Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2012 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ PJ Harvey Mines Her Family's War-Torn History for 'Let England Shake' http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/16/pj-harvey-let-england-shake/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/16/pj-harvey-let-england-shake/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/16/pj-harvey-let-england-shake/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Cat Stevens

PJ Harvey's most recent album, 'Let England Shake,' has been met with universal acclaim, with its timeless tales of conflict and human suffering married to the British singer-songwriter's strongest tunes for a decade.

When Spinner recently caught up with her backstage hours before her supporting set for Portishead at the latter's All Tomorrow's Parties festival in London, it was a few months into the touring behind the reflective album. Some might say it takes a brave performer to take the testimonies of soldiers and civilians, as Harvey has, and turn them into music gracing Europe's music festivals, concert halls and arenas, but she has built an enviable reputation as a live performer. If anyone's able to make a thrilling festival set out of the memories of long-lost combatants and Great War memories, it's her.

How has it been taking this album out on the road?

The songs are going down really well. I didn't know how it would work in large open spaces, outside in festivals, in the rain, but they have been. I'm finding a lot of people are watching, they're not leaving. They're staying there and a lot of people are singing along, that do know the songs, and the ones that don't are still standing in the rain.

It feels absolutely right. It feels like it always has been and always will be. It doesn't feel astonishing, it doesn't feel peculiar, it just feels like it's natural. ]]> pj harveyPjHarvey Stephen Dowling 2011-08-16T12:00:00 00:00 Cold Chisel to Play First Tour Nearly 30 Years After They Split http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/22/cold-chisel-reunion-tour/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/22/cold-chisel-reunion-tour/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/22/cold-chisel-reunion-tour/#comments Filed under: ,


Robert Cianflone, Getty Images

Aussie pub rock band Cold Chisel are to mount their first major tour in nearly 30 years in a trawl across Australia and New Zealand that will bring the reformed rabble rousers to some of Australia's wineries, clubs and arenas.

The 26-date tour Down Under will be their biggest run of concerts since they split in 1983 after their 'Last Stand' tour.

The band announced the reformation tour on Thursday, months after drummer Steve Prestwich, one of its founding members and writer of the band's biggest radio hit 'Forever Now,' died during an operation to remove a brain tumour, aged 56. ]]> cold chiselColdChisel Stephen Dowling 2011-07-22T15:30:00 00:00 Adele, PJ Harvey and Elbow Nominated for 2011 Mercury Prize http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/19/adele-pj-harvey-elbow-nominated-2011-mercury-prize/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/19/adele-pj-harvey-elbow-nominated-2011-mercury-prize/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/19/adele-pj-harvey-elbow-nominated-2011-mercury-prize/#comments Filed under: ,


PA Photos

Adele, PJ Harvey and Elbow will battle it out for the Mercury Prize in September after the nominations were announced in London on Tuesday, July 19.

Adele receive a nod for '21,' the biggest-selling record of the year so far, while Harvey has received a nomination for 'Let England Shake,' which has been a massive hit with the critics. Harvey won in 2001 for her album 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea.'

Elbow -- also previous winners in 2008 for their album 'The Seldom Seen Kid' -- are also nominated for their fifth album, 'Build a Rocket Boys!'

Rapper Tinie Tempah has scored a nomination with his debut album 'Disc-Overy,' as have indie four-piece Everything Everything and singer-songwriter Anna Calvi. ]]> adeleelbowMercury Music Prizepj harveyPjHarvey Stephen Dowling 2011-07-19T08:00:00 00:00 Morrissey Cancels Swedish Gig -- Because of Rain http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/15/morrissey-cancels-swedish-gig-rain/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/15/morrissey-cancels-swedish-gig-rain/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/15/morrissey-cancels-swedish-gig-rain/#comments Filed under: ,


PA

Swedish fans of Manc miserabilist Morrissey were left unhappy after the singer cancelled an outdoor gig at the last minute -- because it was too rainy to play.

Morrissey, currently on his European tour, was due to play Helsingborg's Sundspärlan venue on Thursday night (14 July) but the concert was cancelled only a few hours before show time.

