Music

Kate Bush first hit the big time 45 years ago when she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single Wuthering Heights, making her the first female artist to do so with a self-written track. And now the 64-year-old, who was appointed a CBE in 2013 …

Sir John Eliot Gardiner, described as one of the world’s greatest conductors, has said cuts announced by the BBC are both “draconian” and “appalling”. The BBC Singers choir was announced as one of the casualties of the money-saving spree earlier this month, which Sir John said demonstrated that the corporation’s …

When The Beatles were still growing in popularity, they had a lot to prove to the world. As a result, they gave everything they had when they were recording their first album, Please Please Me, in 1963. One song, in particular, gave them a lot more trouble than the rest …

Oasis fans have had a rollercoaster of a week. Although the band split up back in 2009 after a reported brother bust-up between Noel and Liam Gallagher, reunion news has been on the tip of the Gallaghers’ tongues. Liam alluded to the band’s comeback earlier this week when he told …

On this day, March 21, back in 1961, The Beatles played their first night-time concert at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club. Before this momentous event, the Fab Four had reportedly played 11 afternoon sets at the incredible music venue – but it seems they were not at all prepared for the …

“I live by this term,” Jacoby Shaddix shared. “Come as you are, but don’t stay as you are.” This was just one of the mantra-esque hymns the Papa Roach frontman crooned throughout our brief conversation last year. It’s hard to put into words just how profound and thought-provoking the star …

The playlist of 27 songs has been hand-selected on behalf of His Majesty by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and includes plenty of classic acts like Queen, The Beatles and Sir Tom Jones among the newer ones. And included among them as the fourth track on the Spotify …

Elvis Presley built relationships with a lot of women throughout his life, but none compared to the love affair he shared with Ann-Margret. The King of Rock and Roll and the Swedish-American star met on the set of the 1964 movie Viva Las Vegas. What followed was a year-long relationship …

Gracing the stage at a packed Heaven, ex Maccabees frontman and indie stalwart Orlando Weeks saunters on to the stage to a teasing beat. This builds up to the singer’s haunting, distorted lyrics in set opener None Too Tough, a lively start with its anthemic drum beat. Second song Blood Sugar …

The legendary Manchester rock band Oasis split up for good back in 2009, after a reported backstage battle between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher in Paris, France. Since then, fans have been calling for a comeback for the Wonderwall singers – and Liam seems to have just “confirmed” it is …

Around 15 years after The Beatles split up, Paul McCartney branched out with his art. The Fab Four brought the band to an end in 1970, and by 1984, McCartney was working in Hollywood on his first feature film. He wrote the screenplay for the film Give My Regards to …

It’s been almost 60 years since The Who formed and became one of the most influential rock bands of the last century. The much-loved British group led by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have now been honoured by having one of their classic tracks selected for King Charles III’s official Coronation Celebration …

When Elvis Presley began shooting his 15th feature film, Viva Las Vegas, in 1963, everything changed for him. He had enjoyed flings with the Hollywood actresses he worked with in the past, but when he met Ann-Margret, he fell head-over-heels in love with her. She was often described as “the …

The night before, when she was also due to play at the iconic venue, Los Angeles-based Beth – who was recovering from Covid – had to cancel at the last minute. “It makes you crazy in your head – I was tripping,” the 51-year-old musician told the 2300-strong crowd. “But …

Agent Elvis has landed on Netflix this weekend, portraying the fictional spy adventures of The King with his cocaine-snorting, womanising monkey Scatter. Although the show takes liberty with history for entertainment purposes, Tom Kenny’s chimp is actually based on Elvis Presley’s outrageously behaved pet of the same name. The star …

It’s been 60 years since The Kinks formed and became one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. Just like The Beatles, they were part of the British Invasion of the USA until their performance ban in 1965 after a dispute with their promoter. And now the band …

Throughout her life, Lisa Marie Presley had a complicated relationship with Graceland. She later blasted “That damned back lawn,” saying it was ghoulish to have a family graveyard in the garden. Tragically, she has now been laid to rest there, along with her father, grandparents and her only son, Benjamin …

After a two-year hiatus, Queen and Adam Lambert finally headed back into live shows with the UK and European leg of their Rhapsody world tour, including a 10-night residency at London’s The O2. After completing the extensive set of dates, Sir Brian May, Roger Taylor and the singer admitted they’d …

We’ve had the Elvis movie starring Austin Butler and now it’s Matthew McConaughey’s turn in new Netflix animation backed by The King’s estate and Priscilla Presley. Agent Elvis is an adult comedy that imagines the late singer as an undercover agent in a world not too dissimilar to that of …

The 12th track on His Majesty’s official playlist is Styles’ Treat People With Kindness. Fans will know the 2019 song as the sixth single from the star’s second album Fine Line. Presumably, this song was chosen because of its lyrics, especially with The Big Help Out being held on the …

Zachary Levi’s original Shazam! movie saw a 14-year-old boy called Billy Baston with the ability to turn into an adult superhero. Fans will remember the powers testing montage which had Don’t Stop Me Now by Freddie Mercury’s Queen playing over the top. Yet after the DC movie’s release in 2019 …

The Michael Jackson anecdote came up in this week’s episode of Queen The Greatest Live. Today’s mini-documentary looks back at the band’s incredible use of lighting in their iconic shows. Back then they were illuminated by the infamous “pizza oven” rig that was a pretty strenuous ordeal for the band. …

Shakin’ Stevens’ latest release is All You Need Is Greed (Image: Andy Fallon) With his hair still jet black, and turned-up collar, Shakin’ Stevens looks as cool now at 75 as he did in his Eighties heyday. The Cardiff-born singer, the UK’s biggest-selling singles artist of that decade, is even …

LA musician Marley Munroe’s debut album Black Acid Soul as Lady Blackbird has garnered 5-star reviews from The Times and The Guardian, and the Metro urged fans to ‘See her before she goes galactic”. Her sold-out show at London’s legendary Shepherd’s Bush Empire was her only UK performance of her …

All Time Low have been gone for three years. That’s nothing really out of the ordinary, considering there were three-year gaps between some previous albums, but Tell Me I’m Alive feels like there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. This is the first album the Maryland crew have …

Sir Brian May’s knighthood announcement in the New Years Honours List felt a long time coming for many fans. Not only for his services to rock music and animal rights but also for his performances at two Jubilee concerts for the late Queen. Most notably this was playing the national …

It’s been quite the last year for Elvis Presley fans with not only the 45th anniversary of his untimely death at just 42, but also the release of Baz Luhrmann’s big-screen biopic. Elvis star Austin Butler even went on to win the Golden Globe and BAFTA for his starring role …

Nevertheless, the 82-year-old star obviously took it all in his stride writing on Instagram after news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death in 2021: “Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh: an incredible individual who always reminded us we are all human. Forever grateful, Sir Tom Jones.” And now the singer has …

These hidden gems of Beatles history have sold for more than £6,000 after they were discovered in a house clearance. The find included autographed photos of George Harrison plus a written letter of apology to two schoolgirls who landed in trouble with their school for visiting the guitarist’s nearby home. …

Alex Gaskarth is “sick of talking about” the pandemic, he groaned over a Zoom call. “I think we all are.” Unfortunately for him: it’s all part of the narrative for All Time Low. Although the band’s fans have been waiting a long time for the Maryland rockers’ ninth album, “Tell …

In many ways, aside from their band name, Queen are as archetypically British as the monarchy itself. Not only is their greatest hits album the best-selling record in the country – with a copy owned by a quarter of UK homes – but Brian May and Roger Taylor have performed …

It’s now less than two months until the UK’s first Coronation in 70 years. As King Charles III is crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6, there will be street parties up and down the country followed by the Coronation concert at Windsor Castle the following day. For the bank …

Last month, the former Yardbirds star and Rod Stewart collaborator died after contracting bacterial meningitis at the age of 78. Now some of Jeff Beck’s friends and colleagues like Johnny Depp are getting together for a couple of tribute concerts in his honour, this May at London’s Royal Albert Hall. …

The Beatles worked with countless musicians and bands over the years, but one occasion saw them helping out an American star to write a track that would get him worldwide renown. And this song was eventually used in an Oscar-nominated movie. During the early 1960s, while the Fab Four were …

