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Razorlight have slammed rival bands who keep churning out the same old material.   Frontman Johnny Borrell says fans can expect variety in their new album - a veiled jibe at other bands, including Coldplay and U2, which play safe. He told Britain's NME magazine: "We're not one to do a formula and repeat it 10 times, we like to write songs."   The band is facing a race against time to finish their second album. The deadline to complete the record is in two weeks - but some tracks are still not fi

The volatile Oasis siblings Noel and Liam Gallagher are still locked in a bitter feud after the singer claimed six-year-old Anais isn't Noel's biological daughter.   The Wonderwall hitmakers were playing gigs in Barcelona, Spain, in 2000 when Liam claimed Noel's ex-wife Meg Matthews had duped him into taking on someone else's child. And the pair have yet to settle their argument. Noel says, "Has he apologised? Has he fuck. He should be ashamed of himself, but he isn't of course. The man is 33 ye

Babies' names become a window into the psyches of Hollywood's elite   It's a measure of what we have come to expect from celebrities to consider that if Henry Fonda were alive and having children today, it would seem as likely for him to name his daughter, say, Hanoi, as simply to call her Jane.   It seems almost unimaginable for any 21st-century movie star to send his children out among the Hollywood elite equipped with ordinary names like Michael, Eric, Joel and Peter, as Kirk Douglas once did

Music giant EMI was said today to be preparing a new £2.4bn takeover bid for Warner Music that it hopes will be more in tune with the wishes of its board.   It is probable that EMI will table an offer that consists mainly of cash and a smaller number of shares than its original £2.31bn approach which was rebuffed by US rival Warner, according to the Sunday Telegraph. But the firm is not expected to make an approach immediately and another report said major shareholder Schroders was unhappy with

There were rounds of thunderous applause, brightly painted signs covered in hearts and piercing screams from flustered girls who were practically crying in delight: The AllNighters' spring concert was Hopkins' version of a `90's boy band show.   The all-male a cappella group performed their annual spring concert this past Saturday to a rowdy crowd in Mudd Auditorium. The 16 strapping young men in their signature ties and vests were soaked up the energy from the audience.   Freshman Alejandro De

The story of Eisley is as fanciful as their music is angelic. Imagine being a teenager and putting together a band with your siblings, making a few demos that somehow end up in the hands of Coldplay, and then promptly being asked to open for the British rockers during their sold-out 2003 tour.   It's the true story of three sisters Stacy Dupree, 17; Sherri Dupree, 23; and Chauntelle Dupree, 25; their brother, Weston Dupree, 19; and a friend, Jon Wilson.   "It was crazy because it was our first t

Music group EMI yesterday revealed a fresh blow in its long-running attempts to secure a takeover of US rival Warner Music.   A combination would create the world's third largest music company behind Universal and Sony BMG, bringing together artists such as Coldplay and Robbie Williams in the EMI stable with Madonna in the Warner camp. But the London company said it had been told by the US group that it did not wish to enter into takeover talks with EMI.   Such a deal has long been expected in t

Rocker Courtney Love is still mortified about her behaviour when she first met Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, because she was rude and high on crack cocaine.   The former Hole singer is further embarrassed because she accused him of being in a rival British band, while Martin behaved like the perfect gentleman.   Love says, "The first time I met Chris Martin I was on crack and I was an absolute asshole and I kept saying, 'Aren't you in Travis?' to him. "I was just so horrible to him and I can't

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? How about Moses, Malachi, Jerusha and Asher?   When actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin decided to name their newborn son Moses, it commanded attention almost as much as the name of the baby's older sister, Apple.   Did his parents name him for the song that appears on the Coldplay DVD "Live 2003"? Or did they just want a biblical name that was different, something beyond Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Are more parents now looking for such names?

Q. You were touring with Coldplay — what was that like after not touring for so long?   A. It was really a lot of fun. It was surprisingly easy. I was thinking about 10 years ago, when I opened for big bands like that. I used to hate it — it was always in these huge places, the sound was really weird, and the people don’t know who you are, and the ones who do know don’t like you; they’re talking through the performance. But everything I hated about it was exactly the reason I wanted to go out th

NEW YORK -- Rolling Stone magazine celebrates its 1,000th issue this week with a burst of rock 'n' roll excess: a glitzy Manhattan party with the Strokes as house band and a 3-D cover that mimics the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" sleeve and cost nearly $1 million to produce.   It's an audacious sign of how Rolling Stone, which has numbered its issues since Jann Wenner put out No. 1 in 1967, remains dominant even with changing times and music.   Rolling Stone loves to mark special occasions with special

People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals has come up with its annual list of nominees to vie for the title of world's sexiest vegetarian.   Among those in the running from the music world are Avril Lavigne, Joss Stone, Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde, Fiona Apple, Jane Siberry, Joan Jett, K.D. Lang, Pink, Princess Superstar, Fall Out Boy's Andy Hurley, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis, Boy George, Bryan Adams, Damon Albarn, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, K-OS, U2's Larry Mullen Jr., Moby, Morris

