OHMYGOSSIP — The Smiths’ Mike Joyce and Ian Brown have paid tribute to the late Andy Rourke.
The seminal musician – who was the bassist of the legendary Manchester group The Smiths – has passed away at the age of 59, following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, with his guitarist and childhood friend Johnny Marr confirming the sad news on Friday (19.05.23).
Tributes continue to flood in for Andy.
Drummer Mike, 59, declared that his “musical legacy” will never die.
He tweeted: “Not only the most talented bass player I’ve ever had the privilege to play with but the sweetest, funniest lad I’ve ever met. Andy’s left the building, but his musical legacy is perpetual. I miss you so much already. Forever in my heart mate.”
At the time of writing, frontman Morrissey, 63, is yet to pay his respects publicly.
Former Stone Roses frontman Ian, 60, who had Andy play bass for him in his live band, and also on his 2007 solo LP ‘The World Is Yours’, had been friends with him since he was a teenager and recalled having many “belly laughs” on the road together.
Ian tweeted: “RiP ANDY ROURKE I first met Andy aged 17 @simonWolstencr1 party. We remained pals. One of the highlights of my music life was Andy playing on my The World is Yours album and accompanying me onstage on a UK tour and my first show in MOSCOW. Belly laughs all the way. RiP Brother X (sic)”
Manic Street Preachers wrote: “Incredibly sad news-as a young kid his bass playing was unique and truly inspirational-condolences to his family, friends and all close to him xxx.”
Confirming the sad news, Johnny wrote on social media: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.
“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans.
“We request privacy at this sad time.”
Johnny formed the ‘This Charming Man’ group with frontman Morrissey in 1982, and Andy joined after their first concert.
Andy’s signature style was at the beating heart of the legendary Manchester band’s melodic back catalogue that has gone on to inspire the likes of The Killers and The 1975.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Absolute, DJ Paulette, Gerd Janson, Faithless’ Sister Bliss (DJ set), and many more complete the stacked bill for Secret Garden Party 2023.
The popular festival situated in a picturesque 10-acre landscaped garden, bordering a river and lake, Near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, returns between July 20 and 23.
The music, wellness and art extravaganza boasts headliners Underworld, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Roisin Murphy, 2manyDJs (live), Leftfield and The Libertines.
The Drop stage line-up includes revered DJ/producer Mathew Jonson, who will be performing a live set, as well as techno favourite Blond:ish.
Plus there will be B2B’s from the likes of Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Disclosure, Eats Everything, TEED, and Skream.
Lost Woods will host an exclusive B2B set with Peveralist, alongside rising stars Ploy and Yushh.
And the Pagoda stage, hovering over the lake, will welcome Jasper Tygner, Rinse FM host Emerald, Meg Ward, and Raw Silk DJ.
The Menendez Brothers, Waze, ‘Neutron Dance’ hitmaker Krystal Klear, Fabio + Grooverider, and Horsemeat Disco will also get the party started across the packed weekend.
Head to www.secretgardenparty.com/book-tickets to grab your tickets.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Lil Wayne left gig-goers perplexed after cutting his set short because the crowd wasn’t feeling it.
The ‘Lollipop’ rapper was performing the final night of his ‘Welcome To Tha Carter Tour’ at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday (13.05.23) when he ended his performance after being joined by his Young Money Records signees Lil Twist, Yaj Kader and Allan Cubas.
He told the audience: “We appreciate it, but we ain’t about to be bending over backwards for these folks. We work too hard for this s***. We work way too hard.”
Wayne added: “This my muthaf*****’ artist Allan, that was Twist, that was Yaj; we are Young Money. We appreciate y’all time.”
He then dropped his microphone to the ground and left the stage, much to the shock of the crowd.
Fans waited to see if it was a prank and even chanted his nickname “Weezy” to try and entice him back onstage.
However, after around 10 minutes, the crowd dispersed and left the venue.
As well as those who paid to see the hip-hop star in-person, fans paid $15 to watch the performance from home.
While onstage, Wayne boasted that he’s the “best rapper alive”.
He said: “I’m the realest motherf***** in the game right now.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t give a f*** what you think you looking at, but you are looking at the best rapper alive.”
