Search Results for: scotland

JUST days after the European launch of Apple Computers’ online music store, a chorus of customers are voicing their complaints. The lack of songs from artists on independent record labels – which account for a quarter of the UK market – has left iTunes looking like a poorly-stocked American import store, lacking local talent such as Travis and Franz Ferdinand. “Most Scottish acts are on independent labels,” says Alison Wenham, chairman and chief executive of the Association of Independent Music (AIM), which represents the majority of the UK’s indie labels. “Celtic acts typically start off very strong in their home… Read more »

As Britney Spears readies for her tour, she’s making sure there’s plenty of her to go around while fans wait for her to come around. The singer’s about to release a DVD that’ll include pre-tour concert footage as well as bonus tracks. Two new songs are found on the CD portion of Spears’ “In the Zone” DVD, due March 23. The first is called “Don’t Hang Up,” and it finds the singer pleading on the phone for her lover to keep her satisfied long-distance. The second song is the P. Diddy-produced “The Answer,” which both artists had talked up before… Read more »

Lots of pop stars who are huge in Europe never succeed in the United States, but judging by Thursday’s MTV Europe Music Awards, Europeans can’t seem to get enough of American idols. Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé Knowles and Christina Aguilera were the big winners at this year’s racy, profanity-laden EMAs, held in Edinburgh, Scotland. Eight of the 12 awards were presented to U.S. residents. Timberlake won three trophies: Best Album for Justified, Best Pop and Best Male. The Neptunes, who produced much of Justified,presented him with the latter, and after they gave him the statue of an “M” on a spring,… Read more »

The Fight (from Dudley in the West Midlands) are back in the UK after touring the USA since January, to support US punk band ‘Rancid’. The Fight met up with Rancid’s lead singer Tim Armstrong whilst performing the Californian leg of the Vans Warped Tour, where he asked them to support Rancid on their tour of the UK. They will be playing major venues throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, many of which are already sold out. The tour starts on September 11th at Birmingham Academy, which co-incidently happens to be a year to the day from their gig at London’s… Read more »

Celebrities including Madonna, Chrissie Hynde and Sharleen Spiteri remained tightlipped about the apparent wedding of designer Stella McCartney and publisher Alasdhair Willis as they left this remote Scottish island Sunday. Pretenders singer Hynde would only say that the 31-year-old daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney looked “beautiful” when asked about the ceremony. “It was good. It has been a lovely week,” said Spiteri of the rock band Texas, as she boarded a coach to leave the island. Hordes of reporters, who have spent days trying to glean information about the closely guarded wedding, were left disappointed when both singers declined… Read more »

Robert “Bobby” Thomson (50), longtime tour manager for Ozzy Osbourne, passed away in his sleep and was discovered this morning in his Detroit hotel room. He was in Detroit with Ozzfest. Thomson had been battling throat cancer for the last 18 months. Born in Wallyford, Scotland, Thomson had worked with Ozzy Osbourne for over 23 years. He is survived by his wife, Terri, and two sons, Kevin (19) and Jacob (10). “We are devastated by the loss of our dear friend Bobby,” said Ozzy Osbourne. “He has been a part of our family for 23 years and loved very much.… Read more »

White, the rock duo’s 27-year-old guitarist/singer, sustained a broken left index finger in a car crash Wednesday in his native Detroit, a band publicist confirms. Details of the crash were sketchy. Detroit police said they had no report on the accident. A flack for the White Stripes knew only of the location (Detroit), the broken finger (one) and the time of the accident (1 p.m.). According to the Detroit News, White suffered the tough break, described as a compound fracture, when the car he was riding in was struck by another. Reports that White Stripe fan Renée Zellweger was in… Read more »

Eminem has one-upped Michael Jackson. Spoofing the pop star’s infamous baby-dangling incident that took place last November in Germany, Slim Shady actually tossed his “baby” up in the air on Tuesday in Glasgow, Scotland. No, it wasn’t his daughter, Hailie – this baby was a life-size blonde-haired baby doll, seemingly masked, which a surgical-mask-wearing Em held above the crowd, tossed up, and caught by its head. Of course, he was on a first-floor balcony at the Arthouse Hotel, so the doll was in no danger. Just in case that stunt seemed a little nasty, Eminem practiced a little preemptive redemption… Read more »

Eighties new wave star Adam Ant was arrested for suspicion of criminal damage in London on Wednesday for allegedly hurling rocks through a neighbor?s windows. Ant, 49, whose real name is Stuart Leslie Goddard, was arrested and then booked at the Central London police station on Wednesday morning, according to a Scotland Yard spokesperson. The spokesperson said a 49-year-old man was questioned and released on bail, although Ant was not named, per British police protocol. He was ordered to report back in July for a hearing. Following his bail, Ant was transported to a secure hospital psychiatric ward, according to… Read more »

An environmental group plans to grow a forest in honor of the late Clash singer-songwriter Joe Strummer’s efforts to counter global warming. Future Forests, a group Strummer helped found in the 1990s, asked fans to donate to help create the living memorial on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. “Joe said, ‘Bands must be contributing to global warming by their buses, equipment trucks and the diesel used to power the stages,’” the spokesman said on condition of anonymity. “‘Can you imagine how much carbon dioxide the pressing and the distribution of a CD creates? What shall we do about it?’”… Read more »