Julian Lennon says that watching the new Beatles documentary Get Back was a “life-changing” experience that “made me love my father again”.

Peter Jackson’s three-part film, which is coming to Disney+ tomorrow (November 25), focuses on the making of the band’s penultimate studio album ‘Let It Be’ and showcases their final concert as a band, on London’s Savile Row rooftop, in its entirety.

Last Friday (November 18), Julian and brother Sean – sons of the late John Lennon – attended a special screening of the documentary in Los Angeles ahead of an event held by Stella McCartney.

“What an Amazing night,” Julian reflected in an Instagram post after the event. “Firstly seeing Get Backand then [attending] Stella’s event afterwards.”

“The One True thing I can say about it all is that it has made me so proud, inspired & feel more love for my/our family, than ever before,” he added.

“The film has made me love my father again, in a way I can’t fully describe.”

Director Jackson recently teased his imminent new film on The Beatles, saying it will make the legendary band “seem young again”.

The film has been cut from 55 hours of unseen footage, filmed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and 140 hours of mostly unheard audio from the recording sessions.
“I just can’t believe it exists,” Jackson told the Guardian of the bountiful footage that emerged after 50 years locked away, and will be used in the series.

Elsewhere, Paul McCartney has admitted that Jackson’s new documentary has changed his perception of The Beatles’ split.

“I’ll tell you what is really fabulous about it, it shows the four of us having a ball,” McCartney told The Sunday Times after watching the film. “It was so reaffirming for me. That was one of the important things about The Beatles, we could make each other laugh.”

Asked if it had changed his perception of the band’s eventual split, he said: “Really yes. And there is proof in the footage. Because I definitely bought into the dark side of The Beatles breaking up and thought, ‘God, I’m to blame.’”

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MANILA, Philippines—Pioneer, Platinum Karaoke, Sista, and TNT advanced to the quarterfinals after topping their respective groups in the first day of PBA 3×3 Leg 2 Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. Pioneer and Platinum topped Pool C with the two teams taking equal 2-0 records while the Tropang Giga, the winners of Leg 1, […]

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MANILA, Philippines—Leylah Fernandez was named as one of the nominees for Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2021 WTA Player Awards. The 19-year-old will compete for the award against Maria Sakkari, Barbora Krejcikova, Ons Jabeur, Anett Kontaveit, Paula Badosa, and Jessica Pegula. Fernandez was born in Canada to a Filipino-Canadian mother and an […]

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MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines settled for subpar results in the second day of the 2021 AVC Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships winning just one in four matches Wednesday in Phuket, Thailand. Dij Rodriguez and Gen Eslapor, who played as Philippines 2, took the country’s lone win of the day after beating Sri Lanka 2’s Madegarda Bandara […]

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Ozzy Osbourne has rescheduled his UK and European ‘No More Tours 2’ shows for the second time due to COVID restrictions – see the new dates for 2023 below.

The gigs in question, which were originally announced back in September 2018, have already been postponed a number of times due to Osbourne’s ill health and, more recently, the pandemic.

READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne: “This album saved my life”

Most recently, the gigs, which will see Osbourne supported by Judas Priest, were scheduled to begin in January 2022, but continued COVID restrictions in Europe have now pushed back the dates again.

The shows will begin in Helsinki on May 3 next year, with European dates running throughout the rest of the month. The UK leg will then begin in Nottingham on May 31 before the tour finishes with a hometown show in Birmingham on June 14.

Announcing the postponement, Ozzy said: “Due to the ongoing uncertainty with full capacity events & travel logistics in much of Europe, we have come to the difficult decision to postpone my 2022 tour to 2023.”

See the new dates below:

MAY 2023
3 – Helsinki, Hartwall Arena
5 – Stockholm, Friends Arena
7 – Dortmund, Westfalenhalle
10 – Madrid, Wizink Arena
12 – Bologna, Unipol Arena
14 – Munich, Olympiahalle
17 – Budapest, Arena
19 – Prague, O2 Arena
21 – Zurich, Hallenstadion
24 – Hamburg, Barclaycard Arena
26 – Mannheim, SAP Arena
28 – Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena
31 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena

JUNE 2023
2 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
4 – Glasgow, SSE Hydro
7 – Manchester, AO Arena
10 – Dublin, 3Arena
12 – London, The O2
14 – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

Ozzy Osbourne. Credit: John Shearer/AMA2019/Getty Images for dcp

Earlier this month, it was revealed that a new solo album from Ozzy Osbourne is on the way soon, according to a recent financial statement issued by Sony.

His last full-length effort, ‘Ordinary Man’, landed back in February of 2020. Flanked by the singles ‘Under The Graveyard’, ‘Straight To Hell’ and ‘It’s A Raid’ (featuring Post Malone) – and scoring a five-star review from NME – the record ended a 10-year hiatus from Osbourne’s solo endeavours.

