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Playing Y Not Festival as an independent band
An independent band shares a short clip from their set at Y Not Festival, giving fans a quick behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to play a major UK festival stage without the backing of a big label. The short focuses on the experience of performing as an unsigned act, capturing a snapshot of the…
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The 1971 Joni Mitchell song Jimmy Webb and David Crosby agreed was her greatest
The article highlights Joni Mitchell’s 1971 song ‘A Case of You’ as the work that both songwriter Jimmy Webb and musician David Crosby regarded as her finest. It argues that the song’s lasting importance lies in its unusually direct portrayal of love, dependence and emotional self-awareness, qualities that helped establish Mitchell as a defining singer-songwriter.…
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The 2002 role Keira Knightley “was sure” she’d be fired from: “I only packed for a week”
Keira Knightley has recalled fearing she would be dismissed from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, despite being cast as Elizabeth Swann. Her uncertainty was so strong that she packed for only one week of what became a six-month shoot, illustrating how unexpected she felt the opportunity was at the time.…
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WITHIN TEMPTATION Will Still Have Some Political Lyrics On Upcoming Album: ‘The World Has Gone Crazier’ In ‘The Last Few Years’
Within Temptation singer Sharon Den Adel says the band is still writing and recording its next album, which she describes as a major musical departure from 2023’s *Bleed Out*. The group expects to retain some political and socially engaged lyrics, though less prominently than on the previous record, reflecting what Den Adel sees as increasingly…
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The 1983 song Tom Waits needed to completely discard: “It’s a story”
Tom Waits, celebrated for a distinctive, seemingly haphazard style that actually masks meticulous perfectionism, once had to completely discard and rework an early arrangement of a track from his acclaimed 1983 album Swordfishtrombones. The anecdote illustrates how Waits’ apparently rough, improvised sound is in fact the product of painstaking craftsmanship, reinforcing his reputation as one…
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3 Hits From the 80s That Were Inspired by Real Relationship Drama
Three 1980s songs are highlighted as being shaped by the artists’ real romantic relationships and break-ups. – Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” was initially conceived as “Uptown Girls”, reflecting several relationships following his divorce, including those with Elle Macpherson and Christie Brinkley. – Phil Collins’ “I Don’t Care Anymore” addresses the aftermath of his divorce from…
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Riot Fest 2026 reveal stage times – with Morrissey opening for Tool
Riot Fest has published the stage times for its 2026 festival in Chicago, with Morrissey scheduled to finish his Saturday set shortly before Tool headline the main Riot Stage. The scheduling has drawn attention because it effectively places Morrissey as an opener for Tool, despite both being prominent names on the line-up. The festival will…
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The 1999 performance Michael Caine got “slaughtered” for: “I can’t say I was shocked”
Michael Caine said his performance in *The Cider House Rules* was heavily criticised by British reviewers, a reaction he said did not surprise him given his long history of difficult relations with the UK press. The criticism helped prompt remarks at the BAFTAs about feeling like an outsider in his own country, which in turn…
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13 Essential Hip-Hop Songs For 808 Day
Rolling Stone marks 808 Day with a list of 13 hip-hop tracks chosen to illustrate the Roland TR-808 drum machine’s lasting influence on the genre. The article argues that, although the machine was sold only from 1980 to 1982, its distinctive bass and percussion became a foundational part of modern beatmaking across multiple hip-hop eras.…