Beatles 'mentor' Tony Sheridan dies
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...s_1484377a.jpgSheridan played at the 50th anniversary of the legendary Hamburg Star club last year
Ringo Starr has paid tribute to Tony Sheridan, an early supporter of The Beatles, who has died aged 72.
During their early days as the Silver Beatles in Hamburg in the 1960s, they performed as Sheridan's backing band.
Starr wrote on his Twitter: "Goodbye to Tony Sheridan... I had a great month 1960-61, playing with him was great."
Described as a catalyst in the Beatles' rise to fame, they played on Sheridan's recording of My Bonnie.
After being spotted by producer Bert Kaempfert, it was their first studio session for Polydor as The Beat Brothers in June 1961.
Later that year, teenage fan Raymond Jones requested the song in Brian Epstein's record store. Epstein promised to order it and later became the Beatles' manager, whom many still regard as the "fifth Beatle".
Returning to Germany in 1961, the young Beatles and Sheridan continued their collaboration and - at Kaempfert's instigation - recorded seven tracks.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...4_65951793.jpgThis year marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' debut album Please, Please Me
A 1962 show at the Star Club in Hamburg, where the Liverpool band played many of their early shows, was a watershed performance - featuring Starr on drums - and helped catapult the Beatles to fame.
According to reports in the German media, Sheridan died on Saturday 16 February following a long illness.
Sir Paul McCartney has issued a statement on his website. He said: "Tony was a good guy who we knew and worked with from the early days in Hamburg. We regularly watched his late night performances and admired his style. He will be missed."
In the early 1960s, the singer-songwriter toured with rock 'n roll pioneers Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran.
He had German Top 10 singles Let's Slop and Skinny Minnie and with the Fab Four's early commercial success, My Bonnie charted in both Britain and the US.
During his later years, Sheridan lived with his third wife, Anna Sievers, in a farm house in the north of Germany. She died of cancer in 2011.
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Springsteen to play new Leeds Arena
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Bruce Springsteen specially requested to play a gig at the new Leeds venue, the city council said
Rock star Bruce Springsteen is to "road test" the new Leeds Arena in July ahead of its official opening in September, Leeds City Council has revealed.
Springsteen made a "special request" to try out the 13,500-seat arena in a one-off show as part of his Wrecking Ball world tour, the council said.
The gig will take place at the new £60m city centre venue on Wednesday 24 July.
Springsteen's request to play the Arena was "unexpected but very welcome", said council leader Keith Wakefield.
'Sheer calibre'Springsteen, famous for hits such as Born To Run and Born in the USA, will be joined by his E Street band for the Leeds gig, the council confirmed.
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Country singer Mindy McCready dies
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Mindy McCready performing I'm Still Here in 2010
US country singer Mindy McCready has died in a suspected suicide, according to police.
The 37-year-old died from an "apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound", Arkansas sheriff Marty Moss said.
Her death comes weeks after that of her boyfriend and father of one of her two sons, record producer David Wilson, whose death is being investigated.
The singer had attempted to take her own life twice before and was known to have problems with substance abuse.
The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office said McCready's body would be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy, adding that "the matter will be fully investigated."
She recorded five studio albums, and scored 12 hits on the US country music charts, including Ten Thousand Angels and Guys Do It All The Time.
Her sole UK chart appearance came in 1998, when Oh Romeo reached number 41.
Her fifth album, I'm Still Here, was released in 2010.
'Touched my soul'Police said they had been called to the singer's house after reports of gunshots on Sunday afternoon.
They found the body of Malinda Gayle McCready on the front porch. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
TMZ reported she had shot her dog before turning the gun on herself.
After the death of her partner in January, McCready had told NBC's Dateline programme that she had "never gone through anything this painful.
"He didn't just touch my heart, he touched my soul."
She denied any involvement in Wilson's death.
Tributes have flooded in for the singer, with Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks saying: "Too much tragedy to overcome. RIP Mindy McCready."
Fellow country singer Carrie Underwood added: "I grew up listening to Mindy McCready... So sad for her family tonight. Many prayers are going out to them."
Drummer's flying fear disrupts tour
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By Steve Holden Newsbeat reporter
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Blink-182's Travis Barker has announced he's skipping the band's tour in Australia due to his fear of flying.
The drummer says he's still suffering from the effects of a plane crash in 2008 which killed four people.
Barker was one of two survivors when a private plane burst into flames during an aborted take-off.
Writing on his Facebook page, he said: "I still haven't gotten over the horrific events that took place the last time I flew."
The crash killed two of his friends and he spent several months in hospital with injuries.
Fear of flyingIn a statement, all three members of Blink-182 said: "The band knew the chances of Travis overcoming his fear of flying, which was magnified after the horrible plane crash in 2008, would be a challenge, but we wanted to play for our fans in Australia nonetheless.
"The three of us tried all measures to get us all there in full form."
Barker will be replaced on the tour by Brooks Wackerman from Bad Religion and Tenacious D.
Previously, Mark Hoppus had spoken about how the band juggle their international tour commitments with Barker's fear of planes.
He said: "For Travis to get over here [the UK] he takes a bus from Los Angeles to New York gets on a boat then gets on a bus and travels like that."
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UK Top 20 Charts April 2014
UK Top 20 Charts April 2014 (Full Songs)
Songs -
20. Martin Garrix - Wizard 1:15
19. Christina Perri - Human 3:29
18. Dvbbs & Borgeus Ft. Tinie Tempah - Tsunami 7:34
17. Idina Menzel - Let It Go 10:12
16. The Chainsmokers - #SELFIE 14:03
15. Avicii - Addicted To You 17:46
14. sam smith - money on my mind 20:11
13. Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne, Tyga - Loyal 23:27
12. Paolo Nutini - Scream 27:57
11. Katy Perry - Dark Horse ft. Juicy J 31:15
10. 5 Seconds Of Summer - She Looks So Perfect 34:50
9. Enrique Iglesias - I'm A Freak feat. Pitbull 38:13
8. Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - Rather Be 41:51
7. John Martin - Anywhere For You 45:56
6. Pharrell Williams - Happy 49:37
5. Faul & Wad Ad vs. Pnau - Changes 53:29
4. Route 94 Feat. Jess Glynne - My Love 56:53
3. Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones - I Got U 1:01:15
2. John Legend - All of Me 1:06:00
1. Aloe Blacc - The Man 1:10:29