OHMYGOSSIP — Leona Lewis has teased fans she has new music dropping this year.
The ‘Bleeding Love’ hitmaker took to Twitter on Monday (23.01.18) to share a video of her sat at the piano tinkling the ivies playing her 2007 song ‘Better With Time’.
She captioned the post: “So excited for new music this year… looking forward to sharing 2018 with you buns (sic)”
The 32-year-old star hasn’t released an album since 2015’s ‘I Am’, but she featured on the charity single ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy last year.
Leona had gone through upheaval in her personal and professional life – including changing record companies – since shooting to fame after winning ‘The X Factor’ in 2006 and ‘I Am’ reflected that.
Speaking previously, she said: “The new album is from the heart and I put all my emotions out there and I’ve written a lot about what’s been going on in the past two years with me, so it’s a very empowering tone in the whole record.
“I’ve experienced a lot and gone through a lot and I’ve been able to write with some of the most top, amazing singers.
“The past 10 years have gone by in a flash. Also because so many things have happened, I feel like I’ve experienced so much in that time.”
Leona also revealed that she enjoyed having the freedom to write what she wanted when she was in between record labels, after leaving Simon Cowell’s label, Syco and signing with Island Records.
She explained: “I’m really happy, I wrote most of the album with one person and then a few other amazing writers contributed as well so really when I started making the album I went out on my own and because I had stepped away from my label and was kind of in between, thinking what I should do and where I should go next and I started writing and this album just quickly came together.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Hugh Masekela has died aged 78.
The Jazz legend and anti-apartheid activist sadly passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa after a long and “courageous” battle with prostate cancer, his family has confirmed in a statement.
They said: “After a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer, he passed peacefully in Johannesburg, South Africa.”
His relatives said his passing is he a huge loss, and that they were “blessed” and “grateful” to have been a part of his life.
The statement added: “A loving father, brother, grandfather and friend, our hearts beat with profound loss.
“Hugh’s global and activist contribution to and participating in the areas of music, theatre, and the arts in general is contained in the minds and memory of millions across six continents.
“We are blessed and grateful to be part of a life and ever-expanding legacy of love.
“Rest in power beloved, you are forever in our hearts.”
Masekela was first diagnosed with the cancer in 2008, and in 2016 he had to have eye surgery after the disease had spread.
The multi-instrumentalist was a master trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and singer.
At home he was often referred to as the “father of South African jazz”.
Masekela dedicated much of his time to protesting racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s, as part of the anti-apartheid movement, and even spent three decades in exile.
He penned the song ‘Soweto Blues’ about the uprising that occurred in 1976, following the decision by the apartheid government of South Africa to make Afrikaans a medium of instruction at school. The uprising was forcefully put down by the police, leading to the death of hundreds of people.
The track was released in 1977 as part of Masekela’s album ‘You Told Your Mama Not to Worry’.
The music legend had a number one hit in the US with 1968’s ‘Grazing in the Grass’ on the Billboard 100 chart.
His career saw him win countless awards, most recently a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jazz FM Awards in 2015.
Masekela was a fluent trumpet player from the age of 14, and became interested in the brass instrument after watching Kirk Douglas portray jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke in the 1950 movie ‘Young Man with a Horn’.
The ‘Up Up & Away’ hitmaker received two Grammys during his career, and released over 30 records, his most recent 2016’s ‘No Borders’.
Following his passing, South African President Jacob Zuma said Masekela’s memory and his service and dedication to the country will “never be forgotten”.
He said: “It is an immeasurable loss to the music industry and to the country at large. His contribution to the struggle for liberation will never be forgotten.”
Masekela is survived by his two children Sal Masekela and Pula Twala.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Fall Out Boy hope their biggest fan Taylor Swift appreciates their new album ‘M A N I A’.
The emo pop punk group – Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz, Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley – are good pals with the ‘End Game’ hitmaker as she has covered their hit song ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ in the past, and even invited frontman Stump on stage to perform with her before.
The ‘Dance, Dance’ singer said: “Taylor’s great, I’m a fan, I hope she likes it. I’m sure she will. Especially someone like her. She is a really great lyricist and a really great songwriter. So it would be great for Taylor to appreciate our work, too.”