He recently told Metal Hammer that album 13 would be “similar in tone” to that LP, but conceded that he “can’t describe it completely”. He continued: “I’ve not heard it for a while because it keeps going over to the next person to add their parts – we’re fucking around with it all the time.”

Last December, Osbourne’s producer and guitarist Andrew Watt said he and his bandmates were “about halfway through” recording the new album. The new band, Watt explained, features Osbourne on vocals, himself on guitar and Robert Trujillo (Metallica) on bass, with Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) sharing drumming duties.

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Christina Aguilera has shared a new Spanish-language single called ‘Somos Nada’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Christina Aguilera – ‘Liberation’ review

The powerful ballad was written by Aguilera alongside Mario Domm, Sharlene Taule and Federico Vindver. It follows on from last month’s ‘Pa Mis Muchachas’, which features Becky G, Nicki Nicole and Nathy Peluso.

According to a press release, the singer’s latest track tackles “inner strength, self-empowerment, and taking chances, no matter how dark or fearful the situation may be”. It arrives with an Alexandre Moore-directed official video.

Both ‘Somos Nada’ and ‘Pa Mis Muchachas’ will appear on Aguilera’s forthcoming as-yet-untitled EP. Set for release in 2022, the collection is said to “honour her Latin roots”. The star’s first Spanish-language album – the Latin Grammy-winning ‘Mi Reflejo’ – came out in 2000.

“It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for so many years,” Aguilera told People of her current project over the summer, explaining that the material would “dive deeper into my roots”.

“I have an amazing team behind me that’s so supportive,” she continued. “I’ve been in music for a really long time, but there’s nothing like being around Latin musicians and artists, the energy they bring to the table, the love and the passion they just bring and exude.

 

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MANILA, Philippines—The Zamboanga siblings are going back to the Philippines after staying and training in Thailand for nearly two years. Denise, the no.1 atomweight contender, and her older brother Drex flew to Thailand in March 2020, just before the world’s borders closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and decided to stay there with family friend […]

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Kelly Lee Owens has won the Welsh Music Prize 2021 for her latest album ‘Inner Song’.

READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Kelly Lee Owens: “I genuinely feel magic around me at all times”

The musician and producer’s 2020 studio effort was nominated alongside The Anchoress‘ ‘The Art Of Losing’, Gruff Rhys‘ ‘Seeking New Gods’, Private World’s ‘Aleph’ and more at the 11th edition of the annual awards.

During a live ceremony in Cardiff last night (November 23), Owens was announced as the winner out of the 12 shortlisted artists. She did not attend the event as she’s currently out on a UK tour.

“DIOLCH YN FAWR!!!! [Thank you very much] I am absolutely over the moon to have won the 2021 @welshmusicprize!” Owens wrote on social media following her victory.

“Being recognised by my homeland in this way is so so special! Wales has shaped me as an artist & continues to be a place of inspiration to me. My nana Jeannette would be so proud.”

You can see that post below.

DIOLCH YN FAWR!!!! I am absolutely over the moon to have won the 2021 @welshmusicprize ! Being recognised by my homeland in this way is so so special! Wales has shaped me as an artist & continues to be a place of inspiration to me. My nana Jeannette would be so proud pic.twitter.com/2rtkoo7uHd

— Kelly Lee Owens (@kellyleeowens) November 23, 2021

While accepting the prize over Zoom, the musician said: “I’m so passionate about Wales and I want everyone to know where I’m from.” She described the accolade as “the greatest honour”.

Owens, who is from Bagillt, Flintshire, received the Welsh Music Prize’s first-ever prize fund of £10,000.

Huw Stephens, the co-founder of the awards, said: “We are thrilled for Kelly Lee Owens. The judges were all astounded by this album (via BBC).

“Kelly Lee Owens has been so critically acclaimed for this record, and we are so happy that she is the 2021 Welsh Music Prize winner.”

The winner of the Welsh Music Prize 2021 is…

Inner Song by @kellyleeowens

Kelly also receives the first ever prize fund of £10,000 – congratulations! @welshgocreative @creuyngNghymru pic.twitter.com/CFqcDQhfJi

— Welsh Music Prize (@welshmusicprize) November 23, 2021

Owens opened up about her “deep connection” to Wales during a Big Read cover interview with NME last year. “I come from a place that is full of fighters and really tough people who have been through a lot,” she explained.

“There’s magic there, but it’s complicated. I have a deep connection with it now but I’m still only just discovering the story of where I come from and it’s not all pretty and not all poetic, but being someone who is unafraid of that is the journey that I think is necessary to go.”

She continued: “We’ve always understood what the land gives us. Anyone who stands next to a mountainous area feels small but in the most humbling beautiful way. I think we need to be reminded that we are not bigger than ‘it’.”

In a glowing five-star review, NME haled ‘Inner Song’ as “a perfectly-arranged album where each track has a part to play: an emotive-yet-euphoric collection that’s made for late-night reflection, Kelly Lee Owens has made one of the most beautiful records of the year.”

