Queen’s Brian May remembers Freddie Mercury’s final days: “I never ever saw him cry”

Queen‘s Brian May has opened up about Freddie Mercury‘s last days and reflected on how he “never ever saw him cry”.

READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Brian May

May appeared in a new interview with AXS TV, and discussed the legacy of the band and how the group essentially gave it up after the passing of the iconic frontman.

“We’d always said that if one of us goes, that’s it. So Roger and I both went out kind of grieving to the max and saying it’s over, we don’t even want to talk about it for quite a long time,” the guitarist shared.

He then went on to speak about Mercury and what he was like during his final days. “We made the last album, the ‘Made In Heaven’ album with the tracks that Freddie had left us to play with and it became a real labour of love because he left some lovely little bits and pieces.

“He was very undramatic about it,” May shared, adding: “I never ever saw him cry or go you know self-pity. He never did that, he was like ‘Let’ just do it, lets keep doing stuff. Freddy was always inspiring. If he was here now, we’d be doing what we always do I’m sure.”

May also discussed Adam Lambert’s role within the band and added that the singer always provides a fresh view on things and is not afraid to be vocal about things they should try. “The songs are not fossils, they’re alive and evolving with Adam which is great. Sometimes he blows my mind,” May said.

In other news, Queen Extravaganza, the official tribute band of rock legends Queen, have announced that they are set to embark on a UK and Ireland tour in 2025.

The tour, which will see them visit 25 venues next year, will mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. As is detailed on their website, Queen Extravaganza is produced with the full backing of Roger Taylor and May. Visit here to purchase tickets and view a full list of tour dates.

The post Queen’s Brian May remembers Freddie Mercury’s final days: “I never ever saw him cry” appeared first on NME.

KARA’s Gyuri sustains facial fractures, to undergo surgery amid group comeback

KARA singer Gyuri will be halting all scheduled activities in order to undergo surgery after sustaining facial injuries.

READ MORE: ENHYPEN – ‘Romance: Untold’ review: funky, sultry and incredibly addictive

The veteran idol’s label, Big Boss Entertainment, made the announcement via Sports Dongah on July 13, sharing that Gyuri had sustained both a cheekbone and orbital fracture.

After undergoing a medical examination, medical personnel deemed that Gyuri would require surgery to patch up the fractures, recovery for which will take about “four to five weeks”, per translations by Soompi.

“After careful discussion between the actress and our agency, we decided to have her avoid strenuous activity during the treatment period and focus fully on her recovery,” the statement continued. “Therefore, we are letting you know that [Park Gyuri] will not be carrying out her activities scheduled for the month of July.”

It is currently unclear whether Gyuri will be able to join the rest of KARA for promotions and scheduled activities for their forthcoming comeback, a new single album titled ‘I DO I DO’ scheduled to drop next week on July 24.

KARA’s forthcoming music marks their first release in nearly two years as a group with the release of ‘When I Move’ in 2022. That album was both a celebration of the band’s 15th anniversary as well as their first reunion in seven years with a never-before-seen line-up consisting of both past and current members of the group.

In other K-pop news, SEVENTEEN’s Woozi has refuted a claim made by BBC in an article that alleged the boyband had used AI to write their music. “All of SEVENTEEN’s music is written and composed by human creators,” he wrote on a Story uploaded to his personal Instagram account.

The post KARA’s Gyuri sustains facial fractures, to undergo surgery amid group comeback appeared first on NME.

DIØN’s ‘Traffic’ Rework Becomes Verknipt ArenA 2024 Anthem

DIØN has rapidly become more popular name in particular in the world of Hard Dance and Techno. His association with Verknipt has been a key highlight in his career, debuting on their ADE stage in 2021 and quickly becoming an integral part of their global shows. His ROUGH MATERIAL label showcase at Paradiso sold out in minutes, and his epic 10-hour set at Thuishaven in June further cemented his place in the industry. DIØN has garnered support from genre superstars like Amelie Lens and Fatima Hajji, making him a notable figure in the techno scene.

DIØN’s rework of Tiësto’s ‘Traffic’ stands out as a serious achievement. He masterfully blends the iconic elements of the original track with his unique style, featuring aggressive synths, powerful basslines, and intense percussion. The cover, which has been named the official anthem for the Verknipt ArenA 2024 show, resonates with both longtime fans of the original and new listeners, showcasing DIØN’s ability to honor the past while pushing the genre forward.

DIØN’s journey into electronic music started in his childhood. Growing up, he often listened to his father’s Tiësto CDs during car rides, with ‘Traffic’ being a standout track. This early exposure fueled his passion for techno, eventually leading him to pursue a career in music production and develop his signature hard-hitting sound.

The post DIØN’s ‘Traffic’ Rework Becomes Verknipt ArenA 2024 Anthem first appeared on Daily Beat.

What We’re Listening To Playlist for 7/08/2024

What We’re Listening To Playlist for 7/08/2024: beabadoobee, My Best Unbeaten Brother, Guided By Voices, Killer Mike, and more! Album Artwork credit via original artists Our What We’re Listening To Playlist is just that. It’s the best music of what we’re listening to from the week all gathered in one place. With this playlist, we […]

The post What We’re Listening To Playlist for 7/08/2024 appeared first on The Daily Music Report.

