Music

Having been Queen’s guitarist for over half a century, Sir Brian May has had monumental success.Yet the incredibly down-to-earth rock star doesn’t see himself as a celebrity but as a musician who’s also an astrophysicist, stereoscopy enthusiast and animal rights campaigner.With so many interests and causes, the 77-year-old is involved in many projects simultaneously, including mentoring younger artists like X Factor finalist Talia Dean.The pair have regularly collaborated over the years and most recently co-starred together in the music video for their new single, You Made Your Bed, which is out now, and you can view it below.Speaking exclusively with Express.co.uk, Talia shared what it’s like to record in the whimsical world of Sir Brian’s recording sessions.According to Talia, Sir Bri...

Sleep Token, the iconic, cult-status alt-rock band, has seen a steady rise in popularity over recent years. Just as recently as 2022 they were headlining venues such as Eventim Apollo. Now, they're set to perform two headline shows at London's O2 Arena.The band, led by the macabre maestro Vessel, has made waves in global charts with tracks such as The Summoning, Chokehold, Granite, and many more from their latest album, Take Me Back To Eden.And, in just over a week, they'll be returning to the UK to play some hometown shows. This includes two monumental shows at the aforementioned O2 Arena. The masked band will be playing in London on November 29, 2024, and December 3, 2024. And, although tickets were released earlier this year, fans are still trying to find a way into their upcoming sh...

The original Band Aid line-up gather to record charity single in November 1984 (Image: PA)They may have been dubbed cynics at the time, but the naysayers who pointed out some of the lyrical weaknesses to Do They Know It’s Christmas? in retrospect, probably did make a few salient points.“There won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time,” sang Bono and a slew of other pop stars. The fact this might be a surprise to Tanzanians and Kenyans living anywhere near Mount Kilimanjaro was considered, at the time, a sarcastic joke for satirists and the very mean-spirited.Four decades on from the release of one of the biggest charity singles of all time, a 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song, which first came into being after Bob Geldof was traumatised by the images of starving Ethiopians reported by Mic...

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Linkin Park tickets are out this week. (Image: GETTY)Linkin Park only recently brought their live shows and music expertise back to live audiences after over a decade of absence.They played a sprinkling of gigs around the world in October - including one monumental event at London's O2 Arena - but now they mean business.The rockers, including Emily Armstrong, Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn, have just confirmed an enormous world tour, spanning every continent on the planet. And, included in their line-up of shows is one monumental event at London's Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 28, 2025. There, they'll be supported by the likes of Spiritbox and JPEGMAFIA.At the time of writi...

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more David Stanley blames Elvis' doctor for his brother's deathThere have been several theories over the years as to the main cause of Elvis Presley’s untimely death at just 42 on August 16, 1977.The King of Rock and Roll died of a heart attack while reading on the toilet of his ensuite bathroom at Graceland after months of weight gain and prescription drug addiction contributed to already present health problems.Now, in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Elvis’ step-brother David Stanley has blamed the star’s personal doctor, Dr George Nichopoulos – who died in 2016 – for the singer’s demise.Speaking from the Las Vegas stage at the Westgate (formerly International Hote...

Last month, Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor announced Queen I, a remixed, remastered and expanded version of Queen’s classic 1973 debut album.Released as a 7” single from the new boxset was The Night Comes Down, penned by the guitarist himself.In a new video interview below, the 77-year-old rocked candidly shared the dark inspiration for the song’s lyrics.He said: “The Night Comes Down evolved in my head, and in my own bedsit and the flats of the people I knew at the time. I would have this old acoustic guitar, which I still have, and I restrung it with wire strings. It was originally a gut guitar and, the bridge wasn't high enough to make them vibrate cleanly.“But I turned this into an advantage because I liked the buzzy sound. I’d put pins and needles in the bridge, which I'd carved ou...

 It was the greatest pop song of 1988. Fairground Attraction’s first single Perfect hooked listeners from the moment they heard Eddi Reader sing that irresistible chorus, “It’s got to be-e-e-e-e…perfect…”It blared out on radios, in wine-bars and on football terraces – where the lyrics were quickly adapted to “be-e-e-e Chelsea” or Charlton or whatever; and shot straight to No 1, spawning a double-platinum debut album, The First Of A Million Kisses.But in January 1990, the attraction turned fatal. The folk-pop band fell apart on the first day of recording their planned follow-up album. It’s taken them a mere 34 years to regenerate.Guitarist Mark Nevin, who wrote Perfect based on two of his imperfect relationships, recalls playing it for the first time at the Back Kitchen club at the Duke ...

US pop superstar Katy Perry has thrown her support behind Britain’s grassroots music scene by becoming the first international artist to offer a voluntary donation on ticket sales.Perry will contribute £1 from every ticket sale for next year’s The Lifetimes Tour to the Music Venue Trust campaign – following in the footsteps of Brit acts Sam Fender, Coldplay and Enter Shikari.The singer, 40, shared that she’s “so incredibly chuffed” to bring The Lifetimes Tour to the UK, adding: “I can’t wait to have a big sing along of all the songs you love and more! It’s going to be a giant dance party, and everyone’s invited!”Her relationship with the UK’s grassroots scene stretches back to 2008 when her first performances in the country saw her play small venues across London.On her decision to supp...

KALEO (pronounced Kuh-lay-ow after the Hawaiian phrase for ‘the sound’ or ‘the voice’) are back in the UK with their Payback Tour.Taking to the stage at London’s Wembley Arena last night, the Icelandic blues rockers treated fans to live debuts of a couple of new singles.Following his bandmates, frontman Jökull Júlíusson entered last wearing a cowboy hat and leopard skin shirt.The Disney prince-lookalike opened the show with new track, USA Today, in which his distinctive raw vocals—not too dissimilar to Hozier—lament American shootings.Gentle acoustic songs from the recently introduced Lonely Cowboy and Automobile to fan favourite All the Pretty Girls came early on and created an emotional atmosphere, as the singer encouraged fans to light up their phone torches.But KALEO’s signature app...

Fleetwood Mac are one of the biggest and most beloved bands in the world having sold more than 120 million records worldwide. 8: Little Lies (1987)One of the most collaborative efforts by the band, Little Lies was the third single from their 14th studio album, Tango in the Night, and their last Top 10 hit. Written by Christine McVie and then-husband Eddy Quintela, its bluesy bass rhythm blends perfectly with the harmonies of the melodies sung by McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. In a 2017 interview, McVie played down Quintela’s songwriting credentials. She said: “Little Lies was very much my song, and it’s not about me, and it’s not about Eddy. It’s just a song I wrote, lying out by my pool with a pad and paper.” An integral Fleetwood Mac track listing even if not a top three ...