'Wow! It’s OK to sound like that?' Radiohead's Thom Yorke credits Neil Young for inspiring signature vocals
Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has revealed it was artists like Neil Young and Jeff Buckley who gave him the confidence to embrace his naturally high singing voice.
1970-01-01 08:00
Slipknot's Corey Taylor in 'almost constant pain' on tour
Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has complained that touring is "hard f****** work” and has questioned how long he continue to be on the road with the band.
1970-01-01 08:00
Hurricane Lee's size continues to increase in the Atlantic ahead of pivotal turn
Hurricane Lee increased in size late Monday in the Atlantic and still is expected to grow significantly this week, forecasters say -- growth that will help determine the extent of its impact on the US Northeast, Bermuda and Canada.
1970-01-01 08:00
How tall is Tom Hanks? Legendary actor's height difference in 'Forrest Gump' and 'Cast Away' left fans baffled
Many of Tom Hanks' fans have often wondered about his height, given the diverse roles he has portrayed over the years
1970-01-01 08:00
A timeline of the complicated relations between Russia and North Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Russia to see President Vladimir Putin
1970-01-01 08:00
European shares muted, SAP drags Germany's DAX down
By Bansari Mayur Kamdar European shares were flat on Tuesday as losses in technology stocks offset gains by
1970-01-01 08:00
UK wage growth points to another rate hike but jobless rate rises
By Andy Bruce and David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) -Another record month for British pay growth put the Bank of England
1970-01-01 08:00
Today’s beloved host Al Roker abruptly leaves mid-show as Craig Melvin reveals reason behind absence
Apart from Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer was also absent, with Vicky Nguyen taking her place
1970-01-01 08:00
Heavyweight boxing is decaying before our eyes – no other sport would survive this idiocy
There might be a crisis in the heavyweight division unless the television companies, the promoters, the chancers, the tyrants at the sanctioning bodies, the fixers and the fighters start to realise that they are part of a rich history. The heavyweight division is not a random board game, a place where a good spin can turn the world upside down and a place where all sense of perspective is lost. It is not a game, but it is being run like a crazy game of chance. Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are circling each other with very little real indication that they will fight each other. In many ways, the crisis point was a long, long time ago. There was a bold claim about six months ago that Saudi Arabian riches would transform the heavyweight division, a claim that over $400m was on the table for the leading four men to meet on one night in two fights. A lot of so-called media were delivered to Riyadh and told the hefty Four Kings would fight, it would be in December, and the heavyweight fairy tale would be complete. The chosen insiders were quick to assure everyone that the money was real, the conviction was real and that it would happen. It fell apart; Fury walked away, Usyk kept busy, Wilder and Joshua are still, in theory, part of a crazy plan. However, even their fight in Saudi in January or February is starting to look more and more like a mirage in that fighting desert. Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Joshua, has not yet ruled the fight out. Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has not yet ruled out a Fury fight. Wilder’s people flew to Saudi to do a direct deal with the promotional company there, so presumably they are still part of the circus. Fury, meanwhile, will fight in Riyadh next month, but his fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is being promoted by another branch of the Saudi government. It is difficult to keep up with this soap opera with blood. Ngannou, incidentally, has never had a single boxing match as an amateur or a professional; his 10 rounds with Fury have recently been given a belt by the WBC. It will not be for Fury’s actual WBC heavyweight title, which I guess is a small mercy. The new Saudi belt, complete with diamonds and gold, is still a belt and that means Ngannou, who is being trained by Mike Tyson, will fight for a WBC belt in his first ever appearance in a boxing ring. Shame on the WBC and their desperate attempt to be relevant. I have no problem with the fight, no problem with crossover events, but the WBC’s decision to award the winner a belt is pathetic. The WBC representative in Riyadh will need sharp elbows to get his face on television, because the Saudi families tend to flood the post-fight ring. Ngannou, incidentally, has been measured to possess the hardest punch in history. It is hard to invent this glorious nonsense. Fury has gone down this route because the money is there, and he is sick and tired of the relentless negotiations for a fight with either Usyk or Joshua. He is, it must be said, not entirely innocent. Although it is hard to blame Fury for going