News

Paul McCartney has sent a message of support to Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist punk band who face three years in prison for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin inside a Moscow church. The message, which appears on the homepage for McCartney's website, reads:

Soundgarden have confirmed that their long-awaited comeback studio album will be released in November. The grunge veterans, who split up in 1996, last released an album in that same year and have been working on its follow-up since they reunited in 2010. Speaking to Rolling Stone about their new album, guitarist Kim Thayil promised that the band's as yet untitled new LP will be "little weird". He also confirmed a release date of November 12 in the UK and November 13 in the US for the record.

Robert Wayne Birch, Elton John's longtime bass player, has died at the age of 56. Birch's body was discovered yesterday morning (August 15) around the corner from his home in Los Angeles. It is thought he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, although police have yet to confirm this. According to TMZ, Los Angeles County Assistant Coroner Chief Ed Winter has said that Birch's death is being ''investigated as a possible suicide'', although no suicide note has been discovered as yet.

Outkast's Big Boi has revealed that he has been talking to singer Kate Bush and has hinted that they may be planning a collaboration. The rapper tweeted last night (August 15) that he had been in contact with the singer, writing: "Just got off the phone with Kate Bush!" When fans then pressed him to ask if the pair were collaboration, the rapper said: "Stay tuned..... ooooowwww!"

The Cure's Robert Smith has contributed a new track, "Witchcraft", to the soundtrack to Tim Burton's new film, Frankenweenie. The song is the only fourth track he has released under his own name. Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O and Flaming Lips will all feature on the soundtrack to the film. The soundtrack is released on September 25, the same day the film is released into cinemas. It features a total of 14 tracks, with The Flaming Lips, Plain White T's, Kimbra, Neon Trees, Skylar Grey, Grouplove and actress Winona Ryder all contributing tracks.

Three new Beck tracks have surfaced online – scroll down to listen to them. The songs – titled "Cities", "Touch The People" and "Spiral Staircase" – were written for the PlayStation 3 game Sound Shapes and the videos feature footage from the game. Last week, Beck announced that he would be releasing his new album in the form of individual pieces of sheet music. Song Reader will be put out by publishers Faber & Faber in December, and will consist of the notation for 20 unrecorded and unreleased songs.

A mansion in Surrey that was owned by John Lennon has gone on the market for £15 million. Lennon lived at Ken Kenwood mansion in the St George's Hill area of Weybridge between 1964 and 1968 and is believed to have penned a number of tracks for 1967's Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band there, the BBC reports. The Beatle bought the property for just £20,000 on July 15 1964, living there with his first wife Cynthia before he married Yoko Ono in 1969 and moved to New York.

Interesting news this morning, as you might have seen here: Poncho Sampedro has claimed that the forthcoming Neil Young & Crazy Horse album will be called “Psychedelic Pill”.

Blur are set to release a recording of their Olympic closing ceremony concert in Hyde Park. Titled Parklive, the 3-CD set features tracks from the Hyde Park shows and a bonus disc of previously unreleased live material from the band's recent warm-up shows in Margate, Plymouth and Wolverhampton. A 5-CD book-bound edition will also be released, which will feature an extra Blur Live At The 100 Club disc and a DVD of the Hyde Park show. The 60-page book will feature exclusive pictures of both the Hyde Park and 100 Club shows.

Crazy Horse guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro has apparently revealed the title for Neil Young & Crazy Horse's follow-up to Americana. Speaking to Rolling Stone about the first leg of the current Neil Young & Crazy Horse tour, Poncho reportedly claims the new album will be called Psychedelic Pill, after one one the six new songs the band have debuted on their tour.