Massive Attack

As it's St Andrew's Day we thought we'd have a bit of fun and find the best Andrews in music. There's not as many movers and shakers as you may think but we're sure you'll like the bundle we've plumped for. We looked far and wide and were quite picky with our final eight. Andy Williams, The Andrews' Sisters, Andrew Ridgley, Andrew Roachford and Andrew Gold may have made their mark in various ways but, sadly, they didn't make it onto the final list. St Andrew may have been a fisherman, and not a musician, but we think the apostle would appreciate those talented artists who took his name.

Andy Bell with Erasure performing Collisioni Festival 2017 / Photo Credit: Alessandro Bosio/Zuma Press/PA Images

Andy Bell.

Continue reading: St Andrew's Day: We Bring You Eight Of The Best Andrews In Music

REFORMED Smashing Pumpkins ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM

After announcing the reunion of (most of) the band’s classic Nineties line-up earlier this year, Smashing Pumpkins will be releasing a new studio album by the end of 2018.

Billy Corgan, who rounded up Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha (but not D’Arcy Wretzky) for a wide-ranging Pumpkins reunion tour earlier this year, revealed that an album is on its way. Given a typically Corgan-esque turn of phrase for its title, Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. will be released on November 16th.

Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: New Smashing Pumpkins, Jack White Film, Tom Hardy Rap Album

The real identity of the world-famous anonymous artist Banksy has for many years been the subject of speculation. However, one theory that the graffiti genius is actually Massive Attack leader Robert Del Naja has gotten new credence after fellow musician Goldie appeared to let slip his name.

The drum & bass DJ was speaking on Scroobius Pip’s weekly Distraction Pieces podcast, and was talking about how the art world had co-opted graffiti for gain while the art form itself was still saddled with negative perceptions.

“Give me a bubble letter and put it on a T-shirt and write Banksy on it and we're sorted. We can sell it now,” Goldie ranted. “No disrespect to Robert, I think he is a brilliant artist. I think he has flipped the world of art over.”

Continue reading: Did Goldie Let Slip Banksy's Real Identity?

For more than two decades, art collectors and graffiti enthusiasts alike have speculated as to the true identity (or identities) behind Banksy, the artist whose socially and politically aware murals have regularly been valued in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Since a 2008 Mail on Sunday investigation, most people believe him to be ex-Bristol Cathedral School pupil Robin Gunningham, but journalist Craig Williams claims that Banksy is actually a collective of artists led by Bristol-based musician Robert Del Naja, the founder of British electronic music group Massive Attack.

Writing for the website Glasgow Live, Williams claims that five months of research have led him to the conclusion that Del Naja, known by his stage name ‘3D’, is the real identity of the iconic street artist.

Continue reading: Is Banksy Really Massive Attack's Founder Robert Del Naja?

‘Dismaland’, the new exhibition by artist Banksy is causing crowds of thousands descend upon the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare in the hope of getting tickets. The exhibition offers a dark and twisted take on a Disneyland style theme park, with installations including a distressed looking castle and an overturned Cinderella’s carriage.

Continue reading: Thousands Queue To Experience Bansky's Dark 'Dismaland' Exhibition

Terry Callier has passed away at the age of 67. The soul and jazz singer is probably best known for the song 'You Goin' Miss Your Candyman' and with a career than spanned six decades, found renewed interest in his work after his collaborations with artists such as Beth Orton and Massive Attack. Caliier died last night (Sunday, October 28, 2012), after suffering from a long illness, according to The Guardian.

Callier was born in 1945, in Chicago, where he counted Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler amongst his childhood friends. In 1962, he auditioned at the legendary Chess Records and recorded his debut single, 'Look At Me Now.' Six years later, he released his debut album, The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier. His career slowed between his 1978 album Turn You To Love and the 1990s, when he stopped making music professionally and instead became a computer programmer at the University of Chicago. As a new generation of artists share their love for Callier's music in the 1990s, there was a resurgence of interest in Callier's songwriting. 

One of those artists, the British songwriter Beth Orton, paid tribute to Callier, who recorded with him in 1997. She has paid tribute on her Twitter page, to her former collaborator, saying "This was one of the best nights of my life. Such a privilege and joy- RIP dear Terry Callier," with a link to the YouTube video (below) of her performing live. A host of other artists and DJs have also paid tribute to Callier, including Gilles Peterson and Tim Burgess of The Charlatans.

Continue reading: Cult Soul Hero Terry Callier Dies, Aged 67, Beth Orton Pays Tribute

David Gray has called for greater examination of the playing of loud music - including his own song Babylon - during torture at Guantanamo Bay.

Suspected terrorist detainees are repeatedly subjected to loud music during interrogation at Guantanamo and other US bases with a wide variety of songs used, from heavy metal acts such as Metallica and Rage Against The Machine, to hip-hop stars such as Eminem and Dr Dre to novelty tracks such as the theme song for Barney the dinosaur.

But speaking on BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme, Gray called for greater public discussion of the matter.

"Only the novelty aspect of this story gets it noticed... Guantanamo greatest hits," he said.

"What we're talking about here is people in a darkened room, physically inhibited by handcuffs, bags over their heads and music blaring at them."

"That is nothing but torture."

He continued: "It doesn't matter what the music is - it could be Tchaikovsky's finest or it could be Barney the Dinosaur.

"It really doesn't matter, it's going to drive you completely nuts.

"No-one wants to even think about it or discuss the fact that we've gone above and beyond all legal process and we're torturing people," he added.

The charity Reprieve, which was associated with the recent Meltdown festival curated by Massive Attack, has created a petition to encourage artists to ban their music being used in the situations discussed by Gray.

Continue reading: David Gray Warns Of Music Use In Guantanamo Torture