Bassist Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Blur have spoken about recording their surprise new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’.The 10-track LP, was announced earlier this week and is the band’s first since 2015’s ‘The Magic Whip‘. It was produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Depeche Mode) and recorded at Studio 13 in London and Devon.Speaking in a press conference at Colchester Castle ahead of their gig at the town’s Arts Centre last night (May 19), all four members opened up about the recording process of their ninth studio album.“There were moments of utter joy,” enthused bassist Alex James. “The new song we open with [‘St Charles Square’] I just thought, ‘Oh my God, we’ve pulled it back’.

On a spring afternoon in 1982, a young musician named Johnny Marr turned up unannounced outside a council house in Kings Road, Stretford.

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Andy Rourke, The Smiths bassist on all four of the band’s album, died today of pancreatic cancer in New York City. He was 59.

Legendary musician Andy Rourke has died at the age of 59 following a long fight with pancreatic cancer.

Andy Rourke, the bassist in seminal British indie rock band The Smiths, has died age 59. The news was announced on Friday by Rourke's former bandmate Johnny Marr, who paid tribute to "a kind and beautiful soul" and confirmed Rourke passed away following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. In his statement, Marr wrote: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.

Andy Rourke has sadly passed away.

Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans.  We request privacy at this sad time pic.twitter.com/KNehQxXoFzNot only the most talented bass player I've ever had the privilege to play with but the sweetest, funniest lad I've ever met. Andy's left the building, but his musical legacy is perpetual.

© INSTAGRAM Gemma Atkinson Radio Instagram Gemma Atkinson, 38, was sweetly surprised by fiancé Gorka Marquez, 32, as they prepare for the birth of their second child this summer. The Strictly dancer called Gemma's Hits Radio show to cheer her up as she prepares for maternity leave. The Spanish star joked about their upcoming water birth and how he was ready.

Naman Ramachandran Andy Rourke, bassist with influential British rock band The Smiths, has died after a long illness due to pancreatic cancer. He was 59. The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr posted on Twitter on Friday: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans.  We request privacy at this sad time.” It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time pic.twitter.com/KNehQxXoFz The Smiths were formed in Manchester in 1982 by singer Morrissey, Marr, Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Morrissey and Marr were the band’s songwriters. The band signed with Rough Trade Records in 1983 and their first album, “The Smiths,” was released in 1984. Hit albums include” Meat Is Murder” (1985), “The Queen Is Dead” (1986) and “Strangeways, Here We Come” (1987).

Andy Rourke, the bassist for The Smiths, has died aged 59, it's been confirmed. 

cancer. His former bandmate Johnny Marr announced the tragic news on Twitter this morning, describing Rourke as a 'supremely gifted musician'.

Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time pic.twitter.com/KNehQxXoFzBorn January 17, 1964, Rourke grew up in Manchester, England, befriending Marr when they were 11. He would later reveal that it was when the pair attempted to form a band as teenagers that Marr convinced him to switch from guitar to bass.Marr formed The Smiths with singer Morrissey in 1982; following the band’s first live performance, after which they fired their first bassist, Rourke was invited to join.

Bassist Andy Rourke has died at the age of 59. Andy was one quarter of the hit band The Smiths, which were formed in Manchester in the 80s. He was in the band alongside highly-acclaimed musicians Morrisey, Johnny Marr and Mike Joyce.

The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Thania Garcia Blur will be releasing their first album in eight years, “The Ballad of Darren,” later this summer, the band announced on Thursday morning. The news arrived with an early taste of the 10-song collection, a guitar-driven single titled “The Narcissist.” The album, which will be released on July 21 on Parlophone, follows their last reunion album — 2015’s “The Magic Whip” — and was produced by James Ford, who last worked with Blur’s Damon Albarn for the Gorillaz’s 2018 album “The Now Now.” “This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now,” said Albarn of the new record in a statement. Lead guitarist Graham Coxon added, “The older and madder we get, it becomes more essential that what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention. Sometimes just a riff doesn’t do the job.”

Gregg Goldstein Start your engines! Virgil Films has acquired North American rights to the Ewan McGregor-narrated documentary “Speed Is Expensive: Philip Vincent and the Million Dollar Motorcycle,” featuring Jay Leno, Clash bassist Paul Simonon and seven-time world championship racer John Surtees. Lighbulb Film Distribution will release the doc in the U.K. and Ireland. Virgil is repping sales in almost all other international territories at the Cannes Film Market. Writer/director David Lancaster’s feature tells the story of Vincent, a flawed genius who began designing speed record-breaking bikes in England nearly a century ago. It follows Philip Vincent-Day as he embarks on a search for answers about his grandfather’s life and work. Leno, Simonon, Surtees and other Vincent bike aficionados offer their expert perspectives.

The View have issued a statement to fans following the fight that broke out on stage earlier this week.The incident occurred on Wednesday night (May 10), during the first night of the band’s long-awaited comeback tour. Taking to the stage at The Dead Institute venue in Manchester, the performance soon descended into chaos after the frontman, Kyle Falconer, threw a punch at bassist Kieren Webster.In fan-captured footage, which has since spread quickly across social media, Falconer appeared to punch the bassist in the face, before he is held back by his other bandmate and crew members.

