Post-punk Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Fontaines D.C. are continuing to tease new music with a Stanley Kubrick-inspired clip ahead of their new album ‘Romance’.The Irish post-punk group started to hint at new music last week with a 30-second clip in which frontman Grian Chatten is seen topless and in bright green trousers, with a black, swollen eye and heavy cuts and bruises all over.

Big Special have shared the politically aware new single ‘Butcher’s Bin’ – check it out below.Announced today (March 13), the new single is the latest to be taken from the duo’s upcoming debut album ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’, which is set for release on May 10 via SO Recordings.Following on from the lead single ‘Dust Off / Start Again’, the new track sees Big Special hone in on a synth-dominated sound, and shed light on the attitudes shown towards the working classes in today’s Britain.“‘Butcher’s Bin’ is about class awareness and the realisation that the working classes are used as nothing but a commodity and set against each other at every turn, their existence trivialised and struggles denied; the off cuts tossed to feed the rabid hounds of neoliberalism,” said lead singer Joe Hicklin of the inspiration behind the track.“The song is about all of this from the perspective of declining mental health whilst trying to make a living as an artist and to break through in a time and place where a life In art is seen as a luxury granted to those of a higher social class or a fruitless pursuit for idealistic fools.”Check out the single below.The alternative duo first announced details of their debut album last month, when they revealed the details around the LP and dropped the first teaser ‘Dust Off / Start Again’.According to the band, both tracks capture the essence of the forthcoming album, and look to unite them with listeners through their “common struggles”.“‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’ is an album about depression.

A Certain Ratio have been announced for this year’s Kendal Calling – and will be cutting their set to a special vinyl record for fans to purchase onsite. Find all the details below.The Manchester post-punk band are scheduled to play a show in Tim Burgess‘ Tim Peaks Diner at the Lake District festival on Friday, August 2.

Bring Me The Horizon have discussed their love of Fontaines D.C., and shared an update on when fans can expect the delayed album ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’. Watch our video interview with the band above.Frontman Oli Sykes and drummer Mat Nicholls spoke to NME on the BRITs 2024 red carpet, shortly before they took home Best Alternative/Rock Act.Currently, the band are expected to drop their long-awaited album ‘POST HUMAN NeX GEn’ in the summer. The follow-up to 2020’s ‘POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR’ was scheduled to drop last September, following being announced during the band’s headline debut at Download Festival, but was later delayed due to “unforeseen circumstances”.When asked by NME for an update on the new project, Sykes said: “It’s nearly finished, but it’s not finished”.“Every time we think we’ve got it, we get another song,” he added.

Idles frontman Joe Talbot has become the latest musician to appear on CBeebies Bedtime Stories – check out the video below.Talbot read the rhyming picture book Under The Love Umbrella, which was written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Alison Colpoys, on yesterday’s edition (February 20) of the BBC children’s series.“Hello, I’m Joe,” the frontman said to introduce his reading. “I’m a musician and I love being a musician. I love it because I get to make music with my friends.

Idles‘ Joe Talbot is set to be the latest musical star to read for CBeebies’ Bedtime Stories.The frontman will read ‘Under the Love Umbrella’ written by Davina Bell and illustrated by Alison Colpoys, which follows four children as they navigate the world under their love umbrellas.He’s the latest star to read a bedtime story, joining musicians who have previously lent their voices including Dave Grohl, Dolly Parton, Harry Styles, Elton John and more.Talbot’s story will air today (February 20) at 6:50pm GMT on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.“It’s an honour to announce that I am reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story,” said the artist in a statement. “I can NOT express how much I love reading to my kid so this was a welcome twist in an already beautiful career.

Courting have spoken to NME about the making of second album ‘New Last Name’, which features The Cribs’ Ryan and Gary Jarman on co-production duties. Check out our interview with the band and the Jarman brothers below, where they also open up about the current era of indie and comparisons with The 1975.The “raucously fun” Courting debut ‘Guitar Music’ was released in 2022 and saw the Liverpool four-piece push back against labels of ‘post-punk’ via auto-tuned vocals and rave-inspired breakdowns.

