“I loved it as an egg, I loved it as a caterpillar, I loved it as a pupa, and I still love it.” Blur’s Damon Albarn on Pure Love, his collab with dance producer DJ Koze

“I loved it as an egg, I loved it as a caterpillar, I loved it as a pupa, and I still love it.” Blur’s Damon Albarn on Pure Love, his collab with dance producer DJ Koze

Damon Albarn and DJ Koze

(Image credit: Pampa)

Blur vocalist Damon Albarn has collaborated with German DJ and dance producer DJ Koze on a new single, Pure Love.

According to a statement posted with the YouTube upload, the song is the result of a “cosmic spark” between Koze (aka Stefan Kozalla) and Albarn, which stemmed from the two musicians meeting by chance in the Maras salt mines in the Sacred Valley of Peru.

The blurb continues: “The encounter in the surreal salt ponds, was the initial spark from which this deep and unfathomably mystical treasure was born. The shimmering of these two souls opens a window onto a nocturnal scene where the scents of oriental spices dance through the air and the stars twinkle above us.

The sky has never been as beguiling as it is today.”

Lovely sentiments, we’re sure you’ll agree.

Pure Love is the first single to be taken from DJ Koze’s forthcoming album Music Can Hear Us, set for an April 4 release via his own label, Pampa.

Damon Albarn says, “This tune has been through a profound metamorphosis over the last few years. I loved it as an egg; I loved it as a caterpillar; I loved it as a pupa; and I still love it. Thank you, Koze.”

DJ Koze adds, “In a fashion of proper slow cooking and letting go, we finally came up with this lovely song. If you’re in a hurry, go slowly as they say. Thank you, Damon, for walking this path with me.”

Wonderful.

Anyway, here’s the video.

DJ Koze feat. Damon Albarn – Pure Love (Official Video) – YouTube DJ Koze feat. Damon Albarn - Pure Love (Official Video) - YouTube

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A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne’s private jet, played Angus Young’s Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

I took advantage of this Cyber Monday Kindle deal just so I could explore my collection of music books – and bought 5 more while I was at it

The header image for a Cyber Monday Kindle book deal

(Image credit: Amazon, Sphere, Quercus, Penguin, ine Eight Books )

Back in March 2012, I bought a Kindle with a leather cover that had a wee swing out light bar to illuminate the screen – a piece of outdated tech (with buttons) that really needed to be upgraded.

So with 26% off the price of the all-new Kindle Paperwhite 16GB, I decided Cyber Monday was the perfect time to pull the trigger, especially with the cost reduced on the model without ads from £169.99 to £125. And if you’re in the US, the price of the same model without lock screen ads is down from $179.99 to $149.99.

If you’re buying a Kindle this Cyber Monday, it’s worth noting that you can currently get a Kindle Unlimited subscription: 3 months for 99p – giving you access to a massive selection of book and magazines.

Over the years, I’ve amassed a ridiculous selection of Kindle books after picking them up when I see them on sale – everything from music biographies and sci-fi epics, to history books and a pile of horror and fantasy novels – most of them sitting in the cloud because of my poor old Kindle, and even though I’ve read some through the app on my iPhone, it’s just a bit cumbersome. So I’m very much looking to showing these ebooks some love.

While plonking my new Kindle into my online shopping basket, I thought I’d take a look to see what discounted music books were available. Here’s five picks:

Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success by Lush’s Miki Berenyi is down from £10.99 to £5.99. I saw Lush several times in the early 90s and think Sweetness & Light it one of the best tracks from that era, so this is definitely right up my street.

AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson’s Rockers And Rollers: An Automotive Autobiography is down from £12.99 to just £2.99 and is a deep dive into his life in the band and his love of cars. For that price, you can’t go wrong.

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I’ve wanted to read Sylvia Patterson’s I’m Not With The Band: A Writer’s Life Lost In Music since discovering it in our best books about music guide. And since it’s reduced from £10.99 to just £2.99, it would be rude not to pick it up.

