Virgin

Back in November of 2008, I had a chance to hear Melanie Fiona’s album sampler. At the time she was selected by Kanye West, personally, to open for him during his European Tour, what made this shocking was that she had never had an album released and her single wasn’t in heavy rotation…yet. But hey when you have ?uestlove and Jay-Z vouching for you and showing up to your showcase, not having an album out, doesn’t seem all that important. Fast forward months later and her single Give It To Me Right is getting mad spins as well as having the likes of Talib Kweli, Raekwon and Busta Rhymes on the remixed versions. We were able to catch up with Melanie for a quick interview.

Killahbeez: Hi Melanie, thanks for taking the time in doing this interview. Why don’t you start by introducing yourself for folks out there that aren’t familiar with your style of music?

Melanie Fiona: Melanie Fiona…singer/songwriter/supergirl. My debut album is releasing this spring through SRC Universal Motown Records. My single Give it to Me Right is currently being added to radio and is available on iTunes. At the risk of putting myself in a box, I’ll call my music pop soul.

KB: I’m a fellow Canadian and I read that you are also from Canada, Toronto to be exact. Toronto is quite well known for the different communities it has in the city and essentially a true melting pot, has this influenced your music?

MF: Canadians Rock!!! Toronto is definitely one of the most culturally diverse cities I have ever seen. Growing up in a Caribbean household, and interacting with so many different types of cultures really influenced the music I do. I knew I wanted to make music for all kinds of people, and you hear that in the songs. Some songs reflect my culture… so they might have a reggae/calypso feel. Others might have licks of hip hop, r&b, pop, rock… I think there’s something on there for everyone.

KB: Yeah that definitely comes through on the sampler that I was given. You mentioned your debut album, which is called The Bridge, is slated to be released in the Spring. Could you talk about what people can expect to hear as well as the album name?

MF: The album is called The Bridge. I feel like it bridges the gap between genres of music, ethnicities, age groups, and genders. People can definitely expect to hear soulful music with live instrumentation, and memorable and relatable stories.

KB: Speaking of memorable. The lead single Give It To Me Right is hella sexy and empowering for women, was that the focus of writing this song?

MF: Thank you! It is very empowering…I feel so strong every time I sing or perform that song. It was written by a super talented songwriter and producer on the album, Andrea Martin. She knows me very well, professionally and personally, it’s a real reflection of the type of woman I am. I feel like there should be no shame in expressing what you want, and not settling for the things you don’t. I feel proud to know that it will empower people…not just women, but everyone who feels the same.

KB: Keeping with Give It To Me Right, the song is sampled from the Zombies Time Of the Season, how was that sample or record introduced to you to be used for Give It To Me Right?

MF: Well I was already a fan of that song from time! It’s a classic! When we started working on the music for the album, we knew we wanted to pay tribute to the ‘old’ by putting a ‘new’ spin on it. That sample is familiar and easy to vibe with… it was the perfect fit for the lyrics.

KB: You recently came off of the Glow in the Dark Tour with Kanye West over in Europe. What was that experience like and how did that opportunity to work with Kanye come about?

MF: It was amazing! Kanye and I had never met before the tour. My management presented my music to him when he was looking for his opening acts. He really liked the music and gave me the opportunity. It was unbelievable. Here I am this unknown artist, with no music out, and I’m opening for Kanye!!! I learned so much from the tour, and from watching him perform night after night. He’s one of the best I’ve seen. It was such an honour cause he’s one of my favourite artists as well.

KB: Did he give you any guidance or tips?

MF: The best advice he gave me was “Whatever you gotta do to make people remember you, do it. Don’t be afraid to do it.” Priceless words of wisdom!

KB: Definitely. And a man true to his words. So is Mr. West doing any work on The Bridge?

MF: Maybe on album 2 or a future remix…[Laughter]. I would love to work with him!

KB: In addition to that tour, you also recently did a showcase in New York and had dudes like ?uestlove and Jay-Z out to show support. Did you know they were there? How’d that make you feel that you had that kind of support from fellow peers?

MF: Man! It was really overwhelming when I found out they were in the building. I’m signed to Jay-Z’s management company so it was a really honour to have his support that night. And ?uest is not only a great friend but an artist and musician I have admired for years. It was one of the happiest nights of my life….There was so much love in the room that night.

