Music news

• World-renowned cellist Heinrich Schiff dies in Vienna

  23-12-2016 21:59
  
  The 65-year-old, who turned to conducting in later life after health problems, has been called a ‘master’ by his fellow musiciansThe Austrian cellist Heinrich Schiff, who performed with some of the world’s major orchestras before health problems led him to turn to conducting, has died at the age of 65.Ludwig Müller, of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, told the Austrian Press Agency on Friday that Schiff died overnight in a hospital in the country’s capital. No cause of
  
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• Charlotte Crosby Reveals She Spent A Night With Made In Chelsea's Alex Mytton

  23-12-2016 19:20
  
  "We were in bed a long time"
  
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• Clean Bandit Claim Christmas No.1 2016 With ‘Rockabye'!

  23-12-2016 19:00
  
  Congratulations Clean Bandit!
  
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• Clean Bandit claim Christmas No 1 with Rockabye

  23-12-2016 19:00
  
  Classical crossover band, featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, maintain their reign at the top of the chart with a dancehall-inspired tribute to single mums Bucking the trend for charity tracks and X Factor winners, this year’s Christmas No 1 has been revealed as Clean Bandit’s tribute to single mothers, Rockabye – a dancehall-inspired song featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie. The classical crossover group who formed at Cambridge University managed to stave off competition from B
  
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• Sam Leach obituary

  23-12-2016 17:20
  
  Sam Leach, who has died aged 81, promoted beat dances around Liverpool in the early 1960s, including several with the Beatles. He was a firm believer in local talent and without him the Merseybeat scene would not have developed as it did.Sam was born in Liverpool, son of Stanley Leach, a clerk working on the city docks, and his Canadian wife, Pauline. On leaving school, Sam worked for English Electric, but he hated being told what to do and resolved to become self-employed, embarking on a series
  
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• ‘We had silver suits specially made’: performing at the Beatles Christmas shows

  23-12-2016 17:00
  
  John Beecham on appearing with the Fab Four at Hammersmith Odeon, London, December 1964
  This wasn’t the first time we’d shared a bill with the Beatles. A few years earlier, they were our warm-up band, when we headlined the Cavern in Liverpool. We really admired them.I was the trombonist in the Mike Cotton Sound, a footnote to the 1960s music scene. On this occasion, we were their support band; we are pictured here at the press call for Another Beatles Christmas Show, a follow-up to t
  
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• The 10 best gigs of 2017 to book now

  23-12-2016 16:49
  
  The xx | Drake | Tegan And Sara | Aphex Twin | Mexrrissey | AR Rahman | Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks | Frank Ocean | The Weeknd | The MaccabeesThe xx stop off at Brixton Academy, SW9, for seven dates in March, but don’t be dismayed, this isn’t a new lazy approach to touring; they’re heading off around the country, too, in support of new album I See You. Continue reading...
  
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• What You Missed In Music: Avril Lavigne Asks Mark Zuckerberg To Stop Bullying Nickelback, Benicassim 2017 Announcement & More

  23-12-2016 16:23
  
  Yes, Avril Lavigne really did do that. Yes, you are awake. Welcome to real life.
  
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• Will Smith & The Cast Of ‘Collateral Beauty’ Interview Each Other!

  23-12-2016 16:09
  
  The cast reveal their most hilarious moments together.
  
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• The Geordie Shore Cast Rate And Slate 2016 Celeb Style: 'She looks like she's been electrocuted by f****** lightning'

  23-12-2016 16:07
  
  Needless to say, they aren't too impressed.
  
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• 16 Celebs Who Nailed The Hair And Makeup Game In 2016

  23-12-2016 15:42
  
  So much beauty inspo.
  
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• DC Are Bringing Back Two Major Characters For Justice League

  23-12-2016 15:06
  
  DC has dropped some major Justice League news in its 2017 preview announcement...
  
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• Look Back On 2016's Top 10 Music Moments

  23-12-2016 14:36
  
  From Skepta winning the Mercury Prize to Frank Ocean's long-awaited return, here are the top ten music moments of 2016.
  
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• Look Back On 2016's Top 10 Major Music Moments

  23-12-2016 14:36
  
  From Skepta winning the Mercury Prize to Frank Ocean's long-awaited return, here are the top ten major music moments of 2016.
  
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• Avril Lavigne attacks Mark Zuckerberg over Nickelback put-down

  23-12-2016 14:35
  
  The singer and ex-wife of Nickelback’s frontman says Facebook CEO is ‘promoting bullying’ after a video suggesting the band have no good songsRelated: Mark Zuckerberg out-robots his AI robot in saccharine holiday video Avril Lavigne, pop punk star and former wife of Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger, has confronted Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his snide put-down of the rock group, saying he is “promoting bullying”. Continue reading...
  
