OHMYGOSSIP — Daryl Hall has been announced as Billy Joel’s special guest at American Express presents BST Hyde Park on July 7.
The 76-year-old star – who is best known as the co-founder and principal lead vocalist of Daryl Hall and John Oates – will make his solo debut at the summer concert series at London’s Hyde Park this summer.
Daryl’s House Band, plus special guest Todd Rundgren, have also announced another London show two days later at London’s Eventim Apollo on July 9.
He said: “So glad to be back in London playing. I always have the best shows there.”
Tickets for BST Hyde Park are on sale now. Daryl’s headline show will go on sale on Friday (24.03.23) at 10am via www.livenation.co.uk.
Headliners for BST also include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Guns N’ Roses, Take That, BLACKPINK and Pink with special guest Gwen Stefani.
‘Welcome To The Jungle’ rockers Guns N’ Roses will also make their debut at the iconic festival series on June 30 as part of the outdoor London event’s 10th anniversary.
Frontman Axl Rose will be joined by Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer and Melissa Reese for the special show.
The heavy metal veterans are also headlining Glastonbury on June 24.

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OHMYGOSSIP — A posthumous Coolio album is on the way.
‘Long Live Coolio’ is set to be released later this year, and the lead single ‘TAG ‘You It’’, featuring Too $hort and DJ Wino, is out now.
A music video for the track sees the ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ hitmaker and Too $hort – real name Todd Anthony Shaw – in a boxing ring with twerking female boxers.
The upcoming collection features songs that the late rap legend was working on before his passing at the age of 59 in September 2022.
The rapper’s longtime manager, Jarez Posey, confirmed his client was found collapsed in the bathroom at a friend’s home in Los Angeles on September 28 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Paramedics were called to the scene at around 4pm and he was pronounced dead a little while after they arrived.
No drugs or drug paraphernalia were found by police.
Coolio was cremated after his death and his ashes were reportedly placed into pendants which were then given to his children.
A source told TMZ: “A few other close family members will get them as well.” TMZ also reported each of the rapper’s sons and daughters will “get to pick customised inscriptions for their jewellery” and “the rest of Coolio’s ashes will go into an urn once all the necklaces are distributed”.
Coolio shared four of his children, Artisha, Brandi, Jackie, and Artis, with ex-wife Josefa Salinas, whom he divorced in 2000. He had a further six children named Grtis, Milan, Darius, Zhaneand, and twins Kate and Shayne from different relationships.
The hip-hop legend – whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr – released his debut single ‘Whatcha Gonna Do?’ in 1987.
Coolio got his first break in the rap group WC and the Maad Circle alongside WC and his brother, Crazy Toones, the latter of whom died of a heart attack in 2017 aged 45.
His global breakthrough came in the mid-90s when the star landed a Grammy for 1995 classic ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’.
Coolio won Best Solo Rap Performance with the pioneering anthem, which interpolates Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song ‘Pastime Paradise’.
It stayed at the top of the US Billboard charts for three weeks.
He also had a top five hit with ‘Fantastic Voyage’.
The rapper released eight solo albums, his final being 2009’s ‘From the Bottom 2 the Top’.
Coolio also wrote the intro to Nickelodeon’s iconic TV show ‘Kenan and Kel’, ‘Aw, Here It Goes!’, in the 90s.
He also became a chef, with his own web series ‘Cookin’ with Coolio’.
Coolio also starred in many films and television shows.
And he came third in the sixth series of ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in 2009.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Tim Burgess’ ‘Tim’s Listening Party’ is coming to Absolute Radio for six weeks.
The Charlatans frontman’s famous Twitter listening parties, which see artists and their fans tweet along while listening to their records in full via the hashtag #TimsTwitterListeningParty.
Sir Paul McCartney, Michael Kiwanuka, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon and Kylie Minogue have taken part in the online event, and now it’s heading to the airwaves with new guests.
The first episode will air on Sunday, March 26 from 10pm to midnight.