Meanwhile, the ‘Centuries’ singer says that arguments over the latest ‘Star Wars’ movie, ‘The Last Jedi’, may have had something to do with them delaying the record, which was released on January 19, four months.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: “If we’re not arguing about the record, our baby, like we do a Star Wars film, then something is wrong!
“All of our best stuff we have argued about, but this one we got pretty far into without anyone saying anything.
“And I knew that wasn’t a good sign. That means it’s just fine – it’s an OK record.
“The Last Jedi must have been a great movie as our band have spent hours and hours fighting over it.
“People want that kind of reaction, but this record wasn’t really living up to that so we decided to take more time and make it better.”
It comes after Wentz admitted it’s sometimes better to release songs people “hate” to get noticed.
The bassist said that it was important to put out something that wasn’t just “white noise” for the sake of it, otherwise it may be “immediately lost”.
He admitted: “We did delay our album by a few months and I think for a band like us, it’s really important to get it right in 2018.
“I don’t think that just putting music out makes sense for Fall Out Boy because there’s so much white noise out there.
“You’re almost better off putting out something that people hate because then they talk about it.
“But if you just put something out that is ‘whatever’ it’s just immediately lost.”
Fall Out Boy play London’s The O2 arena on March 31.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Catfish and the Bottlemen and Blossoms are among the latest acts confirmed for All Points East Festival.
The brand-new 10-day event held at east London’s Victoria Park from May 25 to June 3 already has the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Beck, Lykke Li, Father John Misty and Warpaint on the bill.
The ‘Soundcheck’ hitmakers will be joined by Amazons, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, The Neighbourhood and The Hunna at the music extravaganza on June 1.
Van McCann of Catfish said: “This is gonna be a massive night! Doesn’t get much better than 40,000 people outdoors screaming every word you’ve written back at you! That’ll do us nicely!”
Matt from Amazons said: “We’re excited to join a great line-up of music across the festival at All Points East in May. We have a lot of memories of Victoria Park festivals in our formative years which were a massive inspiration for us. Can’t beat a festival in London too, no muddy camping!”
And Frank Carter of Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes added: “Every Summer, there are a few line ups and festivals that as a band you see and just have to be a part of. All Points East, in its first year is going to be incredible.”
LCD Soundsystem – who split in 2011 before getting back together in 2015 – will headline the first ever night of the music event on Friday May 25, supported by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix, and Glass Animals.
‘I Dare You’ hitmakers The xx will take to the stage the following night to complete a day of music action, which will also feature Lorde and Rex Orange County.
Bjork will close out the weekend’s performers on the Sunday night after fans have listened to sets from Beck, Father John Misty, Flying Lotus 3D, and Alexis Taylor, among others.
The music then returns to Victoria Park less than a week later as The National headline on Saturday June 2, with special guests The War on Drugs and Future Islands.
The US rockers are planning something big to make the event a special one for their fans.
They said: “After a thrilling four sold out shows at the Eventim Apollo in September, we are excited to take over Victoria Park next summer.
“We are already thinking about ways to make this more than just a show.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Britney Spears is bringing her final run of her ‘Britney: Piece of Me Tour’ to London’s The O2 on August 24.
The pop megastar has been performing the same show since it opened at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in December 2013 to rave reviews, and will give fans around the world one last chance to see her entertain the same set list and production.
The ‘Work Bitch’ hitmaker is also going to be making a special appearance at this year’s Brighton Pride festival in East Sussex, England on August 4.
Britney will commence the tour at the MGM National Harbor in Washington D.C. on July 12, before wrapping in the British capital.
The last time the ‘Baby One More Time’ singer performed her ‘Britney: Piece of Me’ concert in London was at Apple Music Festival at Camden’s Roundhouse in 2016.
It comes after reports Britney has signed a deal for a new Las Vegas residency starting in 2019.
The ‘Slumber Party’ star wrapped up her four-year ‘Piece of Me’ show at The AXIS on New Year’s Eve (12.31.17), but according to various sources she’s prepping for another run in a year’s time, but this time at the Park Theater where Lady Gaga recently announced her first ever residency.
A source said: They are really trying to compete with some of the more established venues in Las Vegas.”