A statement on the Swedish website Sundsparlan.se (via NME) said the concert had been "cancelled on the artist's own request". ]]> morrissey Stephen Dowling 2011-07-15T13:30:00 00:00 Yoko Ono Threatens to Sue Over John Lennon-Themed Bar http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/11/yoko-ono-lennon-bar/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/11/yoko-ono-lennon-bar/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/11/yoko-ono-lennon-bar/#comments Filed under:


Chris Pizzello, AP/PA

Want ice with that court order? Yoko Ono is reported to be suing the owner of a bar that is dedicated to the memory of her late husband John Lennon.

Mike Craig, from Dundee, Scotland, is reported to have been sent a legal letter accusing him of copyright infringement -- after he claims he spent spending thousands of pounds on Beatles memorabilia decorating Lennon's Bar.

According to Jam Showbiz (via NME) the letter from Ono's lawyer has demanded he remove all the memorabilia and rename the bar within 14 days. ]]> beatlesjohn lennonJohnLennonthe beatlesTheBeatlesyoko ono Stephen Dowling 2011-07-11T15:44:00 00:00 Jarvis Cocker Uses Last News of the World as 'Toilet Paper' http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/11/jarvis-cocker-pulp-news-of-the-world-toilet-paper/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/11/jarvis-cocker-pulp-news-of-the-world-toilet-paper/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/11/jarvis-cocker-pulp-news-of-the-world-toilet-paper/#comments Filed under: ,


Andrew Milligan, PA Photos

Jarvis Cocker used a copy of the last edition of disgraced tabloid The News of the World to mime wiping his bottom as he appeared onstage with reunited Britpop band Pulp at T In the Park in Scotland on the weekend.

After miming wiping his behind with the paper, Cocker told the crowd on Sunday (10 July):
"That's the only thing that piece of s--- has been good for in 168 years."

The band had taken to the stage with their Britpop-era classic 'Do You Remember The First Time' and Cocker had asked the audience to remember the last time the tabloid was published.

The News Of The World folded on Sunday following a string of damaging allegations of phone hacking, including the phones of teenage murder victim Milly Dowler and, it is reported, the families of victims of the Soham murders and July 7 bombings. ]]> jarvis cockerJarvisCockerpulp Stephen Dowling 2011-07-11T10:30:00 00:00 Sir Elton John Listens to Dizzee Rascal's 'Bonkers' in the Shower http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/30/elton-john-dizzee-rascal-bonkers-shower/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/30/elton-john-dizzee-rascal-bonkers-shower/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/30/elton-john-dizzee-rascal-bonkers-shower/#comments Filed under:


PA Photos

British rapper Dizzee Rascal has an unlikely fan, it would appear. Musical knight Sir Elton John, is apparently, rather partial to starting the day with a good blast of the rapper's 2009 hit 'Bonkers.'

Dizzee told British magazine Shortlist, "I saw him at The Ivor Novello Awards. He came up and told me that he listened to 'Bonkers' every day in the shower."

The thought of the 'Candle in the Wind' hitmaker lathering himself to the strident strains of Dizzee's nu-rave classic is enough to make Spinner splutter into its coffee cup. But in the same interview the rapper says he has friends even further up the social scale. ]]> Dizzee RascalDizzeeRascalelton johnEltonJohn Stephen Dowling 2011-06-30T09:30:00 00:00 Liam Gallagher Slags Muse and, Surprisingly, Umbrellas http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/liam-gallagher-hates-muse-gq/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/liam-gallagher-hates-muse-gq/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/29/liam-gallagher-hates-muse-gq/#comments Filed under:


Anthony Devlin, PA

It's good news for denim giant Levi's, the Fab Four and the owners of the Black Cat restaurant near Lake Como, Italy. Muse and manufacturers of umbrellas, however, will have less to cheer about.

In an interview with the US edition of men's style mag GQ, Liam Gallagher -- ex of Oasis, currently of Beady Eye -- listed his 10 essentials, including props for New York's Central Park and ginger ale.

