Hot New Chili Pepper Album Soon To Be Released

I, like I am sure many of you are, am extremely excited to hear from NME that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are soon to be finishing their (I believe) 13th album. They revealed a possible name Dr Johnny Skinz's Disproportionately Rambunctious Polar Express Machine-head which was inspired by a friends acid trip. 


I fell in love with the Chili Peppers when I was about 14 (just before Stadium Arcadium was released) and to this day can still remember the words to every songs on the By The Way album, which is unbeatable and one of the greatest albums I know I have listened to. 


But despite my love for them I have my worries. Once something is so good, it is hard to beat. Stadium Arcadium was never as good as their previous albums, what if this new album carries on along the vicious downhill slope which has taken programmes such as Skins and films such as (in my opinion) Bring It On?


I am going to retain my faith in Keidis and his fellow band mates, hoping  new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer helps create a new vibrant, yet familiar style that we all know and love. I for sure can not wait to have a taste of their new album. 

NME Awards

It really is award season at the moment. Music industry talents have been awarded at the Grammys, the Brits and now at the NME Awards. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Angelos Epithemiou at the London's O2 Academy in Brixton, should be filled with amplified anticipation for many.

In the build up to this feast of an event I bought my first NME magazine, shocking I know. From flicking through the pages and having a nose I realized how unaware I am of over half of the bands mentioned. I am not a music recluse and was surprised at my lack of band knowledge, considering my addiction to Zane Lowe most nights on Radio 1, who showcases many new and upcoming bands. It really shows that it is extremely difficult for the more rock, indie and alternative bands to make it to the mainstreams these days.

It has always been tough for a young band to get signed. The record labels need originality, quirkiness and, more importantly for them, that you are going to make them money. But in this last decade it has become even harder for any artist trying to get signed by a record label due to the nightmare that is illegal downloading. Many record labels are fading out as they are losing money and therefore less artist and bands are being signed.

Despite this is it good that those who do make it, whether known as well as Usher or not, can still make a big difference and be recognised in the industry. A perfect example being the Brit Awards Best Female Artist Laura Marling, conquering well known Cheryl Cole and Ellie Goulding. I am all for being introduced to new sounds and artists and so I will definitely be tuning in on Saturday night to help celebrate the bands of 2010.

All hail Queen Rihanna: Timeline

Rihanna - Queen of Pop

After performing a show stopping medley of her three latest singles; Only Girl in the World, S&M and What's My Name at The Brits Awards on Tuesday Night. Rihanna went on to win Best International Female Artist awarded to her by Cheryl Cole, with an eruption from the Brit award crowd.


But how did this award winning diva become so unstoppable?

2005 Rihanna hit the charts for the first time with her single Pon de Replay which was taken from her album Music of the Sun. But of course Rihanna didn't just get into the top 40 UK chart, she set her standards and thundered in at number 2. The album reached the top ten in the Billboard 200 Chart.

2006 Just a year later Rihanna received her first ever US number 1 with SOS from her album A Girl Like Me which  contained further well known hits including Unfaithful and Break It Off.


2007 Rihanna stole the chart in 2007 when releasing her well known album Good Girl Gone Bad. Teaming up with music producers Will.i.am and Timberland it came with no surprise that this influenced Rihanna to take on a more upbeat dance style. The album reached number 1 not only in the UK, but also Canada, Japan, Ireland, Brazil and Russia, making Good Girl Gone Bad Rihanna's most critically acclaimed album. She achieved number 1'a with he singles Umbrella, Shut up and Drive, Don't Stop the Music and Hate That I Love You. 


2008 The re-release her third album, calling it Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded in which the still popular hits, Take a Bow and Disturbia were born. Is it a surprise to tell you these both made it to the top 5 in the chart? Of course not. Rihanna took on two collaborations this year with Maroon 5 and T.I. She, joined with Beyonce Knowles, became one of the two solo female artists to achieve the most number 1's in a decade.

2009 This year unfortunately wasn't wasn't the best for the pop diva. Rihanna was involved in a domestic violent relationship with singer Chris Brown. Photographs and stories were leaked to the press and Rihanna was front page on most newspapers and magazines. Despite this, she still kept going, collaborating with Jay Z and Kanye West to produce the single Run This Town. Rihanna also released her fourth album, Rated R, which includes the smash hit singles Russian Roulette, Hard, Rockstar 101, Te Amo and Rihanna claimed another number 1 with dance hit Rude Boy.


2010 Rihanna collaborated with Eminem to produce one of the biggest hits of 2010 Love The Way You Lie which reached number 1 in over six countries. Her fifth album Loud has already achieved two UK number 1's with Only Girl in the World and What's My Name featuring Drake.

2011 Rihanna has already won two awards this year, as already mentioned her recent Brit Award and also Best Dance Record for What's My Name at the 53rd Grammy Award.

Q&A: Grammy Awards

Last night's Grammy awards in Los Angeles awarded the victorious music artists from 2010. Trophies were awarded to Arcade Fire for Album of the Year and Single of the Year to Lady Antebellum. But with all the award shows swinging into action what makes the Grammys so special?


