Blog: No Rock And Roll Fun

Although Google have rushed to remove it from the Chrome store, for a while there, you could grab a tool which would allow you to download mp3 files direct from the Spotify servers . The tool has been yanked from the store, but is still floating about on the web; Spotify say they're aware of "the issue" and are working on a fix. Although you'd still be able to hijack the audio as it passes to your speakers, whatever fix you put in place. [Thanks to Michael M] -- [...]

Strange times at Venue Cymru, as Andy Bellis turns up, hands his tickets in, and... doesn't get to see the band. Here's what happened to him , from his Facebook status: We go to a Vaccines gig in Llandudno tonight, queue up for a good half hour and give our tickets at the door. Yes it seems pretty normal that, no? So we're pulled aside to get searched and all that and the security guy asks if I know the lead singer and could I name their 2 albums and some songs. I couldn't [...]

It turns out that ITV's Vicious isn't the most tragic flatshare sitcom currently in progress. There's this one, too : Macaulay Culkin has moved in with Pete Doherty. The 32-year-old actor and the former Libertines rocker first met when they made the ketamine-influenced movie, 'The Wrong Ferrari', together a few years ago and struck up a friendship. Well, there's nothing there that could possibly go wrong, is there? -- Visit No Rock & Roll Fun to comment, complain and kvetch

There's a great post on Richard Williams' blog about his role in Abba's rise to world domination. It even has a walk-on part for The Human League, in the Melody Maker offices: “Sorry, Ian,” I said, “but I really have to listen to this — it’s the new Abba single.” A look of horror crossed his face. The two people with him swung round in amazement. They were Phil Oakey and Joanne Catherall from the Human League, then at the very beginning of their journey to pop stardom. -- [...]

Sorry, what was that, ContactMusic ? Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey renewed their vows in Disneyland because they like to ''dress up''. Let's just raise an eyebrow and move on, shall we? -- Visit No Rock & Roll Fun to comment, complain and kvetch

Perhaps leaving people standing around like chumps for two hours is just now a standard part of the Justin Bieber show ? -- Visit No Rock & Roll Fun to comment, complain and kvetch

Yes, Tame Impala. Yes, at Triple J. Yes, covering Outkast: -- Visit No Rock & Roll Fun to comment, complain and kvetch

The most-read stories from across No Rock this week: 1. The Stone Roses tire of Liam Gallagher 2. Music writers get paid: Uncool 3. Thom Yorke is rude to Ronan Keating 4. Peter Andre bravely carries on after JLS split 5. ContactMusic suddenly notices something about Daft Punk 6. KT Tunstall thinks people assume she's gay because of her braces 7. That last Mark And Lard in full 8. Tatu don't know why people think they're [...]

A quick note on the passing of the holiday camp iteration of All Tomorrow's Parties, and two perspectives on it. Catriona Gray in the New Statesman sees a positive: Founder Barry Hogan’s desire to preserve the festival’s authenticity – by calling a halt to it before it has a chance to stale or mutate into another commercial-driven affair – is manifested in his unusual choice of headliner for the final weekend: eighties alt-rock band Loop, who are temporarily reforming for the event. The Quietus , though, suggests it might have been [...]

The spirits which kicked in to start a die-back on the UK's overloaded festival circuit are back again this year, with not even the prospect of My Bloody Valentine being able to shift tickets for the Hop Festival : [Promoter Vince] Power said: "We have worked very hard to try to make it work but it has proved too much a of mountain to climb and despite fighting hard, circumstances are such that based on poor ticket sales and the forecast selling rate substantial losses would be made. "It is a surprise for us that [...]

Jeff Hanneman, one of the founders of Slayer, has died. CBC has gathered a collection of fellow rockers reactions . Interestingly, most were indistinguishable from the sort of tribute you'd see if Jeff from the Sandwich Shop died: Just heard the sad news about Jeff Hanneman of Slayer.My condolences to his family,the band and all his friends and fans..RIP — Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx) May 3, 2013 Our condolence to the entire @ slayer family #RIPJeff RT @ [...]

This is Pins, playing yesterday (I think it was yesterday) in the Parr Street Studios for Bidolito : -- Visit No Rock & Roll Fun to comment, complain and kvetch

Contact Music has breaking news : -- Visit No Rock & Roll Fun to comment, complain and kvetch

The 20 most-played tracks on TV commercials last year? It's a chart : Position Work Title Writer Advert Performed By 1 Over There George M. Cohan Go Compare N/A 2 Y.M.C.A Edward Willis, Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo Confused.com N/A 3 Eliza's Aria Elena Kats-Chernin Lloyd's TSB Elena Kats-Chernin (Wild Swans ballet) 4 Spinnin' Mike Lindsay, [...]

Liam Gallagher. Well known for writing verbal cheques that bounce, and I fear this one will prove equally valueless , but he's threatening to quit if... something: He said: “If we’re barking up the wrong tree with this record, I don’t know if I can be ar*ed with barking up it again. “I’ll never be a plumber, I’ll never be a fashion designer. “Maybe I’d just sail off into the distance and enjoy my life, instead of worrying about what some spotty little t*** from Hastings thinks about the record.” Oh, people's poet, [...]

Here's some heartwarming news: Liam Gallagher's children are like other children : He said: ''It's got to the stage where my kids sneak off and go, 'You're not walking with me man.' I'm like, 'Hey, I'm a f***ing cool dad!' 'No you're not.' 'I f***ing am. All your mates think I'm cool anyway...' 'They think you're a bit of a d**k actually' It seems I've got a lot of work to do.'' It's not entirely clear what "work" Liam plans to make himself seem cool to thirteen year-olds; I'm hoping it's wearing a baseball cap back-to-front and [...]

"How has Peter Andre out of ITV2's Peter Andre Walks Around A Bit reacted to the news that JLS are splitting?" That's the question that keeps me awake at night, and I'm sure you've felt it too. Police estimate that seventy-four per cent of road accidents this last week have been caused by drowsy drivers, who had spent the night awake wondering. Wonder no more, for Andre has broken his silence : Writing in his new! magazine column, he said: ''I'm sad that JLS have split up, but I can understand why they [...]

Caroline McGuire meets Little Mix : Leigh-Anne: A lot of girls tell us we’re their inspiration and role models and that is just from us being ourselves. I think parents see us as their kids’ role models as well because of the inspirational lyrics that we write. Maybe that’s part of it — they love Change Your Life out there because of the message it has. We’ve had parents come up and thank us for giving their children someone to look up to. That’s an amazing feeling. Really? Really ? -- [...]

A new music magazine? In 2013? That pays its contributors ? Can it really be? Yes, it can: introducing Uncool : Here’s what you’ll find inside: Punk Rock Princesses: A Case For Something Corporate by Devon Maloney Dangerously In Love: My Decade With Beyonce by Jamieson Cox Repeat Offenders: Pressing Play, Over And Over Again by Harley Brown Guiltless Pleasures: Imagining A Post-Snob World by David Greenwald, Simon Vozick-Levinson and Lindsay Zoladz Miss You Like Crazy: Canada’s Lost Boy Bands by Melody Lau He Ain’t Even Know It: On Rick Ross, [...]

For the first time since their cashback, sorry, comeback, it's possible to feel sorry for The Stone Roses: They've got Liam Gallagher troubles : A source close to both camps said: “It’s all gone a bit sour recently with Liam and The Roses. There was an ugly incident in Dubai when Liam said a few things that were totally out of order. It didn’t go down well at all. “Ian, John and Reni are all low-profile lads and don’t subscribe to aggro of any sort. “They were also getting a little bit p***ed [...]