KB: Wow. That’s pretty awesome. So taking this on a tangent. What 5 albums can’t you live without?

MF: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Legend- Bob Marley
Portrait of a Legend- Sam Cooke
Full Moon- Brandy
The Best of Sade- Sade

KB: And your musical influences?

MF: Those are most of the influences with the exceptions of other greats like Whitney Houston and India Arie.

KB: Changing topics to fashion. What are some of your favorite pieces / pieces you couldn’t live without?

MF: As for staples in fashion, I’d have to have wicked pair of high heels, a fresh pair of kicks, a comfy hoodie, leggings and a dress that makes me feel like a woman! But my favourite article right now in my closet are my Tory Burtch leather knee boots.

KB: Any particular designer that you love to follow?

MF: Not one in particular, but any that can marry vintage and current…my style is something old and something new.

KB: Ahhh…similar to your music. Well this concludes the interview. Any closing comments for folks out there on why they should pick up The Bridge?

MF: I just really want to say thank you to everyone whose shown support. I really do this, not just for myself, but (also) for what I think you want to hear. When the album drops, GO GET IT!!! I promise you will not be disappointed…. It’s just good, classic, timeless music. Much Love!

KB: thanks again.

MF: Thanks for the interview!

Check out more of my interviews at www.killahbeez.com and follow me on Twitter, @Killahbeez.

• For more information on Melanie Fiona visit her MySpace page

With his new single Weight Of The World out now, the nicest guy in music, Lemar, chats to Eleanor Conway about oat cake chairs, hanging with Timbaland and who he rates as onee to watch in the UK music scene.

• check out the single Weight Of The World on YouTube
  
• www.lemar-online.com
• www.eleanorconway.com

So there I was one night, innocently searching YouTube for my favourite new release from Katy Perry when something very interesting caught my eye. Under the ‘related videos’ section, I found myself faced with a bunch of mysterious looking videos. The first video I clicked on was someone attempting to mix Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold together with Bloc Party’s Banquet. A ridiculous mix of songs you say? Well I’m afraid, in a strange, mashed up way, it definitely worked. Mixing together two songs I love, it created for me a new super tune, opening up my ears to a whole new form of music; the YouTube MashUp.

Catching my imagination, I began to hunt down more of these mashups and to my surprise I found some truly amazing songs in the process. The best ones certainly seemed to emerge from two songs of completely different genres. There are so many amazing mashups floating about on YouTube that I could listen to them all day, and probably will. It’s so hard to choose a favourite but one which certainly impressed me was Jay Z vs The Verve’s Bittersweet Off Your Shoulder. The strong rap from Jay Z somehow seemed less aggressive when played with The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony, adding an extra dimension of emotion to the song, which together created a new, catchy pop song. Genius!

This juxtaposition of two clashing worlds creates something innovative and new, breaking the boundaries of music snobbery and sticks two fingers up at those who believe genres must remain separate and rigid. The idea of overlapping lyrics and beats merging together into one totally dazzling tune is truly inspiring. Who would have thought that a few simply bored people sitting at their computers could create such pieces of musical brilliance, which could potentially change the face of music dramatically in a great way? If nothing else, mashups are totally fun to listen to, whether they are completely amazing or completely rubbish. Being able to listen to two songs in one also saves a bit of time, right?

listen to the Jay-Z/Verve mashup on YouTube

Beyonce is what could be affectionately described as an all round crowd pleaser. Every release is brilliantly produced and can get even the shyest of booties shakin’

It comes however as a great disappointment that a recent purchase of the diva’s latest offering, I AM… Sasha Fierce, left me without are two (apparently) brilliant tracks. Multi-format availability of albums seems to be a concept I will forever be unable to grasp. Why can’t I have that track on this CD? Do I need an album split across 2 CDs? What’s with the CD deluxe DVD addition? Too many options and too much money being asked for.

This sadly was the case for my recent purchase of Miss Knowles’ fab CD, which unbeknown to me at the time, is on a split CD format. Despite this method proving annoying, I’ve started to warm to listening to Beyonce and her alter ego Sasha Fierce. The two sides to Mrs Jay-Z shine through in a triumph of an album, with powerful ballards such as If I Were A Boy ranging to the fiesty Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) .

Although the initial disappointment of having to switch CDs over each time I worked my way through the 5 songs on each, purely through not knowing a DELUX edition existed, this album is a definite must own for 2009.