As someone who two-stepped around student union dance floors covered in flour and threw rose petals into the air when going to see The Mission in the late 80s, former Cure member Lol Tolhurst’s Goth: A History was an instabuy for me, especially with the Kindle price down from £25 to a patchouli-scented £3.99.

My final pick goes to Elton John’s official autobiography Me – a book I’ve never read but I’m intrigued to do so given his remarkable musical legacy. The ebook price has been cut from £12.99 to £6.99.

For more top discounts, you can check out all the Cyber Monday music deals – but with the big sales event coming to an end soon, be quick to grab something if you see an item you want.

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Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He’s previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott’s favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.

“My health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to myself and my family”: Original Venom guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn leaves Venom Inc. over health and “personal issues”

Former Venom guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn has parted ways with Venom Inc.

The 63-year-old, whose playing on Venom’s early albums made him a first-wave black metal icon, has stepped back from his new band featuring another ex-Venom member, singer/bassist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan. He cites health and personal problems as reasons why.

Dunn has suffered two heart attacks in recent years, first in 2018 then again earlier this year. He acknowledges these issues in a statement announcing his exit, but also mentions unexplained “personal issues” impacting his decision. The guitarist will not perform at any of the band’s previously announced concerts.

“After I suffered the second heart attack the outpouring of love and concern from you guys via a multitude of messages and calls has been overwhelming and a simple thank you seems so insignificant,” Dunn writes in a statement (via Metal Injection).

He continues: “So my friends it is now time to address the situation. I wish to inform you all that I will not be returning to Venom Inc. Obviously my health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to myself and my family, however, there are also more personal issues which have influenced my decision.”

Dunn ends his statement on a more positive note, though, saying he is currently working on new music and hopes to make “a return to social activity”.

“As I have said so many times, music is my therapy, my release and my connection with all of you who have supported me over the years and for that I am eternally grateful,” he says. “So here’s to Cats and Heavy Metal. I will see you all soon my friends.”

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Dunn co-founded Venom in 1979 and played with them (bar one three-year hiatus) until 2002. In 2015, he started Venom Inc. with Dolan and founding Venom drummer Anthony “Abaddon” Bray. Bray departed the band in 2018.

Despite Dunn’s departure, Venom Inc are still set to tour North America from January to February. See dates and buy tickets now.

“I wasn’t ready for it to be over.” Avril Lavigne announces new North American Greatest Hits tour

Avril Lavigne at Glastonbury

(Image credit: Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Avril Lavigne has announced the extension of her Greatest Hits tour into 2025.

Posting on Instagram, the Canadian pop-punk star writes, “When I launched the Greatest Hits tour last year, I was so blown away by all your loveeeeee. You guys sold it out and I wasn’t ready for it to be over. I’m heading out with Simple Plan, We The Kings, and Fefe Dobson. Can’t wait to see you all in the US and Canada in 2025”

The 2025 leg of the 40-year-old musician’s tour will launch on May 18 at the Moncton Avenir Centre in New Brunswick, Canada and carry on through to June 29, when the curtain will drop at the end of her show in Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, in Ontario, Canada.

The newly-announced dates are:

May 18: Moncton Avenir Centre, Canada
May 20: Halifax Scotiabank Centre, Canada
May 25: Bangor Maine Savings Amphitheatre, ME
May 27: Saratoga Springs Broadview Stage at SPAC, NY
May 28: Syracuse Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater, NY
May 30: New York Madison Square Garden. NY

Jun 03: London Canada Life Place, Canada
Jun 05: Niagara Falls Fallsview Casino Resort, Canada
Jun 07: Hershey Hersheypark Stadium, PA
Jun 08: Cincinnati Riverbend Music Cente, OH
Jun 10: Noblesville Ruoff Music Center, IN
Jun 12: St. Louis Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, MO
Jun 17: Raleigh Coastal Credit Union Music Park, NC
Jun 18: Charleston Credit One Stadium, SC
Jun 20: Tampa MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, FL
Jun 21: Hollywood Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, FL
Jun 23: Jacksonville Daily’s Place, FL
Jun 26: Burgettstown The Pavilion at Star Lake, PA
Jun 27: Bethel Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, NY
Jun 29: Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, Canada


This summer, Lavigne appeared on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast and the two spoke about the long-running idea that Avril Lavigne is not, in fact, Avril Lavigne, but is merely a double for the singer, named Melissa Vandella, having been swapped in for Lavigne in 2011.