But he was less welcoming of technological gadgets in general, and the histrionic vocals of operatic rockers Muse's singer Matt Bellamy, in particular. ]]> beady eyeBeadyEyemuseoasis Stephen Dowling 2011-06-29T15:00:00 00:00 Glastonbury 2011 Pictures: Sunday http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/27/glastonbury-2011-pictures-sunday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/27/glastonbury-2011-pictures-sunday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/27/glastonbury-2011-pictures-sunday/#comments Filed under: ,


Dave J Hogan, Getty Images

Thanks to the small matter of an Olympic games in London next year, Glastonbury is taking a breather in 2012 -- there just simply aren't enough portable toilets to go round. So fans of music, magic, mud, mid-day ciders, mushroom burgers and mild trenchfoot have to wait until 2013 before they can don their wellies and head on down to Michael Eavis's farm again.

Sunday saw the festival bow out in brilliant sunshine, with Beyoncé raising a spectacular racket on the Pyramid Stage and the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Kaiser Chiefs and Paul Simon also making their presence felt.

Our sister site AOL Music UK has a gallery showing some of the sights from the last day of Glastonbury 2011. Let the clean-up begin! ]]> glastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-27T10:30:00 00:00 Beyoncé Brings Glastonbury to a Close With Historic Headline Set http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/beyonce-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/beyonce-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/beyonce-glastonbury/#comments Filed under: ,


Joel Ryan, AP/PA

Three years ago Beyoncé had the best seat in the house for a little masterclass in Glastonbury scene-stealing. Hubby Jay-Z was headlining -- an event that had caused consternation in some circle, notably Noel Gallagher's -- and stage-side Beyonce had a perfect position to see what it took to win over the Glasto crowd. On the evidence of Sunday night's set, she must have been taking notes.

With the biggest stadium band on the planet (U2) and the Pyramid Stage's "house band" (Coldplay) Beyoncé had enough to contend with without taking into account the fact she was the first woman to headline the festival since Sinead O'Connor in 1991.

Flanked by her all-female band and a quartet of dancers, Beyoncé appeared in a gold-sequinned jacket and little else, walking down a staircase to the strains of 'Crazy in Love.' No messing about -- she meant business, especially as the follow-up was 'Single Ladies.' Both signature hits so early? ]]> beyonceglastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-26T18:45:00 00:00 UK Prime Minister's Aide Found Dead in Backstage Toilet at Glastonbury http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/david-cameron-aide-dies-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/david-cameron-aide-dies-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/david-cameron-aide-dies-glastonbury/#comments Filed under: ,


Dave J Hogan, Getty Images

UPDATE: An inquest into Mr. Shale's death was opened and adjourned in Wells on Monday, according to the BBC. The coroner, Tony Williams, said there was no evidence of foul play but toxicology reports would have to be carried out to determine the cause of death.

Glastonbury's atmosphere was dealt a blow on Sunday after news that one of the UK prime minister David Cameron's closest aides was found dead in a backstage toilet at the festival.

Christopher Shale, chairman of West Oxfordshire Conservative Association in the PM's Witney consituency, was found dead around 9:00BT backstage. Mr. Cameron said he was devastated at the loss, calling Shale "a close and valued friend -- a big rock in my life has suddenly been rolled away." ]]> glastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-26T13:30:00 00:00 Glastonbury 2011 Pictures: Saturday http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/glastonbury-2011-pictures-saturday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/glastonbury-2011-pictures-saturday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/glastonbury-2011-pictures-saturday/#comments Filed under: ,


Tabatha Fireman, Redferns

It had clearly rained enough -- Saturday saw the brilliant summer sunshine everyone had wished for finally arrive at Glastonbury. No doubt they will all be complaining of sunburn by the close of the weekend.

U2's headlining set presented something of a challenge for Saturday Pyramid Stage headliners Coldplay, making their third appearance at the top of the bill at the festival. Pulp returned to the site of their 1995 triumph, and Elbow and UK pop diva Jessie J won over their respective crowds.

