Tag Archives: newsdesk

Slash records song for ‘Angry Birds’ game

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imagesCANTJSJ3Guitar icon Slash has recorded a special song for the ‘Angry Birds’ game, it has been confirmed.

He admitted that he became an “instant fan” of the addictive game since it was originally released several years ago as a phone app so was thrilled to be asked to create a new theme that would play while the title screen is displayed on the new version of the game, ‘Angry Birds Space’.

Speaking about the “exciting” project, Slash explained that he was allowed to work on his ‘own take’ on the theme song: “When [creator] Rovio approached me about actually playing my own take on the Angry Birds theme, it went back and forth a few times between the actual Angry Birds theme note-for-note . . . and then they asked for something a little bit different.”

“I was really thrilled when I finally came up with a version that I really liked and they really liked. It’s been a lot of fun and I have to say pretty exciting – the whole process.”

Country star Mindy McCready dies aged 37

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US country singer Mindy McCready has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The star, whose hits include ‘Guys Do It All The Time’, was aged 37 when she passed away on Sunday (February 17).

Police confirmed that they found her body in the front porch in her house in Heber Springs, Arkansas after reports of gunfire.

A statement from Cleburne County sheriff’s office reads:

“Ms McCready was pronounced dead at the scene from what appears to be a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this time family members have been notified of the incident.”

McCready’s boyfriend and father of one of her children, David Wilson, died last month in a reported suicide.

Speaking to NBC after Wilson’s death, McCready said that she had “never gone through anything this painful.”

The country singer released five albums in total – the most recent coming in the shape of 2010′s ‘I’m Still Here’.

Fun., Mumford & Sons and Rihanna lead 2013 Grammy nominations


Fun. and Mumford & Sons have grabbed six nominations for the 55th Grammy Awards.

Both acts received six nods for the event, which takes place on February 10 next year at Los Angeles’ Staples Centre.

Fun. were nominated in categories such as Album Of The Year and Best New Artist, whilst Mumford & Sons will vie for the Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song gongs, among others.

Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, Kanye West and The Black Keys have also received numerous nominations.

Rihanna meanwhile is up for three awards, including Best Pop Solo Performance, where she will battle against the likes of Adele and Katy Perry.

P!nk’s new record ‘The Truth About Love’ has been nominated for the Best Pop Vocal Album category alongside releases such as Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger’ and Maroon 5′s ‘Overexposed’.

Adding to the tally of British nominations are Muse, Florence + The Machine and Ed Sheeran, whose ‘A Team’ is up for Song Of The Year.

This year’s nominations were announced last night (December 5) with a special concert in Nashville, which were hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J.

Taylor Swift fuels Harry Styles rumours with afterparty appearance


Taylor Swift has further increased speculation surrounding herself and Harry Styles after attending One Direction’s Madison Square Garden afterparty.

The band headlined the iconic New York venue last night (December 3) and they later called it the “best night of their lives”.

They even managed to find time to slip in an Ed Sheeran cameo, who came on stage to help sing his song and One Direction’s latest single ‘Little Things’.

Swift, who was snapped with Harry Styles over the weekend at New York’s Central Park, did nothing to dispel romance rumours by being filmed attending the afterparty event.

A video uploaded online also shows Ed Sheeran arriving at the afterparty, who strikes up a conversation with the cameraman before being ushered away.

Swift is said to have indulged in some karaoke with the One Direction boys, with the picture below reportedly showing the country-pop singer having fun on stage with some of the band.

Sir Paul McCartney to appear in last ever Dandy comic


Sir Paul McCartney is set to feature in the final print edition of the Dandy.

The 75-year-old comic, which is a brother to the popular Beano, is due publish its final copy this week before going digital-only.

Its publishers DC Thomson said that the Beatles legend got in touch with them when they announced the comic’s impending demise in August. They said the star wrote to them with a wish to appear in the publication, saying:

“In 1963, in the NME, when asked what my personal ambition was, I replied – to have my picture in The Dandy! I hope it’s not too late!” The Dandy was a favourite comic of mine when growing up in Liverpool and each week I would look forward to the exploits of Desperate Dan and his other comic book colleagues.”

McCartney will be seen having his fingers crushed in a handshake with Desparate Dan before leading the comic’s characters in a rendition of Beatles classic ‘Hey Jude’.