The 36-year-old pop megastar – who is dating fitness trainer Sam Asghari – is said to have found the offer too hard to turn down.
Another insider added: “They made the offer and she just couldn’t refuse. She loves Vegas!”
One of the most appealing parts of the contract is said to be the fact it’s suitable hours for her to be able to spend quality time with her sons, 12-year-old Sean and 11-year-old Jayden – whom she has with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
Tickets go on sale on Friday (26.01.18).
The ‘Britney: Piece of Me Tour’ dates are as follows:
THU 12/17/18 Washington D.C. MGM National Harbor
FRI 13/7/18 Washington D.C. MGM National Harbor
SUN 15/7/18 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
TUE 17/7/18 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Events Center
THU 19/7/18 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
FRI 20/27/18 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
MON 23/7/18 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
TUE 24/7/18 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
FRI 7/27/18 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock
SAT 7/28/18 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock
SUN 29/7/18 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock
SAT 4/8/18 Brighton, UK Brighton Pride
MON 6/8/18 Berlin, Germany Mercedes Benz Arena
WED 8/8/18 Skanderborg, Denmark Smukfest
FRI 8/10/18 Oslo, Norway Telenor Arena
SAT 8/11/18 Sandviken, Sweden Goransson Arena
MON 13/8/18 Monchengladbach, Germany Sparkassenpark
WED 15/8/18 Antwerp, Belgium Sportspaleis
FRI 17/8/18 Scarborough, UK Open Air Theatre
SAT 18/8/18 Manchester, UK Manchester Arena
MON 20/8/18 Dublin, Ireland 3Arena
WED 22/8/18 Glasgow, UK SSE Hydro
FRI 24/8/18 London, UK The O2

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OHMYGOSSIP — Ed Sheeran has been added to the War Child BRITs Week Together with O2 concert series.
The 26-year-old singer/songwriter will perform an intimate gig at Indigo at London’s The O2 arena on February 19 ahead of the BRITs ceremony on February 21.
Liana Mellotte, Head of Music, Entertainment and Development at War Child said: “Every year at War Child, we dream about curating the perfect Brits Week line up so all our donors, fans and partners have an amazing experience.
“The day that Ed Sheeran agreed to play this show our dreams came true. Ed’s performance completes an unbelievable 2018 line up, and it is set to be a highlight of BRITs Week 2018. It’s fantastic to be marking our 25th year by working with acts of this calibre.
“We want to say a huge thank you to Ed, and to all the artists dedicating their time and talent to help children whose lives have been torn apart by conflict. It means the world to us.”
The ‘Castle on the Hill’ hitmaker joins previously confirmed acts Jessie Ware, Wolf Alice, Rag’n’Bone Man and more who are set to perform charity gigs to help raise funds for children living in war-torn countries.
Each year music’s biggest stars perform in the run up to annual awards bash, and 2018 sees the most diverse line-up to date, with alternative group Deaf Havana, The Vamps, Kygo, Laura Marling, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and Alt-J also set to play at various venues in the British capital.
In 2017, War Child raised a phenomenal £567,000 by staging spectacular shows together with O2 as part of BRITs Week. Thousands of people applied for tickets to see artists including Craig David, Tinie Tempah, Richard Hawley and Paul Weller.
The money helps fund War Child’s vital work delivering solutions protecting and educating children in some of the world’s worst conflict areas, such as Afghanistan, Jordan, Iraq, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Yemen.
To enter the draw to win tickets to see the artist of their choice music fans can make a £5 donation at www.britsweekwarchild.co.uk.
The full line-up is as follows:
February 12 Jessie Ware Bush Hall
February 13 Rag ‘n’ Bone Man + Samm Henshaw Islington Assembly Hall
February 15 Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats Omeara
February 17 Laura Marling St Giles in The Field
February 19 Ed Sheeran Indigo at The O2
February 20 Alt-J The Garage
February 20 Wolf Alice Gorilla (Manchester)
February 22 Amazons Omeara
February 22 The Vamps Dingwalls
February 23 Deaf Havana Union Chapel
February 24 Kygo Omeara

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OHMYGOSSIP — Bastille’s Dan Smith wants to collaborate with Sia.