Our sister site AOL Music UK has once again collected the best pictures of the day. Check them out in the gallery below. ]]> glastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-26T10:00:00 00:00 Elbow Unveil 'Reverse Mexican Wave' at Glastonbury http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/elbow-glastonbury-mexican-wave/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/elbow-glastonbury-mexican-wave/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/26/elbow-glastonbury-mexican-wave/#comments Filed under: ,


Ian Gavan, Getty Images

Even Jay-Z was impressed, apparently. Seen watching the Bury five-piece's Pyramid Stage set from the side of the stage, the hip-hop statesman was later heard singing the praises of a band he hadn't encountered before.

Tens of thousands of Glastonbury-goers might have asked the rapper what took him so long. Second on the bill only to Coldplay on Saturday, Elbow carried off a pretty much perfect Saturday evening set. As the sun disappeared, they didn't try and match Coldplay for pyrotechnic spectacle -- relying instead on the beery bonhomie that had snared them a Mercury and the undying admiration of Britain's music-buying public.

At one point frontman Guy Garvey instructed the crowd to take part in a "reverse Mexican wave" -- where everyone would drop to their kness and then stand up, and everyone behind them would follow suit. The result looked like that bit in 'The Lord of the Rings' where Sauron's power is broken, though with less orcs (probably; this is Glastonbury after all). ]]> elbowglastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-26T06:30:00 00:00 Coldplay Play Third Headline Slot at Glastonbury http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/coldplay-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/coldplay-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/coldplay-glastonbury/#comments Filed under: ,


Yui Mok, PA Photos

In this year's battle of the Glastonbury headliners, the old guard vs newcomers roles were reversed. U2 may be the elder statesmen of communal stadium rock, but they were wet behind the ears new boys when it came to headlining Worthy Farm. Coldplay, one of many bands in U2s stadium wake were the band to be contended with here. On Saturday night they took to the Pyramid Stage as headliners for the third time.

Chris Martin and co.'s strong relationship with the festival started in 1999 -- they only headlined in 2002 after they agreed to play the local village fete the year before to help festival organiser Michael Eavis out of a tight spot. So you could have been forgiven for thinking headlining wouldn't have given them too many butterflies in the stomach, but then there was the spectre of U2's bloody-minded debut the night before; fierce, and with something to prove.

With fireworks wrupting at their entrance, Coldplay alunched into new song 'MX,' a song that bears more than a little of the urgent DNA of Arcade Fire. ]]> coldplayglastonburynewsletter Stephen Dowling 2011-06-25T19:15:00 00:00 Pulp Return to Glastonbury With 'Secret Show' http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/pulp-glastonbury-secret-show/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/pulp-glastonbury-secret-show/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/pulp-glastonbury-secret-show/#comments Filed under: ,


Matt Crossick, Empics/PA

Sixteen years after they gave one of Glastonbury's most talked-about performances, Pulp returned to Worthy Farm to play a "secret show" during their long-awaited reunion summer.

The Britpop band, who have returned to live dates nearly a decade after going into hiatus, bounded onto the Park Stage with frontman Jarvis Cocker addressing the crowd with, "Surprise surprise, you didn't think we were going to let you down, did you?" The band then launched into 'Do You Remember the First Time' -- ironic considering any Pulp performance at Glastonbury can't help but conjure up memories of the first time they appeared on most people's radar, headlining the Pyramid Stage on a Saturday night in 1995.

Unlike Radiohead's set the previous night, the Pulp setlist was weighted towards the songs people have been waiting to hear during that 10-year break -- the likes of 'Razzmatazz' and 'Acrylic Afternoons,' reminders of the day when Cool Britannia ruled the airwaves. ]]> glastonburypulp Stephen Dowling 2011-06-25T16:30:00 00:00 Glastonbury 2011 Pictures: Friday http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/glastonbury-2011-friday-pictures/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/glastonbury-2011-friday-pictures/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/glastonbury-2011-friday-pictures/#comments Filed under: ,


Adrian Dennis, AFP/Getty Images

Glastonbury 2011 saw plenty of rain, masses of sticky mud, and a veritable feast of music on Friday.

Kicked off by the likes of Metronomy and Two Door Cinema Club before the likes of Primal Scream, the Vaccines, Morrissey and a surprise set from Radiohead. Oh -- and U2, who turned up to blast the Pyramid Stage with their brand of communal rock 'n' roll a year later than originally planned.

