WITH their 13th studio album Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait out today, Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones finds himself in a reflective mood.
And in an exclusive chat with Bizarre, the singer says every day has been a wild ride since their first album in 1997.
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“We’ve had the opportunity to go on the road with all of our idols,” Kelly tells me.
“We were very, very lucky to be on David Bowie’s last tour.
The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2 – they all took us on tour. You can’t beat that.
From being taken to see the Stones at a gig in 1989 by my brothers, when they were buying me a bootleg T-shirt, to then opening for the band a few years later – it’s just all a bit surreal, still.
Oh and Ronnie Wood being in my wedding band, it’s just f***ing [ridiculous] really.
They are the moments I will take with me, because they are things that I thought were never achievable.”
Opening up about their back catalogue, Kelly explains: “Being a songwriter has many sides.
When I wrote the solo album Inevitable, Incredible, the process was really deep, and not a very pleasant experience.
It was deeply emotional, cathartic and kind of unnerving at times because you didn’t know where those emotions were coming from.
It’s about being as honest and vulnerable and truthful as I can be. I don’t try to edit myself as I go along.”
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Of the new album, he adds: “Some of the stuff on this record is uplifting, anthemic and feel-good and then there are other songs that are introspective.”
August 2027 marks the 30th anniversary of their debut album Word Gets Around, but Kelly admits they won’t be throwing a massive bash.
“I’m not sure if we will make a big deal of it,” Kelly explains.
“It seems like every two years there is an anniversary for one record or another.
I’ve always tried to move forward rather than move back.
I’m proud of what Word Gets Around is.
I’m really grateful that I continue to write songs and have made 13 albums and have 180 songs to pick and choose from every night.”
Katy’s flying high . . . again
There was no wiping the grin off Katy Perry’s face as she spread her wings again to launch her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico City.
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After going into space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, she beamed in a sculpted green corset during the show, which also saw her elevated inside a sphere and flying around the arena on a robotic butterfly.
Butterflies featured heavily in the imagery for her latest album 143, and she had one in the colours of the Mexican flag on her microphone as she performed.
She has a busy summer of shows ahead, with the tour taking her across North and South America as well as Australia before heading to Europe.
Katy will play shows across the country in October – and by the look of these snaps, it will be worth the wait.
Geri’s not mad keen
Geri Halliwell-Horner has dissed Madonna, saying the superstar’s continued releasing of music makes her not want to get back in the studio with the Spice Girls.
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Ginger Spice kept schtum on whether there will be a reunion in 2026 for the 30th anniversary of their debut single Wannabe, as previously teased by Melanie C, but suggested there is unlikely to be more music from the girl group.
Asked on Times Radio whether they would do so, Geri explained: “If it felt relevant, but if not . . . either way is OK.
From a fan perspective, let’s say Madonna. I’m a massive fan and want to hear Holiday and Into the Groove. I love Ray of Light, but have I connected to her later stuff? No.
But she has every right to do that as an artist. It’s the relevancy. If it felt relevant then I would.”
As for whether there will be anything else with Melanie, Emma Bunton, Mel B and potentially even Victoria Beckham, she added: “I love the Spice Girls as a whole movement, the tribe of us, and the individual members.
When we come to that conclusion of what that is, it comes from all of us.”
Nicole Scherzinger found a novel way for the show to go on – by singing through . . . a megaphone.
She has been getting rave reviews as Norma Desmond in Broadway show Sunset Boulevard, but had to cancel Wednesday’s matinee after the sound system failed.
But Nicole was determined fans would not be too disappointed and grabbed a megaphone and belted out the show’s song With One Look.
What’s up with Lorde
She was part of Charli XCX’s Brat summer last year and now Lorde is back with her own music.
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The Kiwi singer has dropped her pulsating comeback single What Was That, created with Dan Nigro who has collaborated with Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan, on a day packed with new releases.
Jessie J has given her first taste of sixth studio album with the song No Secrets, new British boyband Absnt Mind have dropped single Wardrobe and grime star Native has put out a new version of his fan-favourite track Block ahead of his UK shows next month.
Zara Larsson has made a punchy return with Pretty Ugly, while Eurovision winner Nemo has put out the single Casanova ahead of an interval performance at the contest next month.
Our Eurovision hopefuls Remember Monday will talk about their lives in a BBC special with Graham Norton.
When Graham Met Remember Monday airs on May 9, and the Eurovision superfan will quiz the trio ahead of next month’s contest in Basel, where they will perform entry What The Hell Just Happened?
You got this, Char
Call The Midwife’s Charlotte Ritchie is all dressed up to celebrate the fifth and final series of Netflix hit You.
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The Brit actress plays Kate, the wife of Penn Badgley’s murderous Joe Goldberg, in the drama, and admitted the massive role has taken a toll as now millions more people around the globe know who she is.
She said: “I really struggled with it for a year or two – that feeling that you’re known but people don’t really know you, and wanting you to live up to their expectations.
I’ve had talking therapy for the last few years, and it’s helped me process it.”
With You returning to Netflix yesterday, she added of her character’s cold emotions: “I used to worry that people would think I was like Kate, and then I felt like I had to prove that I wasn’t.
Now I know it doesn’t matter.
I don’t have time in each interaction for them to understand the whole of me and for me to understand the whole of them.”
Ready to C-rock ‘n’ roll
He counts professionals from Strictly and Dancing On Ice among his fans and now you too can get expert advice from star fitness influencer Alex Crockford.
The hunk, who has more than 400k followers on Instagram, has relaunched his popular fitness app with workout programmes, guided meditations, nutrition plans and lifestyle support.
He said: “The rebrand to the Alex Crockford App is because this is so much more than a fitness platform – it’s your space to build a strong body, a balanced mind and a confident, happy life.
When health and wellbeing feel simple, enjoyable, and accessible – that’s when the magic happens.”
I definitely need to take a leaf out of Alex’s book.
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