In a recent Billboard feature, the likes of Jay-Z, André 3000, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Snoop Dogg, and Nicki Minaj made the publication’s 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list.
Wayne placed seventh behind the late Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, the late Tupac, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z, the latter of whom was named the overall G.O.A.T.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Muse, The Prodigy and more joined more than 20,000 music fans in a campaign to save Brixton Academy.
The iconic venue in south London has been closed since a tragic crowd crush at singer Asake’s concert in December, which left two dead.
And music fans have united to save the concert hall after Metropolitan Police called for its permanent closure.
And at midnight, more than 20,000 representations were delivered to Lambeth Council, while more than 100,000 signed the Change.org petition.
Showing their support, Muse tweeted: “Brixton Academy has an important place in the history of Muse, along with so many other bands.”
The Prodigy tweeted: “Brixton Academy is our home. What happened there a few months ago was tragic and very serious lessons need to be learnt from it. It’s the venue that has been at the heart of our band, the one that we have played the most and where fans from all around the world come to see us play.
“It is super important that it’s able to continue to be a place that you can go and see bands play live. If you agree please, put your full support behind them, as we do.”
Michael Kill, CEO of NTIA (Night Time Industries Association), said: “We have been overwhelmed with the level of response to this campaign, with over 20,000 representations made by music fans to Lambeth Council with support from The Prodigy, Muse, Defected, NME, Mixmag, Music Week, Skunk Anansie and many more.”
“I have had hundreds of conversations with people on this campaign journey, across all walks of life, journalists, bankers, nurses, builders, baristas etc. about their experiences at the Academy. People are emotionally invested in this venue, and it’s clear they are not willing to give it up without a fight.”
George Fleming, CEO of Save Our Scene, commented: “The response to this campaign has been immense and further highlights the public’s desire for Brixton Academy to have a future as a live music venue.”
“Lambeth Council must do everything they can to preserve Brixton Academy. Displacing a community would be a dangerous move which could result in a lot more work for themselves and the Met police.”
Sign the petition here: https://chng.it/RBRcQj7Djv.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Shane Lynch has announced he will never perform with Boyzone again.
The 46-year-old star – who shot to fame alongside Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, and the late Stephen Gately in the Irish boy band in the 1990s – has revealed he is quitting showbiz.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Shane said: “They might not know exactly… I haven’t gone to them saying, ‘Boys, I’m not coming back to the band.’
“I’ve just been very open that I’m out of the industry – music, TV and everything.
“They can absolutely crack on without me. I love the boys, so I’ll watch them. Don’t be gutted.”
Shane announcing the end of his TV career comes after he left the BBC reality show ‘Pilgrimage: The Road Through Portugal’ early.
He told his fellow castmates in a voicemail: “This journey has been so incredible. I have loved every minute of it and thank you guys for being a part of that.
“I have come to the end of my journey and I am very complete and satisfied with what I have done.”
The show takes seven celebrities of “differing faiths and beliefs on a personal journey along the northern route of the Fatima Way in Portugal.”
Shane’s bandmate Mikey previously dashed hopes of a Boyzone reunion.
The 50-year-old singer insists Ronan, 46, “decided” the boy band was no more in 2019.
When one fan asked if he will be “the only grandfather on tour” if the ‘No Matter What’ hitmakers were to do a 30th anniversary tour this year, he alleged that it’s Ronan who doesn’t want the band to perform again.
One fan tweeted: “if boyzone do reform for a 30th anniversary tour will you be the only grandfather on tour and congratulations on becoming a grandad (sic),” to which Mikey replied: “Aw thank you so much. Don’t mean to rain on your parade but Ronan decided boyzone was finished in 2019 so I don’t think there will be any more BZ gigs. (sic)”
However, Mikey would love to do some shows with his bandmates.
He concluded: “Sorry folks. I’d love to do them. (sic)”
The ‘Love Me For a Reason’ hitmakers called time on their 25-year career following a final tour in 2019.
Ronan – who has had a successful solo career with hits including ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ and ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’ – previously ruled out a reunion.
Speaking in 2018, he said: “Boyzone has a Whatsapp group but it changes, because people leave all the time.
“It’s the story of a boyband isn’t it; people leave. Then we start a new one, and then they come back, then someone else leaves.
