Van Tango

Arctic Monkeys have revealed that they learnt to play guitar through Oasis chord books and the James Bond theme tune. Alex Turner says that he only got an acoustic guitar back in the summer of 2001 and could only play two chords. That Christmas he got an electric guitar and starting practising with Jamie Cook (Cookie). He said: "Cookie could play the James Bond theme but I could never get him interested in being in a band at the time. Then he got Oasis chord books and learned them, but only chords. None of us were good enough to do solos but I got into it. "I got James Bond sorted, then wanted to move on and that." Showing his young age, speaking about the albums that influenced him when he was younger, Alex said: "Be Here Now was a big record, but we weren't old enough for the first two Oasis albums." Aaah, young man wasn't there when a shakermaker band shook the planet with some champagne supernova tunes. At least he knew what proper rocknroll sounds like. James bond theme must have a big impact on some of the Monkeys' tunes - edgy, mysterious and confident. Sooooo their debut album outsold Definitely Maybe by 4 times. Gotta rem that there was no technology in '94 for the word on the street to spread globally. It's only the start. Another decade to impress.

Girls Aloud Karaoke versions -> Models / Racy Lacey

G.A Concert Pic gallery


Christina Aguilera - Dirrty or clean?
Now that Aguilera is back from her honeymoon, she can concentrate on finishing the follow-up to 2002's Stripped, which she called a "throwback to the 1920s, '30s and '40s". And Xtina 3.0 is pumped for fans to finally hear the glow on her still-untitled follow-up to 2002's quadruple-platinum Stripped. The singer's "first soul record" attempts to connect her current muse - all things jazzy from the 1920s to 1940s - to gritty '00s pop music. "It's a throwback to huge inspirations to me: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Pearl Bailey," she says. That fits with the pinup-glamour-queen look she's been sporting lately. "Some of the songs are kept authentic, sticking to a really raw, old-soul sound, where others combine elements of old blues, jazz and soul with a hard modern-day edge," she explained. She said the untitled album, due in the spring, is her "best work yet."
Prediction: It's been four years, but with pipes that strong, fans are likely to take notice no matter what decade she's coming from.

"This is the album where I want people to say: Eve's a woman - she's grown up," says the rapper. Her fourth album will mark her debut on Dr. Dre's Aftermath label - though she's awaiting the doctor's platinum touch. "Dre's always the last, and he likes to talk before he makes the beat, so I'm not worried." While collabos with T.I. and will.i.am are in the can, she's looking 'to do something shocking'. Someone suggested working with her unlikely pal Courtney Love to which Eve replied - "That would be dope. We might have to make that happen." As long as it doesn't sound like limp biscuit, E.V.E & Love should a cool collaboration.

Liz McClarnon is set to be the new face and voice of 'Lenor In the Pink'. She is set to re-record 'I Get the Sweetest Feeling' after it was singled out as one of the nation's favourite songs to get ready to in a UK wide survey. Liz's version of the Jackie Wilson classic will also feature on the 'Lenor In the Pink' TV advert and will be released as a double A side with her first solo single 'Woman in Love' which is out on the 13th February 2006. Liz says: "Getting ready has always been my favourite part of going out. I've always loved the original and hope my version will become a real getting ready anthem for 2006." Go Lizzy!

A.Kitten hanging out with pals:
Liz [ 1 2 3 ] / Jen [ 1 2 3 ] / Tash [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 ]






"Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey Into Manhood and Back Again". A book about this lady who went undercover as a man for 18 months and made a lot of discoveries while mixing with the boys without them knowing the true identity of this 'dude'. Also dated some girls along the way. Must grab a copy soon.

Listen to The Rakes two new songs 'All Too Human' & 'Man With A Job' here.

Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse video [ link 1 / 2 ] & CD Cover.

Oh yah, the backside boys are in town for a one-night concert. *Yaaawwns*

The Kooks - Inside In/ Inside Out album stream

W.A.S - It's A Hit video (2nd version)

The Strokes live @ Santiago.

Drew Barrymore has a good sense of humour. Spoofing herself on SNL [ 1 2 3 ] is a great move. Maybe it was Fab's idea? If Vic Spice were to get that sort of criticism from the media, her lawyers will be contacted in no time.

Sony is launching a limited edition Franz Ferdinand branded Walkman in Japan to coincide with a tour of Australia by the band. Available from 26 January, the company is only making 100 units of the player. Lucky Franz Ferdinand fans will also get a special message from the band pre-recorded on to the player and a signed printed card in the box. The player will go on sale for 33,000 Yen (161 pounds). There is no word as to whether the company will be offering the player in other countries such as the UK.