XTC have spoken about the possibility of reuniting the band at some point in the future, with each member offering different perspectives about the prospect.The Swindon post-punk four-piece – frontman Andy Partridge, bassist Colin Moulding, drummer Terry Chambers and guitarist Dave Gregory – have reflected on their legacy and looked to the future in a rare new interview with hometown paper, the Swindon Advertiser.The band, known for songs like ‘Making Plans for Nigel’, ‘Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)’ and ‘Senses Working Overtime’, formed in 1972 and split in 2006.The four members have now shared their thoughts on whether the band would ever reunite or release new music amid their own musical pursuits.“I think we’ve all got our own things going as I do sessions at the moment and I’d want to do another EP probably next year as well of my own,” said Moulding.“As for reforming now, I can’t see it really because we’ve all got different agendas because Terry wants to tour and Andy doesn’t and nor do I so it’s hard to reconcile that really.”He added: “Never say never I suppose because with the internet you’re able to record remotely with one another and that could quite feasibly happen with the memories of XTC.Moulding continued that there could be a “possibility” they “each individually record our parts at home and then somebody could mix it”.Chambers, who still tours with his band EXTC, playing covers of the band’s original songs, shared: “It wouldn’t be a problem for me as I’m still playing live regularly but as for the others, ask them.He clarified: “My feeling is no, it will never happen.”Gregory also agreed that it would be dependant on a number of factors.

Geese have announced that guitarist Foster Hudson has left the band.The Brooklyn-based band shared the news today (December 22), confirming that their guitarist would be stepping back to focus on his education.In a statement shared to Instagram, the band wrote: “Over the past few months, we have received a number of comments regarding Foster’s whereabouts. We would like to address said comments now.“Earlier this year, Foster decided to take a leave from the band to pursue his academic endeavours.

The Murder Capital covered The Pogues‘ ‘I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day’ in tribute to Shane MacGowan during a recent live performance in Ireland.The Dublin punk group were performing as part of Other Voices Festival on Friday (December 1) at St James’ Church in Dingle when they remembered the late Pogues frontman, who died last week, aged 65.The five-piece performed an a cappella version of The Pogues’ 1985 song from album ‘Rum Sodomy & the Lash’, only occasionally using the sparse rattle of a tambourine for the haunting rendition.Frontman James McGovern asked the crowd to “join us if you know it”, before performing their version of the song. “Love you, Shane,” he said as they closed out the set.A post shared by The Murder Capital (@themurdercapital)The Murder Capital are the latest band to pay musical tribute to the late Irish singer-songwriter.U2 covered The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ in tribute to MacGowan during their latest show at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Gogol Bordello have joined forces with Bernard Sumner to share a cover of punk classic ‘Solidarity’. Check it out below.The new release sees the American rock band team up with the New Order member to deliver a cover of the thought-provoking ‘70s track ‘Solidarity’ – originally recorded by punk veterans Angelic Upstarts.When it was first recorded, the song was written in support of the anti-Communist Solidarity movement in 1980s Poland, and went on to be the band’s most famous hit.

Killing Joke’s Youth has spoken out about the loss of his friend and bandmate Geordie Walker, who died yesterday (November 26).The guitarist, whose full name is Kevin “Geordie” Walker, was confirmed as having passed in an update shared by former Killing Joke drummer Martin Atkins. Shared in a Facebook update, he posted a video of The Damage Manual’s ‘Laugh Track’ – a supergroup of which they were also both a part of – with the caption “gutted”. He also wrote in the comments section: “Geordie has passed.”The band then released a statement later that evening, writing that they were “devastated” by the news.

Peter Hook & The Light have announced a huge 2024 world tour that will see the band play the ‘Substance’ albums from Joy Division and New Order in full – find dates and ticket information below.The New Order and Joy Division co-founder will be touring with his band from May next year, spanning New Zealand, Australia, North America, the UK and Ireland.The tour will open at the Opera House in Wellington, New Zealand on May 16, followed by eight more dates across New Zealand and Australia. From August 31, they’ll continue with a North American run that starts at History in Toronto, Canada.