Artists confirmed so far are The Kinks, who will discuss their collections album, ‘The Journey Part 1’, and Fall Out Boy will be talking about their new album, ‘So Much (for) Stardust’.
A press release notes that: “Each week, Tim will be joined by a different guest as they share stories and insights from one of their seminal albums. Guests lined up for the show, which will be broadcast on Sunday evenings from 10pm-midnight.”
Tim commented: “After three years online, it’s exciting to be bringing The Listening Party to the radio airwaves with Absolute Radio. We’ve got some ace albums and brilliant guests lined up.”
Absolute Radio’s Content Director Paul Sylvester added: “Tim’s Listening Party has become a phenomenon. Giving audiences the chance to listen to the music and conversation while engaging with other fans on social media ties everything together. It fits perfectly with Absolute Radio’s specialist and storytelling strategy, and we can’t wait to work with Tim to get the show on-air.”
The series will also be made available as a podcast, available from the Absolute Radio app and website, plus wherever else you get your podcasts.
‘Tim’s Listening Party’ – starts Sunday, March 26 on Absolute Radio.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Calvin Harris has reminded Ellie Goulding “how high she used to sing”.
The ‘Lights’ hitmaker has reflected on how working with the DJ on their new collaboration ‘Miracle’ has helped her reconnect with how she used to perform earlier in her career.
She told ‘Capital Dance’: “I’ve always had this higher register and when I did my first album, when I listen back – not that I regularly listen back to my old music – I remember how high I used to sing, and I was influenced by singers that sang exceptionally high.
“I went down to a register that I thought was more cooler and maybe more suited for pop records.
“Sometimes I need someone to say, ‘You can do this’ – it sounds really lame. When I first heard I was like, ‘There’s no way I can sing that.’ ”
The 36-year-old star admitted it’s been a “pure joy” returning to world of dance music, and she admitted she wants to spend more time with Calvin at his Ibiza farm.
She added: “He said I can come along. I will be there. I will do that. Why the hell not?
“I can make it my thing, my new thing, I can bring my kid with me, that would be great. Could I stay on the farm? Is it child friendly?”
Calvin said “no”, and insisted the farm is quite “grim”, and not suitable for her two-year-old boy Arthur.
Meanwhile, Ellie recently admitted their trance track came “out of the blue” and she almost missed out on the collaboration by “playing it a bit too cool”.
She explained: “This one came slightly out of the blue. He said that he had the track and immediately thought of me for it. Calvin doesn’t like to mess around so he sent the song in the next message
“I accidentally played it a bit too cool and didn’t reply for a few days so he thought I wasn’t into it.
“We recorded the vocal in January. We both think it’s really important to be in the same room when making music.
“I didn’t feel any pressure because both of us are at a point in our careers where we can put out stuff that we love, and is authentic to us.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Mae Muller’s debut album is set to be released before the end of the year.
The 25-year-old singer-songwriter’s profile has been raised after it was recently announced she is to represent the United Kingdom at this year’s ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ in May, and it has now been revealed her album is finished, and there is talk of a potential nationwide tour to capitalise on her popularity.
A music insider told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Mae’s been in limbo for a few years now, recording a lot of music and not really making too much progress.
“But now she has been chosen for Eurovision and people are loving her single, it’s all go go go.
“There is a whole campaign being built around the contest to make her a star with a long and prosperous career.
“The album is all finished and will be out before the end of the year.”
The star’s record label, Capitol Records, are said to be “throwing everything in” to ensure the singer becomes a success.
The insider added: “Capitol which also looks after Liam Payne, Sam Smith and Aitch, have made her a priority and are throwing everything in but the kitchen sink to making her a success.”
Earlier this month, Mae revealed she had been working hard ahead of the contest, at which she will perform her own tune, ‘I Wrote A Song’.
She explained: “We’re working on it every day, vocal training, choreo [choreography], it’s gotta be big.”
