News

Blur's Alex James has spoken out about the band's release of two new tracks, 'The Puritan' and 'Under The Westway', both of which debuted last night (July 2) via a live rooftop video streamed performance.

The number of albums sold in the UK fell by almost seven million from the same period in 2011, according to figures published today (July 3) by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The Flaming Lips have broken the world record for playing the most live shows in 24 hours. BBC News reports that the Oklahoma band performed eight times across the Mississippi Delta as part of MTV's O Music Awards, beating the previous record set by Jay-Z. The rapper played seven gigs from Atlanta to Los Angeles in 2006, but Wayne Coyne and co went one better after starting their run of shows in Memphis, Tennessee and finishing in New Orleans, Louisiana, with 20 minutes to spare before the deadline.

The Rolling Stones have debuted an updated version of their famous lips and tongue logo, in honour of their 50th anniversary. The original logo was designed in 1971 by John Pasche, a student the Royal College of Art in London. It made its debut on the sleeve for the band's Sticky Fingers album. The updated version was designed by Shepard Fairey, best known for his work in the 2008 American presidential election campaign, for which he designed the Barack Obama "Hope" poster.

Arctic Monkeys have spoken about their plans for the follow-up to Suck It And See and have said they want to make a "heavier' new album. The Sheffield band, who have just completed their world tour in support of their fourth studio album, told Artrocker that they're making plans for its follow-up and are hoping to keep writing tracks in the vein of recent single "R U Mine".

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig has given an update on the progress of the band's new LP and says that they now have "80 per cent of the songs" ready for the album. The singer, who was speaking to The Walkmen's frontman Hamilton Leithauser for Spin, said that working on the follow-up to their 2010 effort Contra had been a "long process" but hinted that they were nearing completion on the record.

The new issue of Uncut, which hits shelves today (Monday, July 2) features Neil Young, the MC5, Peter Gabriel and Phil Manzanera.

Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera talks Uncut through the most fascinating albums of his career in the new issue, out on Monday (July 2).

Neil Young sheds light on Americana, his next album and his time with Crazy Horse in the new issue of Uncut, in shops from Monday, July 2.

A new exhibition of Bruce Springsteen images will showcase a selection of rare and unseen photographs of the Boss caught in his breakthrough years. Springsteen: The Turning Point 1977 - 1979 features images taken by Lynn Goldsmith, and runs at the Proud Galleries, Chelsea, from July 12 - 29. The period covers the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album and the subsequent 1978 tour of north America, up to the first recordings of The River. Bruce Springsteen next plays in London at Hyde Park Calling on July 14.