Heartworms has shared her dark new single ‘May I Comply’ – listen to it below.The new track is the first release from Heartworms since March EP ‘A Comforting Notion’, which NME said in a five-star review was “brimming with all the promise of the next great cult act”.‘May I Comply’ arrives with an accompanying monochrome music video by Gilbert Trejo, who also directed Heartworms’ previous video ‘24 Hours’.“When I wrote this track I just wanted to get over an ex and to tell my little brother he’s good enough… turned out to be a lot darker than I thought,” Heartworms, real name Jojo Orme, shared in a press statement.Check out ‘May I Comply’ below.Gilbert Trejo added: “For ‘May I Comply’ Jojo and I wanted to lean harder into the stark black and white world that Heartworms is building, washing everything but the band out in a sea of emptiness. Between shooting ‘24 Hours’ and ‘May I Comply’ I’ve had the chance to photograph Heartworms on tour and was excited about capturing a bit more of the energy of Jojo’s performance at this stage.”‘May I Comply’ is produced by Speedy Wunderground head Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Slowthai, Fontaines D.C.) who Heartworms said she “idolised” before meeting him.“And then he came into my life and he sees me the same as I see him,” she told NME last year.

U2 kicked off their Las Vegas residency at the new MSG Sphere venue last night (September 29) – see clips from the show and the full setlist below.The Irish rock band’s residency is centred on a full play-through of their seventh album, ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991) but, as confirmed by reports, the setlist will be broken up by a secret segment focusing on a different U2 album.Variety reports that singer Bono revealed to the crowd the they plan to focus on a different album (or possibly other people’s albums, he added, teasingly), however, he didn’t clarify whether that would mean a setlist switch-up on each of the residency’s 25 shows.Last night U2 played the first eight songs of ‘Achtung Baby’ before breaking into a four-song secret segment of their a hybrid live/studio album ‘Rattle And Hum’.The band’s debut residency gig, which opened on the same day that they released their first new song in two years, ‘Atomic City’, was attended by a host of famous faces including Paul McCartney and Snoop Dogg. NME writer Damian Jones also confirmed that Dr Dre and Flavor Flav were at the concert.Ahead of performing ‘Angel Of Harlem’ from ‘Rattle And Hum’, Bono said: “The macca [McCartney] is in our prescience.

U2 have spoken about drummer Larry Mullen Jr playing “up a storm” in the studio when recording their new single ‘Atomic City‘, despite being saddled with surgery recovery.The band, who dropped their first new song in two years today (September 29) hours before their residency at Las Vegas’ new MSG Sphere venue opens, said in a new interview that drummers – and Mullen Jr – are “a breed apart” when it comes to soldiering on.Mullen Jr last year cited damage to his “elbows, knees [and] necks”, which he “got a chance to have a look at” during the COVID pandemic. He said that he was unsure whether he’d be able to tour with U2 for the foreseeable.Due to these drumming-related injuries, which he described as “damage along the way”, Mullen said he’d “like to take some time… to get myself healed”.

U2 are back with their first new song in two years – listen to “Atomic City’ and watch the accompanying music video below.The Irish band have returned to the post-punk of their heyday with a stirring guitar hook reminiscent of their 1983 hit ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and a chorus that channels Blondie.Vocalist Bono sings about freedom (“I’m free/ I see what’s in front of me/ And your freedom is contagious/ What you’ve got I wanna be,”) and nods to “Atomic City” aka Las Vegas, the city in which the accompanying music video is set, as somewhere to find it.It’s not known whether the song, which is U2’s first since 2021 when they released ‘Your Song Saved My Life‘ for the Sing 2 soundtrack, will feature on an as-yet-unannounced album. The band have teased a record that prioritises a “guitar music” sound.The new single was produced by Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite and recorded at Sound City in LA.

