Music News LIVE: George Michael died of natural causes

Credit: Shawn BrackbillCopyright: Credit: Shawn Brackbill

Now for our second instalment of Seattle-based music news today folks.

Fleet Foxes are men after Neil Young's own heart.

The folksters burst on the scene in 2008 with the warm tones of White Winter Hymnal off their eponymous first album and followed that up with Helplessness Blues in 2011.

After that, their drummer Josh Tillman left and went his own way under the new name Father John Misty.

You might know him as the guy who sang a 13 minute song on 6 Music a few weeks back. 

Not to be out done by their old drummer, the band have released their own nine-minute track Third of May / Ōdaigahara (that's a mountain in Japan btw).

It contains the band's trademark sparkling harmonies... oh and an electric twelve-string guitar.

It's from a new 11 track album Crack Up which will be released on 16 June and you can listen below.

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You can catch Fleet Foxes this summer on the UK festival scene including a gig at Latitude in July.

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A piece of music written by trailblazing composer Fanny Mendelssohn , which was wrongly credited to her more famous brother Felix, is to be performed under her name for the first time on International Women's Day.

The Easter Sonata was "lost" for 140 years before being discovered in a French book shop in 1970.

In these more enlightened days, Fanny is considered the equal of Felix, but during her lifetime she was barred from composing by her dad, who said a public career was unsuitable to her sex.

Thanks goodness Matthew Knowles (Beyonce's dad) didn't feel the same way.

"She was an amazing woman, who persevered despite complete discouragement," her great-great-great granddaughter Sheila Hayman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The piece will be  broadcast live on BBC Radio 3  on Wednesday.

Read more

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Neil 's still on the Peace Trail and we're off to join him in this entry.

Plenty of room for you lot too still, but only if you come in peace.

The Canadian has released a picturesque new animated video of "sweeping American landscapes" for the title track from his latest album Peace Trail.

The video's directors Darcy Prendergast and Mike Greaney  told US radio station NPR  that it's "a love letter to the older generation" and you can watch it below.

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We wish the third summer of love would hurry up and arrive now after that. Could 2017 be the year?

Neil spoke  spoke to Rolling Stone in December  about recording the album and his fears over new technology like Autotune.

He said: "I look at like what if I just dropped in here from outer space. What would I think? 

"Remember hula hoops? Everybody had a hula hoop. I don't know if you remember that.

"It kinda reminds me of that with phones. Can you imagine that that's gonna last really a long time? I don't see it. I think something is gonna replace that."

There really is only one Neil Young isn't there?

Actually come to think of it...remember when there was (briefly) two?

Ric Marlow, who co-wrote the 1960s Grammy-winning pop song A Taste of Honey, has died at the age of 91.

The songwriter died on 28 February in Palm Springs, his stepson, Dalton Teczon has announced.

Marlow also worked as an actor, appearing on such shows as Bonanza, Death Valley Days, Sea Hunt, Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum, P.I.

He co-wrote Taste of Honey with Bobby Scott as the title song for a 1960 Broadway adaptation of Shelagh Delaney's play.

It was recorded by The Beatles on their debut album and recreated by soul star Joss Stone three years ago for Radio 2 live at Abbey Road.

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Thanks to the wonder of social media, boring Tuesday afternoons spent staring out the window at work are now a thing of the past.

Now when you're bored you can start a random football song puns game and get thousands of strangers to join in with you.

For apparently no good reason at all, here's some of your best #FootyTunes from today.

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Fans of the Seattle grunge scene will want to read on for this next item.

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder is coming to Europe for an 11-date solo tour this summer, with support coming from old pal Glen Hansard of The Frames-fame.

Vedder will stop in on London, Dublin and Cork in the first two weeks of June.

By the time you see him at any of those shows, his old band will already have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside fellow Class of 2017 members Tupac and Journey.

Let's remind ourselves of why shall we? Clear your throats before lunch by belting out the chorus.

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We're guessing you've all seen it by now?

Maybe you went to watch Moonlight but they put this on instead.

