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Slash Will Never Appear with Guns N’ Roses Again
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip, Reunions, Rock,
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The definitive incarnation of the group - guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin, singer Axl Rose, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steven Adler - were given the opportunity to appear together as they were inducted to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, but after Axl declined to show up, Slash has drawn a line under the idea once and for all.
"That last Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame thing was it. I've been entertaining the idea for other people for years, but it's never been my inclination to get back together. Given the opportunity for us all to show up in one place, that was the only reasonable platform for us to do it, and it didn't happen. I'm really sick to death of even entertaining the concept."
Axl - who still tours with Guns N' Roses and is the only original member of the band - and Slash have a long running feud, but despite that, the guitarist doesn't think any of the original members want to appear on stage together again: "I think you've got a situation where nobody involved wants to revisit. It's not just me - it's the whole band. And so I don't think there's a price tag that anybody's put in front of us that's going to make that work."
Gallery: Slash Will Never Appear with Guns N’ Roses Again
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Damon Albarn Stops Blur Sessions
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Reunions, Alternative, Pop,
The band had been working with producer William Orbit - who produced their 13 album in 1999 - but the rest of the group were left confused when Damon cryptically halted the sessions last month.
"They were getting some demons out of the way. The new stuff sounded amazing. Then it all stopped suddenly. It was all over with Damon, and the rest of the band were like, 'is that it?' I was like, 'Don't stop. Make an album. You know you're fast,'" William said.
William also described the sound of material written by the group - which also includes Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree - saying it sounds down tempo, rather than the upbeat songs he had hoped for: "I'm not going to say dirge, but I was hoping it would be a little more rousing. It was a little bit introspective. With Damon, demos often sound like it's impossible to believe they're going to amount to anything. And they often turn into the most incredible pieces of music you've ever heard. They're one of the best bands in the world. I want them to get back together and record some good, old rousing Blur songs."
Gallery: Damon Albarn Stops Blur Sessions
Soundgarden Didn’t Plan Their Reunion
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Reunions, Rock,
Soundgarden never intended to reunite.
The group recently got back together after splitting 16 years ago and frontman Chris Cornell admits the reunion only came about when they held meetings to discuss ways of reconnecting with their fans online.
"The idea originally wasn't to restart the band. We got back into a room just to think about ideas of reconnecting with our fans, like starting a website again and starting the fan club again. But after the first five minutes of seeing if anyone had changed or gone weird had passed, it felt really comfortable," Chris said.
The 47-year-old rocker also insisted the group haven't reunited for financial reasons and says they are looking forward to making music in their own way: "We're back for the right reasons. No one is trying to go for the quick money. Now we don't have to try to be like anyone. We are who we are and we do what we want."
Soundgarden play the Download festival on June 10 and Hard Rock Calling on July 13.
Gallery: Soundgarden Didn’t Plan Their Reunion
Boy George Thinks Pop Records are Too Similar
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gossip, Reunions, Upcoming Releases, Pop,
The "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" singer thinks today's crop of pop stars are more interested in personal gain than making a difference to the world, and most of their records are boring as a result.
"Pop, I think, just goes in waves, and I think technology kind of makes everyone make the same record. I think the problem at the moment, and has been for a while, is that everybody wants to make loads of money, because that seems to be the most important thing. They all want the fur coat, nobody wants to change the world - and that's the problem. Technology is a great thing because it's opened up the doors for people, but when you hear things it's just, 'It's the new this, it's the new version of that' and it's just like, 'Yawn,'" he told BANG Showbiz, speaking at the Ivor Novello awards.
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Gallery: Boy George Thinks Pop Records are Too Similar
Despite having success with Velvet Revolver and as a solo artist, the guitarist admits nothing quite compares to when his first band hit the big time in 1987 with their debut album Appetite For Destruction.
"I'm very proud of what we did in that band, but it's nice to be recognized for something you've got going on right now," he said.
The 46-year-old musician includes songs from his time in both Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses in his solo sets and he enjoys the freedom he now he isn't in a group: "I'm not a dictator, there are no egos - everybody has great ideas for the songs. Every band I've ever been in I tried to make it always just about the music, never about who was the star."
Slash famously fell out with Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose in the 90s, and he, along with the other original members, left the hard rock group. Axl refused to attend the classic line-up's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year insisting he felt disrespected by the organization.
