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You Me At Six was originally formed in Surrey in 2004 by lead singer Josh Franceschi, guitarists Max Helyer and Chris Miller, bassist Matt Barnes and drummer Daniel Flint. They announced their split in January 2024, on the anniversary day of their first band rehearsal, with an Instagram video of a graveyard, signifying the end of the band’s music career.   

 

 

 

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In an interview with NME, the band explained their separation stating, “We feel like on the eve of our 20th anniversary as a band, now is a good time to call time.” 

With this they revealed the dates of their final world tour which commenced on 9 October that year. Best known for hits such as their highest charting track ‘Lived a lie’ in 2013, the band rose to fame in the emo resurgence of the 2010s alongside notable bands in the scene Bring Me The Horizon and All Time Low. At show number 81 in Brixton, fellow Scottish rock, metal band Biffy Clyro’s frontman Simon Neil joined them for the performance of ‘No One Does It Better’. Fans shared recordings of the performance on YouTube. 

You Me At Six have released eight studio albums since their formation including their first Number 1 Album ‘Cavalier Youth’ and their latest final album ‘Truth Decay’ in 2023. Their tour showcased their classic hits and latest fan favourites. The British rock band have been documenting the days leading up to the end of the tour in their documentary ‘The Final Nights Of Six World Tour Documentary which premiered live on 4 April alongside final Wembley tour and can be watched on demand 72 hours after.

The band ended their last show with a final short farewell from lead vocalist Josh Franceschi before he then dropped the mic and embraced his band mates. The band’s last live words were shared by fans who attended the concert, 

“Just like that were dead, see ya” is the most You Me At Six sign off that they could have gone with honestly

— Matt Gillard (@MattGillard98) April 4, 2025

Although the split was announced over a year ago, their last concert left fans emotional at the finality of the show and their musical career.

Please leave me be to lie in the fetal position and mourn You Me At Six.

— ✿ Laura Leanne ✿ (@lauraisyourhost) April 6, 2025

Despite this emotional end, the band’s influence will continue to mean a great deal to their fanbase, and they will surely keep their music alive. 

Formed in 1995, Orange Goblin built their reputation on a foundation of no-nonsense, hard-hitting heavy metal, blending elements of stoner rock, doom, and classic rock ‘n’ roll. Over the years, they have released ten studio albums, from their debut ‘Frequencies From Planet Ten’ (1997) to their latest and arguably most accomplished work, ‘Science, Not Fiction’ (2024). Throughout their career, they have been a staple in the metal community, earning respect for their relentless touring schedule and unwavering commitment to their craft.

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In a heartfelt statement, frontman Ben Ward reflected on the band’s journey, saying, “We feel that now is the right time to step away. We have always given our all to the fans, and we want to go out on a high note.” The reason for the split? The band’s instagram cited perhaps the most important reason of all: family. “It’s not been an easy decision for any of us, we have all given 30 years of our lives to this incredible band, but we feel that now is the right time for us to focus our attention on our families and other interests outside the band.” Despite their decision to part ways, Orange Goblin assured fans that they will fulfil all scheduled commitments, including appearances at major festivals such as Bloodstock and Hellfest. 

The departure of long-time bassist Martyn Millard in 2020 marked a significant turning point for the band. His replacement, Harry Armstrong, brought fresh energy and contributed to the songwriting process on ‘Science, Not Fiction,’ which many fans and critics consider a fitting swansong for the band. Orange Goblin’s music has always resonated with themes of perseverance, rebellion, and camaraderie, values they have embodied both on and off the stage. Their live performances, characterised by raw power and unrelenting energy, have been a testament to their passion and dedication. “We’ve always been an honest band,” Ward remarked. “We know what we are, and we’ve never tried to be anything else.”

Not a chance they call it a day imo,too much a fantastic band will definitely get the odd tour and special show to celebrate album anniversary’s.

If they are the last shows then it’s been a fantastic journey and they have made brilliant music along the way.

— mark skelton (@Skelly2505) January 22, 2025

While this chapter of Orange Goblin’s story is coming to a close, the band has not ruled out future one-off appearances or special projects. “Who knows what the future holds?” Ward teased, leaving a glimmer of hope for fans.

As they prepare to take their final bow, Orange Goblin’s legacy is secure. They will be remembered as one of the most steadfast and genuine acts in British heavy metal, leaving behind a catalog of music that will continue to inspire generations to come.

But before this happens, the Canadian pop-punk legends will be on one massive tour, and that’s not forgetting their colossal new album!

A lot of this was by accident,” says Deryck Whibley of the genesis of Sum 41’s eighth record, Heaven :x: Hell. During lockdown, the Canadian singer/songwriter was inundated with calls and requests asking him to pen some more pop-punk bangers – which worried him. It had been several years since he’d done such a thing. But he took the plunge anyway.

At the time, Derek and his wife Ariana had just welcomed their first child into the world – Lyndon Igby. “The only thing he would mellow out to was punk rock music,” explains Deryck, who’d regularly take his son out in the car, driving around the uncharacteristically quiet streets of Los Angeles, blasting the songs that soundtracked his high school years – NOFX, Pennywise, Social Distortion, Lagwagon and Bad Religion.