“It’s just funny to me,” the singer said. “On one end, everyone’s like, ‘You look the exact same, you haven’t aged a day’. But then other people are like, ‘There’s a conspiracy theory that I’m not me’.”

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Sounding pretty confident that she was in fact her, Lavigne said that out of all the conspiracy theories to be landed with, she was okay with the one assigned to her.

“Honestly, it’s not that bad, it could be worse,” she joked. I feel like I got a good one.”

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne’s private jet, played Angus Young’s Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

Be quick if you want to grab a deal on record players and turntables with Walmart’s Cyber Monday offers

Walmart Record Player Cyber Monday Deals 2024

(Image credit: Press/Walmart)

Walmart are hosting a massive sale on record players and turntables for Cyber Monday – but you’ll have to be quick if you want to grab a deal. Several products are already showing limited stocks and the offers are only running for a limited time. 

That said, there are plenty of options to explore on the Walmart website, with a massive range of products to check out. If you need a hand finding a great player, we’ve picked out a few of our favourites that we felt were worth highlighting. 

To start, there are massive savings available on the classic-style Udreamer record player with speakers. Originally $225.99, you can now grab this bundle for just $82.99, saving $143 on an exceptional audio set-up that’s perfect for first-time buyers and dedicated music lovers alike. 

If you’d rather have something with a bit more mobility, Walmart are also offering Udreamer’s suitcase audio turntable for less than 50% of its original price, now available for just $40.60. 

So far as looks go, you’ll struggle to find something more unique than Direct Power’s 10-in-1 record player. Designed to look like a chest/music box, this player has built-in speakers and offers multi platform support with the capacity to play CDs and cassettes as well as plug-ins for both USB and audio jacks, and Bluetooth capabilities to wirelessly connect to other devices, as well as AM/FM radio support. All of that is available for just $122.99!

There’s also a big saving to be found on the Jensen MC-1250 BT Turntable. This device is perfect for the music lover who never had the heart to part with their old collections; thankfully, with its own tape deck, 3CD changer and Bluetooth compatability, you don’t need to as the player supports a variety of formats. Now $199.99 – down from $269.99, this is the ideal pick for anyone who also wants a sleeker, more modern take on the record player. 

There are plenty of options to pick from across Walmart’s Cyber Monday sales, so be sure to explore and find the player that’s best for you. Thankfully, the Walmart website also tracks when stocks are running low on particular products – for example, there is a warning that 65% of the RetroAudio Record Player deals have already sold out, so be sure to pick up a bargain while you still can

The latest news, features and interviews direct to your inbox, from the global home of alternative music.

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Staff writer for Metal Hammer, Rich has never met a feature he didn’t fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online, be it legendary events like Rock In Rio or Clash Of The Titans or seeking out exciting new bands like Nine Treasures, Jinjer and Sleep Token. 

“Steve Lillywhite deserves credit for forcing our hand on that one”: Bono on the huge U2 hit that they saved from the scrapheap

Last month, U2 released How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb, a collection of ten outtakes from their 2004 record How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. U2’s 11th studio album, …Atomic Bomb was described by Bono at the time of release as the Irish quartet’s “first rock album” and was heralded as such with the cascading rock grooves of lead single Vertigo. Writing about the period in a recent edition of music magazine Record Collector, Bono said the song, which became such a huge anthem for the accompanying live show that the band not only named the whole jaunt the Vertigo Tour but also often started and ended their gigs with it.