The Murder Capital have shared a new single called ‘Heart In The Hole’ – you can listen to it below.The song marks the first release from the Irish five-piece since their acclaimed second album ‘Gigi’s Recovery’, which came out back in January.Produced by Ali Chant, the track is described as “a minimalist folk vignette that unfurls into a widescreen, dynamic rock song”. It is accompanied by with a vintage-looking official video directed by Charlie Joe Doherty.“Dublin is the backdrop, we were the always-changing cast of characters, ‘Heart In The Hole’ is an injection of humanity into the void that’s created in excess,” The Murder Capital said in a statement.“Reminding ourselves to laugh at the mania, question the motives and, maybe most importantly, stick around to see what happens next.”Tune in here:‘Heart In The Hole’ arrives as the band prepare to head out on a European and UK/Ireland headline tour next week.

Sleaford Mods have announced details of ‘More UK Grim’, a new EP which was recorded at the same time as their acclaimed album from earlier this year. Check out the lead single ‘Big Pharma’ below.The new EP was written and recorded during the same time that the duo – comprised of Andrew Fearn and Jason Williamson – worked on their latest album ‘UK Grim’, which was released back in March.

Death Cult have announced a UK, US and Ireland tour in honour of the band’s 40th anniversary taking place later this year.The band, consisting of Billy Duffy and Ian Astbury, will be returning to play iconic venues they previously performed in at the start of their career. According to a press release, the shows, titled Death Cult 8323, will focus on Death Cult and their eponymous EPs, and will also “boast a setlist that spans the three phases of the band, from Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and The Cult’s first two albums: ‘Dreamtime’ (1984) and ‘Love’ (1985).”Kicking off with a show in Los Angeles at The Theatre at The Ace Hotel on October 23, the band will then head to various cities within the UK including Belfast, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and more.

Joy Division‘s Ian Curtis is set to return to Manchester one year after it was painted over with an ad for Aitch‘s debut album.In August 2022, the landmark painting of the Manchester legend – located on the side of a house on Port Street in the city’s Northern Quarter from October 2020 – was covered to make space to advertise Aitch’s debut ‘Close To Home’.The Manchester rapper quickly promised that he and his team would make things right after learning of the situation.It’s come to light that the iconic Ian Curtis mural on Port Street has been painted over with my album artwork. This is the first time I’ve heard of this, me and my team are getting this fixed pronto.

The Murder Capital have shared footage of them playing one of Sinead O’Connor’s tracks at a live show to mark the funeral of the late singer.News of O’Connor’s passing broke two weeks ago (July 26), after the Irish singer and activist was found unresponsive in her London home. She was pronounced dead at the scene, aged 56.The update came one year after the death of her son Shane, who died by suicide.

John Lydon has shared his thoughts on AI warning that it “will ultimately make decisions for you, and that’s very dangerous”.The Public Image Ltd frontman spoke about the recent developments in the technology in a new interview with The Guardian.When asked about his views on the ever-increasing impact of AI on the arts, Lydon said: “Who’s in charge and who’s feeding the information and giving the guidelines to these artifices? What or where is the moral code? It has infiltrated young people’s minds now to the point of total domination. What will this create?”He continued: “My advice is make small steps against this – and get that fucking Siri or whatever out of your house.

Black Midi have announced a special festival appearance where they’ll cover a range of tracks by The Beatles.The London trio are due to perform the special “one-off” gig at the festival Le Guess Who?, which takes place in Utrecht in the Netherlands this November.Writing on social media, Black Midi explained that former Standing On The Corner member Slauson Malone 1 – who has curated his own programme – had asked “to play a set of Beatles tunes” at the event.The band will play the Fab Four-themed show on Friday, November 10 – you can find ticket information here.A listing on the official Le Guess Who? website reads: “When listening to Britain’s cacophonous Black Midi, not many would be reminded of the world’s most agreeable band of all time. In fact, apart from sharing a homeland, the two groups seem to have little in common.“Thankfully, Le Guess Who? curator Slauson Malone 1 has enough imagination to disagree.

The Cure’s Robert Smith has shared a cartoon on social media, poking fun at the Coronation of King Charles III.Created by artist First Dog On The Moon, the cartoon depicts “royal things” preparing for the Coronation, which takes place today (May 6). It also includes a parody pledge that features the line: ​​“All hail the nature arbitrary, of privilege that’s hereditary.”“The huge cost of this ceremony could buy each British child a pony, yet distracting profligacy must calm the masses, lest we [unleash] the fury of the poor,” it continues.