The six cast members of the hit TV show 'Friends' are to reunite for four one hour specials..NOT! Reports that Friends is to be revived were denied by the show's producers. According to recent reports, the six stars have agreed 5 million dollar deals to reprise their roles for four one-hour specials. But a spokeswoman for Warner Bros insisted there were no plans for any new episodes or spin-offs. "There is absolutely no truth in it - it's all rumour," she said. "There is nothing planned of any kind." Bottomline - Don't believe the truth.

Yoko Ono has tried to stop producers from making a film about the assassination of her late husband John Lennon. The new film, currently being filmed in New York, with Jared Leto and Lindsay Lohan is based on the life of Lennon's killer, Mark Chapman during the days leading up to the killing. Ono was reportedly desperate to stop film crews from shooting outside the Dakota Building in New York. Her publicist said: "Yoko immediately checked if the Dakota building had the right to refuse them filming the facade, and found out that legally, all they had to do was to get the permission of the city." Chapman was refused parole in 2004 and will as he was deemed unfit for release. Hmmm....kinda confused by this situation. Maybe she doesn't like the actors involved?

Lindsay Lohan shopping for scarves in New York. She looks bored. [ 1 2 3 ]

Robbie Williams made peace with 50 Cent after beating the hip-hop mogul to the Best International Male Award at Saturday night's NRJ Music Awards in Cannes, France. The Trippin' and Candy Shop duo fell out when they stayed at the same German hotel last year and Williams complained to the management about the noise coming from the American's room. 50 Cent later said that Robb was merely bitter because he had refused to meet him. But Williams shook 50 Cent's hand as he made his way up to the stage to collect his prestigious gong, and said in his acceptance speech: "I also want to pay respect to Mr 50 Cent in the audience." Aaah, some mutual gangsta love is always good. A duo concert would be good too. But Fiddy has to stay away from belting out 'Better Man'...

Editors - Live @ Great Scott (Sun Jan 22nd 2006) review & dls.

Instead of sweating it out in the gym, Charlotte Church is to take up dance lessons in a bid to lose a bit of her bulk. The singer has been recommended the dance lessons as she cannot bear the though of the gym... Church is hoping that losing a bit of weight will guarantee her a place on her fav TV show 'Strictly Come Dancing' next year. She said: "That show's cool. I don't think I'd get Gav on it but I'd definitely have a laugh. I love dancing and I'd rather dance to shape up than hit the gym. I can lose weight if I cut out the drinking - but there's no way I will ever become a skinny Minnie." Nah. She won't be foolish enough to follow the 'Lohan/Richie/H.Duff' route of Lean Girls.

Staying on the topic of Minnies, Woody Allen has slammed Scarlett Johansson's fashion sense - saying she dresses "like my Aunt Minnie". The actress often features in 'best dressed celebrity' lists and has been compared to Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. Not a bad comparision i feel. But Allen is not impressed by her current fashion attires. The director for Scarlett's new movie 'Match Point' said - "She needs to be more natural. She is a beautiful girl, but I have told her to tone it down. I have told her to dress her age, instead of dressing like my Aunt Minnie." To which Scarlett is not surprised by his criticism - "Woody doesn't like anything I wear." Meanwhile, her mum has criticized her for revealing too much cleavage at last week's Golden Globe awards. But hey, she's got the likeable attitude unlike some dingdong housewives or m.curry. The stunner wore a low-cut red dress to the star-studded event - but her mum, Melanie, says she went too far by showing off her ample breasts. She likens that dress to looking like a member of the 'Baywatch' cast. Zzzzzz..

Now Pete D should have some interest in a tell-all book from Kate Moss who will write about her cocaine abuse. The model is ready to sign a 1 million pound contract to pen the revealing autobiography. However, her close friends fear the book could upset her clients. One pal says : "She has just got her career back on track after everything that has happened but it is a fragile equilibrium and we don't think she should rock the boat. She could jeopardise everything if she decides to talk openly about drugs." Moss will write the book for Richard Branson's Virgin Books Group. His spokesman confirmed: "Richard and Kate have agreed to bring out her autobiography. It's a chance for her to put her side of the story." Katy has now agreed to return to UK and told her lawyers to set up an interview with police officers over that infamous video. Coming clean?