The 31-year-old singer would love to work alongside the ‘Cheap Thrills’ hitmaker and is eyeing Rihanna for an upcoming track.
He said: “I really want to collaborate with Sia, I really want to collaborate with her. I really really want to collaborate with her. I do quite a bit of writing outside of the band as well, so there’s a lot of people I want to write with. I love writing pop music, so yeah we’ll see. Sia’s just an interesting one of a kind, I’d love to write with her. That’d be cool.
“And obviously Rihanna. We’re debating at the moment, there’s a song on the album that I would love her to sing on and I’m like, ‘is it worth asking?’ Because I know it’s going to get knocked back.”
And the ‘Pompeii’ hitmaker has described the band’s upcoming LP as an “apocalyptic party album”.
Speaking about the new record on Beats 1, he added: “It’s concise, it’s an apocalyptic party album, I want it to be really really exciting and uplifting but like devastatingly sad at the same time. I wanted to make an album that, because our last record sort of kind of dwelled a little bit, on how the world feels at the moment. Not in an epic way, just really in like a how do you respond when you turn the TV on and everything seems like it’s falling apart. And so I think basically if the last album was like the red pill, or the blue pill or whatever, if that was like choosing to know, this one is like shutting the curtains, having a wicked night out with your mates basically.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Neil Diamond has retired from touring with immediate effect after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The 76-year-old music legend has axed the remaining dates of his ’50th Anniversary Tour’ in Australia and New Zealand on medical advice after the onset of the disease made it “difficult to travel and perform on a large scale basis”.
He said in a statement on his official website: “It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honoured to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years.
“My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows.”
Despite hanging up his tour microphone, the ‘Sweet Caroline’ hitmaker has vowed to continue writing and recording music for a “long time to come”.
He added: “I plan to remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come.
“My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement. This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you.”
The upcoming dates were to be the third leg of Neil’s tour after he sold out dates in the US and Europe in 2017.
Australian promoter Paul Dainty, who has been working with Neil on his upcoming run of shows, admitted he is “devastated” about Neil’s diagnosis.
He said: “I am devastated and saddened to hear the news of Neil’s illness and his retirement from touring. I have had the honour of promoting Neil’s numerous tours in Australia and New Zealand, he is one of the world’s greatest artists and we and his thousands and thousands of fans here will miss seeing him tour down under.”
Neil will turn 77 tomorrow (24.01.18) and will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy on Sunday (28.01.18).

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OHMYGOSSIP — Slayer have announced their next tour will be their last.
The heavy metal band – made up of Kerry King, Tom Araya, Paul Bostaph and Gary Holt – confirmed they will head on the road around the globe for one final time by sharing a video titled ‘The End is Near… Slayer to make its exit with one, final world tour’ on their official website.
The 30-second clip has one of their most famous songs, ‘Raining Blood’, playing in the background as several images looking back at their career pop up in quick succession.
At the end of the video, a message states: “Slayer’s final North American tour dates coming…”
Slayer are yet to release a tour schedule for their forthcoming run of shows but the group confirmed they will hit the US with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth and Testament.
The ‘Angel of Death’ hitmakers released their 12th and final studio album ‘Repentless’ in September 2015, two years after they were left devastated by the death of their guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who formed the band with Kerry in 1981.
Slayer shot to fame with their 1986 album ‘Reign in Blood’ and are known as one of the so-called Big Four thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax.
In 2016, vocalist Tom Araya admitted it was time to “collect my pension” after 35 years in music, hinting at a possible retirement, but said he still loved playing live.
He said: “At 35 years, it’s time to collect my pension. This is a career move.
“I’m grateful that we’ve been around for 35 years; that’s a really long time. So, yeah, to me, it is.
“Because when we started off, everything was great, because you’re young and invincible. And then there came a time where I became a family man, and I had a tough time flying back and forth.
“And now, at this stage, at the level we’re at now, I can do that; I can fly home when I want to, on days off, and spend some time with my family, which is something I wasn’t able to do when [my kids] were growing up.
“Now they’re both older and mature. So now I take advantage of that.
“Yeah, it just gets harder and harder to come back out on the road. 35 years is a long time.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Kanye West’s new music is “crazy different”.
