U2 have announced that they will team up with the Black Eyed Peas for the US leg of their world tour.

The Irish rockers kicked off their massive 360 tour in Barcelona, Spain earlier this month (Jul09) and when the group come to America in October (09) they will be supported by the Peas.

But singer Fergie admitted she is scared to take the stage before the rock band, because the crowd might not be interested in their music.

She said: "We're gonna have to work for it. The crowd are gonna have their arms folded at the start."

Source music-news

STEVIE WONDER heaped praise on Shaheen Jarfargholi after his memorial tribute to Michael Jackson.

The young Britain's Got Talent star said the Motown legend complimented him after he performed the Jackson Five song Who's Lovin' You at the King of Pop's farewell concert in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Sun, Jarfargholi, 12, said: "Stevie Wonder was really nice. I was in his dressing room for ages playing games and messing around.

"I was introduced to him and he could have just said hello, but he was so nice to me. He told me I had an amazing voice. It was amazing."

Referring to his performance, he added: "I was quite nervous. [Jackson] was lying there in front of me, his family were there. I had to do him proud. I was there because he was a fan of mine so I had to be on top form.

"It was really tough, but I got to say goodbye and pay my respects in a way that no other person could.

"He will always be a legend and he touched so many people's lives. Nobody will ever fill his footsteps.

"I've got a few meetings this week. I want to do what Michael Jackson did and touch people with my music. Work hard and you never know."

Source music-news

PETER GABRIEL has donated a handwritten sheet of his lyrics to raise money for charity.

The former Genesis star has given the lyrics to his 1980 song Biko to Cyndi Lauper's gay cause, True Colours.

They will go under the hammer at an online auction later this month.

The song was written in tribute to South African anti-apartheid veteran Steve Biko, who was killed in 1977 by police officers while in custody for political reasons.

.Source music-news

Beastie Boys have been added as a headliner to the San Diego Street Scene festival in August.

The Southern California festival, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is set to be held August 28 and 29 on the streets of downtown San Diego in the heart of the East Village.

Also recently added to the bill are The Faint, Dungen, Busta Rhymes, Cage The Elephant, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and Nortec Collective.

They'll join previously announced headliners MIA, Black Eyed Peas, Modest Mouse and Jack White's new band The Dead Weather.

Also on the bill this year are Cake, Silversun Pickups, , Band Of Horses, Girl Talk, Chromeo, Mastodon, Ozomatli, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Devendra Banhart, Wavves, Bassnectar, Shooter Jennings, No Age, Calexico, , Ra Ra Riot, Deerhunter, Matt And Kim, Los Campesinos!, Grand Ole Party, LA Riots, Donald Glaude, Anya Marina, Holy F**k, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Blue Scholars, Crocodiles, Zee Avi, Extra Golden and Carney.

For tickets and additional information, visit as previously reported.

Source NME

Paul McCartney has said he did not expect to be left the rights to The Beatles catalogue by Michael Jackson, despite rumours.

The late singer had a 50 per cent stake in the Fab Four's publishing rights through his share in the Sony/ATV catalogue, which he bought controversially in 1985.

According to some reports it was claimed Jackson intended to leave this stake to McCartney, with whom he collaborated on two singles ('The Girl Is Mine' and 'Say Say Say') in the early '80s. However, there was no mention of the former Beatle when the singer's will was examined.

McCartney wrote on his own website Paulmccartney.com that he was not surprised not be included, and was not "upset" at the apparent snub.

"Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles songs to me in his will which was completely made up and something I didn’t believe for a second," he declared.

"Now the report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me. This is completely untrue. I had not thought for one minute that the original report was true and therefore, the report that I’m devastated is also totally false, so don’t believe everything you read folks!"

He added: "In fact, though Michael and I drifted apart over the years, we never really fell out, and I have fond memories of our time together. At times like this, the press do tend to make things up, so occasionally, I feel the need to put the record straight."

The former Beatle had previously paid tribute to Jackson, calling him a "a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul".

Source NME

The legendary Abbey Road studios are to offer the mastering facilities that the likes of Babyshambles and The Last Shadow Puppets have used to new bands via the internet.

The studio, famous for recording seminal albums by the likes of The Beatles and Pink Floyd, have launched an online mastering service which will allow new acts to submit their recordings via a secure server.

Engineers at Abbey Road will then mix the tracks using the studio's mastering suites.

”It’s easy for new bands to undervalue the importance of quality mastering, but it really is the final stage of the recording process and getting it right makes a huge impact to the sound of your recordings," Alex Wharton, Mastering Engineer at Abbey Road, told NME.COM.

"Abbey Road's been responsible for mastering some of music industry's most influential albums but in addition to Pink Floyd and The Beatles, we've also worked with new talent like Babyshambles, The Last Shadow Puppets and Lightspeed Champion, and we're so excited to be able to offer this same level of quality to the young bands out there that could be the bands to watch in the future."

For full details and specifications head to Abbeyroadonlinemastering.com.

Source NME