“The Boyzone Whatsapp group changes monthly – the name, the title, the people – but it exists.
“There’s plans for another Boyzone Whatsapp group, but no reunion.”
The closest fans can get to a Boyzone reunion is seeing Keith, 48, and former Westlife singer Brian McFadden, 43, perform as BoyzLife.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Corey Taylor “couldn’t care less” about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The ‘Duality’ hitmaker has slammed those in charge of the museum for inducting stars who aren’t rock stars before more worthy musicians.
And Corey admitted that although it would be “killer” to have all three of his acts inducted, he doubts that will ever happen.
Jason Bailey on ‘Audacy Check In’ asked the heavy metal legend if he’d like to see himself as a solo artist or his bands Slipknot and Stone Sour inducted, to which he replied: “Oh, Jesus. At this point, who gives a s***, really? To be honest… It’s hard for me to say that they get it wrong because sometimes the people they induct one hundred per cent deserve it. But there’s still so many groups that should go in before some of the ones that have. And it really upsets me, dude. So at this point it’s, like, I don’t even know if I’ll even be considered for something like that, and I couldn’t care less, to be honest. To me, that’s a high-five at the end of your career. I would rather have that later on. It’s just something I don’t really concern myself with. Would I be a stingy hog and want to be like the late, great David Crosby and be in there like four times? That would be great — if I could be in there for all three acts, that’d be killer. But I don’t think I’m even gonna get in for one. So it’s fine. I’ve got better things to do.”
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden have notably never made induction, while country legend Dolly Parton was inducted in 2022.
The latter initially turned it down before agreeing to make a rock album.
Kate Bush and the late George Michael are among the inductees this year.
The two pop icons join Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners and Willie Nelson – and the artists will officially join the coveted club on November 3.
John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement: “This year’s incredible group of Inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock and roll. We are honoured that this November’s Induction Ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop.”
Artists can be nominated to join the Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first single.
Nominees for the class of 2023 who didn’t make the cut include Cyndi Lauper, the White Stripes and Joy Division/New Order.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Kate Bush has paid a touching tribute to her late bassist and friend, John Giblin.
The pair worked together for several years, beginning with the pair of 1980 hits ‘Babooshka’ and ‘Breathing’.
John – who also performed and recorded with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, and Annie Lennox – sadly passed away aged 71 on May 14, “after battling illness”, his collaborators in the band Osibisa confirmed in a social media statement.
And 64-year-old singer recalled having “huge amounts of fun working with the gifted musician.
In a post on her website, Kate shared: “Everyone loved John. He was a really beautiful man in every sense of the word. Everybody wanted to work with him because he was such a great talent and everyone wanted to be his friend because he was such a wonderful person.
“I loved John so very much. He was one of my very dearest and closest friends for over forty years. We were always there for each other. He was very special. I loved working with him, not just because he was such an extraordinary musician but because he was always huge amounts of fun.”
She went on: “We would often laugh so much that we had to just give in to it and sit and roar with laughter for a while. He loved to be pushed in a musical context, and it was really exciting to feel him cross that line and find incredibly gorgeous musical phrases that were only there for him. He would really sing. It was such a joy and an inspiration to see where he could take it.
“We’ve all lost a great man, an unmatchable musician and I’ve lost my very special friend. My world will never be the same again without him. Kate.”
John took over from Derek Forbes as bass player in Simple Minds in 1985, and appeared on three of the ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ group’s albums.
Meanwhile, Kate is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Brooklyn, New York on November 3.

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OHMYGOSSIP — F1 ace Sir Lewis Hamilton takes a mini music studio on tour with him, according to McFly’s Danny Jones.
The ‘Where Did All the Guitars Go?’ band will be headlining Silverstone Festival in August, and the vocalist-and-guitarist has said that most musicians want to be racing car drivers, and a lot of Formula One stars want to be in music.
Danny – who has just completed a Silverstone Drive experience in a McLaren 620R – said of Silverstone Festival: “I am just super excited to be performing at Silverstone Festival this year.
“It’s going to be our first time. We don’t know what to expect but we’ve heard it’s incredible and the crowds are amazing. We all love motorsport as a band so to be performing here feels like a proper milestone.”
When he’s not on the racetrack, Lewis, 38, loves to make music and is said to have had sessions with Drake and Frank Ocean under his belt.