Elvis Presley had his life changed in 1963 when he started working on his new film Viva Las Vegas (which was released this week, March 13, back in 1964). While the King of Rock and Roll had enjoyed affairs with plenty of actresses during his time in Hollywood, when he …

Stevie Nicks hit the stage over the weekend for the first time since her friend and Fleetwood Mac bandmate, Christine McVie, died. The Edge of Seventeen singer hit the stage with Billy Joel in a massive round of entertainment dubbed the Two Icons One Night Tour. During the end of …

The trajectory of Elvis Presley’s life changed drastically in 1963 when he met Ann-Margret on the set of Viva Las Vegas (which hit cinemas this week, March 13, in 1964). The King of Rock and Roll kicked off a sordid affair with the actress before falling head-over-heels with the Swedish-American …

Francis Rossi’s Tunes & Chat tour runs from 24th March to 28th November (Image: Getty) “EVERYTHING ABOUT TOURING with Status Quo is hard work,” says Francis Rossi, the 73-year-old singer-guitarist who started the band when he was a teenage schoolboy. “I don’t drink, and they drink all the time.” Sober …

They are the queens of UK country music, twin sisters whose “rams to riches” rise from a Hampshire farm to the chart-topping cream of the crop has been powered by those three key staples of success – talent, hard work and synchronicity. The duo’s big break came at sixth-form college. …

Bee Gees perform with Andy Gibb in 1979 He was the golden boy – the blonde, blue-eyed pop sensation who had three successive US number one singles in 1977 starting with I Just Wanna Be Your Everything, when he was still only 19 years old. Mind you that first megahit …

Revellers enjoy music at Creamfields SOUTH 2023 Creamfields is back, and it’s bigger than ever. But this time, it’s been split into two massive events: Creamfields North and Creamfields South. The line-up for Creamfields North was recently announced, boasting such incredible names as Calvin Harris, Eric Prydz, and Fatboy Slim …

2022’s Glastonbury Festival was filled with unforgettable moments. Billie Eilish delivered an extraordinary Friday night headlining set, and Paul McCartney performed with a virtual John Lennon the following day. This year’s line-up has just been announced, with Elton John being joined by Guns n’ Roses and Arctic Monkeys in the headline slots, beginning on …

Opener UK Grim is urgent, nagging and desolate, as Williamson unleashes a tirade of grime-inspired rap about Vladimir Putin and class. He’s got “crisis stamina, full marathon”, he rants before turning his attention to how the other half live – “white Range Rovers… lunch bellies, threesomes and wealth measles. I …

George Harrison may not have been given enough of a chance to write and record many of his songs for The Beatles records, but the ones he did squeeze through have become all-time greats. Tracks like Here Comes the Sun, Something, I Me Mine and I Need You are just …

Prince Harry continued: “People variously called the house a castle, a mansion, a palace. But it reminded me of the badger sett. Dark, claustrophobic. I walked around saying, ‘The King lived here, you say? Really?’” Elvis purchased Graceland on its 13.8 acre estate back in 1957 for just over $100,000. …

Culminating in a show at Camden’s KOKO on Friday night, they are ever the effortless crowd pleasers, and the sold out crowd is perfectly hyped. With their brilliantly quirky song titles, they are idiosyncratic masters of the tongue in cheek comment. Their marketing and highly individual Instagram account are both …

Last year, the whole of Europe showed their support for Ukraine in their battle against Russia’s invasion by voting for their entry Kalush to become Eurovision winner with their song Stefania. Usually, the triumphant country will then host next year’s song contest but due to the ongoing war second place …

The Beatles came to a resounding end in 1970 after months of arguing and disagreements. In the same year, Paul McCartney wrote, performed and recorded his first solo record (McCartney) to critical acclaim. But his follow-up record was not as well received, and one sharp-tongued member of The Beatles felt …

In the 1960s Elvis Presley became a prolific actor in Hollywood. He had always dreamed of becoming a world-class thespian, and he was thrilled when the phone wouldn’t stop ringing for him to star in dozens of movies. But it was in 1963 that the King of Rock and Roll’s …

PVRIS performs My House live at Reading and Leeds in 2019 Alternative music fans: look no further. This year’s Slam Dunk Festival is bigger and better than ever, and it has perhaps the best line-up of acts in the history of the festival. Taking place across one weekend over two …