Union J: “We can be as big as One Direction”


Union J have claimed that they can achieve just as much success as One Direction.

The ‘Take Me Home’ stars finished in third place in the 2010 series of the X Factor and have gone on to enjoy millions of sales around the world.

Union J, however, bowed out of the reality TV show on Sunday (December 2), finishing in fourth place overall.

Speaking to the Mirror before their exit from the series, the former X Factor stars said that they are looking to emulate One Direction’s success. Jaymi Hensley said: “We don’t want there to be any limits on how big we can be. We would love to be as big as [One Direction] are right now and break America and tour the world. Louis Walsh thinks the sky is the limit. We will have such amazing lives if we do well and we will be able to live a life that people dream of.”

Garbage’s Shirley Manson defuses situation after telling Twitter users to “f*ck off”


Garbage singer Shirley Manson has claimed that she wasn’t speaking to real fans during an expletive filled rant on Twitter.

The singer originally tweeted that the crowd the band’s gig in Koln on Monday (November 26) was “subdued” and “cold”, before a Twitter user complained that she was slagging off her fans.

She responded with “oh PULEASe BLOW ME” before later adding to another user: “f**king read what I wrote instead of having a knee jerk reaction + by the way I don’t care a whit what you think of me so THERE.”

However, she later said in a Twitter conversation that the complainers weren’t real fans and suggested that they were Twitter trolls. Manson said:

“I love our fans + would NEVER dis them. Those 2 people were not fans. Trust me. I know. Sx.”

The crowd seemed to pick up at their next gig in Berlin, with the band tweeting after their show: “Oh my GOD Berlin!!! Thankyou SO much! That was so SWEET of you to let us go off like that!!!! So SO generous. We are so lucky. TLF! Sx.”

Little Mix worried about fitness ahead of tour


Little Mix have admitted fears over their upcoming tour.

The X Factor 2011 winners are due to hit cities across the UK and Ireland in January and February next year for their debut headline tour.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Perrie Edwards said that because their forthcoming album ‘DNA’ is quite upbeat, their tour is similarly going to be non-stop. She said:

“We’re quite worried because it’s a tough, up-tempo album we’ve recorded, so it’s going be an energetic tour. There’s no sit down on stool moments, apart from maybe one. Sixteen songs that really test your stamina.”

However, they have enlisted the help of personal trainers, as well as working with the talents of choreographer Beth Donnan. Jesy Nelson added: “She did X Factor with us and worked with Girls Aloud. She doesn’t take any prisoners.”

Their tour meanwhile kicks off at Rhyl’s Pavillion Theatre on January 25 before finishing up in Belfast on February 24.

Jack Johnson donates $50,000 to Hurricane Sandy relief


Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson has offered a great sum of money to help with the relief and recovery efforts of the recent Hurricane Sandy.

The star made significant contributions to the Food Bank for New York City, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Save the Children, Waves for Water, GlobalGiving and Direct Relief International, and has also shipped 3,000 sweatshirts and thermal shirts to Waves for Water.

He’s not the only musician to have pledged to help with the devastation as earlier this week, pop sensation Lady Gaga donated $1m to the American Red Cross, citing her love for the city of New York as her reason for wanting to help:

“If it wasn’t for NYC: the Lower Eastside, Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn, I would not be the woman or artist that I am today.”

Lady Gaga and Katy Perry express joy as Barack Obama is re-elected


Music stars such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have spoken out in relief after Barack Obama was re-elected as US President.

The Democrat won the US election this morning (November 7) against Republican Mitt Romney, gaining another four years in the White House office.

He gained the 270 votes across America needed to secure victory in a battle that in recent days was too close to call.

Lady Gaga expressed her joy at the news, tweeting: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHRHRGRGRGRRRGURBHJB EORWPSOJWPJORGWOIRGWSGODEWPGOHEPW09GJEDPOKSD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0924QU8T63095JRGHWPE09
UJ0PWHRGW.”

She continued: “I JUST GOT OFF STAGE IN COLUMBIA!! CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT @BarackObama We are so proud to be American tonight! YES!!! YES! YES!!”

Katy Perry meanwhile, who has been a vocal supporter of Obama, tweeted: “The people have the power! Proud to stand by you for 4 more years.”