Prince has claimed that "the internet's completely over." In an interview with London's Daily Mirror, the maverick artist said, "I don't see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won't pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can't get it."

Prince is releasing his new album, 20Ten, on Saturday (10 July) in copies of the Daily Mirror and Scotland's Daily Mirror. Which begs the question: If he can't get an advance from iTunes, what good is it to release his music free of charge inside of newspapers?

Such is the way that Prince's mind works. In 2008, he closed down his official website (he started up a pay site called LotusFlow3r which eventually folded), and he's also done his best to remove his music from iTunes and YouTube. A couple of years ago, he even went so far as to have his cover of Radiohead's Creep barred from the popular video site - until the band stepped in and demanded that Prince's version of Creep, from a performance at Coachella, be reinstated.

"The internet's like MTV," Prince continued. "At one time, MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers, and that can't be good for you."

When asked about the title of his new album, 20Ten, he said, "I just think it's a year that really matters. These are very trying times." The devout Jehovah's Witness also said that "people, especially young people, don't have enough God in their lives."

Source musicradar

The Who have announced that they are currently planning a tour, which they hope will take place in spring 2011.

The dates are likely to see the band perform their 1973 rock opera 'Quadrophenia'.

Frontman Roger Daltrey has declared the band do not want to give up playing live despite rumours they were planning to retire.

"We're just working out what to do next," he told Billboard.com. "We've got ideas, we're looking on probably being out there, hopefully if all goes well, in the spring of next year. We definitely don't want to stop. We feel it's the role of the artist to go all the way through life 'til you can't do it anymore."

The singer added that the rock opera element of the show would be revamped for next year's dates.

"There are issues with it to make it work at our age," he admitted. "I'm 16 years older than when we last did it and I always had a bit of a problem as far as the crowd was concerned, with the way we were presenting the show, the way our position within the piece was explained. For the newcomers, it was narratively a bit of a puzzle, what Pete and I were to this guy on the screen. It needs a revamp. It would be dated to put it out as it is now. We need to fix that area, but I know how to do it."

Daltrey also explained that Pete Townshend's severe tinnitus problems are being addressed.

"It's nothing that can't be sorted out, just different monitor systems, different onstage volume, which is where the issue is," he explained. "Pete being the addictive character he is, if he gets carried away he tends to turn up his volume to the odd levels, and that's when it causes the trouble. That's one of the problems with rock 'n' roll, once the old adrenaline kicks in."

The Who recently performed 'Quadrophenia' live with members of Pearl Jam and Kasabian as part of the annual Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Source UNCUT

Paul McCartney surprised Ringo Starr last night (7 July) at New York's Radio City Music Hall, where the two former Beatles rocked with an absolutely jubilant version of the 'White Album' classic Birthday.

The song was appropriate, of course, as yesterday was Starr's 70th birthday.

Many in the crowd were unprepared for such a show-closing event. After the intended encore, which saw Ringo and his All Starr Band joined by Yoko Ono, Joe Walsh, Steve Van Zandt, AC/DC's Brian Johnson(!), Jeff Lynne, Nils Lofgren, Max Weinberg, Foreigner's Mick Jones and others for With A Little Help From My Friends, people had begun to file out.

But when a roadie appeared with a Hofner bass, the audience rushed back to their seats for the grandest of all finales.

And in case you missed it, check out MusicRadar's salute to Ringo Starr with a video guide to 14 of his greatest drum performances.

Source musicradar

Elton John is gearing up for the release of a new album, The Union, recorded with his hero Leon Russell.

Speaking to the European press in London earlier this week, the Queen Mum of British pop told the story behind this latest collaboration with the Southern piano master - one that has been almost four decades in the making.

"I've been influenced by many great piano players throughout the years," said an energised Elton. "But there was something about the way Leon played and the way he looked. I remember first seeing him with Delaney & Bonnie and then with Joe Cocker. Then I toured with him. He had everything - country, gospel and folk; it was all there. There were so many great keyboard players around but Leon was the one I loved the most."