Vertigo ended up out of a song that we recorded with Chris Thomas called Native Son,” Bono writes in the magazine. “In that case, we were right not to trust our first instincts. Chris is great with guitar sounds, as well as singers and bands, heh got it as far as he could but it wasn’t the combustible, unstable chemistry we needed for our show.”

The band re-wrote and re-recorded it, Bono explains, with new producer Steve Lillywhite encouraging them to strip it down to its bare bones. “Steve wanted us to play it live with no overdubs,” he continues. “The lyric is – you’re on a night out with the singer. It’s the most present tense song I’ve written about the pure joy of just being out and about… The losing and finding of yourself that can happen in a club.”

Bono says it was Lillywhite’s idea to have them perform it live fed into this idea, as if the listener is there in the room with the band playing it. “That’s the thing when you have little or no overdubs,” he writes. “You start to sense the shape of the room… The sense of place, the mood of the band is built into the recording. Steve Lillywhite deserves credit for forcing our hand on that one. If you’re in a corner, he’s usually the right man to call.”

Vertigo was released in November 2004, going on to hit the top spot in the UK single charts. Watch the video below:

U2 – Vertigo (Official Music Video) – YouTube U2 - Vertigo (Official Music Video) - YouTube

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“Who wouldn’t want to battle against the Martians?” Busted/Fightstar frontman Charlie Simpson to join Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds in The War Of The Worlds

“Who wouldn’t want to battle against the Martians?” Busted/Fightstar frontman Charlie Simpson to join Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds in The War Of The Worlds

Charlie Simpson

(Image credit: Mike Lewis Photography/Redferns)

Busted/Fightstar frontman Charlie Simpson has signed up for next year’s travelling production of Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds, based on H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi tale about invaders from Mars.

Simpson will take on the role of The Sung Thoughts of the Journalist for the tour, a part previously played by Take That’s Gary Barlow, Westlife’s Brian McFadden and Wet Wet Wet’s Marti Pellow.

Jeff Wayne says, “I’m happy that I can now announce our last new cast member – Charlie Simpson of Busted and Fightstar fame, who has both a wonderful voice and physical presence that will grace the stage in our coming The Spirit of Man tour as The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist.”

“When Jeff Wayne called to ask whether I wanted to perform the role of The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist in his next arena tour, I knew I had to rise to the challenge,” Simpson says in a statement announcing his role. “Who wouldn’t want to battle against the Martians?”

The War of The Worlds is one of those iconic pieces of music that’s become a building block in popular culture over the last forty-six years. I have vivid memories of listening to the album during my childhood, and I’m so thrilled that I get to sing The Eve of The War and Forever Autumn next year on arena stages across the country.”

Simpson will join two other English rock singers in the forthcoming production. Enter Shikari‘s Rou Reynolds is playing the role of The Artilleryman, while Inglorious frontman Nathan James plays The Voice Of Humanity.


The War of The Worlds ‘The Spirit of Man’ UK tour

Mar 28: Hull Connexin Live
Mar 30: Dublin 3Arena, Ireland

Apr 01: Aberdeen P&J Live
Apr 02: Glasgow OVO Hydro
Apr 03: Leeds First Direct Arena
Apr 05: Newcastle Utilita Arena
Apr 06: Manchester Co-Op Live
Apr 08: Sheffield Utilita Arena
Apr 09: Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
Apr 10: Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
Apr 12: Brighton, Centre (matinee & evening)
Apr 13: Bournemouth, Int Centre
Apr 14: Bournemouth, Int Centre
Apr 16: Cardiff Utilita Arena
Apr 17: Cardiff Utilita Arena
Apr 18: Birmingham Resorts World Arena
Apr 20: London The O2 (matinee & evening)

Tickets for the tour are on sale here.

The latest news, features and interviews direct to your inbox, from the global home of alternative music.

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne’s private jet, played Angus Young’s Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.