Migos rapper Quavo has been in the studio with the 40-year-old hip-hop star – who recently welcomed his third child via a surrogate, daughter Chicago, with wife Kim Kardashian West – and says while he’s using his old school equipment, he’s got all kinds of new beats and vibes in the mix.
The ‘Bad and Boujee’ hitmaker has revealed he, Kanye and DJ Durel have been getting together to work on tracks.
Speaking to Los Angeles’ Real 92.3, Quavo said: “I’ve been going crazy on the fingers. Me and DJ Durel, we’ve been going crazy lately.
“I did a couple beats with Kanye, me and Durel.
“[Kanye’s] got a crazy, different feel.
“He’s got all his old sh*t that he had from coming in making beats, and he still uses his original box and his original keyboards.
“He’s still got his old hard drives and all his samples and all the beats.
“Just to see that he still cherishes the old stuff that he came in with, know that he still respects the grind.”
Little is known about Yeezy’s much-anticipated follow-up to 2016’s ‘The Life of Pablo’, but Travis Scott recently revealed his next release could feature Kanye and Stevie Wonder.
The 25-year-old rapper-producer is currently working on his latest record ‘Astroworld’, due in March, and he revealed that he has played some of his material for Kanye and is talking to Stevie about collaborating.
He said: “I don’t even know what’s going to be on it yet. I played him some joints. We’re always talking. We’re always working on s**t. I see him every day.”
‘All Day’ hitmaker Kanye – who also has four-year-old daughter North and two-year-old son Saint with the reality star – suffered a torrid year in 2016, with the rap star having to cancel part of his ‘Life of Pablo Tour’ after he was committed to a hospital with symptoms of hallucinations and paranoia.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Pete Wentz thinks it’s sometimes better to release songs people “hate” to get noticed.
The Fall Out Boy bassist was discussing the emo pop band delaying their latest record ‘M A N I A’ by four months because they felt they’d “rushed it”, but said that it was important to put out something that wasn’t just “white noise” for the sake of it, otherwise it may be “immediately lost”.
In an interview with London’s Standard online, he admitted: “We did delay our album by a few months and I think for a band like us, it’s really important to get it right in 2018.
“I don’t think that just putting music out makes sense for Fall Out Boy because there’s so much white noise out there.
“You’re almost better off putting out something that people hate because then they talk about it.
“But if you just put something out that is ‘whatever’ it’s just immediately lost.”
The ‘Dance, Dance’ rocker – who is joined by Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley in the four-piece -admits the band were worried that the lead single ‘Young and Menace’ would divide opinions, but says it had to be done to “move forward” creatively.
He explained: “I don’t think it becomes easier to be more vulnerable in the regard that when you’ve taken chances in the past you can’t take those same ones, the ones that you take are different.
“Like when we put out ‘Young and Menace’ we were like ‘this is going to polarise people’ and that doesn’t feel good, but at the same time in order to move our creative vision forward you’ve got to do that sometimes.”
Wentz previously said he believes it is important for the band to continue to evolve, rather than just making music that sounds like fan-pleasing classic work.
He said: “I think we have to just move forward – that’s the goal of us (I don’t mean the band; I mean humans) – we just need to evolve.
“No one wants to be who they were two years ago or 10 years ago…
it’s great to have that snapshot, but it’s time to hang up your hat when you think your glory days are behind you.
“I think the sound of FOB will always come with us because of the nature of how Patrick sings against the music – it is just inherently there.”
Fall Out Boy play London’s The O2 arena on March 31.

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OHMYGOSSIP — George Ezra doesn’t think he’s cut out for the “level of notoriety” his pal Ed Sheeran has.
The ‘Budapest’ hitmaker is set to release his second studio LP ‘Wanted on Voyage on March 23, and despite having success worldwide, George doesn’t think he could cope with the intense spotlight the ‘Shape of You’ singer/songwriter faces, though he ponders what it would be like.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph newspaper, he admitted: “I have a funny five minutes where I convince myself I’d love his level of notoriety. Then I think about the impact it would have and I don’t know if I’m cut out for it.”
George admits he is content being an “underdog” to the big mainstream acts.
