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Of all the strange sights that Live 8 threw us during the summer (Madonna dancing awkwardly with a famine survivor, Snoop Dogg extolling the crowd to eradicate poverty by waving their "motherfuckin' hands in the air"), one of the strangest was Richard Ashcroft's guest appearance with Coldplay.   Now Coldplay are a fine group who have written some great songs and don't deserve half of the critical bile that's thrown at them. But they've never written a song as attention-grabbing as Bitter Sweet S

Richard Ashcroft swears that he doesn't go searching for mind-blowing spiritual epiphanies. They somehow seem to find the brainy Brit — on a basis so frequent it could spook the Dalai Lama himself.   One such memorable moment occurred in 1997, when the singer decided to re-christen his pending "Urban Hymns" solo set with the working title of his old band, the Verve. Thanks to operatic hits like "Bittersweet Symphony" and "The Drugs Don't Work," the album went on to sell a career-making 7 million

Richard Ashcroft swears that he doesn't go searching for mind-blowing spiritual epiphanies. They somehow seem to find the brainy Brit — on a basis so frequent it could spook the Dalai Lama himself.   One such memorable moment occurred in 1997, when the singer decided to re-christen his pending "Urban Hymns" solo set with the working title of his old band, the Verve. Thanks to operatic hits like "Bittersweet Symphony" and "The Drugs Don't Work," the album went on to sell a career-making 7 million

In contrast to his taste for wild self-aggrandisement (he compared himself to Jesus in a recent interview), Richard Ashcroft's solo career has been under-whelming. The former Verve frontman looks the same as he did in the group's late-Britpop heyday - angular, intense, charismatic - but his songs have congealed into sludgy anthems and clumsy philosophising.   His new album Keys to the World is being sold as a return to form, confirmation that Ashcroft, following his appearance at Live8 with Cold

"I can’t stand biographies. Most of them are just bollocks, aren’t they? I’d like a biog that just has a list of what I’ve done and a few quotes. As little soapy bullshit as possible please. That would be top. Thanks." - Richard Ashcroft, November 2005   Well, you heard the man, so let’s keep this simple. Keys To The World is Richard Ashcroft’s third solo album, following July 2000’s Alone With Everybody and November 2002’s Human Conditions. He wrote its ten songs (which last 44 minutes) over a

Chris Martin's good friend and comedian, Ricky Gervais has enlisted his fellow Brit for the new David Brent film soundtrack. The film is currently in the pre-production phase and is set to be filmed at the end of the year. As part of the musical backdrop, he will record many songs which have already been heard during the cult comedy classic, 'The Office'.   If your intrigued to hear what a David Brent song sounds like, watch below:     The news comes from Ricky Gervais' post on Twitter, wh

Ricky Gervais has laughed off rumours that Tom Cruise, Paris Hilton and Brad Pitt might appear in the second series of Extras.   But he has confirmed Coldplay's Chris Martin, David Bowie, Sir Ian McKellen and Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe all appear. In the first episode, Orlando Bloom plays a vain actor who cannot believe an on-screen extra does not fancy him.   But Ricky has also revealed he would like to try his hand at TV drama inspired by American programmes.

Ricky Gervais is to write one final episode of Extras. Fans had hoped for a third series of the BBC Two show.   But Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant want the show to bow out with a one-off special - just as they did with The Office. "Ricky and Stephen are writing one more episode of Extras and that will be it," a spokesman for Gervais said. "There is no storyline or cast yet, and things are in their very early stages."   The first two series of Extras featured celebrity cameos from t

Chris Martin appeared on two Australian radio stations during their Monday morning, chatting to them about a range of topics and while on the subject of Chris lending a helping hand to Ricky Gervais, Chris surprisingly revealed that Coldplay's previous history with the comedian goes back to when they were all working regular day jobs!   Yes, the man who later went on to star as David Brent in the British comedy classic, 'The Office' employed a certain Mr Champion, as a doorman (at a bar)! The o

"Chris martin from coldplay. Got a few questions for you." "Can i wear your sunglasses?" "Ok, now you like to buy clothes made in third world sweat-shops because they’re cheaper. Do you prefer Chinese or Indian made stuff?" "Indian. Chinese don’t know what they’re doing."   Read the full article here   [Thanks Gonzo21]

Poor old Ricky Gervais. The twinkly eyed star of The Office and Extras has been complaining that reports of how much his snazzy new house in upmarket Hampstead, north London, cost have been wide of the mark: some newspapers put the price as low as a paltry £2m pounds. Onstage during his new sell-out tour recently, Gervais said: “It was £3.5m — how am I going to sell it now?”   Fair point, so in the interests of accuracy, I can confirm that Gervais’s new pad cost him and his other half, Jane Fall

How can this be justified? A 38 percent surcharge on a $21 concert ticket. It can't, especially when - as usual - the specifics of these "service charges" never are divulged, writes Recordnet.com.   This time, it was tickets for a July 27 Glasvegas concert at San Francisco's newly renamed Regency Ballroom (formerly Grand Ballroom). This is a young (one album), very promising band from Glasgow, Scotland, whose self-titled debut is one of the year's best rock records.   Tickets purchased with a Vi