Mae also explained the lyrics in her track, admitting it is about trying to find the positive after a break-up, instead of seeking revenge.
She added: “After you go through a break-up, a relationship or a friendship, its easy to want revenge. I thought how can I turn a negative feeling into a positive.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — The Cure fans have landed partial refunds on Ticketmaster fees for the band’s US tour dates after frontman Robert Smith said he was “sickened” by the inflated prices.
Tickets for the group’s upcoming dates went on sale on Wednesday (15.03.23) and sparked fury among fans who slammed Ticketmaster’s costly fees with some claiming the add-on was more than the ticket price itself – and Smith waded into the row on Twitter explaining the band had no control over the fees extras slapped on by the company.
He wrote: “I am sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster fees debacle. To be clear: the artist has no way to limit them. I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know.”
Smith also took aim at the company’s dynamic pricing strategy which changes the cost of tickets according to demand, branding it “a scam”.
He added: “We didn’t agree to the ‘dynamic pricing’/’price surging’/’platinum ticket’ thing … because it is itself a bit of a scam? A separate conversation.”
However, Ticketmaster bosses seemingly heeded Smith’s complaints and the veteran rocker later confirmed many fans would be getting some of their money back.
He added: “After further conversation, Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged were unduly high, and as a gesture of goodwill have offered a $10 per ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for lowest ticket price (‘ltp’) transactions.
“And a $5 ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for all other ticket price transactions, for all Cure shows at all venues; if you already bought a ticket you will get an automatic refund. All tickets on sale tomorrow will incur lower fees.”
The Cure will kick off their 2023 North American dates on May 10 in New Orleans, Louisiana and conclude the trek on July 1 in Miami, Florida.

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OHMYGOSSIP — U2 viewed ‘Songs of Surrender’ as a “fun experiment”.
The veteran rockers have reworked 40 of their classic hits for the record – which is a companion piece to frontman Bono’s memoir ‘Surrender’ – and guitarist The Edge admitted he enjoyed working on the project because there were no “expectations”.
He told the Sun newspaper: “The thing I love about this project personally is that there was no expectation, no pressure. We went into it as a fun experiment to see where it would lead us.”
In working on the new arrangements, the 49-year-old guitarist was keen to put Bono’s vocals first.
He explained: “I am now, and was during lockdown, working on new material.
“But the idea of our classic songs in stripped-down form had been knocking around for a while. We’d already tried it in our live shows, so I thought, ‘Wow, this could be expanded’.
“Often the best way to showcase tunes is through the vocal so I started thinking about serving the voice.
“It’s fair to say that our early recordings were very much about creating live arrangements that would work in certain venues.
“It didn’t occur to us that we might benefit from changing the key so Bono wasn’t singing at the top of his range so often. Intimacy was never fully explored as a quality.”
And the ‘One’ hitmaker wanted to give listeners an intimate experience while bringing the tracks up to date.
He said: “We wanted to give people the sense that Bono is literally singing in their ear…
“I was aiming for three things — to have more feeling, to be more personal and for it to sound of the moment.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Taylor Swift has released three new ‘Taylor’s Version’ re-recordings and a ‘Lover’ B-Side.
The pop megastar surprised fans this week by announcing she was dropping four songs at midnight on Friday (17.03.23) ahead of her ‘Eras’ world tour.
Three of them – ‘Eyes Open (Taylor’s Version)’, ‘Safe and Sound (Taylor’s Version)’ and ‘If This Was A Movie (Taylor’s Version)’ – are part of the Grammy winner’s re-recordings following the dispute over the ownership of the masters of her first six albums.
The first two are from the 2012 ‘The Hunger Games’ soundtrack album and the latter is from the deluxe edition of 2010’s ‘Speak Now’.
‘All Of The Girls You Loved Before’ is an outtake from the Shake It Off’ hitmaker’s 2019 LP ‘Lover’, and is a huge pop ballad that fans believe is about Taylor’s actor boyfriend Joe Alwyn.