But if you simply can't get enough of the award-winning Hollywood movie and it's award-winning songs then you can watch it all over again but this time with an epic-sounding orchestral accompaniment.

The musical, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (above), won the original score and song gongs at the Oscars and will now return to the silver screen alongside a live 60-piece orchestra.

You may have caught the Godfather films being re-worked in similar stylee of late.

The live performances will start with two nights at LA's Hollywood Bowl in May but will then come to a city (of stars) near you in September:

• Manchester, Bridgewater Hall (21)  
• Bristol, Colston Hall (22)
• York, Barbican (23)
• Birmingham, Symphony Hall (24)
• Edinburgh, Usher Hall (27)

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It's been just over two months since George died and his legacy continues to inspire music, art and fashion.

Stella McCartney models burst into a rendition of the late singer's hit song Faith on the runway at Paris Fashion Week on Monday.

Stella herself even joins in at the end and you can watch below.

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...which is painted with a portrait of John Wayne.

Is that enough name drops for one headline?

Rock star/record label owner/furniture upholsterer  Jack White  is also a keen ten pin bowler it turns out.

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In an interview with the New Yorker , the Detroit bluesman talks about his new third man pressing plant, his rare collectibles - which include Elvis's first ever demo from 1953 - and his three-lane bowling alley in Nashville where he keeps racks of personalised bowling balls for friends.

White also talks about his plan to record his next album in the style of Michael Jackson.

Not musically exactly. But rather channelling the spirit of some of Jacko's wacky recording techniques.

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“I’m going to try to write songs where I can’t be heard by the next-door neighbour" said the former  White Stripes /Raconteurs and Dead Weather frontman.  

Quote Message: And I want to write like Michael Jackson would write - instead of writing parts on the instruments or humming melodies, you think of them.

And I want to write like Michael Jackson would write - instead of writing parts on the instruments or humming melodies, you think of them.

"To do everything in my head and to do it in silence and use only one room."

Best stick a 'do not disturb' sign on the door for that Jack.

What's the point of moving next door to a musical legend if he's going to practice in silence, in his own head.

That's like moving next door to Wayne Rooney and having a 'no ball games' policy in the adjoining garden.

Stormzy knows how to promote a record doesn't he. 

If the grime star hasn't been there in the last few weeks, then it's probably not worth going.

He told MistaJam on the blower last night about his "mad" few weeks and how he "needs to sleep a few more times" before the reality of his number one album actually sinks in.

As well as being top of the album chart, Gangs Signs and Prayer was also M.Jam's Hottest Record In The World and so he let man himself pick two of his personal favourite tracks from it; Blinded By Your Grace Part 2 featuring MNEK, and Cold.

Listen below.

Well... sort of.

We've had reunion rumours (denied), reissues (denied), an announcement of a new book "trilogy" described as a “utopian costume drama, set in the near future, written in the recent past”.

Now, we have a location, dates and timings for whatever it is that Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty have planned.

It runs from 00.23 GMT on 23 August until 23.23 GMT on 27 August.

That's either a really long show or a very short window to get your hands on a copy of the book.

Any guesses?

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Sean Lennon , the son of artist Yoko Ono and late Beatle John, has shared a new track Bird Song, which he co-wrote with the late Carrie Fisher. 

He recorded the song with Willow Smith - daughter of Will and Jada - following the Star Wars actress's death last last year.

Sean called Willow "a prodigal angel" who was "generous enough to lend her golden voice to this little tune".

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Posting the song on Soundcloud , he wrote: "Carrie and I wrote this song years ago.

"When she died I just felt I had to record it."

"Carrie and I used to stay up til dawn chatting and pontificating about life...They were my best moments."

He added: "Anyway ... we wrote a song about staying up too late and hearing the birds sing."

How do you react when not one, not two, but three musical idols turn up to see you at an intimate show?

Here's Romy from The xx on how she struggled to maintain the band's slightly aloof demeanor when she spotted some mega-famous celeb fans in the crowd. 

