It’s hard for us to be here without her. It was our 20th anniversary last year but we were in no emotional shape to even contemplate celebrating at the time.
“Everything went out the window when we learnt about her diagnosis. We just needed to be there for her and support her as much as we could.”
Kimberley insists the tour will honour Sarah, who was one of the most passionate members of the group.
Appearing on Heart Breakfast, she said: “We always talk about how much (Sarah) loved Girls Aloud. She loved it.
“It was just the best time ever for her. We spoke so much about it in the few months before she passed away and how much she loved it.
“She made us watch old videos, the things we’d done together. She always said we had an amazing time together. She would love that we are doing this.”
Girls Aloud, which formed in 2002 on ITV’s ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ went on to become the most successful girl group of the 1990s, selling more than five million albums and landing four No1 singles and a Brit Award.
Their tour kicks off at the 3Arena in Dublin on 18 May and will finish at Liverpool’s M and S Bank Arena on 29 June, with tickets available from 1 December.

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Madness celebrate landing third UK No 1 album: ‘Thank you to everyone who worked with us!’

OHMYGOSSIP — Madness are celebrating landing their third UK No 1 album.
Suggs and Co hit the spot with their record ‘Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est la Vie’ – knocking Taylor Swift’s ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ to No 2 following its three consecutive weeks at the top of the Official Albums Chart.
It’s Madness’ first studio album to manage a No 1, as their previous two to reach the top were the greatest hits collections ‘Complete Madness’ in 1982 and 1992’s ‘Divine Madness’.
This also marks the group’s 20th time in the top 40 album charts, and 11th in the top 10.
The group toasted the landmark as they re-opened the doors of HMV’s iconic flagship store on Oxford Street in London on Friday. (24.11.23)
Madness said in a statement: “Thank you so much to everyone who worked with us, our record company, our management, and especially you, the fans, for making us No 1!”
The album marks seven years since the latest record from the ska favourites behind crowd-pleasers including ‘House of Fun’ and ‘Baggy Trousers’.
Madness’ ‘C’est la Vie’ lead single from the album was premiered on Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show in September and is described as having an “eerie space-ska feel”.
Composer and keyboard player Mike ‘Barso’ Barson said it is “about these crazy times we’re living in, and how I just want to stay on my boat and not be a part of all this madness”.
Meanwhile, Dolly Parton landed her fifth top 10 album with ‘Rockstar’, a collection of rock cover versions featuring collaborations with the likes of Miley Cyrus, Sting and the two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Just outside the Top 10 albums chart, Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra finish the week at No 12 with ‘Jewels of Romance’ – Andre’s 20th top 40 record.
Michael Bublé’s inevitable rise with Christmas on the horizon continues as his album climbed 16 places to Number 16.
And festive favourite Cliff Richard is enjoying his usual end-of-year chart success as his ‘Cliff with Strings – My Kinda Life’ record rebounded 13 places to land back in the top 40 at 36.
Rockers The National earned their second top 40 album of the year with ‘Laugh Track; at 24 – giving the band a total of six UK top 40 albums.

Source: IconInsider.com

Girls Aloud confirm reunion tour

OHMYGOSSIP — Girls Aloud are reuniting for a greatest hits tour.
The surviving members of the group – Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – are planning to hit the road in May and June 2024 in recognition of this month marking 21 years since they and the late Sarah Harding won ‘Popstars: The Rivals’.
However, the group have not recorded new music but just want to celebrate their back catalogue.
Cheryl revealed they had been discussing the plans for some time but put the idea on ice when Sarah – who died in September 2021 – was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said in a statement: “We all started talking about the possibility of doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20-year anniversary a few years ago. The anniversary seemed like an obvious thing that we would celebrate.
“But when Sarah fell ill all priorities changed. She passed away a year before the anniversary and it just didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.”
The group plan to use the tour to “celebrate” their late friend.
Cheryl added: “But now, I think there is an energy that does makes it feel right. It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this 21 years later. That’s a big honour in lots of ways.”
Kimberley said: “Over the last year, we’ve felt this outpouring of love – obviously towards Sarah, but actually towards all of us as a group. And I guess it’s ignited something in all of us again. It feels like something has changed and it does feel like the right time to celebrate Sarah and the 20-year anniversary that we didn’t celebrate at the time.”
The group hope fans will enjoy the tour just as much as them.
Nadine said: “Girls Aloud are a band that made such a huge impact on people’s lives. We grew up with the band, but so did so many other people. So for us not to do something again feels like such a shame and a waste. We want to have that moment with fans where we can all enjoy it together.”
Nicola added: “I think what’s really encouraging is that whenever people ask us about reuniting it’s not, ‘Would you guys ever do it?’ but ‘When are you guys gonna do it?’
“To know we still have that love from our fans and people who watched us grow up gives us the confidence to do the tour. It will be massive celebration of everything we’ve done up to this point. We want people to leave being like, ‘Wow, I’ve just had one of the best nights of my life.’
Tickets will go on pre-sale on Wednesday 29 November at 9am, with the general on sale Friday 1 December at 9am, all via girlsaloud.com.