down the Ngannou route, talk of a rematch under mixed martial arts rules is slightly alarming. It is probably harmless chat, but the WBC needs to decide how long they will let their champion loose in the lawless playground of celebrity and crossover fights. There is simply no order, no strict rules, and nobody in a position to call a halt to the anarchy. In the last 12 months, Joshua has fought twice, staying busy and learning with his new coach; Fury has not fought since beating Derek Chisora for the third time last December in defence of his WBC title; Wilder has not been near a ring this year; Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois last month to retain his WBO, WBA and IBF titles. Dubois, incidentally, officially launched an appeal against the decision in that fight, claiming that the fight should have been stopped in Round 5 when he landed what he considers a legitimate body shot. Usyk was instead given nearly four minutes to recover. Krassyuk has ruled out a rematch, insisting that the punch was low and illegal. It means that in 2023, with two champions owning four recognised belts, with a lot of television backing and with a lot of quality contenders, there will be only one world heavyweight title fight. It is crazy and self-harming, and no other sport would survive such idiocy. Boxing has always been in a race against time, a race to get as much money as possible, as quickly and safely as possible, but this decaying state is so bad for business that it will hurt the business going forward. Read More Fans tear apart Tyson Fury over claim that Francis Ngannou poses tougher test than Oleksandr Usyk Watch moment topless Tyson Fury goads Francis Ngannou into taking his shirt off during press conference Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293 Eddie Hearn outlines ‘deluded’ plan for Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury urged to highlight Saudi Arabia’s ‘disturbing’ human rights record What is an exhibition fight and how is it different to a professional bout?
1970-01-01 08:00
Polish TV show slammed as performers impersonate Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West in blackface
A Polish TV show has sparked outrage online for featuring contestants dressed in blackface as Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. Your Face Sounds Familiar (Twoja twarz brzmi znajomo) includes eight celebrities performing as artists in a bid to win money for their chosen charity. The show is a popular franchise across Europe, especially in Spain and Bulgaria – but Poland's franchise has recently caused a stir for its problematic nature. In a recent episode, Polish singer Kuba Szmajkowski dressed in blackface to impersonate Lamar with a performance of 'HUMBLE'. The clip soon spread on social media, with one writing: "You can appreciate the culture or the art without being offensive or doing blackface." Another added: "Kendrick needs to file the nastiest copyright suit of all time. I’m talking not even able to say his name no more on some Voldemort sht". Kuba Szmajkowski jako Kendrick Lamar - Hip-hopowe brzmienie w „Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo”! www.youtube.com This isn't the first time the show has caused backlash. In a 2021 episode, white actor Tomasz Ciachorowski covered 'Stronger' by Kanye West – which has since resurfaced on TikTok: @zzzsfgxhs Bro Performed Weaker ?#kanyewest #fypシ #twojatwarzbrzmiznajomo #kanye In an Instagram post on their official account, the show said they were "very surprised" by the backlash. "Dear Viewers, we are very surprised with the number of negative comments regarding to the [sic] tv show Your Face Sounds Familiar," they wrote. "The Polish edition of the show, seen as exemplary abroad, always tries to show great performances, which strive to be as close to the original as possible. Incredibly important for us, as well as for the artists taking part in the show, is the charity aspect of the programme." They continued: "The producers and contestants of all previous series of the show, had always one thing in mind – to recreate most accurately (vocally, movement-wise and visually) the big music stars of Polish or foreign origin – which are selected for them randomly. "A team of professionals watches over this process and they prepare the artist for their performance." They went on to note celebrities who performed as black singers, adding: "The intention of each star performing on the show, as well as of the whole production team, is to recreate the original performance in the most precise manner, while honouring the original artist. The artist, who is of the utmost importance for all of us, who love music." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
‘Today’ host Carson Daly reveals major gig away from NBC show following continued absence
Carson Daly revealed on Friday his participation in the upcoming Mental Wealth Expo in New York City next month
1970-01-01 08:00
Aerosmith postpone six farewell tour shows due to Steven Tyler's vocal cord damage
Singer Steven Tyler says he is "heartbroken" to push back six shows after "doctor's orders".
1970-01-01 08:00