The band, who are about to embark on a seven night residency at London's Brixton Academy, recently saw their third album I See You debut at number one in the UK chart after a five year layoff.

"Oliver and I even missed it [fame] this time seeing Jamie do his own solo project and watching him up on stage," Romy told 5 live's Afternoon Edition.

"Not jealousy, because I want him to have that, but just I wished we were all back together doing so it lit a fire under us to keep writing those songs."

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She added: "It does take a while to get from being on the sofa watching Towie back up on stage having people look at you again.

"Some people love that and thrive on that, I’m learning to love it."

Listen to  the full interview .

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At this rate, he'll soon overtake Kanye as everyone's favourite rapper from the windy city.

After smashing the Grammy  awards,  Chance the Rapper  has announced he will donate $1m to the Chicago Public Schools Foundation "for arts and enrichment programming."

Chance's hometown Chicago is in the state of Illinois and his generous gesture comes just days after he met with state governor Bruce Rauner.

According to the Coloring Book star: "Mr Rauner still won't commit to giving Chicago's kids a chance without caveats or ultimatums."

Chance is now urging other unsatisfied Chicago residents to join his fight to "take care of kids."

He said: "With the stroke of the pen, the governor has the power to change that."

With reference to the city's record-high murder rate, he added: "This isn't about politics. This isn't about posturing. Everybody and they momma knows about what's going on in Chicago.

Quote Message: As a private citizen, as a parent and as a product of CPS, I'm asking that you guys join and fight with me, organize with me, mobilize with me, for the interest of the children of Chicago. This is the very beginning."

As a private citizen, as a parent and as a product of CPS, I'm asking that you guys join and fight with me, organize with me, mobilize with me, for the interest of the children of Chicago. This is the very beginning."

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The rapper bagged three Grammys at this year's awards, including best rap album for his digital-only LP Coloring Book.

Social media went wild for his live performance on the night which included a gospel choir.

Now he's receiving praise from on high for his generosity and political stance.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama thanked him for giving back to the community and called him an "example of the power of arts education."

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Clueless about classical music? Then help is at hand.

The  BBC's Ten Pieces  scheme has been running since 2014, with the aim of educating children about Mozart, Mussorgsky and everything in between - but it's a pretty good primer for adults, too.

The latest list of 10 works has just been unveiled.

Here's all you need to know about the 2017 line-up.

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Dear Azealia Banks , here are some acceptable reasons to miss a court date.

Sudden family bereavement, sudden medical emergency, going to Paris Fashion Week... erm... not so much.

A judge has issued a warrant for the rapper after she failed to appear for a scheduled court date in New York relating to assault and attempted assault charges.

Banks is accused of attacking a female security guard at a New York nightclub, including punching and biting the guard's breast.

According to a statement given to Pitchfork , she "mistakenly believed she had a court appearance on March 8th instead of March 6th".

So instead, she was approximately 3,600 miles away partying in gay Paris.

"She apologizes and will apologize in person to the Court for missing her scheduled hearing," her lawyer said.

"In addition, she attempted to appear via a New York Attorney and through a close family member." 

Oopsie.

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The world's best ginger busker has racked up massive UK album sales of new record ÷ since its release on Friday.

In fact it's become one of the fastest-selling releases ever in the UK, shifting 432,000 copies in just three days, including streaming figures.

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The all-time list for first-week sales has Adele 's 25 and Oasis 's Be Here Now at joint top with 800,000 each.

We bet if Liam had known that in 1997, he would've nipped into Woolworths and bought another copy himself.

Anyway,  here are some more impressive stats about Ed's third record.

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"Too many sad days / Too many Tuesday mornings," as the old Pogues song goes.

But today's not going going to be one of them. 

We're all about positivity here on Music News LIVE and as well as free good vibes today we'll have tour news from Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder  and Oscar-winning La la Land, Romy from The xx on the band's celeb fans plus Chance the Rapper shows off his generous side.

For now  check out yesterday's Music News LIVE  for lots of comeback news, including more on the return of Liam Gallagher and Steps but a setback for Bros.

Two out of three ain't bad.

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