‘The Girls Aloud Show’ arena tour dates are:
18 May – 3Arena Dublin
20 May – SSE Arena Belfast
23 May – Manchester AO Arena
24 May – Manchester AO Arena
27 May – Cardiff Utilita Arena
31 May – Newcastle Utilita Arena
1 June – Newcastle Utilita Arena
4 June – Aberdeen P+J Live
8 June – Glasgow OVO Hydro
12 June – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
15 June – Leeds First Direct Arena
18 June – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
22 June – London The O2
23 June – London The O2
29 June – Liverpool M+S Bank Arena

Source: IconInsider.com

Lauryn Hill postpones most of remaining tour dates due to ‘serious vocal strain’

OHMYGOSSIP — Lauryn Hill has postponed most of the remaining dates on her tour after battling “serious vocal strain” for the past month.
The 48-year-old hip hop artist has been playing shows on her ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ 25th anniversary tour alongside the Fugees, and she has been “making it through” each gig by taking a prescribed medication to help her voice, but she admits that is “detrimental to the body when taken in large amounts over long periods of time”.
As a result, Lauryn has been forced to reschedule several shows, because she needs to “take time off to allow for real vocal recovery”.
She wrote on Instagram: “I’d like to start this off by saying how much I’ve enjoyed being on the road, and how much I appreciate all of the fans who have come out to celebrate this incredible milestone anniversary and history making reunion with us. Being able to tour this album to sold out crowds after 25 years has been an emotional experience! I’ve loved sharing the stage again with Wyclef and Pras. The Return of the Fugees has been powerful and amazing – those who’ve witnessed it can testify. The tour itself reminds us the artists, and the audiences alike of earlier, perhaps less complicated times when ‘It could all be so simple…’ or ‘Ready Or Not, here I come!’ were on repeat on the airwaves. Simply put, classic. Classic music, classic performances with audiences who love those classics has been nothing but…wait for it … EPIC. (I almost said classic again!)
“As many of you may know, I’ve been battling serious vocal strain for the past month. I made it through each show by taking prescribed prednisone, but this can be detrimental to the body when taken in large amounts over long periods of time. In order to prevent any long term negative affect on my voice and my body, I need to take time off to allow for real vocal recovery so that I can discontinue the medication completely.
“For this reason we have to reschedule most of the remaining shows this year. The shows that were cancelled this year will be rescheduled for early 2024 AND because of the overwhelming response, we’ll be adding new cities to the tour, including overseas.
We’re working on the new calendar now, and announcing soon. (sic)”
However, Lauryn is still planning to perform at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on Sunday (26.11.23), after the initial show was due to take place last month.
She added: “The show in PHILLY this weekend IS STILL HAPPENING. We already had to move this show once and being so close to New Jersey, it’s basically hometown for us – so we’ll close out the year with one final show amongst friends and family!
“We want to thank everyone who celebrated with us – EVERY SINGLE FAN …and ALL band, crew, production, staff, family, friends and Day 1-OG-CAMP members who helped make each and every single night LEGENDARY!
“We’re ALL looking forward to getting back out again next year to finish this EPIC (now extended anniversary) celebration of these CLASSICS.
MLH (sic)”
Last month, Lauryn had to postpone her Philadelphia concert, which was due to take place on October 23rd, to prevent “serious strain or damage” to her vocal cords.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: “Dear Philadelphia, It is with disappointment that I am writing this note to you. On the advice of my physicians, I have no choice but to postpone the show. I need to rest my voice to prevent any more serious strain or damage to my vocal cords.
“The start of this tour has been incredible. What an amazing experience to celebrate this anniversary with all of my family, my friends and all of you.
“I look forward to giving you the show you deserve with a fully recovered and healthy voice.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Bus driver claims he’s owned royalties for Tupac classic Dear Mama

OHMYGOSSIP — A bus driver has claimed he’s owed royalties for his work on Tupac’s ‘Dear Mama’.
New York City bus driver and musician Terrence Thomas, who used to produce and DJ under the moniker Master Tee, has filed a lawsuit alleging he had a significant role in the creation of the late hip hop legend’s iconic 1995 track, which featured on his third album ‘Me Against The World’.
As reported by Music Business Worldwide, Thomas – who was credited as a co-producer on the song – has claimed he was “never properly and fully credited for his publishing copyright”.
In the lawsuit, he cites interviews with the rapper himself, as well as handwritten credits he wrote which named him as the creator of the original beat.
He also alleged that Interscope, the label’s parent company Universal Music Group and producer Tony D. Pizarro “conspired” to diminish his role in order to stop him earning royalties as a co-writer.
The lawsuit claims: “A self-serving group, led by an upstart music producer, Tony D. Pizarro, conspired with executives at Interscope Records and Universal Music Group (UMG), misappropriated Master Tee’s publishing copyright and master recording copyright and assumed the identity of writer/publisher of Dear Mama’s music.”
The song itself is one of only three hip hop tracks to be recognised in the Library of Congress registry, with the organisation describing it as “a moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper’s own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference”.
The lawsuit also targets Warner Bros, Fox, Hulu, Disney and NBC regarding the five-part documentary series ‘Dear Mama’, which dropped earlier this year and focused on the relationship between Tupac and his mother Afeni Shakur.
The lawsuit does note that the version he and Tupac recorded in 1993 wasn’t the version that was released in 1995, but he claims Pizarro did use the original to create the latter.
Thomas is seeking “proper credit” on the track as producer, co-writer, and co-publisher, plus “compensation for his contributions to the song”.

Source: IconInsider.com

Enrique Iglesias confirms next album will be final one

OHMYGOSSIP — Enrique Iglesias will stop making new albums after his next LP.
The ‘Hero’ hitmaker is preparing for the release of ‘Final (Vol 2)’ in February 2024 – over two years since the first volume dropped – and he has maintained his promise that the upcoming collection will be his last.
He told ‘Today’: ‘I’ve been working on this album for quite a bunch of years.
“And for me it was always like I said, my final album… this is it. I don’t think — no, I know, I won’t be doing any more albums.”
He revealed the record is “finished” and ready to drop, but he wants to focus on filming a couple of videos first.
He added: “It’s finished. It’s actually coming out in February. It’s completely finished.
“What I want to do is shoot one or two videos right before the second leg on the tour and launch it.”
The 48-year-old singer previously admitted the idea of ending with the upcoming collection isn’t a new one.
Back in 2021, he said during an Instagram chat: “It might be my final album. It’s not something that I have been thinking about for the past few months. It’s something that I have been thinking about for the past few years.
“There’s going to be Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, but they’re final. I’m in that moment in my life, that chapter in my life, where I think it’s the right time to put it out and I’ve been thinking about this since 2015.”
However, he insisted he has no plans to stop making music, even if they will be “packaged” in a different way.
He explained: “I’m never going to stop writing songs because I love writing songs, but I’m going to do it in a different way – meaning they don’t necessarily have to be packaged as an album – so this project to me is important.”

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MOBO Awards moving back out of London for first time host

OHMYGOSSIP — The MOBO Awards is heading to Sheffield for the first time in its 26-year history.
The long running event – which celebrates black music and culture across the UK – will mark its 26th annual event by once again leaving London after over a decade exploring other cities in England and Scotland.
In a statement, MOBO founder Kanya King said: “MOBO are excited to be kicking off the 2024 Awards season and heading to the city of Sheffield for the very first time for the 26th MOBO Awards.
“For the past 14 years, the MOBO Awards have travelled to cities outside of London – including Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Coventry, and now Sheffield.
“Our desire to bring MOBO to different cities across the UK has always been rooted in the desire to unite massive talent from a local and global level, as well as fans, to deliver an iconic music experience rooted in celebrating Black music’s present and future, as well as elevating the culture and being a driving force for social change.”
The ceremony will take place at the Utilita Arena Sheffield on February 7, 2024 with a special behind the scenes show coming to BBC One featuring never before seen performances and interviews, as well as backstage content.
Kanya added: “As we prepare to celebrate a few cultural milestones next year, the groundbreaking work MOBO does to empower and uplift underrepresented talent beyond the stage will also be at the forefront.
“Prepare for an unmissable night of iconic performances and surprises as we celebrate artistic excellence, MOBO’s enduring legacy, and a game changing future.”
Last year’s ceremony in London was hosted by Chunkz and Yung Filly, with the likes of Little Simz, PinkPatheress and Central Cee receiving the big prizes.
Elsewhere, Craig David was recognised with the outstanding contribution award, and Nile Rodgers was honoured with a lifetime achievement.
Arena Tickets are on sale now via www.MOBO.com/tickets.
VIP packages will be available soon. To find out more information, please visit mobo.com/awards.

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Tyler, The Creator blasts New Music Friday and calls for change

OHMYGOSSIP — Tyler, The Creator calls for an end to Friday release dates for new music.
The 32-year-old rapper has hit out at the idea of ‘New Music Friday’, and instead suggested artists “should put music out again on Tuesdays instead”.
Speaking to journalist Narduwar, he said: “I know people think because of the weekend they can listen and stuff, and streams go up.
“I think it’s a lot of passive listening at parties, or [when] people get the time to go to the gym, so they’re not really listening.”
New music has been released globally on Fridays since 2015, with the date previously being Tuesdays in the United States.
For the UK, singles dropped on Sundays with albums coming out the following day, while Europe saw albums release on Fridays.
One reason for the change was to have a global date to limit the opportunity for potential pirating.
However, Tyler insisted Tuesdays would be a better opportunity for listeners to really embrace the music on their commute.
He added: “You really have that hour or thirty minutes to really ‘dive in’ and really listen because you know once that’s over you’ve got to get to work.”
Meanwhile, the rapper also hit out at the idea of music being released at midnight, with people either sleeping or heading to bed.
He argued: “To work on an album for so long, and put so much energy into it, for it to be released at midnight just seems so disrespectful.”
Tyler thinks artists need to focus on their art too when it comes to promotional work, rather than gimmick videos.
He explained: “Talk about your album. Talk about music.
“Talk about the 15 songs that you guys have spent time to get mixed and mastered and put your heart into and produced and did all these things.
“And then when the album comes out and it sells two copies, everyone’s confused. But it’s like, they don’t want to talk about the music or the album; they’d rather go eat chicken wings and sneaker shopping.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Sir Rod Stewart has big ideas for Las Vegas return

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Rod Stewart wants to return to Las Vegas with a “big band” show.
The 78-year-old rock icon – who celebrates his 79th birthday in January – isn’t planning on retiring any time soon, and if his new swing album with Jools Holland proves popular enough, he is looking to head back to Sin City for a special run of sows.
He told the Daily Star newspaper’s Wired column: “If I go back to Vegas – and I’d like to – if the album’s a big success, maybe I could do a swing show, big band stuff.”
The ‘Maggie May’ hitmaker described performing live as “highly addictive”, although he’s not the biggest fan of “sitting in hotel rooms” waiting for the next gig.
He added: “That two hours on stage is the most potent drug you can imagine. It’s highly addictive.
“It’s all the bloody in between time I don’t like, sitting in hotel rooms. Although when I am sat around like that, I build my model railroad so that I’m not idle.
“It’s something I’m working on for five or six hours a day. While all the banders are sitting around picking their noses, I’m occupied.”
Indeed, there was a time where his model railway hobby almost took over his future as a legendary musician.
He recalled: “My dad was the first person who bought me a model railroad but also the first to buy me a guitar instead of a part for my train set.
“When I was young I said, ‘Dad, I don’t want a guitar – I want that signal.’
“So it’s always been a huge part of my life and it’s a huge part now.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg undergoes hip and femur operation

OHMYGOSSIP — Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg has undergone hip and femur surgery, just days after he was axed from the band.
The 33-year-old stickman has told how he scheduled the surgery with the intention of being able to recover in time to drum for Slipknot at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas in April 2024, but Jay is now “disappointed” he won’t be playing at the Sin City show after his departure from the ‘Before I Forget’ hitmakers was announced earlier this month.
He wrote on Instagram: “This Tuesday, after three years of careful planning, I underwent an outpatient procedure to repair the torn labrum of my left hip and shave down a misshapen part of my femur – a condition that never impacted my drumming in any way, but I’ve wanted to take care of during downtime from my recording and touring schedule. Since 2020, my priority has been for my playing to go uninterrupted, until a window in the schedule would allow me to complete an expected recovery of about four months. In May, that schedule started to show that this window would be now.
“After a follow-up MRI in August, I made the decision (alongside those close to me in my personal and professional life) to schedule this surgery immediately following the last performance of 2023, with the ambition and expectation of myself and my doctors to be stage-ready for the next show in April. A commitment I made to myself and to you — although news of this was kept internal. In fact, knowing I wouldn’t be able to play for a few months was partially my motivation to create my @mixwave instrument – so I could remain collaborative with my own sound until I could return to my drums.
“Though my commitment to healing remains the same, I’ll be disappointed to not see all of you in Vegas as planned. (sic)”
Jay is prepared for his recovery to be a “challenge”, but admitted he is “already on the path back” to doing what he loves the most – playing the drums.
He said: “Perhaps some of you are facing your own challenges – we all do. No matter how down-and-out you might feel, there are reasons to be hopeful, and to keep an actively positive mindset. Have your own back. Surround yourself with positive people. Focus on what gives your life meaning and purpose.
“I spent today in a part of NYC that first inspired me to pursue a creative life. It was affirming to revisit a place that brings back memories of discovering metal, punk, and hardcore.
“I believe I’ve always shot from the hip (lol) with you. No reason to change that now. I look forward to sharing my journey with you, and keeping you up-to-date in my adventure back to 100 per cent. Thanks to my awesome team of doctors, I’m already on the path back to what I love doing the most! [drum kit emoji]
The path forward through this recovery will be a challenge, but it’s one I’m up for. (sic)”
Last week, Jay admitted he felt “heartbroken and blindsided” after being told he was no longer part of Slipknot, after drumming for the heavy metal outfit for the past nine years.
He wrote on Instagram: “I was heartbroken and blindsided to receive the phone call that I did on the morning of November 5th; the news of which, most of you learned shortly after.
“However, I’ve been overwhelmed by – and truly grateful for – the outpouring of love and support I’ve received from this incredible community I consider to be my creative and artistic home.”

Source: IconInsider.com

Ladbaby won’t be entering the Christmas No1 race this year

OHMYGOSSIP — LadBaby ruled themselves out of the running for the 2024 Christmas Number One.
The YouTuber and his wife – whose real names are Mark and Roxanne Hoyle – broke a record with five consecutive festive chart-toppers about his love of sausage rolls in the Official UK Singles Chart, raising funds for the food bank charity The Trussell Trust, however, they have decided to “pass the baton” to other artists and songwriters this year.
The journey started in 2018 with ‘We Built This City’, followed by ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’ (2019), ‘Don’t Stop Me Eatin’’ (2020), ‘Sausage Rolls For Everyone’ with Ed Sheeran and Elton John (2021) and ‘Food Aid’ (2022).
In a video update on Tuesday morning (21.11.23), Mark, 36, said: “So everyone has been asking you’ve been asking for weeks emails and DMs when you meet me at the Post Office. Are we going for another Christmas number one this year? The answer is no.
We are not. We’ve had the most amazing, incredible loving, life-changing five years. And we want to say thank you. Thank you for helping us put The Trussell Trust on the map putting them in the forefront of everyone’s mind at Christmas, a time which is about giving the time which is about supporting families. And we just want to say thank you. We never expected one for the charity let alone five Christmas number ones. You guys have been incredible.
“We started on this journey five years ago to make a song about sausage rolls that made people laugh but also did it for a good cause raised money and awareness for The Trussell Trust, something that was close to our heart food banks in the UK. We did that one we built this city on sausage rolls.
“And then you all said you wanted ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’ so, of course, we did it we did ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’, and that was it.
But as we all remember we were hit with the global pandemic. And so many of you reached out to us and said you wanted a song to lift your spirits and to make you laugh, and we knew that it was hitting food banks in a way that not even we could have seen coming. So we did it. We did a third one. And then we get contacted by Ed Sheeran, the legend Ed Sheeran.”
LadBabymum, 39, interrupted: “And Elton John!”
He continued: “Ed Sheeran slipped into my DMs, can we all just remember that moment. That gave us the opportunity to release a song that would put The Trussell Trust on the map in a way we couldn’t achieve on our own.
“So thank you, Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John, for releasing a song with us about sausage rolls and again getting behind with the charity. And then we have an opportunity to work with Band Aid, the biggest most important Christmas song in any of our lives. And it was an honour, an honour to work on that song and again make these into five. But over that journey, we’ve seen how important a charity song can be.
Roxanne said: “Yeah, the impact it can have on charity is incredible. And for everyone, It’s changed. There’s still a lot more change that needs to happen but we’ve sene firsthand what it can do to a charity. So we want to pass the baton over and say if there is anyone who is donating to charity this Christmas with a song, go for it.”
However, Ladbaby hasn’t ruled out competing in the future.
He added: “So, the baton is passed over, I’m just going to say, I’m not retiring. This isn’t me done for good. I’m just saying I’m out this year.”

Source: IconInsider.com