Will Simpson
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Articles by Will Simpson
“I said, 'tomorrow I’m going to go into the studio, find some place, make up a tune and make this record'. So I said to Jeff ‘do you want to help?’": The story of the Travelling Wilburys, the star-studded supergroup that made it all look fun
3 hours ago At that price, it’s a must. About a year and a half ago, I chopped off approximately 13 inches of my hair. Honestly, it’s never felt healthier, but from the second I made the change, I’ve been on the lookout for products to help grow it back to its long length. So, as a shopping editor who spends …
“George didn’t want it to be so overtly serious”: The story of the Travelling Wilburys, the supergroup that made it all look fun
The Travelling Wilburys, a supergroup consisting of George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty, was formed in 1988 over a last-minute recording session for a B-side track, eventually leading to the release of their successful debut album in October of the same year.
“Is NOT going to happen... Nil response. I speak with many close to her, including fam, but have not had a single syllable back in over two decades”: William Orbit has written a sequel to Ray Of Light but he says Madonna hasn’t responded
February 28, 2025. Madonna’s Ray Of Light album was released 28 years ago this month and its producer William Orbit has said that he’s written the music for a ‘successor’ album to it. Unfortunately, he said he’s had zero response from Madonna. In a Facebook post, the 69-year-old producer has said he’s responding after being “asked constantly” about working with Madonna again.
“Push the reset button on the debate on AI and copyright”: The music industry breathes a sigh of relief as plans to let AI firms pilfer copyrighted material are dropped
Elton John and Dua Lipa were prominent campaigners against plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted works without permission. Some good news regarding AI in music. The government has announced that it is dropping plans to let tech firms train their AI models on copyrighted works without artists’ permission. You may recall that at the end of 2024, the then-new Labour government opened a consultation on copyright and AI.
“I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to jam on some Isley Brothers?’ Nobody laughed”: Les Claypool remembers his audition for Metallica
Les Claypool of Primus performs at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre on July 16, 2025 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Les Claypool has been talking to the Guardian about Primus, his unusual career and the new record he’s made with Sean Lennon, which he’s given the typically head-scratching title The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg Of Empathy.
“You’d have Mark talking about strings, Our Kid talking about amplifiers. Whereas me and Bez would just walk in and be ourselves. So nobody wanted to talk to them”: Shaun Ryder on life in the Happy Mondays
Shaun Ryder attends The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026. Shaun Ryder has written his memoir. Yes, another one – his first, Twisting My Melon came out in 2011, but, hey, that other wayward Mancunian icon, George Best, penned no less than FIVE during his lifetime.
Unwatched and unloved: Two-thirds of recorded footage from gigs is never played back
A fan uses her phone to record Colombian singer Shakira. Here’s a stat you probably won’t find that surprising. You know the footage that so many of us record on our phones when we’re at gigs? Less than a third of it is ever watched back. The research was conducted by Samsung. On average, UK gig-goers record 12 and a half minutes worth of video at every concert we attend. But only 31% of those recordings are ever watched back.
“We support the Government’s decision”: Plans to let AI firms pilfer copyrighted material are dropped
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Elton John and Dua Lipa were prominent campaigners against plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted works without permission. | Credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Some good news regarding AI in music. The government has announced that it is dropping plans to let tech firms train their AI models on copyrighted works without artists’ permission.
“I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to jam on some Isley Brothers?’ Nobody laughed”: Les Claypool remembers his audition for Metallica
5 hours ago Disney Cruise Line has announced the name and new details on its next ship, the Disney Believe, launching in late 2027. The fourth Wish class ship name reveal comes on the heels of Disney launching its eighth ship, the Disney Adventure, from Singapore earlier this month. The Disney Believe will be the …
Unwatched and unloved: Two-thirds of recorded footage from gigs is never played back
Unwatched and unloved: Two-thirds of recorded footage from gigs is never played back Here’s a stat you probably won’t find that surprising. You know the footage that so many of us record on our phones when we’re at gigs? Less than a …
Would you buy “one of the greatest rock albums of all time” from this man for $2 million?: Meet the ex-Kiss guitarist asking one lucky fan to pay to manufacture and sell his album
Vinnie Vincent Invasion logo. The ongoing controversy and chaos surrounding the Wu Tang Clan’s one-copy only album, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin hasn’t deterred another artist from perusing an equally crazy strategy in terms of album delivery. That individual is Vinnie Vincent, one-time guitarist with Kiss. Just before Christmas, Vincent announced the idea for his brilliantly-titled new album Guitarmageddon. He would sell the lead single Ride The Serpent for $200 each – all 1,000 copies, on CD.
