Music

With one of the most prominent slots at the upcoming Glastonbury Festival it could be assumed Rod Stewart was in for a tidy payday. However the iconic rocker, who will play the 'legends' slot on the pyramid stage on June 29 has claimed it is going to cost him money to perform at the festival due to their relatively tiny fees for acts. Rod is the rule rather than the exception and everyone from Paul McCartney to Coldplay have played for far less than they could usually demand for a show, something which has been confirmed by the festival's founder Michael Eavis.Rod recently told the Radio Times the paycheque he’ll get from festival bosses isn’t enough to cover his expenses and he will be left out of pocket. “It was about eight months ago when I was asked to do it, maybe a little longer. ...

A £30m investment will help “turbocharge” growth to ensure the UK’s world-leading music industry remains top of the pops, under a landmark new Creative Industries Sector Plan.The cash bonanza marks a major victory for the Express’ Strike A Chord Crusade as our pressure has helped force the Government to identify music as a priority “high-growth sub-sector”.The Music Growth Package, which more than doubles current government funding from £4.1 million to up to £10 million annually for three years, promises to deliver concrete benefits for artists, venues and music lovers by creating new touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities for emerging talent to help them break through at home and abroad. There will also be a significant uplift in funding for the grassroots sector to s...

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On was picked by Rolling Stone as the best album ever made (Image: Getty)Every so often, a list comes along that makes people argue - but also makes people listen and open their eyes to undiscovered opinions.When Rolling Stone updated their definitive list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the top spot didn’t go to Sgt. Pepper, Thriller, The Dark Side of the Moon or Abbey Road.Instead, they gave it to What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye’s 1971 concept album about war, injustice, addiction, inequality and the state of the planet.So I sat down and listened to it from beginning to end - and now I understand why it sits at number one. Here's what was special about each song:What’s Going OnIt begins not with music, but with voices. We hear people chatting, greeting...

Mick Jagger may be one of the most prolific frontmen in rock history, but he’s never been shy about distancing himself from parts of the Rolling Stones’ back catalogue.In interviews over the decades, he’s repeatedly expressed disappointment in entire albums, openly dismissed certain tracks, and at times couldn’t even recall the names of songs from their earliest releases.With a recording career spanning more than 60 years, that honesty has led to some fascinating admissions. Here are some of the songs and albums Jagger has admitted he didn’t like.Between the Buttons (1967)Though it features well-known cuts like ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together’, Jagger later revealed he had little affection for the Stones’ seventh UK studio album.Speaking to Rolling Stone in 1995, he s...

At one point in time, every wedding, bar mitzvah, and birthday party wasn't complete with the very repetitive tune of 'Ag-a-doo-doo-doo, push pineapple, shake the tree' ringing out through some community hall. The dance moves, the lyrics, despite not listening to it on purpose, would become ingrained in your psyche. Information stored in the very membrane of your soul for ever more.But what ever happened to Black Lace? A new documentary explores the current life and career of Dene Michael, best known for fronting the novelty pop group and its sole surviving member.Still Pushing Pineapples, which premiered at Sheffield DocFest this month, follows Michael over a two-year period as he continues to perform under the Black Lace name at venues including holiday parks, pubs and care homes.Prio...

Andrea Bocelli has performed some incredible duets over the years, from Celine Dion and Sarah Brightman to Sir Brian May.And now he’s teamed up with fellow Italian Jannik Sinner, the world No 1 men’s singles tennis champion, for his latest single.Although the maestro calls Polvere e Gloria (Dust & Glory) a duet, the 23-year-old sportsman doesn’t actually sing in the track below, but contributes through storytelling instead.In a joint statement, the pair said: “Every life is a potential work of art: each of us bears the sweet responsibility of nurturing our talents in the daily acrobatics of living, pursuing our dreams while remaining steadfastly true to our values. This duet is such a bold leap that it has ignited our passion, born of a shared and unwavering desire to express of our...

Liam and Noel Gallagher have spoken candidly about their estranged father, Thomas Gallagher, and the impact his alleged abuse had on their family.The Oasis frontmen, who grew up in Burnage, Manchester, moved away from their father with their mother Peggy and older brother Paul in the 1980s. The brothers have repeatedly claimed that their father was physically abusive during their childhood.Speaking in the 2016 documentary Supersonic, Liam recalled an incident after an Oasis gig in Dublin in the 1990s when the brothers discovered their father in the same hotel bar, reportedly accompanied by a journalist.“Someone turned around and said, ‘your old fella is over there with a journalist trying to get something going,’” Liam said. “I was about to kill him.”He added: “I probably got calmed dow...

Bono has revealed one of his all-time favourite tunes – and it may be a surprise.The iconic U2 frontman, aged 65 and known offstage as Paul Hewson, shared his musical preferences on BBC's Desert Island Discs, where he chose the eight records he'd take if marooned. Topping his list was Bob Dylan's Every Grain Of Sand, yet he also expressed high regard for Noel Gallagher's Dead In The Water.Discussing his choice, Bono explained: "Well, this is Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds, and this is Dead In The Water and he has this thing where the songs just take him wherever they want to take him."It is a little bleak to be on an island with a song called Dead On The Water but there is some defiance in the song and defiance is the essence of romance."The mutual admiration between Noel and...

Various Artists. Rough Trade 45s: Volume 1. In the heady post-punk late 70s, when Radio 1 DJ John Peel was an arbiter of taste for a restless generation, power briefly passed from the major record labels to the indies. Rough Trade, originally a West London record shop, launched their own label in 1977, becoming a small but important launchpad for new artists.This limited-edition 7-inch singles boxset celebrates their role in that eccentric D-I-Y scene, beginning with Augustus Pablo’s 1978 dub reggae gem, Pablo Meets Mr Bassie. The song, by Pablo (AKA Horace Swaby) and Horace Andy, showcased his bewitching melodica style on a rhythm by Rockers All Stars. Stiff Little Fingers’ second single Alternative Ulster was arguably the label’s finest release. Opening with a clarion call of a riff, ...

Iron Maiden are set to make dreams come true as they are due to embark on a monumental tour across the UK, performing at some of the country's most prestigious venues. Beginning on June 21, 2025, Bruce Dickinson and his band will be playing five massive shows across the UK, taking over stadiums with their spectacular staging and timeless hits. In addition to performing at the London Stadium, they'll also be gracing Glasgow's OVO Hydro, Dublin's Malahide Castle, and Manchester's Co-op Live, among others.Tickets were initially released on Friday, September 27, 2024, at 12pm midday - but fans went into a frenzy. Many seat options and dates sold out within a very short period of time. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ticket options available right now through resale websites and VIP t...