Siouxsie Sioux has added a date in London to her forthcoming comeback shows.The Siouxsie & The Banshees frontwoman confirmed her live return just before Christmas, with her first live performance in the UK for a decade set to take place at Latitude Festival in July.She also announced three live dates in Europe next month followed by a performance at the Cruel World Festival in California on May 20. Sioux is also set to kick off the Summer Nights At The Bandstand concert series in Glasgow on July 25.Now she has announced plans to perform at the Troxy on September 7.

Robert Smith has asked Ticketmaster to explain why tickets in its promised face value ticket exchange are “weird” and “over priced”.The Cure singer and guitarist has taken the ticketing platform to task in recent weeks over its “unduly high” service fees for tickets to his band’s upcoming North American tour. Some fans claimed that Ticketmaster fees, including service fee, facility charge and order processing fee, exceeded the price of the actual tickets.Earlier this month Smith said that he was “sickened” by high Ticketmaster fees after the platform had vowed to the band to keep prices affordable for their fans.Now, some fans have claimed that tickets marked as face value are selling beyond the price of a standard ticket, and Smith has responded to what’s been alleged.

Heartworms has dropped her latest single ‘24 Hours’, and covered The Sisters Of Mercy at her live performances.The latest track is taken from the musician’s newly-released debut EP, ‘A Comforting Notion’, which is released via Speedy Wunderground.According to Heartworms – whose real name is Jojo Orme – the song is designed to reflect the everyday struggles faced by adolescents. Check out the haunting visuals for the song, directed by Gilbert Trejo, here:“‘24 Hours’ is about general struggles of teenage growth, secondary school and moments of regret,” Orme said.

Black Midi were joined by Harry Hill on stage in London last night (March 8) – check out footage of the unlikely link up below.The British comedian and presenter joined the experimental post-punk band at the final night of their Village Underground residency where they performed from March 5 to 8.Hill appeared on stage before launching into a cover of Cardi B‘s ‘I Like It’ with the band performing as his musical ensemble.Watch clips of the performance below.Harry hill has joined black midi pic.twitter.com/gcBlL5stGu— Charlie Ralph (@Churlie100) March 8, 2023Sorry but Black Midi ft Harry Hill pic.twitter.com/jVdmxuGT9y— Loraine James // Whatever The Weather (@LoJamMusic) March 8, 2023it brings me infinite pleasure to announce black midi just brought harry hill out pic.twitter.com/QzLdvQtMjO— benny j.h. (@pyshagoras) March 8, 2023black midi and harry hill is the highlight of my year pic.twitter.com/4xWuJImYel— pubert (@puberrtt) March 8, 2023this video shows the full process of harry hill joining black midi.

Yard Act will play a five-night residency at Brudenell Social Club in their hometown of Leeds.The shows will take place from May 8-12, with a different comedian supporting each night. Harry Hill, Rose Matafeo, Lolly Adefope and Nish Kumar have all been confirmed to open for the post-punk band, with a top secret special guest also set to come out of retirement to open at one of the shows.“Yard Act made me cry – but once I’d got over the fee I jumped at the chance!” Hill quipped in a press release.“Emboldened by mid Glastonbury courage, I approached James in a crowd waiting to see Little Simz to tell him how much I loved Yard Act,” added Matafeo.

Brix Smith has posted three new songs from her forthcoming solo album ‘Valley Of The Dolls’.The post-punk icon, who was a member of The Fall and founder of The Extricated as well as The Adult Net, has also set a date for the album’s release: March 10 via Republic of Music.Smith’s band comprises My Bloody Valentine duo Deb George (bass) and Jen Marco (keyboards and guitar), along with Vas Antoniadou (drums) and Ros Cairney (guitar) from rising London duo Deux Furieuses.The tracks she has shared, which you can listen to below, include ‘Fast Net’, ‘Aphrodite’ and ‘California Smile’.Smith previously said of the album: “During lockdown I was put together by a manager to write. I wanted to stop doing The Extricated, I wanted to do something else, I didn’t know what.“I was put together as a songwriter with Youth. His manager said, ‘Youth is a Shaman and you’re a witch so you two are perfect together’.

