News

Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch has been honoured by the local government in his home state of New York. Yauch, who was also known as MCA, was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and succumbed to the disease earlier this month, aged 47. The rapper, who grew up in New York and lived there throughout his life, was honoured by the city's state senate on Tuesday [May 15].

Donna Summer, who was best known for a string of hit singles including "I Feel Love" and "Hot Stuff", died today aged 63. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she released seventeen studio albums during a career which lasted over 30 years. Reports claim that she had been working on a new LP shortly before she passed away in Florida following a lengthy battle with cancer.

My Bloody Valentine have announced three live dates in Japan. According to Time Out Japan (via Pitchfork), the band will play three shows in February next year. The dates are: 02-06 Osaka, Japan - The Hatch 02-07 Tokyo, Japan - Studio Coast 02-08 Tokyo, Japan - Studio Coast Apart from an appearance at 2008's Fuji Rock Festival, this will be the first time My Bloody Valentine have played Japan in two decades.

PJ Harvey has contributed two new songs to a forthcoming documentary, What Is This Film Called Love? The songs are called "Horses" and "Bobby Don't Steal", and are the singer/songwriter's first new material since her 2011 album, Let England Shake. Described as a "poetic documentary about the nature of happiness", What Is This Film Called Love? is the debut feature by critic Mark Cousins.

Slash has unveiled the video to his brand new single, "You're A Lie". Scroll down to watch. Vocalist Myles Kennedy features on the track, which is the first single to be taken from Slash's forthcoming solo album, Apocalyptic Love, which is set for release on May 21. The tracklisting for Apocalyptic Love is: 'Apocalyptic Love' 'One Last Thrill' 'Standing in the Sun' 'You're a Lie' 'No More Heroes' 'Halo' 'We Will Roam' 'Anastasia' 'Not for Me' 'Bad Rain' 'Hard & Fast' 'Far and Away' 'Shots Fired'

Uncut have launched a new iPad app which tells the complete story of one of the greatest rock’n’roll icons of all time, Bruce Springsteen.

Dirty Projectors have announced the tracklisting to their forthcoming LP, Swing Lo Magellan, which will be released via Domino on July 9. The tracklisting is: Offspring Are Blank About to Die Gun Has No Trigger Swing Lo Magellan Just From Chevron Dance For You Maybe That Was It Impregnable Question See What She's Seeing The Socialites Unto Caesar Irresponsible Tune You can hear "Gun Has No Trigger" here; http://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/dirty_projectors-gun_has_no_trigger

Leonard Cohen has announced an additional date to his UK show, A Day At The Hop Farm. Cohen will now play Sunday, September 9 in addition to the previously announced show on Saturday, September 8. Both shows are part of his world tour and will be Cohen’s only UK dates in 2012. Meanwhile, Bob Dylan plays at Hop Farm Festival on Saturday June 30. Other acts include Peter Gabriel, Suede, Patti Smith and Ray Davies.

Doug Dillard, the pioneering country rock banjo-player, has died aged aged 75, according to reports. Dillard had first found fame in the Dillards, a bluegrass group formed with his brother Rodney, who made regular appearances on successful American sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show, where they played a fictional band called 'The Darlings'. After leaving the Dillards in 1968, Doug Dillard teamed up with former Byrd, Gene Clark, to form Dillard & Clark.

Jack White has delivered a bizarre rant against the compilers of the Guinness Book Of World Records. White, who released his debut solo album Blunderbuss last month, told Interview Magazine that he believes he holds the record for he shortest concert in history, but was denied his place in the record books by the company.