This routine would repeat on a daily basis and made its way into Derek’s creative cortex. He began writing in a way that was reminiscent of Sum 41’s earlier material. These songs were, at first, due to be gifted to someone else, but eventually, he became reluctant to part with them.

Derek then spent some time trawling through Sum 41’s earlier material and realised he’d amassed quite a collection.

So, he went about adding a pop-punk tune here and a riffy rager there until the bones formed of what would become the band’s final record.

“It was all with the help of our son,” smiles Deryck, whose daughter, Quentin, was born a couple of weeks after this interview – on her mother’s birthday.

When Sum 41 first arrived on the scene in the early 2000s, they were subjected to the same kind of cynicism as many up-and-comers. Some said they were one-hit wonders, a flash in the pan that wouldn’t last. Deryck bristled at the time – not because the naysayers’ words hurt, but the suggestion that anyone else could spell the end for his band. “No one was going to decide when we would go,” he would think. “I will decide when we go.”

“It was hard to bring it up but easy to talk about,” recalls Deryck. “Although they were surprised, and didn’t necessarily feel the way I did, it was a very loving and supportive conversation.”

Sum 41’s final album Heaven :x: Hell is due out on March 29 via Rise Records.

Catch the band at Download, which takes place from June 14 – 16, 2024 at Donington Park – get your tickets now. You can also see Sum 41 live at Rock For People this summer – get your tickets here.

The Parliament-Funkadelic legend originally announced his retirement from touring almost two years ago, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, his UK farewell tour had to be put on hold.

Clinton stated to NME at the time “This has been coming a long time, anyone who has been to the shows over the past couple of years has noticed that I’ve been out front less and less.”

“Truth be told, it’s never really been about me. It’s always been about the music and the band. That’s the real P-Funk legacy. They’ll still be funkin’ long after I stop.”

Last year, Clinton also joined Cypress Hill on the Pubic Enemy track “GRID”. Taken from the iconic rap group’s 15th studio album, What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?, “GRID” envisages a post-apocalyptic world where digital communication has been eradicated.

Filmed in the desert, the track’s accompanying music video starts off like a Zoom chat, with each member of the group, as well as Cypress Hill’s B-Real, situated in different locations. Footage of a joint performance from Public Enemy with George Clinton also features throughout.

He released his last album Medicaid Fraud Dog back in 2018 and now, the 80-year-old has announced he and Parliament-Funkadelic will hit the UK next May for a short run of dates. The tour will begin in Nottingham and then go on to London, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester, Margate and Scarborough.

Tickets are on sale now here and you can see the full list of dates below.

George Clinton Tour Dates:

05/22/22 Rock City – Nottingham
05/23 O2 Forum Kentish Town – London
05/24 O2 Academy – Glasgow
05/26 O2 Academy – Bristol
05/27 Albert Hall – Manchester
05/28 Dreamland – Margate
05/29 Open Air Theatre – Scarborough

John first announced his farewell tour back in January of 2018, embarking on the first leg of the tour in North America in September of the same year, and kicking it off with a show at the PPL Centre in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Since then, he has performed several more times across North America, Europe and Oceania, unfortunately having to take a premature break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following a show in Sydney, Australia on the 7^th of March 2020. Originally, the tour was scheduled to finish in December of 2020.

In July of 2020, it was announced that John had rescheduled the UK and European dates of his final tour to 2021, with the first rescheduled show to take place at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany on September 1^st.

Since then, Elton has sadly sustained an unexpected injury over the summer, following an accidental fall, as described in his statement: “At the end of my summer I fell awkwardly on a hard surface and have been in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since”. The star has assured fans that whilst the injury was substantial enough to currently prevent him from re-embarking on his tour, he is doing all he can to make a full recovery: “I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to mobility without pain.” 

Despite the injury, Elton has made it clear that he still intends to play an upcoming charity gig on September 25th for the Global Citizen, and hopes that he can set out on the next North American dates of the tour in January 2022. Furthermore, he will be releasing a new album entitled The Lockdown Sessions, which features an array of pop icons such as Stevie Nicks, Dua Lipa and Eddie Vedder. The album is currently available for pre-order.

The full statement was published on John’s website and his various social media accounts and can be seen below.

Important update on my Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.#EltonFarewellTour pic.twitter.com/qyPY2H0t9k

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) September 16, 2021

The rescheduled UK tour dates are listed below. More information regarding the tour as well as tickets are available here.

02/04/2023 – The O2, London
04/04 – The O2, London
05/04 – The O2, London
08/04 – The O2, London
09/04 – The O2, London
12/04– The O2, London
12/04– The O2, London
16/04– The O2, London
17/04– The O2, London
19/04– Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
22/04– M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
23/04 –M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
31/05 – AO Arena, Manchester
02/06 – AO Arena, Manchester
03/06 – AO Arena, Manchester
06/06 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
10/06 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
11/06 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
13/06 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
15/06 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
17/06 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
18/06 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow