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The KillersThe Killers spent a week "eyeballing each other" at the start of recording Battle Born.

The "Mr Brightside" band were on hiatus until October 2011 when they started sessions for their new album, and admit it took a little time for them to settle in to working together again. Singer Brandon Flowers said they had "spent about a week eyeballing each other in a room," before coming up with new single, "Runaways," which gave them confidence.

"That and 'Miss Atomic Bomb' were the backbone of this record. They made me feel like I was on the right track," Brandon added.

Brandon and drummer Ronnie Vannucci both released solo albums after the band went on hiatus in 2010, but respected the fact the other members, guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer, needed some time off. "We are a machine of four parts, and when some of those parts wear out, you need to give it time. We all have different temperaments for how much you can manage. You need respect. Otherwise you're a band for maybe three years and then explode," Ronnie added.

Click to continue reading The Killers’ Shaky Start to the New Album


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Alicia KeysAlicia Keys felt like a "caged lion" before starting new album Girl on Fire.

The "New Day" singer had lots of tension built up inside her before she started work on her fifth record, which she is now releasing in the studio. "I'm in the studio right now working away on my new album and I am SO excited!!! I'm ignited!!! I'm like a match to a flame! Before making this record, in some ways I felt like a lion locked in a cage... I felt like a girl misunderstood that no one really knew, I felt like it was time to stop making excuses for any part of my life that I wanted to change. Once I made that choice I became a Girl on Fire, the lion broke free!! (sic)" she wrote on her site.

Alicia mostly recorded the album in her hometown, New York, but traveled to other locations to meet with collaborators. "During the recording process, I mostly stayed in NY but on some cool and memorable occasions, I traveled to different places, and worked with many collaborators, (some old friends, some new).

Click to continue reading ‘Caged Lion’  Alicia Keys


EminemEminem is a "work horse."

The "Real Slim Shady" rapper - whose real name is Marshall Mathers - recently confirmed he has begun work on his eighth solo album and his friend and collaborator Royce Da 5'9'' wouldn't be surprised if the record is already close to being completed.

"Marshall is the type that never really stops recording, so when you get in the studio he's in the back room where the booth is and the door is locked. Nobody's allowed back there, nobody ever knows what he's doing. All I know is that he's constantly working, so if he told me that he had an album ready right now, I would believe him because he's like a work horse. He works every day," Royce told MTV News.

Eminem has been working with Royce's band Slaughterhouse - who are signed to his Shady Records label - on their album Welcome to: Our House but revealed recently he is now ready to focus fully on the follow-up to his 2010 record Recovery: "I've actually kinda just started. I've been on the move a little bit too, so in between things, I sneak songs in here and there. We actually just finished the [Slaughterhouse] album last week ... Now I've got time to be able to start doing things for my own project."


No DoubtNo Doubt have made "the album of our lives." The "Don't Speak" hitmakers are confident their first record in eleven years, Push and Shove, is worth the wait and are "so proud" of the finished product.

"We would've loved for it to come out sooner. At the same time, we realized the people that care about us, that have given us our lives, are out there waiting for us, so what does it matter if it's a month here or a month there? As long as we make the record of our lives that we are so proud of. Otherwise, why put something out?" singer Gwen Stefani told Billboard.

The band credit their 2009 reunion tour with giving them the confidence and inspiration to return to the studio, as they realized their solid fan base was willing to stick by them. "We had writer's block up until that point. When we did that tour, it was the waking of the dead. Not only did we get our confidence back, on top of that it gave us the feeling of not needing to rush. All these amazing people were still coming out to see us, so we thought, 'Let's make the best record we can make now.' We wouldn't have this record if we didn't do that tour," bassist Tony Kanal added.

Click to continue reading No Doubt Makes the Album of Their Lives


Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift has hidden "little codes in the lyrics" of her new album.

The "Speak Now" hitmaker is renowned for writing songs about her famous ex-boyfriends, and admits there are clues on her new album, Red, as to who she is singing about. "It's pretty difficult to come up with, because I know you guys are going to figure them out. With the last album, I thought I was much more clever and cryptic than I really was. [But I'm trying to] hide little codes in lyrics," she told USA Today.