He said: “I wouldn’t fight the success if it came along, but I like being a mainstream underdog.”
One tip the 26-year-old star passed down to the 24-year-old musician is not to have a mobile phone, but George isn’t too sure about that.
He said: “He said to get rid of the phone. Ed just has his iPad and he checks his emails when he wants, then it’s on aeroplane mode.”
The British hunk’s new record ‘Staying at Tamara’s’ is named after a stranger he rented a room off in Barcelona.
Speaking recently, he revealed: “I’m very fortunate, I went off to Barcelona for the month, I don’t know I could have got a hotel room or a flat for myself.
“But, instead I agreed to live with a stranger that I found on the internet.
“So I had this spare room of this girl who put it online, and I thought to myself, It doesn’t matter if I get there unhinged, I can duck at anytime, it’s not being in a contract.
“So the first three nights I was thinking, what am I doing here?
“The door was kind of open, her friends were coming and going.
“Her friends were all artists, musicians, designers and I didn’t know what I was doing there.
“So I just decided to commit and they were working in the day, so I would spend my days walking around, and it’s the best thing I ever did.
“So she is Tamara.”
George also revealed that he stayed in a cornflour shed in Kent, South East England and pig farm in Norfolk, East Anglia, during the writing process.

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OHMYGOSSIP — The Smiths are reuniting without Morrissey and Johnny Marr for a series of orchestral concerts.
Drummer Mike Joyce, bassist Andy Rourke and occasional guitarist Craig Gannon, have teamed up for the first time in 31 years to perform the classic rock group’s songs re-imagined with Manchester’s award-winning Camerata Orchestra.
Different singers will be recruited to take on the band’s frontman Morrissey’s signature baritone-style vocals at gigs scheduled in Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
Joyce said: “I’m massively excited to be playing with Andy and Craig again, but introducing a full orchestra into the mix takes this to another level.”
“There’ll be Smiths classics in the set, but I can’t wait to play the songs that have never been heard live before. With the addition of an orchestra, it will sound as totally unique as it will immense.”
The concert series, titled ‘Classically Smiths’, will feature “faithfully re-produced and beautifully augmented” renditions of the group’s classic hits such as 1986’s ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ and ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’ from their seminal studio album, ‘The Queen Is Dead’.
The director of the gigs, Joel Perry, described the show as a “celebration of the melancholic exuberance that only that band were capable of providing”.
The punk rockers last played together at their final show in 1986, at London’s Brixton Academy.
The closest Morrissey and guitarist Marr came to reforming the ‘Panic’ group was in 2008.
Morrissey, 58 – who fronted the band from their formation in 1982, to their split in 1987 – revealed he once met up with his former bandmate in a pub and discussed the possibility of reuniting.
Writing in his memoir ‘Set The Boy Free’, Marr wrote: “Suddenly we were talking about the possibility of the band reforming, and in that moment it seemed that with the right intention it could actually be done and might even be great.
“I was genuinely pleased to be back in touch with Morrissey, and [current band] the Cribs and I talked about the possibility of me playing some shows with The Smiths. For four days it was a very real prospect.
Johnny then details how the plan went wrong when Morrissey, 57, suddenly stopped returning his calls.
He wrote: “Morrissey and I continued our dialogue and planned to meet up again. I went to Mexico with the Cribs, and then suddenly there was radio silence. Our communication ended, and things went back to how they were and how I expect they always will be.”
Tickets for the three shows go on sale on Friday (26.01.18), with more concerts expected to be announced in coming weeks.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Shakira is bringing her ‘El Dorado Tour’ to the UK.
The ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ hitmaker will perform at The O2 in London on June 11 during her European run.
The last time the 40-year-old Colombian beauty played the 20,000-capacity arena was in 2010, for her ‘The Sun Comes Out World Tour’
Sharing her excitement about returning to the British capital this summer, the blonde beauty said: “I can’t wait to be onstage in London again singing along with all of you, all of your favourites and mine. It’s going to be fun! The road to El Dorado starts now!”
Shakira was forced to reschedule dates on her ‘El Dorado World Tour’ after suffering a haemorrhage in her vocal cord late last year.