Russell cut his teeth as part of Phil Spector's studio group, playing on most of the producer's hit records. At the end of the 1960s, he embarked on a solo career that brought him to the attention of many of rock's superstars including George Harrison, Eric Clapton and the Beach Boys. He masterminded Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour in 1970 and spent the first part of the decade releasing a series of great, often overlooked albums - Leon Russell, Carney and Will O The Wisp among them. Now under the wing of Elton's management company, it's time for the man to get his due.

"I remember when Leon lost his publishing," recalls Elton. "I was so distraught at the time. That was in the '70s. Now his music is with EMI Records and we are hoping to relaunch his catalogue when this album comes out. There's no point in doing this record and not bringing all his great work to light at the same time. It's the old story; you sign your life away when you're young so when you hit 70 you've got nothing left. Look at Nina Simone. We're trying to repair that damage."

The Union was recorded at the end of 2009 with producer T-Bone Burnett. The record - a southern-fried mix of gospel, R&B and expansive ballads - features both Russell and Elton playing piano and singing, with a band made up of legendary drummer Jim Keltner, Tom Waits-connected guitar iconoclast Marc Ribot and assorted session hotshots. The record also features contributions from special guests including Neil Young, Booker T and incorrigible soul star The Mighty Hannibal. Elton plans to take Russell on the road with him in 2011.

"I've made 40 other albums," said John. "The world isn't screaming for another Elton John album and I'm not screaming to make a record unless it's special. Before this even came up my template was Bob Dylan's Modern Times because I thought, this is a man who has made so many albums, yet he's back with another incredible record that sounds modern and old at the same time. That's the kind of record I wanted to make. And to actually make a record with your idol... it's something that I'd never thought I'd do."

The Union is scheduled for release in the US on October 19 and the UK on October 25.

Leon Russell plays a London show at the Jazz Café on August 3. Buy tickets HERE

Source MOJO

Band of Horses have announced details of an upcoming tour of North America.

Playing in support of their third album 'Infinite Arms', which was released earlier this year, the group will hit the road on September 24 with a show in Berkeley, California.

As previously reported by our sister title NME, the band previewed material from the new LP at a one-off gig in London in April and performed at venues across the UK in June.

Prior to the jaunt, the group will embark on a number of US dates, plus appear at a series of festivals including a performance on the NME/Radio 1 stage at this year's Reading and Leeds festivals.

Band Of Horses will play the following:

Nashville, TN War Memorial (July 12)
Cincinnati, OH Inner Circle (13)
Columbia, MO Blue Note (14)
Milwaukee, WI Eagles Club (16)
Minneapolis, MN State Theater (17)
Berkeley, CA Greek Theater (September 24)
Los Angeles, CA Greek Theater (25)
Las Vegas, NV The Joint (27)
Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue (28)
Denver, CO Fillmore (29)
Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom (October 1)
Cleveland, OH House Of Blues (4)
Columbus, OH LC Amphitheater (5)
Louisville, KY Brown Theater (6)
Austin, TX Austin City Limits Festival (10)
Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom (12)
St. Louis, MO The Pageant (13)
Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater (14)
Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room (17)
Toronto, ON Koolhaus (21)
Detroit, MI Fillmore (22)
Atlanta, GA The Fox Theater (30)

Source UNCUT

Carl Barat will play a one-off solo gig in London later this month.

The Libertines man is set to appear at the 100 Club on July 22 as part of the Late Night Episode club night.

Kieran Leonard And The Horses, The Harrison Brothers and The Penny Ballads will also play at the event, which is being arranged by Little Episodes, a publisher and not-for-profit organisation which aims to raise awareness of depression.

Barat, who is reuniting The Libertines for the first time since 2004 this August, will play a full UK tour in October as he prepares to release his new solo album.

To check the availability of Carl Barat tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

Source NME