The lyrics document the heartbreaks a couple has been through with former lovers before finally meeting The One.
The 33-year-old musician – who has been in a relationship with the 32-year-old ‘The Favourite’ actor for seven years – sings: “All of the girls you’ve loved before / Made you the one I’ve fallen for / Every dead-end street led you straight to me /Now, you’re all I need, I’m so thankful for / All of the girls you’ve loved before / And I love you more.”
Taylor also belts: “We’re breaking up, making up / Leave without saying goodbye / Just know that it’s everything that made me / Now, I call you ‘baby,’ that’s why you’re so amazing.”
‘The Eras Tour’ kicks off tonight (17.03.23) in Glendale, Arizona, which has been renamed Swift City in honour of the jaunt.
The ‘Anti-Hero’ singer is kicking off the run at the city’s State Farm Stadium with a pair of shows on March 17 and March 18 before heading to Las Vegas on March 24 and officials have decided to celebrate Taylor by temporarily changing the city’s name.
A statement from city officials namechecked a number of the pop star’s songs in a statement that read: “There is no need to calm down, we’re fearless and doing something highly unusual to celebrate the fact that Taylor’s concerts start right here!
“We know all too well that she’s one of the most influential artists of her generation and we are writing our own love story for her and greeting every Swiftie in style!”
It will remain in effect for the two nights she’s performing in Glendale.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Salt-N-Pepa are proud to have “stood out” in the male-dominated hip-hop genre.
The iconic rap group- comprising Cheryl ‘Salt’ James and Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton – admit it “hurt” when they would be “skipped over” despite selling more records than their male counterparts.
Pepa, 56, told Refinery29’s Unbothered platform as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the genre: “For us, coming up in hip-hop as female MCs, it’s a male-dominated field. It was very hard knowing that we were charting so hard and more than the male rappers but still wasn’t getting that respect or the acknowledgment that we deserved.
“We were skipped over when someone was selling [as much as us] so it was frustrating and that hurt. But we kept going.”
The ‘Expression’ hitmakers – who took to the stage at the Grammys last month for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop segment – believe they would have made more if brand deals were more prominent in their heyday.
Salt said: “We always say that when we started, it wasn’t all these branding opportunities. Now we help build the foundation for people to really take advantage of these opportunities to collaborate with other brands. We’ve done Kia, we’ve done Geico.”
Salt-N-Pepa believe their recipe for success was releasing music that was “raw” and brimmed with “attitude”.
Pepa said: “When we was coming up, we were who we were. The music we were putting out, the rap we were spitting, our attitude, It was just us. It was raw.
“And then at the time you became another number to the record labels. But we stood out.”
The pair – who have sold more than 15 million records worldwide – also advised up-and-coming artists to make sure they don’t sell themselves short when signing record deals.
Pepa added: “Cross the T’s and dot the I’s.
“There are going to be people telling you you’re not worth it. But once you see the numbers and if they’re telling you no and no, but you’re sticking around and they’re not trying to change you, that means you’re worth something. Like Salt said, when it’s time to negotiate your contract, find out your numbers. What am I selling? What am I doing? You can ask real questions.”
Salt-N-Peppa formed in 1985 and the original line-up also included DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper).
Their hits include ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’, ‘Push It’, ‘Tramp’ and ‘Expression’.

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Robbie Williams was left gobsmacked after he pulled out the same fan from the crowd at his Budapest concert this week as he did 20 years ago.
The ‘Angels’ hitmaker was performing at the Papp László Sportaréna in Hungary on Tuesday (14.03.23) when he had what he described as an “174,240,000 to 1” experience with the towering male fan.
Sharing a photo of the pair two decades ago and now, Robbie wrote on Instagram: “So this happened two nights ago in Budapest – I chose someone from the audience to come down to the front and, amazingly, I chose the same guy that I picked out from the audience in Budapest 20 years ago!
“The odds of that happening? 174,240,000 to 1.
“Nice to see you again, sir. Love from Rob x.”
The former Take That star, 49, is currently touring in celebration of his 25th anniversary as a solo artist.
Meanwhile, Robbie’s electronic group Lufthaus are set to release their debut album.
The ‘Rock DJ’ singer is in the dance band with Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis, and the trio are expected to drop an LP this autumn.
A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “The album will be out in the autumn. It is a momentous time for Robbie, Tim and Flynn.
“This is a real passion project for Rob and he has loved being able to create new music which is the polar opposite of his back catalogue.
“Lufthaus are ready to make their mark on the dance music industry and Robbie thinks the group can go far.”
Tim and Flynn have been opening up for Robbie as Lufthaus on his solo tour, and the group – who have already released songs ‘Sway’ and ‘Unlovable’ – are said to have gone down well with supporters.
The source added: “Tim and Robbie are performing as Lufthaus ahead of Robbie’s solo set on his tour and the reception has been incredible.”
In January, Robbie admitted he had “a vault” of new Lufthaus songs, but he wasn’t sure at the time if the band would drop an album.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Snow Patrol guitarist Nathan Connolly has announced his debut solo album and teamed up with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil on the lead single.
The 42-year-old musician – who has been the lead guitar player and backing vocalist in the Irish rock group since 2002 – has unveiled his new LP ‘The Strange Order Of Things’, which is set for release on April 21.
He’s also shared the single ‘Fires’, which was co-written with and features Scottish rocker Simon, who he’d been wanting to work with for many years after first meeting in 2003.
Nathan said: “I have known Simon since back in my early days with Snow Patrol. The first show I remember playing together was a Zane Lowe MTV Gonzo show in Glasgow in 2003. Over the years we occasionally mentioned doing something together at some point. Finally, the opportunity came in the form of Fires. He is extraordinary and came at the song from somewhere I don’t think I would or could have.”
The record is about “trying to understand, make sense and work through events that have led to who I am now: heartache, regret, emotional cost, fatherhood.”
The upcoming collection also features Dublin musician Ailbhe Reddy on the opening track ‘Ghost’.
While it’s his first solo record, Nathan launched the side project Little Matador in 2013, who released their self-titled debut LP in 2014.
His Matador bandmate Dave Magee also co-wrote ‘Fires’.
The solo album was started back in 2017, but when the COVID-19 lockdowns imposed saw Snow Patrol forced into a hiatus from touring, Nathan was able to complete the record at the start of 2021.
He said: “Although the album is not about home. I felt compelled to make it there.”
Pre-order the album via nathanconnolly.bandcamp.com and stream ‘Fires’ on all major streaming platforms.

The track-listing for ‘The Strange Order Of Things’ is:
1. ‘Ghost’ ft. Ailbhe Reddy
2. ‘Heart Of Stone’
3. ‘We’
4. ‘This Life’s Light’
5. ‘Love Like Wildfire’
6. ‘This Is All That I Don’t Feel’
7. ‘The Last Time’
8. ‘Waves’
9. ‘Fires’ ft. Simon Neil
10. ‘Night Songs’

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OHMYGOSSIP — The Chemical Brothers have released live-favourite ‘No Reason’.
The electronic music pioneers – Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons – have shared the frenzied acid house dance tune and a hypnotic visualiser to boot, directed by longtime collaborators Smith and Lyall and choreographed and performed by Gecko Theatre, who fans will know from their festival shows last year.
The track was mixed in Dolby ATMOS by Giles Martin – the son of famed Beatles producer George Martin – at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
The single will also be available as a limited edition red vinyl 12-inch with a previously unreleased B-side track ‘All Of A Sudden’. Available to pre-order now and out on April 28.
The new song marks the pair’s first release since 2021’s ‘The Darkness That You Fear’.
The Chemical Brothers are currently busy working on the follow-up to 2019’s ‘No Geography’ LP.
The duo also have a busy festival season ahead, including the world-famous Coachella on April 14 and 21.
Last year, the pair were forced to pull out of their favourite festival, Glastonbury, as Tom was recovering from COVID-19.
They were due to play under the Arcadia spider at Worthy Farm in June, however, after Tom and members of their crew tested positive for the virus they had to miss their set.
The ‘Galvanize’ hitmakers said in a statement at the time: “We are very sorry to announce that we won’t be DJing at Arcadia this evening at Glastonbury.
“We were so excited to be back in the fields and to celebrate the return of the festival, as we were to be playing in Cork on Thursday night. We were hoping that more days of rest would allow Tom to recover from Covid, this hasn’t so far been the case.”
They promised to update fans about their York concert on Sunday (26.06.22).
“We are hoping that Tom will recover in time to play the scheduled Castle Howard show in York on Sunday and will update with progress as soon as possible via our social channels.
“We share the disappointment and frustration at not being able to do what we do with all of you.’
“Love is all, Tom and Ed.”
Stream ‘No Reason’ on all major streaming platforms.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Lola Lennox has been added to the line-up for the Teenage Cancer Trust at The Royal Albert Hall concert series.
The 32-year-old pop star – who is the daughter of former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and Israeli film producer Uri Fruchtmann – will play the fundraising show on March 26, as part of A Special Gala Evening of Music with The Who legend and patron Roger Daltrey and Friends of Teenage Cancer Trust.
Former The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft, and Kelly Jones from Stereophonics’ new band Far From Saints, and special guest Joan Armatrading are also on the stacked bill.
Lola said: “It’s an incredible honour to be joining this special event to raise money for such an important cause. The work of Teenage Cancer Trust is so vital for young people impacted by cancer. I am in awe of the services they provide and I am so glad to be able to support their work in this way.”
Roger added: “Lola first came to my attention after I saw her on the Lockdown sessions doing a fabulous duet with her mother Annie Lennox, a singer I’ve always admired. Then just the other day after hearing ‘Hourglass’ from Lola’s new EP, I knew we had to get her at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust. I am thrilled that she is able to join our incredible line-up for the week.”
Kasabian, Wet Leg, Courteeners, Jake Bugg and Underworld are also headlining their own nights for TCT.
The charity shows made a triumphant return in 2022, post-COVID, with performances from The Who, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher, YUNGBLUD, Madness and more.
Head to www.teenagecancertrust.org/gigs to bag the remaining tickets.

The TCT shows are:
Monday 20 March – Underworld
Tuesday 21 March – An Evening Of Comedy – featuring Alan Carr, Harry Hill, Russell Kane, Seann Walsh, Rosie Jones, Slim, Neil Delamere and Fatiha El-Ghorri
Wednesday 22 March – Wet Leg
Thursday 23 March – Jake Bugg
Friday 24 March – Courteeners
Saturday 25 March – Kasabian
Sunday 26 March – A Special Gala Evening of Music with Roger Daltrey and Friends of Teenage Cancer Trust

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OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Elton John and Dolly Parton have recorded a song together.
Elton, 75 and Dolly, 77, have collaborated on a version of Elton’s 1974 single ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, which Dolly is a huge fan of, and they plan to release the track later this year.
A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Elton is a massive fan of Dolly — she is a gay icon, after all.
“He heard that she wanted to work with him and leapt at the chance.”
The track will appear on Dolly’s rock ‘n’ roll album, which will feature her own originals as well as covers of classic hits.
Back in December, Dolly revealed she had recorded Elton’s iconic song for the record but wanted his input.
She said: “I’ve sent out a message asking if he would sing with me on it and possibly play the piano.
“So if y’all get to see him, say, ‘Dolly wants you to sing on her record!’”
Dolly, who was inducted into the Rock Roll Hall of Fame last year, revealed she wants to “earn” her spot on the list.
She explained: “I have a lot of new rock things that I’m writing. So I have been, the last few months, over periods of time, I’ve been working on that since they said I was going to be going in the whole thing.
