Beady Eye - the new band made up of Liam Gallagher and his former Oasis cohorts Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Chris Sharrock - have released their first official photograph.

The band are currently holed up in the studio "working on their way of looking at the world" with producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, The La's, Morrissey).

The news marks the first the start of Liam & co's first venture since Oasis split in August 2009. Apart from playing two Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, older brother Noel has remained silent.

Source MOJO

Paul Weller and his Jam bandmate Bruce Foxton played together for the first time since 1982 last night (May 25), during his Royal Albert Hall gig.

Weller, who was two days into his five-night residency at the venue, said the pairing was "history in the making" as he welcomed his old bandmate onto the stage.

Augmented by Weller's backing band, the duo kicked off their three-song reunion by launching into a vitriolic version of Weller solo song 'Fast Car/Slow Traffic'. The recorded version of the track also features Foxton on bass.

"Well, it's been a while hasn't it?" said Foxton afterwards. "Twenty-eight years, I think. Thank you for the wonderful reception!"

The bassist then remained onstage to run though Jam classics 'The Eton Rifles' and 'The Butterfly Collector', before exiting to a huge ovation from the audience and a hug from Weller.

Weller played a greatest hits set to the sell-out crowd, including cuts from his latest album 'Wake Up The Nation' alongside older classics including 'Start!', 'The Changingman' and 'Strange Town'. The singer – who was celebrating his 52nd birthday – responded jokily when the crowd sang him 'Happy Birthday', saying, "The only thing I want right now is a cigarette."

Paul Weller played:

'Push It Along'
'7 & 3 Is The Striker’s Name'
'Sea Spray'
'Into Tomorrow'
'Aim High'
'Andromeda'
'Moonshine'
'Up The Dosage'
'Strange Town'
'Wake Up The Nation'
'Trees'
'Empty Ring'
'One Bright Star'
'Shout To The Top'
'Start!'
'Fast Car/Slow Traffic'
'The Eton Rifles'
'The Butterfly Collector'
'All On A Misty Morning'
'Light Nights'
'Brand New Start'
'Echoes Round The Sun'
'Art School'
'The Changingman'
'Come On/Let’s Go'


Weller is continuing his residency at the Royal Albert Hall this week, and is set to stream tomorrow (May 27) night's gig live. See Paulweller.theconcertchannel.eu for details.

Source UNCUT

Soul icon Martha Reeves has spoken about the Motown spirit, claiming it could sold the recession.

Founded in 1959, Motown came from humble origins to dominate pop music. One of the 60s most remarkable and enduring stories, the label produced some of the decade's most timeless hits.

Set against this is the city of Detroit. With the car industry in decline, the area was ravaged by civil unrest. As Motown topped the charts, Detroit tore itself apart with a series of deadly race riots.

Now one of the most deprived areas in the United States, Motown icon Martha Reeves claims to have the solution to the city's problems. Recently elected as a councillor, the singer is passionate about her home city.

"Motown revived Detroit" she told The Guardian. "We were in a recession in 1959 when Barrett Strong first sang Money. We all needed some money. So when more Motown records hit, all of a sudden Detroit started getting more attention."

Continuing, soul star Martha Reeves remembered the effect Motown had on previously segregated audiences. "We needed change and we knew it wouldn't be long before things that we'd hoped for would come around" she argued. "Things were coming into fruition that we'd dreamed of, like having our hit records and playing in front of integrated audiences. After all, we started off playing to segregated audiences."

"I remember Smokey Robinson telling the guards and the people who were making those rules stand back because our music was for everybody. I remember people who had been separated come together and dance together at the end of the show" she recalled.

"Barriers were broken down and I know our music had a lot to do with that. But it's vital to know that we weren't representing young black America but young America in general."

Source clashmusic

U2 have pulled out of their 2010 Glastonbury headline slot and postponed North American tour dates as a result of Bono's recent back surgery.

Michael Eavis: "This is going to be Gorillaz' only UK festival appearance, and it'll be a massive audio visual spectacle which will really ignite the Pyramid on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wonder to follow.

"I'm very excited about Gorillaz' show coming here because they're so open to guests and collaborations. The alchemy of Friday's show is going to be astonishing: a perfect, contemporary way to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations.