EMI is preparing a renewed bid for Warner Music after its US-based rival rejected a $4.23bn (£2.35bn) cash-and-shares offer. Warner said yesterday that EMI's bid - its third attempt in six years to woo the US music group - was not in the best interests of its shareholders, but sources close to EMI described it as "a first offer" that they had expected to be dismissed.   A duet between the industry's number three and four players has been long-anticipated, but the offer of $28.50 per Warner shar

He said, I'm gonna buy this place and burn it down I'm gonna put it six feet underground   So sings Chris Martin, front man of Coldplay, EMI's top-selling act. But is Eric Nicoli, the music group's chairman, having his very own Rush of Blood to the Head with his $4.23bn offer for Warner Music?   Nicoli could be forgiven for having torn out what's left of his hair several times over during the past seven years, given the number of times he has tried and failed to tie the knot with Warner. He's

UK record companies released 31,291 albums in 2005 - more than double the number released 10 years previously, and almost 2,000 more than 2004.   According to figures published by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), online and digital music retailers are chiefly responsible for the rise. Seven of the UK's Top 10 best-selling albums of 2005 were by British acts. BPI chairman Peter Jamieson hailed last year as "predominantly a year of home-grown British rock bands".   The trade association h

It’s official, guitar music was bigger than pop in the UK last year.   Acts like Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and The Killers are figureheads of the recent surge in the popularity of guitar music.   Figures from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) show that guitar music has a 36% share of UK album sales, while pop has just a quarter. Better still, of the top ten selling guitar acts, seven of them are British, with Coldplay topping the list.BPI chairman Peter Jamieson told 6music: "Record compani

The closure of Edinburgh live music club The Venue has prompted calls in the Scottish Parliament for more action to preserve popular culture.   Scottish Socialist leader and Lothians MSP Colin Fox has tabled a motion, regretting the sale of the Calton Road venue for redevelopment as flats, offices and an upmarket delicatessen, and calling on the Scottish Executive to take a lead in protecting cultural venues from "the worst ravages of developers".   Mr Fox said The Venue had long been a suppor

Some Independent Musicians Have Found Creative Ways to Avoid High Gas Prices on Tour   People across the country have felt their budgets squeezed as gas prices soared to near record highs over the past month. It's been a particular problem for small businesses and consumers who drive extensively for their livelihoods.   The gas gouge has had ripple effects across a wide swath of industries, and has put pressure on a somewhat unlikely group of laborers: musicians.   High gas prices probably don'

Gwyneth Paltrow has a secret to getting in shape after pregnancy - girdles.   The screen beauty, who is married to Coldplay rocker Chris Martin, started wearing the waist-cinching garments after giving birth to son Moses last month. She has also started a strict diet to help shift the extra pounds.   A source told Britain's Grazia magazine: "Gwyneth gave up wheat, sugar, caffeine and dairy straight after Moses was born. And she's also wearing a special girdle designed to pull her waist back into

World's fourth-largest music company denies $4.2 billion offer after board evaluation determines deal not in best interest of shareholders   Warner Music, the world's fourth-largest music company, has rejected a $4.2 billion takeover approach from its larger rival EMI Group, the latest in a long-running quest to combine the two companies.   EMI, whose artists include Coldplay and Robbie Williams, revealed the bid of $28.50 per share Wednesday and said it still believes that buying Warner Music w

UK record companies offered music fans a record 31,291 new album releases across over 16 official genres in 2005, according to figures published today by trade association the BPI.   This is more than double the number of albums released ten years' previously - 15,393 albums were released in 1996 - with consumer choice growing across 16 different genres.   Online retailers are responsible for an increasing share of the albums market and can stock a huge range of titles. Combined with the emerg

When Monday night's benefit for grassroots environmental network Friends of the Earth was announced weeks ago, it sold out instantly, with tickets for the evening at London's Koko club soon being snapped up on eBay for outrageous prices.   It was clear why: Although the stripped-down acoustic bill included sets from indie talents Kate Rusby and Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys, the evening was all about Radiohead.   Rusby's sterling set, including a beautiful cover of the Richard and Lind

Summer’s just around the corner and its time to go online or pick up the phone and buy your festival tickets.   But it’s just not as easy as that anymore and festival tickets are going on sale earlier and earlier. This year the V Festival tickets were even available in March – a full five months ahead of the event. But is this really such a good thing for the fans?   With amazing line-ups at this Summer’s festivals, including Radiohead at V and Coldplay at the Isle of Wight, there’s no way you’

Richard Ashcroft has been out of sight for much of the past four years, but the last ten months have seen the re-emergence of the former Verve singer. See him at Lancashire CCC on June 17.   Ashcroft's Live 8 appearance alongside Coldplay propelled him back into the limelight, and his new album, Keys to the World, has gone platinum.   He clearly appreciates the Coldplay frontman's praise - Martin called him "the best singer in the world" at the Hyde Park gig and has been supporting Coldplay on t

LONDON: Hailed as one of the first download divas, British singer Imogen Heap has followed in the footsteps of bands like indie rockers Arctic Monkeys by gaining a big online fan base without the aid of a record label.   Through a combination of Internet word-of-mouth, determination, desperation and a large slice of good luck, the 28-year-old has revived a career that was going nowhere fast.   Her second solo album has sold over 120,000 copies in the United States and she hopes that a licensin