After several years of touring together and a new joint charity single, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire are contemplating a full-scale collaborative album project.

"Both bands kind of separately and together said, 'Wouldn't it be great to do an album together, so that's something that's just kind of flying around," Chicago's Robert Lamm tells Billboard.com. "I think the guys that write (songs) are thinking that could possibly be the next project."

Lamm predicts that a Chicago-EWF album "would sound big. It obviously has to genetically reflect where the two bands are coming from sonically and writing-wise, but I'm hoping that something new could emerge, something modern, something contemporary that the sum of the two bands is greater than that, so that's my fantasy of what it could be."

In conjunction with their 2009 summer tour, which kicks off June 5 in Orange Beach, Ala., the two groups put together a special set of songs for download, with proceeds going to World Hunger Year. Chicago recorded a version of EWF's "I Can't Let You Go," while EWF covered Chicago's "Wishing You Were Here." The two bands then collaborated on a new EWF-composed song called "You."

"It's kind of a very Earth, Wind & Fire sort of funk, ballad groove," Lamm explains, "but the lyrics really sort of chastise people into thinking beyond just themselves and (to) think for a minute about what you see when you're walking through an urban landscape, let's say -- or anywhere for that matter. I mean, I was in Santa Monica and there is homelessness and hunger right out here in Laguna Beach, so this song kind of alludes to if things are going to change they have to start with 'you.' It's kind of cliche, but it just happens to be true."

Chicago and EWF are asking fans coming to the shows to bring three cans of non-perishable food or $3 -- which will go to local food banks -- in exchange for a download card. The songs can also be accessed by making a donation at EWFandChicago.com.

Lamm says he and Chicago's other songwriters were recently in Nashville "doing some recording for our own amusement" with no firm plans for any of those songs yet. The group's Bill Champlin will release a solo album, "No Place Left to Fall," on Aug. 4, while Lamm says he's "always" entertaining ideas for solo projects and has also been in touch with former Chicago bassist Peter Cetera about doing some writing together.

Source Billboard

The Mars Volta have asked fans to host advance listenings of their new album, and will choose 10 to 15 fans to host the sessions in their homes.

Fans are required to submit an entry saying why they should be chosen to host one of the listening parties. Entries can be submitted in any form from YouTube videos, illustrations, writings, to anything that expresses why the entrant deserves to be a host.

Hosts will have their party pics posted on The Mars Volta's website and one host and a guest will also win the chance to see the band perform anywhere in the US. Entries must be submitted by June 3 to OctahedronParty@gmail.com.

The band's new album is entitled ‘Octahedron’ and comes out on June 23.

Two tracks from the album are streaming at intotheoctahedron.com

Source NME

Queen guitarist Brian May has expressed an interest in recruiting 'American Idol' runner up Adam Lambert to sing for the band.

Alongside drummer Roger Taylor, May performed 'We Are The Champions' with Lambert on the season finale of the show on May 20 in Los Angeles.

The guitarist has told Rolling Stone that he's considering asking Lambert to sing with Queen full time.

"Amongst all that furore, there wasn't really a quiet moment to talk," May explained. "But [drummer Roger Taylor] and I are definitely hoping to have a meaningful conversation with him at some point."

May added that the band don't want to be too quick in replacing former Queen collaborator Paul Rodgers, who said earlier this month that the band and his relationship was "done".

"It's not like we, as Queen, would rush into coalescing with another singer just like that," the guitarist continued. "It isn’t that easy. But I'd certainly like to work with Adam. That is one amazing instrument he has there."

Rodgers joined the Queen set-up (under the moniker Queen and Paul Rodgers) in 2004.

Lambert lost out to Kris Allen in the final of Season Eight of American Idol.

.Source NME

Yoko Ono has once again recruited a star-studded list of contributors to help out on her new album, which is due out in the US this autumn.

Titled 'My Head And The Sky', the album features Sean Lennon (her son with John Lennon), Cornelius and Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto, among others. It is due out in the US in September.

Contributors to her 2007 album 'Yes I'm A Witch' included The Flaming Lips, Spiritualized and Cat Power.

Meanwhile, Ono is set to release a four-song sampler EP titled 'Don't Stop Me!' via US iTunes on June 9, reports Pitchfork and confirmed by Ono's publicist.

The EP tracklisting is:

'The Sun Is Down!' (Cornelius Mix)
'Ask the Elephant!'
'Feel the Sand'
'CALLING'

Source NME

Berry Gordy and James Taylor have been added to the lineup for this year’s Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards, set to take place in New York City on June 18.

Clint Black, Daughtry, Kara Dioguardi, Rob Thomas and Paul Williams also join the list of artists to present and/or perform at the event, which celebrates songwriters.

As previously reported, Tom Jones will be this year's recipient of the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award. The Welsh singer was chosen as the recipient due to his “exceptional staying power and accomplishments, along with his unique artistry."

Inductees at this year's Songwriter Hall Of Fame Awards include Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora; Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati of The Young Rascals; Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni; and Stephen Schwartz.

The Towering Song this year is ’Moon River’ and the Towering Performance Award will be presented to Andy Williams.

Source NME

Former Wilco band member Jay Bennett has died aged 45.

The multi-instrumentalist died in his Illinois home on Saturday night (May 23), although the cause of death has not been revealed. A message on the website of his record label Undertow Music, Undertowmusic.com, explained that he died "in his sleep".

Bennett played with Wilco from 1994 to 2001, leaving the Americana band because of a fall-out with band leader Jeff Tweedy.

Earlier this month he sued the band for $50,000 (£33,000), claiming he was owed royalties for albums he worked on while in the band.

Tweedy said in a statement: "We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. We will miss Jay as we remember him - as a truly unique and gifted human being and one who made welcome and significant contributions to the band's songs and evolution. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends in this very difficult time."

As well as his work with Wilco, Bennett was a session musician, playing with artists including Sheryl Crow.

Source NME