Rio De Janeiro: Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman spoke with Brazilian music website, Terra, in the latest of Coldplay's Latin American interviews of 2010. Below is the roughly translated article of the Brazilian article found online. Guy confirms that Coldplay are hoping for a December release to their 'acoustic' fifth album, but if it doesn't appear by the end of the year then it won't be the first time a deadline has been extended. More discussion on this latest article is at the Coldplay forum n

Peruse any British music magazine which has recently profiled Richard Ashcroft and chances are one of three descriptions — egomaniac, self-absorbed and superior to others — will surface.   Quite surprising, considering he opened his conversation to Metro with an amiable, “Hello. How’s the weather over there?” and maintained a gentlemanly tone throughout. This is the same Richard Ashcroft who reputedly once compared his artistry to Jesus Christ? Apparently someone has a personal axe to grind with

It's probably hard to imagine someone who's won two Grammys, dated Hollywood's hottest ladies and brought sexy back being a little, well, insecure.   But Justin Timberlake wasn't so sure of himself when he embarked upon FutureSex/LoveSounds, an album now up for four Grammy nominations, including a coveted Album of the Year nod (see "Mary J. Blige, Chili Peppers Top Grammy Nominations List").   For starters, he thought he had lost his voice — not in a medical sense, but in regards to knowing wh

Check out the brand new first (and possibly last) alternative Coldplaying LP5 blog entry from Roadie number 44: #44 succumbs to the impatient   Read the full entry and discuss this blog at the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks NumbersGirl AKA R#44]   So even though you all are fully aware by now that the band has not been in the studio recently (not in its entirety, anyway), you still whine about the lack of reports from the lovely Roadie #42. What exactly is it that you would like him to repo

If England's footballers can be highly paid pretty boys with teenage admirers, then pop stars can have a good old kick-about. Simon Webbe is the latest to try out Robbie Williams's full-sized Astroturf pitch at his pad in Los Angeles.   Simon tells us: "I was in LA last week and I phoned up Rob. He was playing football with Coldplay and he invited me over. I didn't have boots but he sorted me out. I played for the second half and sprained my ankle. I'm still limping."   Let's hope he wasn't seei

When Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow named their first child Apple, their unusual choice caused quite a stir. And while many find it easy to remember such a distinctive name, British pop star Robbie Williams found himself a little monikor-challenged recently.   The former Take That member made his gaff after having invited Coldplay around to his home on Los Angeles for a game of football. Vocalist Chris' actress wife was reportedly unimpressed when the cheeky 35-year-old referred to the coupl

Adriana Cisneros decided to raise money to fund her upcoming summer internship the fun way. She’s putting on a rock show.   “I’m not really a promoter, this is my first time doing this, but I’m considering doing more,” Cisneros, 19, said. “There are other promoters in town trying to make a big music scene here and I think it’s about time. We need a big music scene in Brownsville.”   Cisneros’ benefit show, dubbed “Tunnelvision,” happens tonight at The Tunnel café in Brownsville. Cisneros hopes t

Adriana Cisneros decided to raise money to fund her upcoming summer internship the fun way. She’s putting on a rock show.   “I’m not really a promoter, this is my first time doing this, but I’m considering doing more,” Cisneros, 19, said. “There are other promoters in town trying to make a big music scene here and I think it’s about time. We need a big music scene in Brownsville.”   Cisneros’ benefit show, dubbed “Tunnelvision,” happens tonight at The Tunnel café in Brownsville. Cisneros hopes t

Robert Downey Jr. shed the pounds to play the title role in upcoming movie Sherlock Holmes - on the advice of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, according to ContactMusic today.   The Iron Man star is currently filming scenes as the fictional detective in a new big-screen adaptation by director Guy Ritchie. Downey Jnr. has slimmed down considerably for the role - and credits good friend Martin for shaping his portrayal of the iconic supersleuth.   He says, "He's a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. He said

Footage, Interviews from 'Iron Man' Set   With an Oscar-winning actress and three Oscar-nominated actors, Iron Man won't be just another comic book movie; it has the opportunity to be one of the best.   Entertainment Tonight has scored one of the first looks at the movie, including some behind-the-scenes footage of Downey goofing around on the set with a motor bike and Howard firing a M2. 50 caliber machine gun from atop an army Hummer. There's no new Paltrow material for you to feast your eyes

It will be music to an athlete’s ears. The makers of the iPod have teamed up with Nike to produce “smart” musical footwear for joggers that will play faster music when they begin to flag.   The first trainer designed to “talk to” an iPod will be in the shops in Britain later this summer. It will use a sensor under the inner sole to detect a runner’s pace and send a signal to a wireless receiver attached to the iPod to put on a “power song” when the speed is flagging.   If a jogger is cruising al

It will be music to an athlete’s ears. The makers of the iPod have teamed up with Nike to produce “smart” musical footwear for joggers that will play faster music when they begin to flag.   The first trainer designed to “talk to” an iPod will be in the shops in Britain later this summer. It will use a sensor under the inner sole to detect a runner’s pace and send a signal to a wireless receiver attached to the iPod to put on a “power song” when the speed is flagging.   If a jogger is cruising al

As the bass player for Coldplay, one of the world's current most famous bands, Berryman makes his debut as one of rocksnobing.com's first entries for many reason.   Commonly referred to as the "dark horse" of the band, Berryman admits that he has used much of his time on tour iwth the band scouring record shops from coast to coast to fill his assumingly large collection of vintage vinyls.   Read the full article here