June, 2011

Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme has spoken candidly on his problems with alcohol, revealing an over-reliance on drink led to him ‘puking blood’ one Christmas.

In an interview with Q Wolstenholme, who has been sober since the release of Muse’s 2009 album ‘The Resistance‘, described how at his worst he would need alcohol ‘to get out of bed in the morning’.

US alternates Wilco have released the tracklisting for ‘The Whole Love‘, their forthcoming eighth studio effort.

The 12-track album will be released on September 26th in the UK and has been produced entirely by the band in their own studios.

Gigging with upcoming bands can often be perilous for established musicians. ‘The wolf at the top of the hill is never as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill’ goes the caveat, and so it often proves on the relentlessly competitive touring circuit.

Tonight at Ivory Black’s a young four-piece band from East Kilbride called The Clock somewhat upstaged headline act This Will Destroy You with a spirited set before a crowd just beginning to form. Performing four songs, three of which come from their new EP. ‘2’, the band thoroughly engaged the audience with a rollicking stage performance that culminated with frontman Calum Stewart, apparently unconcerned by the limited number of spectators, launching himself over the barrier and ratcheting the final trigger-quick chords from set closer ‘Letter of Farewell’, a song dedicated to a ‘lost dear friend’.

James are to present fans with a reworking of their material when they hit the road for a UK tour beginning at the end of October.

Billed as ‘An Evening with James with the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir’, the band will incorporate an extravagant 22-piece orchestra and 16-strong choir into their set, offering a unique take on one of Manchester’s best exports.

Nirvana‘s legendary 1992 Reading festival headline appearance will be screened at this year’s Reading/Leeds events, in celebration of one of both Nirvana’s, and Reading’s, crowning moments.

“It was such a legendary performance that so many people haven’t seen – so we had to do it,” Festival Republic’s Tania Harrison told NME. “It was one of those seminal moments that changed everything – which is what Reading’s all about.”

Atlanta’s Gringo Star will release their second album ‘Count Your Lucky Stars‘ in September, worked on with respected producer Ben Allen and released through Gigantic Records, with whom the group have recently signed.

Following the release of debut ‘All Y’all‘ in 2008, the band toured extensively with the likes of And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, and hit the UK with fellow Atlantans the Black Lips shortly after.

The Smiths‘ former drummer Mike Joyce has criticised Morrissey‘s decision to play a handful of the legendary band’s tracks during his recent Glastonbury performance, saying the songs belong to The Smiths, not their ex-frontman.

Morrissey performed five Smiths tracks last weekend, including the Manchester group’s seminal hits ‘This Charming Man‘ and ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out‘, and Joyce didn’t take the decision well.

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has lifted the lid on some of the band’s more volatile moments, pointing to early Nineties tours when the group would come to blows after months on the road.

Speaking to NME on the subject of punch-ups, Coxon remarked: “Blur did occasionally when we were very tired in 1992 in America. I think we all had black eyes at one point. We were probably drunk when we gave each other black eyes so we didn’t really feel it, we just woke up with them.”

Summer’s here and up and down the UK and beyond bands are hauling themselves through rain, mud, occasional sunshine and irritating TV presenters as another festival season gets in full swing. So with 2011 already careering towards July, it seems like a good time to sit back, take stock of the first six months of the year, and sort through the best of what has been hogging the speakers at Live4ever so far. Is rock n roll music currently in a state of stagnation? Hmm, let’s just say, judge for yourself…

Is your favourite album so far not included? Why not leave us a comment below to recommend your own stand-outs from the first part of 2011.

Wild Beasts will head out on a large North American tour from next month is support of their widely-acclaimed new album ‘Smother‘.

The band will begin in the US at Philadelphia’s World Café Live on July 12th, moving up to Canada for a show in Toronto the following month on September 29th.