News

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has spoken about the band's surprise at the overwhelmingly negative reaction they received to their collaboration album with Lou Reed, Lulu. Speaking to Spin, Ulrich said that the band all knew the project would be "difficult to embrace", but that the bile the record received took them all by surprise.

The Prodigy have revealed the working title for their new studio album. The record, which is the follow-up to their 2009 effort Invaders Must Die, has been given the working title 'How To Steal A Jet Fighter', the band's frontman Liam Howlett told NME. Howlett promised that the band's sixth studio LP would be "heavier and darker".

Bruce Springsteen brought to a close the first leg of his current world tour last night [May 2] in Newark, New Jersey, with a cover of The Band song, "The Weight", in tribute to drummer Levon Helm, who died two weeks ago. Speaking from the stage, Springsteen said of Helm: "He was one of the greatest, greatest voices in country, rockabilly and rock & roll. Levon's voice and drumming was so incredibly versatile. He had a feel on the drums... it comes from a certain place in the past and you can't replicate it."

Leonard Cohen has announced a 21-day tour of North America to support Old Ideas, his 11th studio album that was released in January. Speaking to Rolling Stone earlier this year about going back out on tour, Cohen said, "I have two minds. I don't like to do a small tour, so whether I'm going to sign up for for another couple of years...is that really where I want to be? Maybe it is…touring is like taking the first step on a walk to China. It's a serious commitment, so there are a lot of factors to be examined."

Damon Albarn has hinted that there could be another Gorillaz album without his partner, Jamie Hewlett. Speaking in an interview with Shortlist, Albarn said that nothing would change musically if he went ahead and made a record without Hewlett, but that there would be no cartoon element in the form of Murdoc. He said:

Kings Of Leon's Jared Followill and his girlfriend Martha Patterson are engaged, according to reports. The bass player, 25, apparently proposed to Patterson, a 21 year old model, last month on April 11. Rolling Stone reports that the pair have only been dating a few months. Followill confirmed the news earlier today via his Twitter account, joking: It's true! I'm engaged! CANNOT wait to finally lose my virginity. Following his online revelation, The Strokes' Nikolai Fraiture responded: "Congrats man! You're gonna love it!"

The xx are set to make a live return with three dates in London this month. Tickets are being allocated through a special lottery system on the band's website. The xx will play: London Electrowerkz (May 14) London Chats Palace (15) London Battersea Arts Centre (18) The band are currently working on the follow-up to to their Mercury Prize-winning debut. In December the band posted a demo of a new song titled "Open Eyes" on their blog.

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has launched his own aircraft repair business in South Wales. Dickinson, who has worked as a commercial pilot for over a decade, has launched a firm called Cardiff Aviation Ltd, which will be based at the Twin Peaks Hangar at St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, reports BBC News. The firm's launch could create up to 1,000 new jobs, with Dickinson vowing to help develop the local area.

Robert Plant has announced details of three live dates for this summer. Plant will debut his new band, Sensational Shape Shifters, at: ** Gloucester, Guildhall - May 8 ** HMV Forum, London - July 12 ** WOMAD, Wiltshire - July 29 Apart from Plant, the line-up for the Sensational Space Shifters is: Juldeh Camara (JuJu) ritti (one-stringed African Violin), kologo (African Banjo), talking drum, vocals. Justin Adams (JuJu, Jah Wobble) guitar, bendir, vocals John Baggott (Massive Attack, Portishead) keyboards Liam "Skin" Tyson (Cast)

The Allman Brothers Band have confirmed a number of American shows to take place over the coming summer. The band have announced six co-headlining dates with Santana (see all dates below) as well as one-off festival dates, their own Peach Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania and dates with fellow Southern rock icons, Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Allman Brothers Band play the All Good Music Festival on Saturday, July 21 in Thornville, Ohio. The line-up also includes Phil Lesh & Friends, the Flaming Lips and Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby.