Footage of U2 rehearsing a new song has surfaced online.

The short film was captured by fans camping out near the gates of the Stadio Olimpico di Torino in Italy, where the group are rehearsing ahead of their first gig of 2010 on Friday (August 6).

The show will be the band's first since frontman Bono underwent back surgery, inadvertently forcing them to cancel a number of US shows as well as their headline slot at Glastonbury.

As U2Tours.com reports, Bono and co have also been heard playing a number of other songs including 'Get On Your Boots', 'Magnificent' and 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me' during soundchecks. The latter song did not appear on any of the band's setlists during the first part of the tour last year.

Source UNCUT

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am is strongly criticizing plans to release an album of Michael Jackson's unfinished music this November.

"I don't think that should ever come out," the musician, producer and songwriter told the Associated Press this week. "How you gonna release Michael Jackson when Michael Jackson ain't here to bless it? That's bad. Freaking parasites!"

Will.i.am, who first worked with Jackson on 2008's reissue of Thriller, producing remixes of The Girl Is Mine, Beat It and Pretty Young Thing, and who was one of the producers involved with recording Jackson's intended 'comeback' album, said that the late singer was a perfectionist who oversaw every aspect of his music. "Now that he is not part of the process, what are they doing? Why would you put a record out like that? Because he was a friend of mine, I just think that's disrespectful."

On the subject of the vast sum of royalties he could earn from having his work on a posthumous Jackson album, wil.i.am said, "So what? How much can you suck from [Michael's] energy? What's wrong with what he already contributed to the world?"

The November album is said to be the first in a 10-album, seven-year deal the Jackson estate negotiated with Sony BMG in March 2010.

Source musicradar

Kings Of Leon have confirmed the release details of their new album.

They have named their fifth effort 'Come Around Sundown', and will release it on October 18 in the UK and October 19 in the US.

Sessions for the album took place at New York's Avatar Studios, with the band once again teaming up with producers Angelo Petraglia and Jacquire King.

'Come Around Sundown' will be the follow-up to 2008's big-selling 'Only By The Night'.

Kings Of Leon are now set to return to the UK to headline V Festival on August 21-22.

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Soul icon Aretha Franklin has been forced to pull out of two shows after breaking her ribs.

Aretha Franklin is a true musical legend. The singer began life in the church, and this spiritual background is frequently cited as a massive influence on her soulful style.

Recording a string of era defining hits, the singer moved from soul to gospel, funk to disco leaving competitors trailing in her wake. When Barack Obama won the Presidential election who knew exactly who to ask when arranging performers for the inauguration.

Taking centre stage at a pivotal moment in American history, Aretha Franklin also underlined her enduring popularity. Still touring widely the soul icon recently confirmed two free shows in New York.

The singer was set to take part in the annual Seaside Summer Concert Series, which takes over public venues. Aretha Franklin had been due to perform in Brooklyn on August 9th before making the short journey to New York on August 12th.

However the icon has been forced to pull out of these engagements. Aretha Franklin recently fell at home and cracked two ribs, forcing her to seek treatment from doctors.

Suffering abdominal pain Aretha Franklin was forced to pull out of the free shows. Apologising to fans, the soul icon has now promised to play the free concerts at another date sometime later in the year.

"I was very much looking forward to being in Brooklyn and having a foot-long hot dog at Coney Island," she said. "Hopefully, I will get it before the end of August."

Of course, this isn't the only major show Aretha Franklin planned recently. The singer has been invited to perform at a birthday celebration for Nelson Mandela, with fellow soul legend Stevie Wonder also due to take part.

Source CLASH

Midlake have announced details of an new UK tour.

Kicking off with a show in Exeter on October 31, the six-date jaunt ends in Cambridge on November 10.

Midlake play:

Exeter Lemon Grove (October 31)
Norwich UEA (November 1)
London Roundhouse (2)
O2 Academy Oxford (5)
O2 Academy Leicester (6)
Cambridge Junction (10)

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Grammy Award winning band Train release their brand new single 'f It's Love' on Monday 18th October, the second single from their critically-acclaimed fifth studio album 'Save Me, San Francisco.'

With a video directed by former Fall Out Boy member Pete Wentz, 'f It's Love' follows on from the huge success of former single 'Hey, Soul Sister' which remains in the UK Top 40 three months after release and which has so far sold over five million copies worldwide.

The band will return to the UK for a tour to coincide with the single release which will call at the following venues:

Wednesday 20th October ' Birmingham O2 Academy
Thursday 21st October ' Glasgow ABC
Saturday 23rd October ' Manchester Academy
Sunday 24th October ' Bristol O2 Academy
Monday 25th October ' London Shepherd's Bush Empire

Source music-news