Hooray! America has a new president and the supposed leaders of the free world picked a candidate who everyone fell in love with. Well, that’s unless you’re a member of the Republican Party.

To me, music and politics don’t really go together. It’s kind of like substituting concrete for butter when making a sandwich. Every four years when one of the most important jobs in the world becomes available for the taking, you can be guaranteed that various musicians will scurry out from under the floorboards to show some support.

But why is this? What gives someone like Bono the right to start telling us that someone like Barack Obama is the closest person we have to a real life superhero? All Obama literally has to do now is don a cape and burst through a window in the oval office to destroy the evil credit crunch monster. Though the general population of America and worldly onlookers seem to think he can do this anyway.

Musicians like Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Jay-Z all had a song and dance for the 44th president of America when he was sworn in. Even non Americans were allowed to join in the celebrations as Arcade Fire and er…Shakira performed at a series gig which would have been a ticket tout’s dream.

So does the ability to strum a guitar and skill of singing without the use of studio trickery give you the right to preach to people not possessing those abilities? Apparently so it seems as throughout the whole presidential campaign, we have been bombarded with pro Obama words from anyone musician who either wants:

A) Kudos amongst their peers and fans to show they are a kind and caring individual.
B) The chance to voice their opinion in a time when history can change for the better.
C) 41 extra album sales.

It has been rare to find negative words from any musician towards Barack Obama. Only the Republican Party seemed hell bent on damaging the man’s name with petty attacks against his race and middle name. But we won’t go in to that, as someone might cry and spill their milk. We have to wait until Obama messes up first before we can attack him and wish the old war veteran has been elected instead!

There has however been an exception to the rule with negative musical spin. It didn’t come during his campaign or when the results of the election were announced. Instead, it came hours after his first speech when he was sworn in as president. I guess you could call them musical terrorists, as Brighton duo Cassetteboy took his initial words that filled the world full of hope and turned it in to a complete musical mockery.

If you aren’t familiar with the works of Cassetteboy then it’s time to raid the local record shop for albums or turn to their YouTube channel. People such as Jamie Oliver, Simon Cowell, Jeremy Clarkson and even Harry Potter have fallen fowl to some serious digital manipulation as prominent members of pop culture are reduced to hilarious messes.

Barack Obama is the latest victim to receive their treatment which makes everybody’s favourite politician sound like a leader who the United States of America would fear and hide from. There is no doubt that this spoof won’t make mainstream American TV & radio but for the long sufferers of the UK who have had to put up with the American election every single time they open a newspaper or switch on the news, it is some comic relief.

Well, until the UK general election starts.

watch Cassetteboy v The Times: Barack Obama sings ‘We Are The World’

What can we expect from this year’s Glastonbury Festival? It is almost a given that the heavens will open for at least two of the five days, Pete Doherty will turn up late and someone will fall into one of the many festering toilet pits, but I’m talking about the music, and to be more specific, the headliners.

In the midst of an even longer wait for 2009’s festival - and wanting to play the Gallagher brothers at their own game - Michael Eavis was quoted this week as saying ‘We’ve got four headliners at the moment. If they all confirm, then I’ve got two headliners for Saturday’. Ah, so he’s got TWO headliners this year then, interesting. A brand new feature for a festival that is quickly becoming out of fashion with ye olde faithful and in fashion with a new generation of multi-coloured-welly-donning youths.

I’m slightly concerned; is Eavis trying too hard to make Glastonbury Festival fashionable? I thought one of the main attributes of the festival was the fact that it stuck its proverbial middle finger in the establishments face and said a big fat NO to conformity?

Well, as much as it pains me to say it, I think its high time we all came to realise that Glastonbury Festival is now commercial. There… I’ve said it. Eavis (Michael and Emily) appear to have been trying to spruce up the whole Glastonbury experience over the last decade, and it’s a totally different festival to the one I first attended in 1999.

Yes, there are some positive signs of improvement to the experience as a whole:

1. People aren’t jumping the fence to gain access to the site anymore.
2. The new ticket regime this year seems to be fairer than previous years, giving buyers more chance of being able to log onto a website that was previously harder than getting into a nun’s knickers.
3. More and more donations are going to Greenpeace and Oxfam every year, so it’s fair to say that Eavis still gets top marks for his green message.