Gallery: Slash is ‘Proud’ of Guns N’ Roses
Black Sabbath Drummer Quits Reunion Shows
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Concerts / Tours, Reunions, Rock,
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward will not take part in the bands reunion shows.
The original line up of the group - Bill, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler - came together last year to play a series of shows and record their first album together in 33 years, but Bill has backed out of the project, saying he won't agree to the contract he was offered.
"I sincerely regret to inform you that after a final effort to participate in the upcoming Sabbath shows a failure to agree has continued. It is with a very sad heart that I bring you this news. I have to stand for something, and as painful as it is, I'm doing it," he wrote on his website.
Shortly after the band announced their reunion in November, and started work on the new album, Tony was diagnosed with lymphoma. As a result of his treatment the band's planned tour had to be cut to just three dates, starting in their hometown, Birmingham, England, on Saturday. The band will also close Britain's Download Festival on June 10 and perform at the Lollapalooza festival in the US on August 3.
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Gallery: Black Sabbath Drummer Quits Reunion Shows
Garbage Were Unhappy with Success
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Reunions, Alternative, Rock,
Garbage were "miserable" at the height of their success.
The "Stupid Girl" group - who went on a brief hiatus in 2003 followed by a longer break in 2005 - felt "engulfed" by their record company and hated being pushed to selling as many records as possible as they found it detrimental to their creativity.
"It was miserable. We got engulfed. When we first started out, we were signed to an indie label. We had a lot of freedom. Then we got sold like a commodity to a record label that did not give a flying f**k about our music or our career or us as people. And it was a nightmare. We didn't care if we weren't the biggest band in the world! But to this record label, if you're not the biggest band in the world, then you're worthless," singer Shirley Manson recalled.
The group - which also includes Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig - eventually began fighting among themselves as the pressure grew. "We got caught up in that corporate expectation, and it was sickening. It robbed us all of joy, and as a result we all turned in on each other. And our disappointments and our frustrations we foisted upon ourselves," Shirley added.
Gallery: Garbage Were Unhappy with Success
Kevin Richardson Rejoining Backstreet Boys
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Collaborations, Concerts / Tours, Reunions, Upcoming Releases, Pop,
Kevin Richardson is rejoining the Backstreet Boys. The 40-year-old singer departed the group in 2006, but is now planning to get back with his bandmates Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell to record new music in London this summer.
Nick announced the plans on-stage over the weekend saying, "We're coming back to London in July for three weeks to record our new album. It's been a long time since we've been played on some radio stations and we want all our fans to make pickets and start a protest outside these stations to get them to play our songs."
Discussing Kevin's return, a source told the Daily Star, "Kevin missed the rest of the guys, who he counts as brothers as well as bandmates, and felt now was the right time to return."
The Backstreet Boys are currently touring with New Kids on the Block as part of supergroup NKOTBSB and Donnie Wahlberg recently revealed they were keen to go on another global run of shows in the future.
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Gallery: Kevin Richardson Rejoining Backstreet Boys
Black Sabbath Announce Homecoming Gig
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Performances, Reunions, Upcoming Releases, Rock,
Black Sabbath will play a one-off UK homecoming gig in Birmingham next month. The "Paranoid" rockers will perform at the O2 Academy in the city - home to singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward - on May 19 in preparation for their headline performance at this year's Download Festival in Leicestershire over the weekend of June 8-10.
The performance is expected to be the group's first since they reformed with their original line-up last year, and they are likely to play new material from their forthcoming ninth studio album - which will be their first since 1978's Never Say Die - at the concert.
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Gallery: Black Sabbath Announce Homecoming Gig
TLC Set to Tour with Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Reunions, Rumors, R&B / Soul,
TLC are set to reunite for a North America tour, 10 years after the death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.
The "No Scrubs" group's surviving members, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas - who disbanded in 2002 after releasing their fourth album, 3D - will perform a series of dates across the country with Lisa's image projected on to a big screen and her vocals incorporated into the shows.
Lisa tragically died at the age of 30 in a car accident on April 25, 2002 in Honduras, but Tionne and Rozonda want to honor her memory by including her in their tour, which already has five dates lined up and more planned, according to TMZ.
Gallery: TLC Set to Tour with Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes
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