“We do not ever want it to be like we’re going through the motions or we’re having to run on empty. We’re going to do 20 shows each year. No more, no less”: Radiohead suggest they’ll play short-term residencies in other continents
Thom Yorke, Philip Selway, Jonny Greenwood, and Clive Deamer of Radiohead perform at Madison Square Garden on July 10, 2018 in New York City. It looks like Radiohead’s recent run of residency shows won’t be a one-off and that the band have more planned. But not until 2027. That’s according to no less an authority than Ed O’Brien, who in a new interview with Rolling Stone has said that the band are going to repeat the idea in other continents – in North America, South America and in Asia/Oceania.
“Fans are consuming music from the artists they love in more ways than ever”: US vinyl sales hit the $1 billion mark for the first time in over 40 years
A display with exclusive edition vinyl's for Taylor Swift's new album, Life of a Showgirl. The vinyl revival still shows no sign of stopping – it’s been reported that US sales of records have topped $1 billion for the first time since 1983. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sales of the format totalled $1.04 billion in 2025, with 46.8 million records sold. That’s the nineteenth consecutive year of growth. And also a rise of 7.9% from the 2024 total of 43.4 million.
“I urge them to reconsider and step up to help the next generation of talent”: Minister’s message to Live Nation’s dawdling over £1 arena and stadium levy
The Ticketmaster logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration. The UK's Creative Industries Minister has called on Live Nation to “step up” and help Britain’s ailing grassroots music scene by paying into the arena and stadium levy, and said that a failure to do so will force the government to make it mandatory. The minister Ian Murray was speaking to NME about the levy – a £1 surcharge on tickets for arena and stadium gigs that goes back to supporting grassroots venues.
“I urge them to reconsider”: Minister’s message to Live Nation over £1 arena and stadium levy
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images/NurPhoto The UK's Creative Industries Minister has called on Live Nation to “step up” and help Britain’s ailing grassroots music scene by paying into the arena and stadium levy, and said that a failure to do so will force the government to make it mandatory.
“At least three albums with people who are a few of my favourite artists of all time... I’d say 95 percent of the work I’ve done was unpaid”: James Blake on the hit and miss nature of his production work
James Blake performs during the inaugural 2024 Gazebo Festival at Waterfront Park on May 25, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. James Blake released his seventh album, Trying Times, last week. But according to the Enfield-born producer there’s a whole lot more of his work that hasn’t yet seen light of day – indeed in a new interview with Rolling Stone he’s revealed that “at least” three albums he’s made with other artists are still unreleased.
"Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for a record-breaking $3.3 million
AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 09: Displayed in public for the first time is John Lennon's piano, used to write numerous Beatles songs and part of Indianapolis Colts CEO and Owner Jim Irsay's "Jim Irsay Collection" during a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 9, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images). The further the initial impact of the Beatles recedes into history, the higher the prices for Fabs-related memorabilia rise.
“Was Courtney impossible, difficult, a drug addict, terrifying, and even mean sometimes? Yes, she was. But it took me one second to understand that she was also a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on her time in Hole and why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
4 hours ago Can a generation of graduates frustrated by their economic prospects change American labor politics? This is an age of mutinies. For more than a decade in America, they’ve come so thick and fast that they trip over one another: the Tea Party, Occupy, Black Lives Matter, the Resistance, the …
“Was Courtney impossible, difficult, a drug addict, terrifying, and even mean sometimes? Yes, she was. But it took me one second to understand that she was also a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on her time in Hole and why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
Melissa Auf der Maur and Courtney Love in 1998. Melissa Auf der Maur, the Canadian bassist best known for her stint in Courtney Love’s Hole, has written a memoir, and has been talking to the Guardian about it and her time at the centre of 1990s alt rock. She stepped, knowingly, into the eye of a hurricane; the biggest rock story in a generation.