Danny continued: “I think music and sport marry really well. Everyone I meet in the world of music wants to be a racing car driver and every racing car driver wants to be a musician. I know Lewis Hamilton does – he has a little bit of a studio set up when he goes on tour. I’ve seen!”
The ‘Obviously’ hitmaker says he is even tempted to copy his idol, the late Eddie Van Halen, and recreate the sound of a V8 engine on a song.
He added: “In these sports cars you can’t hear any music. You can only hear the engine, but that is music! The sound of a V8 is music. Why don’t we put that in one of our songs!”
“We love Van Halen at the minute and he makes a good V8 sound with his guitar. That’s the perfect marriage – if you can make a V8 sound on your guitar you are winning! I’ll have to try my best to recreate it when we play here.”
Silverstone Festival takes place at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire between August 25 to 27.
Tickets for this year are available via https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/silverstone-festival/prices.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Miles Kane has released the song ‘Baggio’ inspired by the Italian football legend.
The 37-year-old indie star has shared how Roberto Baggio, 56, has inspired him since the age of eight, and how being “obsessed” by “all things Italian” shaped him.
He said: “I was eight years old when I first saw Baggio on TV, it was during the 1994 World Cup. I was taken back by his presence, his look and his talent.
“It was the first time I’d seen a man look so different and unique. Seeing Baggio led me to be obsessed with that Italian football team for many years later. They made me want to grow my hair and I think that was the start of getting me obsessed with clothes, fashion and all things Italian. It was the start of me wanting to grow into who I am today.”
The track is the latest to be taken from Miles’ upcoming album ‘One Man Band’ and follows the lead single ‘Troubled Son’.
Miles teamed up with his ‘Inbetweeners’ star pal James Buckley on the music video for the latter.
The 35-year-old actor – who is best known for playing the foul-mouthed Jay Cartwright on the E4 sitcom classic – cameos alongside Miles in the accompanying promo for the tune.
Speaking of the opening track, Miles said: “It’s about the struggle we all have in life.
“Sometimes we have our s*** together and sometimes we don’t. This is me acknowledging my faults and my fears and showing the journey I’m taking as I try to figure it all out.”
It turns out Miles and James are good pals and they were basically filmed getting drunk with pals for the video, which was shot at London boozer The Young Prince.
Miles told NME: “He’s my mate. I’ve known him probably since my first album and we had just been out a couple of weeks before. Then he just came down for that video! They’re all my mates, all in the pub – we went for a day and just got p*****.”
The singer-songwriter returned to his roots in Liverpool to reconnect with his family and ended up remembering why he fell in love with the guitar all those years ago.
He shared: “Making the album back in Liverpool with my family really helped to bring this out of me.
“We left no stone unturned. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards, and this album helped me rediscover why I picked up a guitar in the first place. This album is like a brand new, yet somehow familiar leather jacket. A comforting melting pot of all the music that has inspired and continues to inspire me every day.”
Miles reunited with his longtime collaborator, James Skelly of The Coral, who oversaw production on the follow-up to 2022’s ‘Change the Show’.
The Last Shadow Puppets rocker also worked with the likes of Blossoms’ Tom Ogden and Keiran Shudall of Circa Waves on the tracks.
‘One Man Band’ is released in full on August 4.

The track-listing for ‘One Man Band’ is:
1. ‘Troubled Son’
2. ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’
3. ‘One Man Band’
4. ‘Never Taking Me Alive’
5. ‘Heartbreaks The New Sensation’
6. ‘The Wonder’
7. ‘Baggio’
8. ‘Ransom’
9. ‘Doubles’
10. ‘Heal’
11. ‘Scared Of Love’

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OHMYGOSSIP — The late Canadian folk-pop legend Gordon Lightfoot’s last album will be released on July 14.
The seminal artist passed away at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto on May 1, aged 84, his publicist Victoria Lord confirmed.
Gordon’s death came after his declining health caused him to axe his tour three weeks earlier.
And now, his last release, the double live album ‘At Royal Albert Hall’, recorded at his seventh concert at the famed London venue in 2016, has been announced.
It includes the hits ‘If You Could Read My Mind’, ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’, and ‘Early Morning Rain’.