Our sister site AOL Music UK has collected the best images from the day. Check out their gallery below. ]]> glastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-25T10:15:00 00:00 Morrissey Gets Mouthy at David Cameron and U2 at Glastonbury http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/morrissey-glastonbury-u2-david-cameron/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/morrissey-glastonbury-u2-david-cameron/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/25/morrissey-glastonbury-u2-david-cameron/#comments Filed under: ,


JSN Photography, WireImage

Morrissey, it would appear, doesn't like playing second fiddle to anyone. Not even the Pyramid Stage-headlining colossus U2. The former Smiths frontman managed to insult both Glastonbury 2011 royalty the Uk's PM David Cameron in a set simmering with pantomime hostility.

"Can you bear to hear a new song?" Morrissey intoned "Can you bear to hear an old one?" There was plenty to placate Smiths fan amidst the set -- 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' and the vegetarian anthem 'Meat Is Murder' -- but the hippy vibe certainly wasn't extending itself to his between-song banter.

"I'll try to sing as fast as I can as I know you're here to see U2," Morrissey quipped to his rain-soaked fans as his band -- dressed in match polo shirts -- rattled through solo and Smiths hits alike. ]]> glastonburymorrissey Stephen Dowling 2011-06-25T07:00:00 00:00 U2 Headline Glastonbury's Friday Night With Hits-Packed Set http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/u2-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/u2-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/u2-glastonbury/#comments Filed under: ,


Joel Ryan, AP/PA

It's all about timing. A year ago U2 were supposed to be headlining Glastonbury for the first time in their long history, a gig that promised to make the Irish stadium stars break out of their megatour comfort zone a little. Then frontman Bono succumbed to some serious back issues and the date was off. Well, til next year at least.

So it could be said U2's journey to this Friday night on the Pyramid Stage was music's most long-winded wait between sets. With the Friday heavens opening, U2's set had the makings of a Radiohead in 97 moment, that communal connection amid the mud and the raindrops. This despite he threats from groups opposed to austerity measures in the UK planning protests against the band's alleged tax-dodging -- allegations the band's camp vehemently deny. ]]> glastonburyu2 Stephen Dowling 2011-06-24T19:15:00 00:00 Radiohead Bring 'King of Limbs' to Glastonbury 'Secret Show' http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/radiohead-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/radiohead-glastonbury/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/radiohead-glastonbury/#comments Filed under: ,


Yui Mok, PA Photos

"We're Radiohead. For the first time this year we're going to play some 'King of Limbs,'" said Thom Yorke as Radiohead made their way on to Glastonbury's Park Stage, thus confirming the worst-kept secret of the festival so far.

The band that performed one of the festival's most well-regarded slots in its history -- the 1997 Pyramid Stage headlining slot that helped catapult them to super-stardom -- Radiohead decided this year that their fourth appearance (fifth counting Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's turn as a duo last year) saw them take to the stage as the shadows lengthened and the Friday-night rain began.

But 'King of Limbs' has met with measured critical acclaim, and the large crowd greeted the opening numbers with a muted response. ]]> glastonburyRadiohead Stephen Dowling 2011-06-24T16:30:00 00:00 Glastonbury 2011 Pictures: Thursday http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/glastonbury-2011-pictures-thursday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/glastonbury-2011-pictures-thursday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/24/glastonbury-2011-pictures-thursday/#comments Filed under:


Ben Birchall, PA Photos

The Glastonbury masses started arriving in force on Thursday, negotiating their way though traffic jams and that good old tradition of Britain's biggest festival; mud.

And while actual bands might have been thin on the ... err... unfirm ground, there was still plenty to do and see. More than 177,000 people are expected onsite over the weekend; that's a lot of pair of Wellington boots, and a great deal of cider to be glugged down. Oh, and a few bands too -- U2, Coldplay and Beyoncé to name just a few, and that's just on the Pyramid Stage. Radiohead are playing a not-so-secret gig.

Spinner's sister site AOL Music UK has been trawling the wires for the very best pics. Check out the gallery below.


]]> glastonbury Stephen Dowling 2011-06-24T15:30:00 00:00