“It took me one second to understand that she's a survivor”: Melissa Auf der Maur on why she’s “proud” of Courtney Love
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Melissa Auf der Maur, the Canadian bassist best known for her stint in Courtney Love’s Hole, has written a memoir, and has been talking to the Guardian about it and her time at the centre of 1990s alt rock. She stepped, knowingly, into the eye of a hurricane; the biggest rock story in a generation.
"Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for a record-breaking $3.3 million
"Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for a record-breaking $3.3 million The further the initial impact of the Beatles recedes into history, the higher the prices for Fabs-related memorabilia rise. In the past week we’ve …
"Lot after lot, we felt like we were making history”: John Lennon’s Broadway piano goes for £2.5 million
A piano once used by John Lennon sold for a record-breaking £2.5 million, the highest price ever paid for Beatles-related memorabilia. Other items sold at the Christie's auction included Ringo Starr's Ludwig drum kit for $2.4 million and a drum head from his kit for $2.9 million. The most expensive item sold at the auction was David Gilmour's Black Strat guitar, which fetched £11 million, making it the priciest guitar ever sold at an auction.
“It was horrifying. All week, we were rehearsing. It was perfect. I don’t know exactly what happened”: Alex Warren on his Grammys night in-ear monitor mishap
Alex Warren performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards. Alex Warren, the sometime YouTuber turned pop star, has been talking about what happened at this year’s Grammys ceremony, when he was part of a medley with his fellow nominees for Best New Artist. Warren performed a portion of his megahit Ordinary, but his in-ear monitors weren’t working, and so his section wasn’t quite as jaw-dropping as it should have been. Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Warren said: “It was horrifying.
“It was horrifying. I don't know what happened”: Alex Warren on his Grammys night in-ear monitor mishap
Alex Warren experienced technical difficulties with his in-ear monitors during his performance at the Grammys, causing him to struggle to hear himself properly. Warren speculated that the interference from the audience's phones may have been the cause of the monitor issue. Despite receiving comforting words from fellow artist Chappell Roan, Warren felt that the incident had somewhat dampened his experience at the Grammys.
Always crashing in the same car: Major album releases lead to increased traffic fatalities
Untypical car accident on the street. A new study has found that the number of road traffic accidents increases on days that a major album has been released. The paper - entitled Smartphones, Online Music Streaming and Traffic Fatalities - has been produced by the National Bureau of Economic Research in the US, with research being conducted by a team from Harvard Medical School. How did they do that, we hear you ask? Well, Spotify streaming data, you see.
“I was cacking it, I really didn’t know if it was going to work or not. We did Creep by Radiohead and I noticed I was crying halfway through": Alex James on Britpop Classical, Blur and the prospect of returning to Coachella
Alex James of Blur performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival . Alex James is taking his Britpop Classical charabanc on the road this week, starting off with a date at the Royal Albert Hall tonight (March 11) and he’s been talking to the NME about the project and the prospect of another Blur reunion.
“I shuffled into this big open room, and Tina was there and she was very upset. She said to me, ‘If we get rid of David, would you join the band?’”: Adrian Belew insists he was asked to replace David Byrne in Talking Heads
David Byrne and Adrian Belew of Talking Heads perform at Agora Ballroom in Atlanta Georgia. November 18, 1980. Adrian Belew has had an interesting career that’s taken in session work with everyone from David Bowie to King Crimson to Nine Inch Nails, as well as a long tenure in King Crimson. And in a new interview with Vulture, he’s discussed some of the classic records he’s played on.
Long-lost peak George Michael tour film and live album unearthed and set for release
George Michael in concert, Faith World Tour, Earls Court, London, 10th June 1988. It’s been announced that a new George Michael concert film and live album is in the pipeline and will be released later this year. Directed by the singer’s longtime associates Andy Morahan and David Austin, the concert dates from his Faith tour of 1988 and was shot in Paris at the Palace Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on no less than 14 cameras.
“Who knows what’s next?”: Alex James on Britpop Classical, Blur and prospect of returning to Coachella
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: VALERIE MACON/Getty Alex James is taking his Britpop Classical charabanc on the road this week, starting off with a date at the Royal Albert Hall tonight (March 11) and he’s been talking to the NME about the project and the prospect of another Blur reunion.
