News

Jimi Hendrix's estate has denied reports stating that a biographical film about the rock guitarist's life is in pre-production. Earlier this week it was reported that OutKast's Andre 3000 would be portraying Jimi Hendrix in a new Hollywood biopic, titled All Is By My Side. However, Experience Hendrix, LLC has now issued a statement saying that any such film would not be able to go ahead without their full cooperation. The statement, via Billboard, read:

Iggy Pop has spoken out about shunning major labels and releasing his latest album, Apres, online. Launching the record in Paris on Wednesday night [May 9], Iggy Pop – real name James Osterberg – explained why he released the record direct to fans rather than putting it out via a major label. Speaking about labels, he said: "What has a record company ever done for me but humiliate and torment and drag me down?"

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has confirmed that the band's new album is almost finished. In an interview with Rolling Stone he says the band are working on mixing the new tracks this week: "It's really close. We've started to mix. We've mixed a couple of the songs already, but I guess this week we're really kind of rolling into mix mode. We have a couple of tracks left to finish up, just to put some overdubs on, but we're kind of going from the final, final recording tracks to mixing this week."

Ray Davies has announced a 14 date UK tour, to coincide with the release of The Kinks At The BBC box set. Along with already announced dates at Millennium Forum, Derry on June 24 and Hop Farm on June 29, Davies and his band play: Sunday, September 30: The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Monday, October 1: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Tuesday, October 2: The Sage, Gateshead Thursday, October 4: Royal Albert Hall, London Friday, October 5: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend Saturday, October 6: Guildhall, Southampton Monday, October 8: Barbican, York

A new trailer has been released for Neil Young and Jonathan Demme's forthcoming documentary, Neil Young Journeys. This is the third collaboration between Young and The Silence Of The Lambs director Demme, following 2006's Heart Of Gold and 2009's Trunk Show. Neil Young Journeys premiered in January this year at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The film mixes live film of Young playing at Toronto's Massey Hall in May, 2011, with footage of Neil returning to the town of Omemee in northern Ontario, where he was raised.

Black Sabbath have announced that they will be releasing a new 'Best Of' album next month. The compilation, which is titled Iron Man: The Best Of Black Sabbath, will be released on June 4 and contains a total of 14 tracks. The album contains a selection of tracks from across the metal legends' back catalogue, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs", "Changes", "Paranoid" and "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath".

Sinead O'Connor has explained the reasons why she cancelled all her planned tour dates for 2012 after citing health reasons. The singer posted a lengthy message on her fan website describing her ongoing battle with bipolar disorder and the split with her manager, Fachtna O'Ceallaigh.

Bjork has pulled her headline appearances at the Primavera festivals in Barcelona in Spain and Porto in Portugal next month because of an inflamed nodule in her throat. The Icelandic singer was set to appear at the events in Barcelona on June 2 and in Porto on June 9, but has now cancelled the shows. Last month she cancelled two shows upon discovering the nodule. She had been playing her eighth studio album 'Biophilia' in residence at the Buenos Aires Centro de Exposiciones in Argentina but shelved the final shows of the run after the diagnosis.

Country music legend Willie Nelson has turned down Roseanne Barr’s offer to be her Presidential running mate. Earlier this year, Barr – who found fame with her 1990's sitcom Roseanne – filed the official documents needed to become the Green Party's nominee for President. On her Twitter account, Twitter.com/therealroseanne, she recently stated: "My Vice President will be announced at the debate in San Francisco this Saturday. I want Willie Nelson as Vice President."

Aretha Franklin is set to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame later this year. The soul singer is one of six acts to receive the honour this year and will join the ranks of previously inducted Hall of Famers Dolly Parton and Elvis at a ceremony on August 14 in Hendersonville, Tennessee, reports AP via the NY Daily News.