Indie rockers The View abandoned a sold-out comeback gig in Manchester last night after the band had a huge bust up onstage. Footage from the show at The Deaf Institute shows lead singer Kyle Falconer throwing a punch at bass player Kieren Webster as he shouts 'I'll f****** kill you'.

No longer in too deep! Sum 41 announced they are breaking up after nearly 30 years of performing.

wrote alongside an old image of himself and Tim. “Grab yer loved ones and hug em close, ya never know how long you have.”Ryder also thanked his followers for “the kind words” they had sent him.In a previous Facebook post, Ryder confirmed that he had received a phone call from the care unit his father was staying in, telling him to “hurry” and “come say goodbye” as he didn’t have long to live.Ryder went on to say that after experiencing “some complications”, Tim was “rushed to the emergency unit” where it was discovered he had brain cancer.

Foals have announced that former bassist Walter Gervers has re-joined the band.The band, who are currently gearing up for a run of intimate UK out-store shows before hitting the road to support Paramore in South America and then later return to headline Reading & Leeds, had previously teased to NME that they’d have a “surprise” for fans about who’d be playing with them at the upcoming gigs.Now, they’ve revealed that Gervers is back in the line-up, following his departure from the group in 2017.“After six years in the alpine wilderness guess who’s back in the band?,” wrote frontman Yannis Philippakis in an Instagram post of his fellow Foals members in the pub with Gervers. “Walter is back and better than ever.

Jack Nicholson was in the building for Game 6 Friday night, returning to his usual courtside spot (though without his usual sunglasses). Nicholson has been a proud Lakers season-ticket holder since 1970. Check out this compilation the NBA put together of some of the stars at Friday night’s game, including Larry David, “Red Hot Chili Peppers” bassist Flea, Adele (girlfriend of LeBron James’ longtime agent Rich Paul) and Dr.

Pinegrove have announced a hiatus, as well as the departure of drummer and founding member Zack Levine – marking “the end of an era”.The band have announced that they will be going on an indefinite hiatus “on a more casual basis”, with each member focusing on different side projects. Frontman Evan Stephens Hall shared in a lengthy Instagram post that “Pinegrove is not over, but it seems this era is.”“After a lot of touring in ’22 you may have noticed we’ve been taking some time to regroup,” Hall wrote.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Kari Krome, a songwriter for the 1970s all-female rock band the Runaways, has filed a lawsuit against the group’s late manager, Kim Fowley, and longtime KROQ DJ and nightclub owner Rodney Bingenheimer, alleging that both of them sexually assaulted when she was a minor. The news was first reported by Rolling Stone. “Plaintiff, Kari Krome [legal name: Carrie Mitchell] is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, sexual battery, assault, and molestation at the hands of Defendant Rodney Bingenheimer,” the lawsuit, obtained by Variety, reads in part. “When Plaintiff was approximately 13 and 14 and 15 years old, Defendant Rodney Bingenheimer and Defendant Kim Fowley used their roles, status, and power as adults, as well as their connections to and work in the music industry to gain access to manipulate, exploit, and sexually assault Plaintiff in the State of California, County of Los Angeles. As a result of Defendant Rodney Bingenheimer’s and Defendant Kim Fowley’s sexual abuse and assault, Plaintiff has suffered severe emotional, physical and psychological distress, including shame, and guilt, economic loss, economic capacity and emotional loss.”

Green Day have celebrated the 33rd anniversary of their debut album ’39/Smooth’ with a never-before-seen video and photos.The pop-punk icons shared an Instagram post that featured old throwbacks of the line-up that consisted of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Durnt and original drummer John Kiffmeyer.They also unveiled a video of them performing the LP’s track ‘Paper Lantern’ in a backyard in their home city of Oakland, California, a couple of weeks before the album’s release.A post shared by Green Day (@greenday)’39/Smooth’ was released on April 13, 1990 via Lookout! Records. It was later reissued in 1991 under the title ‘1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour’s, which included their earlier EPs ‘1,000 Hours’ and ‘Slappy’.Fans took to the comments section to celebrate the anniversary of the “bloody great album”.

A.D. Amorosi Since the group’s rabid four-album start, setting a ridiculously high bar for turning doom-metal and thrash-nihilism into wrenchingly emotional high art has been the blessing and curse of Metallica. “Kill ‘Em All” in 1983, the following year’s 1984’s “Ride the Lightning,” 1986’s “Master of Puppets” and 1988’s “…And Justice for All” blend into a single, crushing aesthetic achievement, an innovation akin to Stevie Wonder or David Bowie’s runs in the 1970s, where each recording was as breathlessly anticipated as it was thunderingly rewarding. The new “72 Seasons” comes close to Metallica’s bone-crushing, skull-f%$3ng, ire-clinging peak, with more raging guitar solos courtesy of Kirk Hammett, if just a hint of the lyrical anger management by James Hetfield that we’ve heard since the therapy sessions contained in 2004’s “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” doc. 

Peter Frampton, who wrote: “There might only be a handful, if that, of people who come into your world and truly enrich your life. I have lost one of my closest buddies. He certainly enriched my life because of the person and the great player he was.

confirmed the news in a statement that was posted by a family friend on Facebook. “It is with the greatest sorrow and sadness that I let you all know John passed away this afternoon. So many people have posted messages of love and condolences on his phone,” the statement reads. “I am trying to figure out how to post on any of his fb pages.