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• Metal band’s campaign raises more than £70,000 for former Team Rock staff

  23-12-2016 14:33
  
  Orange Goblin also announce benefit gig for workers laid off by publisher of Metal Hammer and Classic RockThe campaign to raise money for the 73 former employees of music publisher Team Rock has raised more than £70,000, exceeding its target by £50,000. Last week it was announced that Team Rock, which owned leading rock titles such as Metal Hammer and Classic Rock, was to go into liquidation. As a result, 73 members of staff were laid off with no severance pay. The campaign initially
  
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• The year in music: how Beyoncé, Kanye and Drake saved the album

  23-12-2016 14:30
  
  Reports of the LP’s death were premature, while music and politics collided thanks to Chance The Rapper and Blood OrangeThis was supposed to be the year we declared the album dead. All the industry predictions were that we would now only listen to music in playlists, and the new tastemakers would be Spotify employees making mood-defined collections of songs called things like “Rainy Monday” or “Pre-Menstrual Synthpop”. In fact, 2016 was notable for a string of spect
  
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• Patrick Topping: ‘I don’t regret any tracks I play’

  23-12-2016 14:00
  
  The geordie tech-house producer empties the contents of his psychic record bag, from Kanye West to Girls On Top Continue reading...
  
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• What is Usain Bolt Slow At?

  23-12-2016 13:59
  
  The Olympic hero reveals all to MTV…
  
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• The PLL GIF guide to dealing with the crap Christmas presents you’re gonna get this year

  23-12-2016 13:56
  
  Uber A wouldn't stand for a selfie stick.
  
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• James Franco and Bryan Cranston Play Never Have I Ever!

  23-12-2016 13:32
  
  The stars of new comedy ‘Why Him?’ reveal all their nudiest, smoochiest secrets!
  
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• 13 Easy But Life Changing Beauty Resolutions To Keep In The New Year

  23-12-2016 13:19
  
  Resolutions you might actually keep.
  
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• Wizkid Makes Us Dance For Christmas!

  23-12-2016 12:55
  
  What better gift can you ask for at Christmas time than a new song from your fave artist?
  
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• Celine Dion marks end of the year with emotional retrospective video

  23-12-2016 11:43
  
  The past 12 months have been incredibly difficult for Celine Dion, following the death of her beloved husband René Angélil in January. With 2016 now drawing to a close, the singer has posted a retrospective video on her Facebook page, sharing personal highlights along with intimate moments of grief with her fans. René, who was Celine's longterm manager and husband of 21 years, died of throat cancer at the age of 73, and the video includes moments from his funeral servic
  
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• 16 And Pregnant Star Valerie Fairman Dies Aged 23

  23-12-2016 11:40
  
  Farrah Abraham and Jenelle Evans pay tribute.
  
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• Pokémon Go Is Now On The Apple Watch, Here's How It's Different

  23-12-2016 11:21
  
  There's just one key thing it can't do...
  
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• Were you paying attention? Classical music in 2016 – quiz

  23-12-2016 11:10
  
  How many of the classical world’s comings and goings, openings and closings, bouquets and brickbats do you remember from the past 12 months? Try our quizWhich one of these pianistic partners did Martha Argerich not play duets with in London this year? Daniel Barenboim Stephen Kovacevich Alberto Portugheis Which mezzo-soprano lost her head as Holofernes in a staggering concert performance of Vivaldi's Juditha Triumphans at the Barbican? Ann HallenbergMagdalena Kozena Delphine Galou‘A
  
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• Bella Thorne Claps Back At Charlie Puth Over Claims She 'Cheated' On Tyler Posey

  23-12-2016 11:06
  
  'I don't know Tyler personally, but I know he shouldn't be treated this way'
  
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• The Beach Boys consider playing at Trump inauguration

  23-12-2016 10:56
  
  After a string of music stars decline the president-elect’s invitation to perform, a spokesperson for the band says no decision has yet been madeDonald Trump has been struggling to find a musician willing to perform at his inauguration in January, with the likes of Elton John, Gene Simmons and Garth Brooks declining his offer. Now one group – a band who in many ways embody the spirit and themes of the American dream – have confirmed that they are considering their offer to perf
  
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• 'Don't eat the kebabs' – Tupac, Kurt, and the best musician-to-musician letters

  23-12-2016 09:00
  
  Laura Jane Grace’s autobiography remembers a letter Bruce Springsteen wrote to her – another addition to the rich catalogue of revealing notes stars have penned each other Midway through Laura Jane Grace’s forthcoming memoir, Tranny, the Against Me! frontwoman shares an excerpt from a letter she received during a trying period of her career in punk rock. Its author? None other than Bruce Springsteen. His letter to the then-young artist is a lovely thing: generous, wise, honest
  
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• Kesha promises 'most honest' new music in emotional Insta post

  23-12-2016 08:47
  
  Her heartfelt message reveals what she really wants for Christmas.
  
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• Katie Melua on learning to re-love her breakthrough hit Closest Thing To Crazy

  23-12-2016 08:08
  
  The singer has also slammed the culture of celebrity, insisting it is “not healthy”.
  
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• From Hottest 100 to Dami Im: Australian music’s 10 biggest talking points of 2016

  23-12-2016 04:09
  
  There was no shortage of controversy – be it over national identity or Eurovision – but there were also plenty of plaudits for performers new and oldIn 2015 Australia entered the Eurovision song contest as a wild card and Guy Sebastian turned in a surprisingly decent Bruno Mars impersonation. Australia loves the song contest more than some of Europe does (I’ve never seen a Brit respond with anything other than contempt over the unjustness of political voting), so it was nice of
  
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