Joy Division-themed bar in Manchester has divided opinion across social media.The bar, which has opened today (February 17) in the Northern Quarter of the band’s hometown, features a mural of late frontman Ian Curtis in the corner and a green neon ‘Unknown Pleasures’ sign – in reference to their landmark 1979 debut – on the wall. Described by its owners as “a love letter to Manchester music” by its own, it is serving Japanese fusion dishes with ‘Manchester vibes’.

Blondie have shared a previously unheard demo version of ‘Go Through It’, formerly known as ‘I Love You Honey, Give Me A Beer’.The demo, which features on the band’s upcoming box set ‘Against the Odds: 1974 – 1982‘, hears frontperson Debbie Harry singing different lyrics to the version (‘Go Through It’) that was released on the band’s fifth album ‘Autoamerican’ (1980).‘Go Through It’ also features mariachi horns, unlike the demo, and as Rolling Stone notes, ‘I Love You Honey…’ was possibly written to be included on the soundtrack for the 1980 movie Roadie.‘Blondie: Against the Odds: 1974 – 1982’ arrives on August 26 via UMC and The Numero Group (pre-order here), and boasts 124 tracks – 36 of which were previously unreleased – alongside remasters of original analog tapes that were cut to vinyl at London’s famous Abbey Road Studios.The Super Deluxe Collectors’ Edition contains Blondie’s first six albums – ‘Blondie’ (1976), ‘Plastic Letters’ (1977), ‘Parallel Lines’ (1978), ‘Eat To The Beat’ (1979), ‘Autoamerican’ (1980) and ‘The Hunter’ (1982) – as well as bonus tracks including a previously unheard recording of ‘Moonlight Drive’. You can listen to that track below.The release includes extensive liner notes by Erin Osmon; track-by-track commentary from frontwoman Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison, Frank Infante and Gary Valentine; essays by producers Mike Chapman, Richard Gottehrer and Ken Shipley; a 120-page illustrated discography; and hundreds of period photographs.For nearly two decades the bulk of Blondie’s audio and visual archive sat inside guitarist Stein’s barn outside Woodstock, New York.

Fontaines D.C. have shared their brand new single ‘I Love You’ – listen to the track below.The song is the latest to be taken from the Dublin band’s upcoming new album ‘Skinty Fia’, which is set for release on April 22 via Partisan Records.The five-piece’s follow-up to the record’s lead single ‘Jackie Down The Line’ has been released today (February 17).

Alan Vega.Following the release of the Suicide musician’s ‘Mutator’ album last year, the Vega Vault is now gearing up to put out two previously unreleased tracks: ‘Invasion’ and ‘Murder One’, which are both set to arrive on Feb 25.The two new tracks explore “the duality of horror and despair coupled with hope and survival”, and were recorded two decades apart from one another in New York City.‘Invasion’ was recorded toward the end of the 2012-2015 studio sessions for Vega’s posthumous album ‘IT’ and was one of his last recordings; ‘Murder One’ was recorded in 1997-1998, (after the ‘Mutator’ sessions) and is part of a cluster of material that was recorded but never mixed prior to the sessions for his album ‘2007’, which was released in 1999.Like with ‘Mutator’, ‘Invasion’ and ‘Murder One’ are mixed and produced by Jared Artaud and Vega’s widow Liz Lamere.You can listen to a teaser for the new tracks below: ‘Invasion b/w Murder One’ will be released physically on 12″ format in partnership with iconic French clothing brand and longtime supporter Agnes B, which Vega held in high regard. It will also be released across all digital platforms – pre-order here.‘Mutador’ was previewed by the singles ‘Nike Soldier’, ‘Fist’ and ‘Filthy’.

TV Priest have rescheduled their forthcoming UK tour and added some new dates.The band were set to head out on the road this Spring, but the tour was has now been rescheduled to October – November 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.The Sub Pop signees are set to hit up 11 cities across the country, beginning in London at the Shackwell Arms on October 19 and ending on November 4 in Southampton at Heartbreakers.The band have also rescheduled their socially distanced and sold out dual headliner