"I am so grateful for the enthusiasm of the media and the whole of the music industry for their willingness and eagerness to support us in what could have been a crisis."

U2 had been scheduled to headline the Pyramid Stage on Friday 25 June 2010. Speaking on the official Glastonbury website, Michael Eavis commented: "It was obvious from our telephone conversation that U2 are hugely disappointed.

"Clearly, they were looking forward to playing the Pyramid Stage as much as we were looking forward to watching them. At this point, we have no comment to make about possible replacements for U2's Friday night slot. Instead, we would simply like to send Bono our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery."

Bono suffered temporary partial paralysis as a result of an injury he suffered while training in preparation for the band's forthcoming tour dates and Glastonbury headline slot. "I'm heartbroken," said the U2 frontman, "We really wanted to be there to do something really special - we even wrote a song especially for the Festival."

U2's manager Paul McGuinness told the BBC: "Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we're all devastated. For a performer who lives to be on stage, this is more than a blow.

"He feels robbed of the chance to do what he does best and feels like he has badly let down the band and their audience. Which is of course nonsense.

"His concerns about more than a million ticket buyers whose plans have been turned upside down, we all share, but the most important thing right now is that Bono makes a full recovery. We're working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reschedule these dates."

Source musicradar

Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis has announced that Gorillaz are to step in to fill U2's cancelled headline set at this year's festival after the band offered their services following Bono's unfortunate back injury.

Confirming the addition he said "This is going to be Gorillaz' only UK festival appearance, and it'll be a massive audio visual spectacle which will really ignite the Pyramid [Stage] on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wonder to follow."

Reflecting on the band's track record of collaboration and working with others, he felt it was a fitting first Pyramid headline for 2010, "I'm very excited about Gorillaz' show coming here because they're so open to guests and collaborations. The alchemy of Friday's show is going to be astonishing, a perfect, contemporary way to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations.

Not to be outdone, Murdoc from Gorillaz offered his own promise of something special for the night adding, "We're like some great big horrible warship pulling in to the Bay of Glastonbury to save the day. It was us or The Beatles and they split up years ago. The previous soldiers got pulled from duty last minute so it's up to my Plastic Beach naval cavalry to sail in and sort the battlefield out. I can assure you though, I'm bringing extra troops. Loads of them. Glastonbury will be ours...cutlasses drawn, trumpets ready. We're coming in..."

Michael Eavis also took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the goodwill shown to Glastonbury in recent days since U2's cancellation was announced, "I am so grateful for the enthusiasm of the media and the whole of the music industry for their willingness and eagerness to support us in what could have been a crisis."

Source Q

Bon Jovi opened the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey last Wednesday night (26 May), and despite the oppressive, 86-degree heat, the crowd of over 80,000 fans partied throughout the 26-song set.

It was the first-ever concert at the brand-new, $1.6 billion facility, and the opening night of what will be a three-night stand. (The group returns in July for yet another sold-out show.)

After starting out with Blood On Blood and We Weren't Born To Follow, the48-year-old Jon Bon Jovi, unable to conceal his excitement, screamed, "New Meadowlands Stadium! Night number one. This isn't television, baby. Get up out of your seats. Get out of your seats. This here's reality. And the only American Idol you need to see is standing right here. Are you with me? Are you with me? Are you with me?"

The crowd, many of whom were tailgating since early afternoon in the parking lot, roared its approval. And with that, the band launched into their 1986 smash You Give Love A Bad Name.

Twelve songs into the set, Jon told the audience, "It's a good thing there isn't a roof on this place. I'd be about blowing it off."

Later in the night, he brought guitarist Richie Sambora out on the runway, where they performed a duet of I'll Be There For You. "It's 21 years ago we played the stadium across the parking lot," Jon said before the song. "To think that we're still standing after three decades of this is pretty darn good."

Not many acts can fill an 80,000-seat stadium for one night, let alone three. Interesting to think that two of them (another goes by the name of Bruce) hail from New Jersey.

In June, Bon Jovi are set for another enormously impressive run, a 12-date residency at London's O2 Arena.

Source musicradar