Some of my favourite rock and metal records ever are included in Walmart’s big Cyber Monday vinyl sale

Various Cyber Monday vinyl deals

(Image credit: Future)

Happy Cyber Monday! If you’re in the market for bagging some classic rock and metal albums on vinyl, be it that special variant you’ve been after for a while or simply that one iconic LP you’ve been missing from your collection, you might want to check out Walmart’s Cyber Monday vinyl sale. They have a solid little range of LPs available, so I thought I’d dive in and pick out some of the top-tier banger records that you absolutely need in your life if you don’t have them already. Have a look below.

A divider for Metal Hammer

Not convinced by any of these deals? Check out our big list of the best Cyber Monday vinyl deals to see if anything else takes your fancy, and stay tuned to Louder’s main Cyber Monday deals hub for the ultimate breakdown of all the discounted music, merch, tech and collectables we can find.

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Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N’ Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site. 

Win Van Halen’s ‘Live In Dallas 1991’ Record Store Day Vinyl

Win Van Halen’s ‘Live In Dallas 1991′ Record Store Day Vinyl

Ultimate Classic Rock is giving away a copy of Van Halen‘s Record Store Day exclusive release, Live in Dallas 1991.

The double-vinyl set captures a unique moment in the band’s history. When the band visited Dallas on the 1988 Monsters of Rock tour, Sammy Hagar lost his voice and the band was forced to cut the concert short. Without checking with his bandmates (which might have been the smart move), the singer declared from the stage that the band would return to the city to perform a free show.

Three years later and at a cost of about $200,000, the band made good on Hagar’s promise with a free outdoor show in the city. Live in Dallas 1991 captures the full 11-song performance on vinyl for the first time.

Read More: Record Store Day Needs to Evolve or Go Away

For your chance to win Van Halen’s Live in Dallas 1991 simply enter your name, email and phone number into the entry form at the top of this page. You will be added to UCR’s daily newsletter mailing list. The contest ends Dec. 9, 2024 at 11:59pm EST.

The Best Song From Every Van Halen Album

They released a dozen albums over their career. These are the songs for your playlist.

Gallery Credit: Matthew Wilkening

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Watch Gene Simmons’ Video for ‘Stormy Weather’ From ‘Reagan’ Film

Watch Gene Simmons’ Video for ‘Stormy Weather’ From ‘Reagan’ Film

Gene Simmons has released a new music video for “Stormy Weather,” the 1933 jazz standard he covered for the recently released Reagan biopic.

The clip alternates between footage of Simmons — dressed down in a black button-up shirt, flat-brim hat and sunglasses — singing in the vocal booth and scenes from film featuring Dennis Quaid, who stars as the titular Ronald Reagan, and Mena Suvari as his first wife Jane Wyman. You can watch it below.

Simmons is one of many artists to put his stamp on “Stormy Weather” over the years. Ethel Waters first recorded the song, written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler, in 1933; her version was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. Other famous artists to cover the song include Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charles Mingus, Etta James and Judy Garland.

READ MORE: Kiss Band Member Power Rankings

“It seemed to me during the scenes where Ronald Reagan was sitting with Jane Wyman at the club, there would probably be music playing in the background,” Simmons told Newsweek. “I was actually thrilled that the producers thought my version of the song would work in the scene.”

Gene Simmons Calls Ronald Reagan ‘One of America’s Great Presidents’

The Kiss leader called Reagan a “great American” who will “certainly go down in future generations as one of America’s great presidents,” adding: “Interestingly, and I suspect the masses didn’t know this about President Reagan, he started off as an actor, joined the Democratic Party, then became disillusioned with the Democratic party and joined the Republican party.”

Simmons’ “Stormy Weather” video arrives almost exactly one year after Kiss played their final show at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He’s continued to tour with his solo band this year, and Kiss is now working on a five-part documentary about their End of the Road farewell tour.

Kiss Solo Albums Ranked Worst to Best

Counting down solo albums released by various members of Kiss.

Gallery Credit: Matthew Wilkening

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