Fans can expect “an unembellished live mix of that nights’ performance, without edits, overdubs, remixing or re-sequencing. It captures every song performed in the order they were played, right down to the encore.”
Gordon died of natural causes.
However, the guitarist suffered from Bell’s palsy and was once placed in a coma in 2002 after an artery in his stomach ruptured.
Adored by music legends, including Bob Dylan, Gordon’s songs were also covered by the likes of Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, and even punk rockers Jane’s Addiction.
Fellow Canadian Bryan Adams led tributes to the man who pioneered the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s.
He wrote on Instagram alongside a picture with his idol: “This one is really hard to write. Once in a blue moon you get to work and hang out with one of the people you admired when you were growing up. I was lucky enough to say Gordon was my friend and I’m gutted to know he’s gone. The world is a lesser place without him. I know I speak for all Canadians when I say: thank you for the songs, Gordon Lightfoot. Bless your sweet songwriting heart, RIP dear friend.”
Bob Dylan once said of Gordon: “I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like. Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever … Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — JVKE features sounds of the sun on his new single.
The TikTok sensation has partnered with Magnum ice cream to create a soundtrack for the summer, with ‘Golden Hour (ft. the Sun) [Sunlover-Starchaser Edit]’ containing samples using sounds from NASA’s data library.
JVKE said of the reworked version of his song: “It’s been so much fun to work with Magnum to bring to life this all-new version of ‘Golden Hour’ using the actual sounds of the sun – how cool is that?
“I have always tried to push the boundaries of creativity in my music and using NASA data to create my latest track is definitely one of those pinch me moments. I can’t wait for you all to hear it!”
JVKE and Magnum have worked closely with Dr Robert Alexander, a solar data sonification specialist, to turn the raw data into sounds to create an out-of-this world sound experience.
The expert said: “I’ve been listening to the greatest hits of NASA’s data archive for over a decade and collecting my favourite samples.
“These records are unique in that the harmonies are generated by solar spherical harmonics and the little static clicks are coronal mass ejections. It’s exciting to be working with Magnum, JVKE and Alex Metric to mix these sounds into a pop hit for the first time in history.
“This track and projects like the NASA-funded HARP citizen science project are helping us move beyond the silent age of space exploration.”
The track celebrates the launch of Magnum Double Sunlover and Magnum Double Starchaser, the brand’s new summer flavour innovations, and while a teaser of the song is available on JVKE’s TikTok now, he will debut the full song during an exclusive panel discussion at Magnum’s beach in Cannes on 22 May, which will also be live streamed on TikTok.
Pleasure Seekers will then be able to stream the all-new track via Spotify and participate in the TikTok challenge started by JVKE on his channel.
Learn more about the #PleasureIsAlwaysOn campaign on TikTok and https://magnumicecream.com/pleasure-is-always-on

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OHMYGOSSIP — Post Malone’s new album ‘Austin’ was going to be a fully acoustic project.
The ‘Circles’ hitmaker, who plays guitar on each track on the upcoming LP, among other instruments, had told his label boss that he wanted to make a stripped-back guitar album.
However, it turned into an entirely different record altogether.
Mercury Records president Tyler Arnold said: “Right after the last album [‘Twelve Carat Toothache’], Austin texted me and said, ‘Hey! Have a studio free tomorrow. I want to start making an acoustic album’ – although, this is definitely the farthest thing from being an acoustic album.”
Post is quoted by NME as saying at an album listening party for press that: “I was scared to play a little guitar on there.
“I played some weird instruments on here as well. I became quite the maraca pro, and a tambourine pro – word to Mick Jagger.”
The star announced earlier this week that ‘Austin’ is set for release on July 28.
The ‘Better Now’ hitmaker – whose real name is Austin Richard Post – admitted he found making the follow-up to 2022’s ‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ the “most challenging and rewarding” experience.
In an Instagram video update, he said: “Hey guys, what’s going on?
“It’s Posty. I wanted to say that I love you guys so very f*****’ much. I’m here on tour in Europe right now. And I wanted to tell you guys that I have an album coming out this summer on July 28th. It’s called ‘Austin,’ like my name. That is my name. It’s been some of the funnest music, some of the most challenging and rewarding music for me, at least.