Karol G & Abel Pintos Sing National Anthems at 2024 Copa América Final Match

After a more than one-hour-long delay due to a mass of non-ticket holders forcing themselves into the stadium on Sunday (July 14), the 2024 Copa America final match — where Argentina and Colombia face each other on the field for the championship trophy — officially began at 9:15 p.m. ET.

As tradition holds, the national anthems of each country were performed ahead of the big game: Karol G helmed Colombia’s national anthem, and Abel Pintos sang Argentina’s national anthem. Videos of the two acts rehearsing at the stadium circulated on social media early Sunday, confirming both of their performances.

Pintos — dressed in a royal blue suit — performed the anthem backed by a passionate and emotional team who sang along. Meanwhile, Karol rocked the signature Colombian jersey and a black leather skirt with knee-high boots as she was accompanied by a roaring crowd.

Pintos and Karol were not the only music stars present at the soccer tournament. Maluma, Feid, Ryan Castr and Blessd, were also spotted at the stands in support of their national team.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Shakira will perform during the halftime show, marking the first time that the Colombian hitmaker will perform at the oldest international soccer tournament. “Get ready to feel the greatness in a show that will make the continent vibrate!” read the official announcement.

On game night, the Colombian global star expressed in her Instagram story, “See you tonight at the Copa America final. I’m nervous!”

Both the Colombian and Argentine national teams have proven to be the best in the field since the soccer tournament began on June 20, eliminating other strong countries such as Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela. Now, renowned athletes such as Colombia’s James Rodriguez and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are battling out on the field for the 2024 championship title.

Up to now, Argentina has won 15 Copa titles, while Colombia nabbed one in 2001.

Karol G performs the Colombian national anthem at the Copa America final ??❤️

Watch ? https://t.co/29P7FK9do1#CA2024 #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/tm7Zz9NRLL

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) July 15, 2024

Paul Kelly To Attack America With First Tour Since 2017

Paul Kelly is preparing to return to the US after a seven-year absence, playing a bunch of solo shows with his nephew Dan Kelly and as the special guest for American songwriters Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin.

Kelly will tour throughout September and October, hitting Ottawa, Springfield, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Joliet, Nashville, Knoxville, Greensboro, Richmond, Charlotte, Columbus, Jacksonville, Mobile, Fayetteville, Kansas City, Wichita, Los Angeles, New York, and Austin. You can find all the dates below.

At the time of writing, Kelly hasn’t yet made a statement about his return to the US. The Aussie troubadour will head across the pond with a new album, Poetry, under his belt.

The record contains 24 tracks of music set to words penned by legendary writers such as William Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Sylvia Plath, Langston Hughes, William Butler Yeats, Thomas Hardy, and Dylan Thomas.

Poetry follows the release of last year’s People, an album about real-life characters, including former Prime Minister of Australia Paul Keating, outlaw Ned Kelly, and legendary cricketers Shane Warne and Donald Bradman.

Earlier this year, Kelly ticked another continent off the list of places he’s performed: Antarctica.

Sharing a series of images on social media, Kelly played songs on his acoustic guitar to an intimate audience; everyone decked out in puffer jackets and beanies as he performed on a boat. He also shared images of glaciers and the gorgeous Antarctic Ocean.

In the caption, Kelly wrote, “Just got off the ship. Not your average trip. PK”.

With Antarctica under his belt, Kelly has performed in Australia (of course), the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Cambodia, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Timor-Leste (per Setlist.fm statistics).

In November, Paul Kelly was inducted into the SA Music Hall of Fame. A month after that milestone, Australian streaming service BINGE unveiled the first official preview for How To Make Gravy – the feature film based on Kelly’s titular 1996 classic – to commemorate the annual celebration known as Gravy Day (21 December).

“Since its release in 1996,” a synopsis reads, “[How To Make Gravy] has achieved near-mythological status in the Australian musical canon and has cemented itself in the Christmas traditions of millions of families.”

Production of the film began in October of last year, with Kelly confirming the project in May.

PAUL KELLY – TOUR DATES: *with Keb’Mo’ & Shawn Colvin #Paul Kelly with Dan Kelly

09.11 Ottawa, ON @ Lansdowne Park/CityFolk 2024#

09.14 Springfield, IL @ UIS Performing Arts Center*

09.15 Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Symphony Center*

09.16 Grand Rapids, MI @ Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park*

09.18 Joliet, IL @ Rialto Square Theatre*

09.20 Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music Center*

09.21 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium*

09.22 Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theater*

09.24 Greensboro, NC @ Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts*

09.25 Richmond, VA @ Dominion Energy Center/Carpenter Theatre*

09.27 Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium*

09.28 Columbus, GA @ RiverCenter For The Performing Arts*

10.01 Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theater*

10.02 Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre*

10.04 Fayetteville, AR @ Walton Arts Center/Baum Walker Hall*

10.05 Kansas City, MO @ Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts*

10.06 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion Ballroom*

10.07 Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom#

10.09 New York, NY @ TBA#

10.11 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival#

Embedded Content