“I shuffled into this big open room, and Tina was there and she was very upset. She said to me, ‘If we get rid of David, would you join the band?’”: Adrian Belew insists he was asked to replace David Byrne in Talking Heads
21 hours ago On December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman murdered John Lennon outside of his apartment building, the Dakota, in New York City. “When the car pulled up, and Yoko [Ono] got out, something in the back of my mind was going, ‘Do it, do it, do it,’” Chapman told reporter Jim Gaines a few years after the …
PRS sues Steam for using music without a licence – for 23 years
Logo of video game distribution platform Steam . In the latest skirmish between big tech and the music industry, video game platform Steam is being sued by PRS, the UK's music rights collection authority, for using music without a licence. It’s an action that has been a long time coming. Since launching in 2003, Valve has never obtained a licence for its use of rights-managed music. They’ve had plenty of time to sort it out. Valve - Steam's owner - is a big player in the video games market.
“I didn't say that I think her music was 'boring' or whatever click bait the net is trying to scrape together”: Jack White puts the record straight about Taylor Swift
Jack White attends the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Oh dear. Jack White has got himself in a right old kerfuffle regarding his comments about songwriting and a certain pop megastar. You may recall that yesterday in a Guardian interview about his songwriting, White offered what could be taken as a mild criticism of Taylor Swift’s autobiographical approach to lyric writing.
“Right now I gotta lotta of rehabbing to do”: Jello Biafra has had been hospitalised with a stroke
Jello Biafra performs with Ministry at The Warfield on February 27, 2024. The punk legend Jello Biafra has been hospitalised with a stroke, but is stable. He is well enough to comment about his condition on social media, anyway. His record label Alternative Tentacles announced the news yesterday, saying that on Saturday, the ex-Dead Kennedy suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by high blood pressure.
“I didn't say that I think her music was 'boring' or whatever click bait the net is trying to scrape together”: Jack White puts the record straight about Taylor Swift
Jack White criticizes the 'Taylor Swift way' of songwriting — and 13 other rockers who have weighed in on the pop star's artistry The White Stripes frontman may have incurred the wrath of Swifties with his comments in a recent interview. Jack White may have battled a "Seven Nation Army," but does he know the power of overprotective Swifties? The Detroit rocker seemingly took a shot at Taylor Swift while talking about the …
"Not a step we take lightly": PRS sue Steam for using music without a licence – for 23 years
PRS, the UK's music rights collection authority, is suing video game platform Steam for using music without a licence, despite efforts made over many years to come to an agreement with Valve, the owner of Steam. Valve, the owner of Steam, has never obtained a licence for its use of rights-managed music since launching in 2003, despite being a major player in the video games market with 147 million monthly users and over 120,000 games.
“You’re not working with anyone else. You don’t have to worry even for two seconds about what they think”: Boy George on why he prefers writing songs with AI than humans
Boy George in 2025. In the big AI debate, Boy George has, perhaps surprisingly, come down firmly in the pro camp. He’s even said he uses it to write lyrics. The 64 year old 80s pop icon was appearing on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast when conversation came round – as it seems to wherever you are these days – to AI. The Culture Club singer said that it “has really helped me as a lyricist”.One of the reasons he says is that you don’t have to bother with pesky human co-writers.
“We didn’t just want to set a record; we wanted to create something iconic. Something that shows the world what Africa is capable of when vision meets excellence”: Record broken for Largest Orchestra at an Afrobeats concert
Dapper Live afrobeats orchestra gig. There is a Guinness World Record for everything these days and it’s been announced that a new one has been broken for the Largest Orchestra for an Afrobeats Concert. The event happened back in December at Balmoral Eko Convention Centre in the Nigerian capital, Lagos. The Trenches Symphony, as it was styled, featured some 80 musicians playing alongside some of the biggest names in Afrobeats.
“This will revolutionise the ticketing marketplace”: US Justice Department and Live Nation sign deal
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It’s been reported that there has been a settlement in the US Justice Department’s action against Live Nation that could have resulted in the company being broken up under antitrust laws.
“I was told to take it off. I didn't want to take what he'd said to me off... Because I thought it was really interesting": Damon Albarn reveals that Lou Reed’s voice on The Mountain is a ‘replica’
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Lou Reed and Damon Albarn of Gorillaz perform on stage with Gorillaz at the Gibson Amphitheatre on October 27, 2010 in Los Angeles California. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Getty Images). The new Gorillaz album, The Mountain, has been out for a week now. You’ll probably know by now that it’s a concept album, of a sort, about death. Amongst the collaborators on the project are many who’ve passed on – Mark E Smith, Tony Allen, Bobby Womack and David Jolicoeur of De La Soul.