“I thought, well I’m going to have to earn it. So it seemed like this was the time to do it. So I’ve been doing that.
“I’m working on that album and that will be coming out some time next fall, hopefully, in time for the Christmas season next year.
“And so I’m going to do a lot of classic songs that are rock songs and then a few that I’ve written.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Slash grew up wanting to play guitar like Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin.
The Guns N’ Roses axe-slayer has revealed he was inspired to pick up the Les Paul after seeing guitar gods including Jimmy, Eric Clapton and Rolling Stone Keith Richards playing the revered instrument.
The ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ rocker was just seven years old when he first heard Zeppelin’s 1976 hit ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and he still regards their album ‘Zeppelin II’ to be “one of the coolest records ever made”.
Speaking to the April issue of Total Guitar magazine, he said: “There were a few guys who influenced me when it came to playing Les Pauls.
“I’d seen Eric Clapton holding one, as well as Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons … A lot of players who had a great sound using those guitars.
“I specifically remember hearing ‘Whole Lotta Love’ from ‘Led Zeppelin II’ when I was seven years old. And I attributed that sound – from what I felt was the coolest record I’d ever heard at that point in my life – to the Les Paul. Still, to this day, I’d say it’s one of the coolest records ever made. And I knew it was a Les Paul making those guitar tones because I saw pictures of Jimmy Page holding one – so that’s what made me associate the Les Paul with that kind of sound. Looking back now, I think that connection was pretty accurate! So I knew I was attracted to the sound of a Les Paul. I had that copy for a while and eventually it broke. I went through a myriad of different guitars to see what they sounded like, just exploring when it came to my tone. I ended up going back to the Les Paul and I’ve been with that ever since.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Captain Sensible admits the late Lemmy Kilmister “saved” The Damned.
Former Damned member Rat Scabies formed Les Punks with singer Dave Vanian, co-founder Captain Sensible and Motorhead’s Lemmy for a gig in 1976. The Damned briefly reformed with the Les Punks line-up in early 1979, but originally performed as The Doomed so they wouldn’t run into legal issues with trademarking the moniker. Captain Sensible switched to guitar and keyboards and they had Lemmy on bass for some demos and a handful of live performances.
As well as wishing they did more shows with the ‘Ace of Spades’ rocker, who was offered the role of bassist permanently but declined, Sensible admitted the punk rock group wouldn’t still be here today without the “encouragement” of Lemmy – who died in December 2015 aged 70.
Asked if he wishes they’d done more shows with Lemmy as The Doomed, Sensible told May’s issue of Uncut magazine: “Yeah, that would have been good. In fact, we did offer him the job permanently, because he saved the band, really. When Brian James] left in ’77, he was the main songwriter, and I think we were considered to be pretty washed up. Without Lemmy and his encouragement, I don’t think we would have gone on. But he had another band to do, so he couldn’t do it full-time.”
He said of the late Hawkwind rocker’s nature: “Lemmy was a great man – a real charmer, an absolute gentleman. But he always reserved the right to be as f****** rude as necessary if the occasion demanded it!”
The original line-up – comprising Dave, guitarist Sensible, bassist Paul Gray, and keyboardist Monty Oxymoron – reunited for a tour and new album, ‘Darkadelic’, with new drummer Will Glanville Taylor in place of original member Pinch.
And Sensible admits he can’t believe their friendships have survived through all the “arguments and nastiness” of the past.
He said: “I was thrilled to make that noise again.
“The fact we could still do it was terrific.
“But the real revelation was the friendship with members of the band. Any arguments and nastiness in the past, that didn’t seem to matter. I mean, we’re all old b******* now! Backin’76/77 we were a bunch of drunken egotistical narcissists, and with our volatile personalities it was always gonna implode. But it was a genuinely nice atmosphere on those shows. We’d love to have done more and I’d still like to do more.”

Source: IconInsider.com