FOO Fighters are returning with their first album since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins – and are going head to head with Noel Gallagher in the biggest chart battle in almost three decades.
The US group yesterday announced they have channelled the pain of Taylor’s passing in March last year into the album, called But Here We Are, which will be out on June 2.
8
8
That is the same day Noel — who was part of the infamous Oasis versus Blur chart battle in 1995 — will release his band High Flying Birds’ fourth studio album, Council Skies.
The Foos’ album is billed as a “brutally honest and emotionally raw response” to Taylor’s death and they have just released the lead single, Rescued.
Lyrics in the song, which is loud and unapologetic, include: “It came in a flash, it came out of nowhere, it happened so fast and then it was over.”
Later, frontman Dave Grohl sings: “I fell in a trap, my heart’s getting colder, it’s coming on fast, it’s over my shoulder.”
In the chorus, he continues: “We’re all free to some degree, to dance under the lights, I’m just waiting to be rescued, bring me back to life.
“Kings and queens and in-betweens, we all deserve the right, I’m just waiting to be rescued, we’re all just waiting to be rescued tonight.”
The ten-track album is said to “run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between”, and includes songs Hearing Voices, Nothing At All and The Teacher.
The final song on the record is poignantly called Rest.
Dave and his bandmates Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Nate Mendel and Rami Jaffee teamed up with their long-time producer Greg Kurstin for the record.
But they aren’t the only ones to release a teaser of their album this week.
Today Noel will premiere the title track from Council Skies on Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 breakfast show at 8.45am — but I’ve already had an early listen and can tell you it is brilliant.
Noel told me about writing the song: “I actually started this and didn’t finish it. I write for about ten minutes every day, and I find that if you keep chipping away at something then the bit you’re stuck on will usually appear.
“When I was writing this song in my house, I spotted a book by my old mate (artist) Pete McKee called Council Skies.
“I phoned him to ask permission, and he said, ‘Yeah!’ and that’s where the theme of the album came from — all the dreams I had as a youth, underneath council skies.
“I don’t know where those chords came from, but it was obviously meant to be.”
All four previous High Flying Birds albums, including a greatest hits, have gone to No1, while the Foo Fighters have scored five, most recently with 2021’s Medicine At Midnight.
In 1995 Oasis lost out to Blur in the hottest chart battle ever, when their single Roll With It was pipped to No1 by Blur’s Country House.
Time will tell who will come out on top this time.
It’s too close to call.
8
Alan: End of marriage ‘best move’
ALAN Carr believes his divorce is the “best thing that could have happened”, despite struggling to find love again.
The comedian split from Paul Drayton in January 2022 after 13 years and he has opened up about their mutual decision.
Alan said: “My ex wanted out as well.
“He’s doing his acting now.
“He’s moved on and I’ve moved on.
“It’s the best thing that could have happened.”
Alan revealed he has had to get used to dating again after being in a relationship for so long.
But he added: “Boy, being a 45-year old man – I’m 46 now – and coming out on the dating scene, it was like, ‘Oh my God’. I didn’t know what to do.
“I can’t do the apps. I do say to people, ‘Is there anyone?’.”
He also admitted photos of potential partners are always misleading.
Alan told the Organic Meets podcast: “You can’t trust anything now with the Instagram filters.
“I’ve looked at my friend’s profile and everyone’s on a sun lounger with a pina colada.
“We all look nice in the sun.
“Even I look a bit f***ing better in the sun.”
Metallica set for No1
METALLICA are flying towards No1 in the album charts.
Insiders have revealed the rockers are more than 26,000 sales ahead of their closest rival.
That is The Weeknd, with his 2021 record The Highlights.
It would be Metallica’s fourth album to hit top spot in the UK.
The group, made up of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet and Robert Trujillo, will find out tomorrow if they have made it to the No1 position.
A source said: “Metallica are absolutely flying with 72 Seasons and ecstatic at the reception to the record in the UK.
“This will be their first UK No1 album since 2008, so it means a lot to them.”
Read Related Also: How Queen Camilla clawed her way to the Coronation crown
Sam lyrics switch on genders
SAM Smith has changed the lyrics to Stay With Me after coming out as non-binary.
The singer performed a sell-out show at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday night as part of the Gloria tour and tweaked the opening song.
8
When the No1 hit was released in 2014, it started with the lines: “Guess it’s true I’m not good at a one-night stand, but I still need love ’cause I’m just a man.”
However, Sam now sings: “Guess it’s true I’m not good at a one-night stand, but I still need love, baby understand.”
Later in the show, Sam danced to a snippet of the Sister Sledge song He’s The Greatest Dancer, although singers used the words “they’re the greatest dancer”.
The Unholy singer wore nine outfits, including a devil get-up, during the show and hoped the polished pop performance would encourage people to feel free.
Sam said: “This show is about many, many things but the main thing this show is about is freedom.
“This is a safe space tonight.
“I want you to let your inner freak fly.”
AI-SIS
I COULD not be more against the ridiculous movement of Artificial Intelligence in music – but it turns out some artists don’t mind it.
Liam Gallagher’s broken his silence after hearing an AI-generated version of his vocals on songs by Breezer.
8
When asked about the “AIsis” project, which is billed as being what Oasis could have created if they hadn’t split, Liam reckoned it was “better” than most modern music.
Liam said of his computer-generated vocals: “Mad as f***. I sound mega.”
Of the album, he told fans: “Heard a tune, it’s better than all the other snizzle out there.”
Record label Universal pulled an AI duet between Drake and The Weeknd from streaming services and hit out at the fraudulent use of AI.
Posh so sweet to Sugas
SUGABABES have revealed Victoria Beckham helped them overcome their stage fright when starting out.
Posh’s solo career was short-lived, with Out Of Your Mind peaking at No2.
8
But her advice had a lasting impact on Mutya Buena, Kiesha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy.
Keisha told Rebecca Judd on Apple Music about coming into contact with Victoria on CD:UK.
She said: “I was so excited because I was a huge Spice Girls fan.”
Siobhan added: “David Beckham was sat outside the room and none of us even noticed him.
“She was really lovely.
“She gave us a little pep talk before we went on.
“She was trying to relax us and make sure we weren’t nervous.”
Avatar ABBA at Glasto
ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus has said the group could one day headline Glastonbury as a CGI version of the band.
They have been immortalised in “ABBAtars” at their digital residency ABBA Voyage show, which has been running in London since last May.
8
There is potential for a version of the show to go to Worthy Farm at some point.
Asked if they could play there, he said: “I don’t think that’s possible, yet.
“It might be in the future.
“As it is, it’s too complicated because the lighting, sound, the visuals, everything is integrated and it’s so complicated.”
The show is likely to open abroad in the coming years.
Bjorn told NME: “There are lots of promoters and cities that we’re talking to at the moment about that.”
Bree the one for Khalid
BREE Runway has landed a major collaboration with US star Khalid.
The London-born singer is now ready for the big time with their new single, Be The One, which is out today.
8
She posed with Khalid on the set of the video, which was shot in LA earlier this month after they met at a party there last year.
Bree, who supported Lizzo on her European tour last month, said of the latest project: “This collaboration is special to me for more than one reason.
“I’m obsessed with this song, our voices marry together perfectly.
“It magically came together from a hangout in the studio.
“I love Khalid for his light and his incredible character.
“I’m really proud to call him a friend and now a musical collaborator.”
Khalid added of Bree: “She has always been a superstar in my eyes and I’m beyond excited to share this moment and collaboration with someone I can call a genuine friend.”
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’
fbq(‘init’, ‘752905198150451’);
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);