Q. What is the event?


A. The Grammy Awards is a music awards ceremony and is the most prestigious ceremony which had been telecasted annually since 1958 . The television equivalent is the Emmy Awards and theAcademy Awards is the film equivalent which are all widely broadcasted on TV.


Q. Why is it called the Grammy Awards?


A. The award ceremony was formerly known as the Gramophone Awards, as the trophies awarded are in the shape of a gold gramophone.


Q. Where are the Grammy Awards Held?


A. The Grammy Awards have been held in Los Angeles since 2004 in various venues. In 2009 it was held at the Nokia Theatre and the last couple of years the award ceremony has been held at the Staples Centre. In previous years both Los Angeles and New York have been in competition to host the event and the outcome had been to split the event, two thirds held in Los Angeles and the final third held in New York. Many believe Los Angeles is going to be home for the Grammy Awards from now on.


Q. Who Presents the Awards?


A. Every year a different selection of musical talents or actors present the awards. Previous presenters line ups have included Jennifer Lopez, Justin Beiber, Ricky Martin and Ringo Starr.


Q. What memorable moments have taken place at the Grammy Awards?


A. During Bob Dylan's performance in 1998 at the Grammy Awards, a topless man with the words "Soy Bomb" which had been painted on his chest appears on stage and attempts to dance along to the song until taken off stage by security guards. In 2004 rapper 50 Cent, upset that he hadn't won the Best New Artist award which he was nominated for, interrupted Amy Lee of Evanescence during her speech calling the moment a protest as rap music is not being recognised.

Chase And Status are Back

Back with their second album Chase And Status ‘No More Idols’ has stormed into the album chart reaching number 2, behind soul singer Adele who is currently dominating the chart.

The album contains groundbreaking songs by the London pair, complimenting their hectic drum and bass style heard in their last album ’More Than A lot’ which won Album of the Year at the 2009 Drum and Base Awards in Birmingham. Their new album exceeds what they created in ’More Than A lot’ as they have collaborated with top artists such as Cee Lo Green, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal and Plan B to created some gripping tunes.

The first single from their new album ‘Hypest Hype’ featuring Tempa T reached number 11 in UK singles chart, so already the duo are off to a good start. Many who have listened to ’No More Idols’ will agree that this album deserves to do extremely well and that there is no doubt that Chase And Status will be back in the singles chart with their next single very soon.

The Oscars Timeline

The Oscars will take place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on 27 February. This will be it's will be the 83rd year and the ceremony will be hosted by actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway. But how did it all begin?

March 1929 - The first Oscar awards were held in a banquet which took place at a Hollywood Hotel. There was an audience of 270 who paid a meer $5 to attend and the award for best picture was given to the film "Wings".

April 1959 - "Ben-Hur" set the record for the most Oscar awards to be awarded to one film, winning 11 Oscars that night.

April 1970 - George C. Scott, who won Best Actor, had stayed at home watching the hockey to show how little he thought of the awards.

April 1972 - Actor Marlon Brando refused his Oscar of Best Actor for his role in "The Godfather". He instead had actress Sacheen Littlefeather, pretending to be a Native American, to explain he wasn't attending or accepting his award due to the poor treatment of American Indians in the industry.

April 1974 - An unexpected streaker ran across the stage, an unforgettable night in Oscar history.

April 1977 - Whilst presenting the writing award, Paddy Chayefsky outwardly displayed his own view of the Oscars commenting on how he was sick of people exploiting the occasion of the Academy Awards "for the propagation of their own personal political propaganda. I would like to suggest to Miss Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is not a pivotal moment in history, does not require a proclamation, and a mere thank you would have sufficed.”

March 1991 - Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" was the first animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

March 2003 - "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" has been the only film to win all the awards it was nominated for. The film won 11 awards and became the third film to win 11 Oscars.

February 2008 - "Slumdog Millionaire" was the lowest-budget film to have won an Oscar, winning the title of 8 awards including Best Picture, director and screenplay.

March 2010 - Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first female director to win an Oscar for her 2009 film "The Hurt Locker".

A Special for Sure

When you hear an artist or band live and think to yourself "they sound just like they do on their recorded version" you know they're good. For me this applies to the band Muse, evident in the awards they have won as "Best Live Band", Plan B, Beverly Knight and the beautifully soulful Adele who today performed for Radio 1's Live Lounge.

Adele played six songs; some new, old and did a cover of Cheryl Cole's "Promise This" - each as note perfect as the next. Her distinct strong voice carried the melodies so well it was enough for me to get shivers time to time, which is always a good sign. And well, the fact she made "Promise This" sound superior to Cheryl's original says a a great deal.

Not only are her vocals spot on, but her songs all have such powerful meanings. Adele wrote "Hometown Glory" at the early age of sixteen and from there she has only got better. "Someone Like You" from her new album "21" is a track that defiantly has the ability to bring tears to your eyes.

Adele's raw talent blows me away every time I hear her sing. A must watch for any passionate Adele fans. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/sessions/2011-01-27_adeleliveloungespecial