However, what’s all this ‘you wont know who is playing until you have bought a ticket’ nonsense? Michael please, give us a chance mate! Last year attendance was at an all time low because you wanted to look ‘cool’ and added Jay-Z to the Saturday slot when you could have drawn thousands more with Muse, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin to name a few world-class bands.

Is watching someone rap to a CD classed as a real Glastonbury experience? The majority of people said it was refreshing but I think in the backs of their minds they knew it was a slight letdown. Now I’m not saying Jay-Z isn’t a good artist, rather that he doesn’t belong at Glastonbury Festival just for the sake of having something different in front of our eyes. Are the days of booking the best acts in the world gone? Is there any thought going into booking these headlining slots?

Last year I had more fun watching bands on the Park Stage than I did on the Pyramid Stage. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think having ‘The Boss’ as a headline this year is the way to go. Landscape rock dinosaurs will draw the crowds for all the wrong reasons.

As I stand with the Fields of Avalon before me, I want to know that in one hand I have a slightly warm can of Carling, and in the other I have a festival programme that boasts the best acts on the planet. Reading/Leeds, V and Isle of Wight are nicking all the good acts now it seems; The Prodigy, Kasabian and Radiohead? What choice do we have at Glastonbury so far? Bruce Springsteen and Kanye West – do me a favour! We need acts to bring an excitement back to the Pyramid Stage. What Eavis has got to be careful of is having people watching the headline acts out of interest rather than love. It shouldn’t be such a gamble, should it?

With new plans to move the ‘fallow year’ back until 2012 to avoid the Olympic clash, it seems Eavis would be better off taking time out now to seriously rethink things. I hope I am proven wrong, but Eavis, you are too old to start trying to be cool now.

• watch Eleanor Conway at the 2008 UK Festival Awards

Next week, pretty much anybody who is anybody is going to head down to DC with their best ballgowns in order to celebrate Barack Obama’s inauguration. This honored Virgin Music rep, who grew up in DC, will be going to partake in the free events - just to smell the air and soak up some of the energy and excitement… and maybe try to sneak in to one of the balls through a kitchen or something.

Better yet, now that the lists of musical acts are being revealed this week, it appears it is going to be a musical marathon!  You may have ‘heard’ of some of the performers on the list: Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Will.i.am., Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Herbie Hancock, Faith Hill, Ush, John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Beyonce and Jay-Z. For the Kiddies in the house, Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers are performing at the Kid’s Ball (evidently the soon-to-be first daughters Malia and Sasha Obama are BIG fans).

Still, you don’t have to shell out a couple thou in order to partake in the merriment. On Sunday, I’ll be one of the thousands to attend the biggest free public inauguration event at the Lincoln Memorial event, which will include glittering, studded appearances by Beyoncé, Shakira, Usher and Stevie Wonder. Better yet, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Queen Latifah will be giving readings.

I’ll let you know more when I see it first hand, but I am curious if these stars are paid for their appearances or are just doing it for ‘Bama love. I also am impressed by the diversity of all the acts - in terms of style, race, and taste. Out with the old, in with the new!

Here’s something strictly for the hip-hop heads. Young Jeezy’s latest video for the single Crazy World, which is directed by Marc Klasfeld, who’s done videos for Jay-Z, Sum 41,’N Sync and Gnarls Barkley to name a few artists. This is officially the third single from the album The Recession. The first time I heard this I was thinking hood anthem, but it’s not epic enough. Shawty Lo’s Dey Know, now thats a hood anthem.

By now you’ve probably all heard the Viva La Hova mixtape by Mick Boogie, if not - Google it and give that a download. To summarize it’s a mix that features songs from Coldplay’s Viva La Vida album with Jay-Z verses dispersed throughout the jams. There’s also an official remix for the song Lost, that’s offcially titled Lost+ and with that said here’s the official video for the said remix. This song will be appearing on the upcoming Coldplay EP entitled Prospekt’s March, the EP will feature 8 tracks, of those 8 tracks 6 of them will be new recordings.

Rapper Wale from Washington DC has just signed with Interscope. He is the next best thing in hip-hop with a debut album to be released Spring 2009. His mix-tapes are wonderful and I often listen to his music when I need that signal of hope. Jay-Z, Mark Ronson and Lily Allen have already worked with him and with production on his debut album by Kanye West we are sure to be in for a treat.

People - just watch the video and remember this artist!

(interview by Hip-Hop Official)

Estelle premiering her latest video for the song “Come Over” which features Sean Paul. This video is directed by renowned director Lil X, he’s worked on videos for a long laundry list of artists, such as: Usher, Ghostface Killah, Common, Jay-Z, Aaliyah and Kanye West to name drop a few.

“There are two arguments going on in your head,” Estelle answers when asked about her getting up close and personal with Paul on the video. “I can’t be fake, but how can I do this without feeling like a slut?”

“Come Over” is the fifth U.K. single and the second U.S. single from Estelle’s second studio album Shine.

Clinton Sparks is easily one of the busiest personalities in hip-hop, scratch that, in the music biz and I was lucky enough to get some of his time. Have a read below and be sure to cast your votes for this article.

So you want to get an audience with Clinton Sparks. Yeah? Well, get in line.

See, getting an audience with Clinton Sparks can take time, something the guy doesn’t have in abundance. To find him, you’ve got to thief moments when he’s not hosting radio. Or producing mixtapes. Or breaking down new music on TV. Or writing tunes for the likes of Ludacris and Beyonce. You know…find his downtime. But what you and I consider downtime really isn’t downtime in Clinton Spark’s world. He always has something on the go.

“I have so much passion for everything music related whether it’s the business or putting shows together, writing, producing, DJing parties, dancing, performing,” Sparks said in an interview. “I always have much bigger plans than it may appear and am strategically setting things up with other plans in mind. It’s very calculated.”

This goes a long way in explaining how the self-proclaimed “Martha Stewart of hip hop” went from Boston radio stunt guy to one of the hottest names in the industry. There’s his skill on the wheels - both Rolling Stone and USA Today named him one of the world’s top 10 DJs. Production credits include Billboard-charted tracks for The Game and Akon. His nationally syndicated show is one of the biggest stars on Sirius Radio. Oh, he’s gotten into television as well, hosting The Daily 10 as their resident music expert.

If Sparks was a decathlete, he’d be the guy pushing to do an 11th event. This never-stop mentality has skyrocketed Sparks into the mainstream - his ability to mesh a love of hip-hop with pop culture has won him favor with heads and celebs alike. Nowhere is that more evident than with Smashtime Radio.

With Smashtime, Sparks brings this I’m-gonna-do-everything-and-anything mentality to the airwaves, playing a plethora of music while rotating guests through his on-air party.

“Smashtime stemmed from the last hour of my show on Hot 97.7 in Boston where I would just go in heavy because it was the hour when everyone was leaving the club. Now, its syndicated in over 25 markets worldwide,” Sparks explains. “I have also turned Smashtime into the hottest party in Las Vegas. I play everything from Hip-Hop to Rock, Dance, pop, old school, 80’s. We also have surprise guests every week from Ne-Yo to Akon, Carmen Electra to the cast from the Hills.”

Off the airwaves, Sparks has been holding it down as one of the most sought-after producers in the game. Most recently, he produced the title track for Bun B’s “II Trill” that debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. And while he’s already worked with some incredibly tight artists, Sparks wants to keep pushing the envelope into different genres.

“A lot of people will be very surprised with what I plan to do next year with music, but I will never abandon Hip Hop,” he explained when asked what artists he’d like to work with. “Jay-Z would be one. Weezer and Teddy Riley are some people too. But there are so many I’d like to work with in all different genres of music. But after I complete my Clinton Sparks [the artist] album, people will really get to know what I’m about.”

Read the rest of the interview at Killahbeez.com.

“I’m not a Business man..im a BUSINESS mannnnnnnnn”- Jay-Z

The Blueprint 3 is the eleventh album by American rapper Jay-Z. This will be his last album with record label Def Jam before he begins recording with Live Nation - when he will become his own boss. Production will be done by Kanye West and producer Timbaland. I’ve been a Hova fan since Reasonable Doubt (best album he ever released) so I’m more then excited to see what Mr Carter will stir up this time.

His first released single Jockin’ Jay-Z is already a big radio hit in the US and is blasting on everyone’s iPod.

Catch this YouTube clip of the new song which he premiered in NewYork City at Kanye’s Glow In The Dark show.