The first puzzle to emerge is on Taylor's first single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," a heartbreak song which features the line, "And you would hide away and find your peace of mind / With some indie record that's much cooler than mine.

Click to continue reading Taylor Swift Promises ‘Little Codes’ in New Songs


Spice Girls performing at the London Olympics closing ceremony

The Spice Girls reunited to perform at the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics tonight.

The 90s girl band - made up of Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Mel B, Emma Bunton and Mel C - arrived individually on the top of five London taxis while belting out their hits "Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life" in the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.

Click to continue reading Spice Girls Reunite at London Closing Ceremony


Tommy LeeTommy Lee has banned SeaWorld from using Motley Crue's music.

The drummer was enraged when he heard the aquatic theme park wanted to use rock music for new killer whale display show "Shamu Rocks," as he believes it is cruel to make the giant sea mammals perform for entertainment.

In a letter to John T. Reilly, president of the theme park's San Diego location, he wrote, "I'm writing to ask you not to play any Motley Crue's songs at any of SeaWorld's parks during this sad show. Although we like to torture the human fans who willingly come to our shows, we don't want to be a part of making innocent animals' lives hellish."

This is not the first time Tommy - an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - has been upset about the treatment of whales by SeaWorld. In 2010, he wrote to the Orlando, Florida, branch of the park, to complain about the way they got whale sperm from one of their Orca whales, Tilikum. "'We know from SeaWorld's own director of safety (as well as videos on the web) that the way you get his sperm is by having someone get into the pool and masturbate him with a cow's vagina filled with hot water. Even in my wildest days with Motley Crue, I never could've imagined something so sick and twisted," he wrote.

Click to continue reading Tommy Lee Bans SeaWorld From Using Songs


Beastie BoysAdam Yauch's will prevents his music being used in adverts.

The Beastie Boys rapper - known as MCA - passed away from cancer in May aged 47, and his will lists a clause preventing his music or art being used in adverts or promotions. "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event may my image or name or any music or any artistic property created by me be used for advertising purposes," it reads. Rolling Stone noted the last part of the line was added in handwriting.

The will also leaves his fortune of $6.4 million to Yauch's wife, Dechen Yauch, and their 13-year-old daughter. Dechen also has the right to sell and manage her husband's artistic property.

It is not clear how the will's wording affects the potential use of Beastie Boys' music in adverts in future, as the band also comprises Adam "Ad Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond.


Jack WhiteJack White finds it "boring" to write songs about himself.

The singer and guitarist released his first album under his own name earlier this year, and while he makes up different characters who his songs are about, he admits they are based on his own experiences.

"I always find it kind of boring to write about myself. But whatever happens to you, if you've gone through anything - sort of a literal train wreck in your life, for example - you have to have that inside of you in some way. Even if you choose not to write about being involved in a train wreck, it would come out of you no matter what choice you have. So whatever characters I was writing about during the record, I'm giving them these problems. But the problems are only things that I probably have seen or experienced sometime along the way. The funny thing is, I always think I'm writing about, you know, a couple of characters, but by the end I'm mixing the song and listening to it back and thinking, 'Oh, now I know exactly what this song is about. I'm the only one who's going to know.' It's very funny."

Click to continue reading Jack White is ‘Bored’ of Writing Songs About Himself


PinkPink will perform a new song at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The "So What" hitmaker has been added to the line-up of guest performers which also includes Alicia Keys and One Direction and will debut a track from her forthcoming sixth album "The Truth About Love."

Pink says performing at the awards is "extra special" as she was banned from watching music channels when she was younger. "Being a part of the VMAs for me is extra special because my mom never let me used to watch MTV as a little girl. I would watch it anyway but she would also try and ground me but then I would just sneak out my window and go to someone's house that had MTV. So to be on MTV is quite ironic," she said.

This will mark the third time Pink has performed at the awards and she says it is a ceremony she always enjoys: "It's always one of the more enjoyable shows because it's relaxed and it's kind of rock 'n' roll and unpredictable and everyone is having a good time."

The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards take place at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Thursday, September 6.


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