“Music is just such a sweet shop”: Jonny Greenwood to release album with Qawwali musician Shye Ben Tzur
Jonny Greenwood, of Radiohead fame, has recorded a follow-up to his 2015 album Junun with Israeli musician Shye Ben Tzur, known for his work in Sufi devotional music, Qawwali, at his home studio in Oxfordshire. Tzur's life changed in the late 90s when he heard Indian music for the first time, leading him to move to India and dedicate himself to it, ultimately collaborating with Greenwood on the critically acclaimed Junun.
“Dylan didn’t tell you what the answer was”: Jack White on why he doesn’t write protest songs
Jack White rarely writes autobiographical lyrics, preferring to channel his inner thoughts and feelings through characters in his songs. White uses the analogy of reupholstering furniture to explain his approach to songwriting, focusing on bringing old ideas back to life rather than starting from scratch. While openly critical of Trump and his administration, White does not believe in writing out-and-out protest songs, preferring to express his views through artistic forms and characters.
“Dylan said the answer was blowing in the wind, he didn’t tell you what the answer was”: Jack White on why he doesn’t write protest songs
Jack White says ‘Taylor Swift way’ of writing break-up songs is ‘boring’ Jack White has said that the idea of writing songs about public breakups “in the Taylor Swift way” is not “interesting at all” to him. The White …
“It was such a special moment. It felt very special to be able to give her that towards the end of her life”: Marianne Faithfull's last performance captured in new doc
Marianne Faithfull. Marianne Faithfull died in January last year at the age of 78, but before she left us she made a final film, Broken English, a docu-drama in which she looks back at her incredible life and long career. It certainly sounds like it takes a different approach to the standard career overview documentary.
“I can play timbres and speeds other drummers can’t – up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes – the prosthetic-assisted one-armed drummer
Text banner saying He's the fastest drummer in the world. A drummer in Australia has been telling the Guardian how he has broken the record for the most bpm – despite having lost his arm in an industrial accident. His name is Jason Barnes and he was a keen amateur musician, in two bands, and with a place at the Atlanta Institute of Music lined up, before he was electrocuted at work. “I had lost my job,” he remembers.
“We believe labels and distributors must take an active role in reporting”: Apple Music announces new tagging system for AI-generated music
The Apple Music logo appears on the screen and a headset in this photo illustration in Ontario, Canada, on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Thomas Fuller/NurPhoto via Getty Images). Apple Music is introducing a new initiative that it hopes will provide greater transparency regarding AI-generated music. Apple is calling them transparency tags.
Marianne Faithfull's last performance captured in new doc
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“I can play up to 20 hits per second”: Meet Jason Barnes - the AI-assisted one armed drummer
Drummer Jason Barnes broke the world record for most drum beats per minute using a prosthetic arm after losing his arm in an industrial accident. Barnes developed a cutting-edge prosthetic with engineers from Georgia Tech that uses sensors and motors to replicate his drumming movements. Inspired by his own experience, Barnes started a non-profit organization called Limitless Sound to help develop affordable prosthetics for other disabled musicians.
“Afterwards he sent David an invoice for $10,000. I don’t know if David actually paid him that much”: Tony Visconti on Dave Grohl’s “ludicrious” Bowie session fee
American historic producer of British singer David Bowie, Tony Visconti, poses during a photo session in Paris on November 19, 2019. Since David Bowie’s death a decade ago, his long time producer, Tony Visconti, has talked at length about his friend, their working relationship and the work they did together. You may have assumed that these days, there’s not much more to know. Not so.
“MTV in 1997 or 1998, suddenly they decided rock was out - it was replaced by rap… People were waving guns. Some people assert the CIA was involved... above my pay grade, but I saw it happen”: Billy Corgan says rock was “dialled down” in the late ’90s | F
4 hours ago InterPositive, a stealth company Affleck founded in 2022 and never publicly acknowledged, builds post-production AI tools trained on real footage rather than text prompts. Netflix is acquiring it just as Hollywood unions sit down for a new round of contract talks. For four years, Ben Affleck has …
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