Meanwhile, Kelly Lee Owens recently shared her new theme for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, ‘Unity’.

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Musicians and MPs are backing a new bill – dubbed the ‘Brennan Bill’ – which aims to provide legislative change to ensure musicians are paid properly for streams of their music.

READ MORE: Streaming – what happens next? Artists demand “a shift in the way business is done”

The bill, published today (November 24), is set to be presented to Parliament on December 3. Today, the bill’s main backers – the Musicians’ Union and The Ivors Academy – will be joined by MPs and artists including the Sex Pistols‘ Glen Matlock, on Parliament Square to share their support for the bill.

The bill, officially titled the Copyright (Rights And Remuneration Of Musicians) Private Member’s Bill, is presented by Kevin Brennan MP, and follows this summer’s ‘Economics Of Music Streaming’ report from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

According to a statement, the bill’s main aim is to “ensure performers and composers are properly remunerated, by placing the treatment of revenue gained from music streaming services onto a common footing with the treatment of revenue gained from other sources.”

Credit: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/S3studio/Getty Images.

Brennan, the MP sponsoring the bill, said: “More and more people are streaming music – heightened by the pandemic – yet, unlike for radio, there is no guaranteed royalty payment for all the musicians who have contributed to the recording being streamed.

“To redress this, my Private Member’s Bill seeks to allow performers and composers to access means to ensure a fair sharing of revenues generated from their works. In particular, the Bill will introduce a right to equitable remuneration for performers on musical works, where works that they have performed upon are made available to the public.”

Naomi Pohl, Deputy General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union, added: “The domination of the major music groups in the streaming market is clear. Musicians and songwriters are not getting a fair enough deal and legislative reform is overdue. Now is the time to address the imbalances in the music industry and in music streaming in particular.

“We are calling on the Government to allow a free vote on the Brennan Bill on December 3. Members across the House of Commons have already voiced their support for the Bill, showing the depth of bi-partisan commitment to fixing streaming to ensure performers are fairly paid for their streamed music.”

These reforms would lead to more new music, the revival of recording studios, a boost to the UK session music scene, the unearthing of a new generation of British talent, and Britain becoming once again a world-leading cultural hub for the recorded music industry.”

Streaming platforms. CREDIT: Chesnot/Getty Images

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Commons Select Committee has been examining the business model for streaming since last year and whether or not the model is fair to songwriters and performers.

Over the summer, MPs stressed the need for a “complete reset” of the music industry to address the “pitiful returns” that artists receive. It came as part of a report from the Economics Of Music Streaming inquiry.

The inquiry saw the DCMS hear evidence from the likes of Radiohead, Elbow and Nadine Shah. Back in April, over 150 artists – including Paul McCartney and Kate Bush – signed an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking to help reform the streaming economy.

After the report was published, the UK government called in a number of music industry leaders to help consider streaming reforms in response to the DCMS Committee’s findings.

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LCD Soundsystem‘s Gavilán Rayna Russom has announced that she has left the band.

The synth player/multi-disciplinary artist joined the James Murphy-fronted group in 2008, but was notably absent from the first show of their Brooklyn Steel residency in New York last night (November 23).

READ MORE: LCD Soundsystem – ‘American Dream’ review

Explaining her decision to depart LCD in a new interview with Pitchfork, Russom said:  “When this offer came up again [to perform at LCD Soundsystem’s Brooklyn gigs], I had considered it. And when I looked at the reality of this time, I was just like, ‘I’m just not able to do this’.

“My [solo] work has grown to a point where I’m not able to put it aside for a couple of years and go on tour with LCD, or double up. A lot of times I’d be on tour with LCD and making my own music in the bus between 7 and noon.

“It just reached a natural point based on some concerns I’ve had for a really long time.”

Russom told the outlet that LCD and Murphy’s record label, DFA Records, are “actually quite different than what I’m interested in creatively”.

James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem performs live on stage during a concert at Tempodrom on May 30, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Picture: Stefan Hoederath/Redferns)

When asked if her split from LCD Soundsystem was “amicable”, the musician responded “absolutely”, adding: “The entire experience is pretty amicable, It’s not about people or personalities.”

She continued: “At some point James reached out to me about this new set of shows. I asked for a little time to think about it, and we sat down and had a nice coffee and I basically said that I couldn’t do it, but that I was super grateful.”

Russom went on to praise Murphy for his continued support, explaining: “You’d have to ask him, but my sense is that James has been a fan of mine since we met. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the fact that he saw me, was a fan, and wanted to support me.

“Of course I brought a lot to it in ways that are obvious, in terms of writing credits or presence on stage.”

Last year Russom launched her own record label, Voluminous Arts, through which she will continue to release solo material under her own name and as Black Meteoric Star. A four-song EP will arrive next year, which Russom says she is “pretty excited about”.

Having announced their live return after more than three years last month, LCD Soundsystem will play 19 more shows at Brooklyn Steel between now and Christmas. You can check out footage and the setlist from last night’s opener here.

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