The ‘Waka Waka’ singer was due start the run of dates in Germany on November 8, but was forced to pull out of the opening show on doctor’s orders, to avoid further damaging her voice.
Now the Cologne show will take place on June 5, and Shakira’s dates in the US, which were due to kick off in January, have been pushed back to August.
The American shows commence on August 5 in Chicago, Illinois, before the Latin beauty heads to a further 18 cities.
Shakira said the unfortunate injury has made her realise that her vocals have a “purpose”, and she is extremely thankful to her fans for supporting her.
Tickets for the UK date go on sale to the general public from 9am on Friday (26.01.18)
A full list of the tour dates can be found at shakira.com

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OHMYGOSSIP — will.i.am has called out hip-hop music for being sexist.
The Black Eyed Peas star admitted the ethos of sex, drugs and rock and roll has treated women as a “resource”.
He said: “Music is probably … it does a really good job at diminishing the power of a woman. And that’s really sad. Especially hip-hop, rock – sex, drugs, and rock and roll. A woman is a resource in that sentence. It’s sad.”
And will.i.am joked that if The Isley Brothers’ hit ‘That Lady’, which includes the refrain of, “Who’s that lady?”, was released today, “It’d be like, ‘Who that b***?'”
The 42-year-old muscian and producer went as far as saying women were the most creative of the two genders and he believed men should acknowledge that.
He said: “Times Up should have happened a long time ago. The most creative gender on the planet, male and female, is the woman. And I’m not saying that because I love my mom and I’m a mamma’s boy – I just happen to be a mamma’s boy and I love my mom – but I think the world would be a lot better if we just realised and acknowledged the power of the woman.”
But will.i.am argued female empowerment is not in the hands of men.
He told Variety: “A man doesn’t have the power to empower a woman. All a man can do is acknowledge the power of a woman. I don’t have the power to give a woman, when a woman gave power to me. So our society is all effed up.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Dua Lipa has been in the studio with Mark Ronson and Diplo.
The ‘New Rules’ hitmaker shared video with the ‘Uptown Funk’ producer – who has worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and the late Amy Winehouse – and the Major Lazer star in Los Angeles on her Instagram story on Monday (22.01.18), simply tagging them in the post.
And the brunette beauty also shared a picture of the trio, which Mark commented on writing: “music for the soul (sic)”
It comes after the 22-year-old beauty revealed she has been working on music with someone she’s “always” wanted to team up with.
Sharing updates with her fans on the app, she wrote: “Finished a whole week working with someone I’ve always wanted to get into the studio with and I’m on cloud nine.”
Many fans have speculated that the ‘IDGAF’ singer has been working with Ariana Grande after the pair shared selfies together.
The ‘Hotter Than Hell’ hitmaker previously expressed her desire to work with the ‘One Last Time’ singer.
She gushed: “She’s amazing. It’s unbelievable. I’d love to work with her.”
Dua recently returned from Jamaica, where Harry Styles – who the pop star has been romantically linked to in the past – recorded his self-titled debut solo LP, which was released last year.
Whether or not it was a recommendation from the One Direction hunk is not known.
Meanwhile, Dua was recently forced to reschedule several US tour dates due to “scheduling conflicts”.
The ‘IDGAF’ hitmaker was set to perform in Dallas, Houston, and Seattle in February, but has had to push the shows back to June and July after the mishap.
However, she has reassured her 1.42 followers who purchased tickets that they will be able to attend the new dates, which will be announced soon, or get a full refund if they are unable to make it down.
Dua is also going to be performing Orlando, Florida after previously having to cancel a radio performance.
In a series of tweets she confirmed: “My loves, due to scheduling conflicts, I’ll be rescheduling my shows in Dallas, Houston, and Seattle. All dates will be moved to June and July of this year, and tickets will be honored at the re-scheduled shows … … If you’re not able to attend the new dates, full refunds will be offered at point of purchase. Please stay tuned for further details on exact dates and venues. Sorry for any inconvenience and i’ll see you soon xx … We are and they are in June and July. And Orlando will also be in the mix although that was a radio show that got cancelled and I was only gonna play 5 songs and was really ill that day but ill be back with a full set and m&gs will transfer ofc if purchased with original date x (sic)”

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