“You know, trying to really push myself and really do some cool stuff.”
The second track from the album, ‘Mourning’, is out on Friday (19.05.23).
The first, ‘Chemical’, was released in April as part of ‘The Diamond Collection’.
Post continued: “I played guitar on every song on the record and it was a really, really fun experience. I’m super, super excited to share it with you. ‘Chemical’ is out and that song is on the record. And then on Friday, I have another song called ‘Mourning’ with a ‘u’… like that. But I’m super excited to get that out for you guys. We just shot a music video in Scotland, it’s absolutely stunning up there. There’s a big a** ice cube in it which I thought was pretty bad***.”
He added: “But I’m super excited for you guys to hear it and I love you guys so very much.
“You know, I hope you guys just keep f*****’ being amazing and keep spreading love and just keep being yourself and I f*****’ love y’all, man. Have a great f*****’ night, have a great f*****’ week, hug your fam, and just keep spreading love. Love you guys!”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Ringo Starr is feeling “ready to rock” ahead of his US tour with his All Starr Band.
The 82-year-old former Beatles drummer is finally set to embark on his delayed 22-date jaunt, which he cancelled due to coming down with COVID-19 for a second time in 2022.
And the legendary sticksman has insisted he has never found touring or performing live to be “gruelling”.
He said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday (17.05.23): “Yesterday we ran the whole show and I feel ready to rock.
“It’s not gruelling playing. It’s never been gruelling. I love to play. I love to play with these guys.”
On his stamina, he continued: “I didn’t think of it. I was just doing it.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time … I mean, 34 years with a couple of years’ break because of the pandemic, but it’s what I do.
“I love to play and I love to play with great musicians and I love to play great songs, and I get all of that from these guys.”
In fact, the ‘Let it Be’ hitmaker asked for there to be fewer days off in between shows on the tour, which begins on May 19 in Temecula, California.
He added: “I don’t want to sit in the hotel and relax for three days, I want to get out there and play.
“That’s just how I am, I just love to do it.
“With this band it’s great because you know everybody takes the weight.”
Meanwhile, Ringo has a country EP in the works with T-Bone Burnett, one of three he’s working on.
On how he got the 75-year-old Grammy winner involved, he shared: “I asked [Burnett] to help us out.
“[I said] if he’s got any time and wants to do it… Well, he did want to do it, and he sent me, I promise you, one of the most beautiful country songs, tracks, I’ve heard in a long time. It’s very old school country. It’s beautiful. So I thought, ‘Hey, I’m gonna make a country EP!'”
One of the other EPs is a collaboration with legendary singer-songwriter Linda Perry, who has penned hits for Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani.
He said: “I finished one [EP] just before I started rehearsing.
“We got to know each other and I love her.
“She’s just great. She said, ‘Oh, Ringo, let me do it.’
“[I said] ‘OK, do what you do.’ The only thing I’ll be doing on that EP is playing drums and singing.”
On his decision to ditch the album format, he added: “I get to meet and actually work with people I’ve never worked with, which I’ve always found exciting.
“I just felt EPs, you could sort of look at it in a serious way and you can do it in a month.
“An album does take longer, so (EPs are) what I’ve been doing.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Kesha samples “a wizard I’m friends with” on her new album.
The 36-year-old singer had a spiritual awakening that inspired the lead single, ‘Eat The Acid’, and she’s revealed that the track ‘Happy’ features a “really smart, weird, nice guy”.
Kesha is quoted by The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column as saying: “The last song, ‘Happy’, is sampling a wizard I’m friends with.
“He’s a really smart, weird, nice guy and he’s a f****** wizard, so I was like, I’ll put him on the record.”
The wizard in question is Oberon Zell, 80, who featured on her podcast ‘Kesha and the Creepies’.
The album’s track-listing revealed an interlude called ‘Ram Dass Interlude’, which is dedicated to the late American spiritual teacher Baba Ram Dass, who was a pioneer of LSD and a guru who inspired the late Beatles guitarist George Harrison.
Kesha revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that her ex gave her Dass’ book ‘Be Here Now’ – which is also the name of Harrison’s 1973 solo song – while she was in rehab.
The album – the follow-up to 2020’s ‘High Road’ – is also produced by studio wizard Rick Rubin.
And Indian philosopher Osho is sampled on the song ‘All I Need Is You’.
Kesha recalled thinking she was having a “mental breakdown” when she experienced a “scary spiritual awakening” during a guided meditation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She told the magazine: “I had this really beautiful, scary, and intense spiritual awakening where it felt like I was talking to my highest self, or God, whatever word you want to say.
“I fully thought I was having a mental breakdown. I called my therapist and my doctor. They all were like, ‘Oh, you had a spiritual awakening. Yay! Good job.’”
‘Gag Order’ is released on Friday (19.05.23).

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OHMYGOSSIP — James Arthur’s personal “heartache” has inspired his new music.
The ‘X Factor’ alumni, 35, has released the new single ‘A Year Ago’ about the aftermath of a breakup.
Pouring his heart out, he sings: “I miss you, your name’s still on my coffee cup, I miss you, the way you chose the films we watched – I miss you, babe.
“If only I had told you that before, maybe I would never have to miss you.”
He adds: “I wish it was a year ago. I wish that I could hold you close.”
Speaking of the track, he said: “A Year Ago is not about one ­specific relationship, but every scenario is real.
“I’ve been through my fair share of heartache and I tapped into different times in my life.
“You’re a year on, still wishing you could be back in a moment when the world felt right.”
On working on his new album – which will be the follow-up to 2021’s ‘It’ll All Make Sense In The End’ -with his childhood friend, Jamie Grey, he added: “We’ve been friends since we were kids and having him along gets that young version of me back.
“It’s weird but I become the kid who went with his feelings and trusted his gut.”
In November, James became a father for the first time after he rekindled his romance with Jessica Grist at the start of 2022.
He took to social media to announce the birth of his baby girl, Emily, posting a video of his newborn daughter on the platform.
He explained on Instagram: “In the last few days somebody made an unexpected arrival.”
James then added: “Dear Emily, welcome to the world..”
The video clip also revealed that he already has his baby’s name tattooed on his hand.
The ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ hitmaker previously released a track called ‘Emily’.
On the track, James sings: “I needed life and life came, and gave me Emily. You make me a better man than I’ll ever be, ever be, ever be, because of you Emily.”
The pop star subsequently explained that the song related to a baby that he and his partner tragically lost.
Asked if the record was about his unborn daughter, James shared: “To be honest, when it first came out I sort of billed it as that, but I spoke to my partner, and at the time it was a realistic prospect. She was pregnant.
“Sadly it didn’t work out. It wasn’t far, it was a couple of months and she had an ectopic pregnancy. So she lost the child, and I didn’t really want to talk about it.
“But she actually said ‘I think it’s really important that you do’ – just because there’s so little information, and I would echo that actually.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Ed Sheeran has claimed rapping along to Eminem’s 2000 album ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ “cured” his stutter.
The 32-year-old Grammy winner – who has since collaborated and performed with the rap icon – has revealed that he has the ‘Lose Yourself’ hitmaker, 50, to thank for helping to fix his speech impediment.
Appearing on ‘The Howard Stern Show’ on SiriusXM, he recalled: “(My uncle) just said to my dad, ‘This guy is the next Bob Dylan. You gotta let him listen.’
“And by learning that record – and rapping it back to back to back to back – it cured my stutter.”
Ed continued: “I think it’s different with Eminem because he is quite reclusive, doesn’t see or meet that many people. I’ve known him now (for) six years and we’ve done three songs together, I’ve played with him twice onstage. He’s another person I really relate to, as he lives in his hometown still and has his eco-system around him.”
The pair performed ‘Stan’, Eminem’s 2000 hit featuring Dido, when the rapper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, a gig he refused to turn down.
Ed said: “I remember getting the call to do it. I was shooting … 14 music videos back to back … and it was like on my day off from shooting the music videos, and I was like, ‘I can’t say no. I can’t.’
“So, I got a plane straight after my music video, flew there for the song, and then that night flew back. It was really worth it.”
While reading on ‘CBeebies Bedtime Stories’ last year, the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker admitted he feared he would never be able to get rid of his stutter.
He said: “I couldn’t get the words out and I used to worry that I’d never be able to speak without stuttering … It made me feel different.”

Source: IconInsider.com