The rumor mill has it that Jay-Z is aiming to release the much anticipated The Blueprint 3 on December 2nd, which puts him in competition against 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and Eminem. Anybody else realize that the three artists I just mentioned are from Aftermath? They’re definitely gonna be doing big things. One of the alleged tracks that is suppose to be on The Blueprint 3 is a remix of “Swagga Like Us” which is going to feature Nas, Andre 3000 and Young Jeezy, seriously that remix is going to be ridiculous.

In other related news Jay-Z will be helping out Barack Obama by holding two charity shows in support of Barack’s Presidential campaign. Jay-Z will be holding two free shows in Detroit’s Cobo Arena and Miami’s Bayfront Park Amphitheatre on Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th. It’s hoped that the concerts will encourage people to register to vote before the deadlines. Jigga man ain’t the only one to support Barack, both Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel will throw their first joint concert at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom on October 15th.

Mike who? Mike Relmmmmmm! If you don’t know who Relm is, then consider this a backgrounder. He’s a turntablist from San Francisco and has performed with numerous artists as well as toured across the country. He’s known for his live performances, which feature audio and video mash-ups all cut and scratched live on the spot, and on Friday, Sept. 26, he stopped in on Vancouver, presented by Spectrum Events.

So I have to admit, I didn’t know very much of Mike Relm before I went to the show. I mean, besides the clips on YouTube and doing some background research on him, so I didn’t really expect too much going into the show. By the end of the show I was converted into a fan and even shook his hand (I told you Michelle it wasn’t too late) as corny as that sounds.

The show is what you see on some of the YouTube clips, but with a s**t load more energy from the audience and from Relm himself as he interacts with the crowd and people are constantly jumping on stage and attempting to dance then throwing themselves for a stage dive. Oh, and did I forget to mention that he brought friends. Yeah his friends, dubbed the “Sideshow,” were two scary-ass clowns, did I mention I’m afraid of clowns? The novel/movie IT, really messed me up as a kid. These “friends” were like his very own hype men, think Flava Flav to Chuck D, Spliff Starr to Busta Rhymes, Memphis Bleek to Jay-Z, except the “Sideshow” were on turntables.

Relm played a diversity of music throughout the night, mixing House of Pain, Pharcyde, Outfield, NWA, with Feist and John Lennon. The music off course was only part of the show, as he would mix in visuals from movies and TV shows such as Harold & Kumar, Office Space, Snoopy, When Harry Met Sally, Team America and Nacho Libre to name a few.

He really rocked the whole show from beginning to end, but here are highlights for me, and judging from the response of the crowd:

• When he freaked it hard on his MPC and did his drums live on the spot
• He played his song and accompanying video for “Everytime”
• Dropping Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock” remixed by Relm; the drums on the mix he played were hard as hell and had a bunch of folks in the back dancing, including yours truly
• In one of his video clips he had a sign that read, “If John McCain wins the election, I’m going to marry a Canadian Woman”, ‘nuff said.
• Outfield’s chorus from “Your Love” mixed in with NWA’s “Quiet On Tha Set”

As his show ended, the crowd cheered and wanted an encore and he didn’t disappoint. He came back and ended the show with John Lennon’s “Imagine” which lead to one more song, Feist’s “1,2,3,4”, but not the original, again he laced the tracks with some ill drums and made it pretty nasty, in a good way.

Overall a great show and great energy from Mike Relm and the crowd, I definitely have to give props to Sean from Spectrum Events for hooking us up at Killahbeez with some media passes. Check out www.spectrum-events.com for upcoming events.

If you like the review please vote for me.

Peace.

David Thai
www.killahbeez.com

PS: Pictures are here on Flickr.

So with the Toronto Virgin Festival grabbing every headline with a certain controversy surrounding Oasis‘ performance, I thought it only fitting to recall some of the most explosive episodes between bands and fans.

• Oasis: Whether it was a die-hard Radiohead fan, a miffed Jay-Z fan or just someone who wanted to see whether Noel would look back in anger or not, the epic stage shove has left Noel with a suspected fractured rib, ligament damaged and a bruised ego. Liam quickly stuck up for his sibling by trying to get a few punches in and valiantly the band finished their set!

• Robbie Williams got that little bit closer to his fans when a rogue stage invader decided to see whether angels can fly by shoving him in to the crowd during a 2007 tour of Germany. This hilarious footage can be seen here, it’s a cracker.

• The Rolling Stones are notorious for their rock ‘n’ roll antics but the way that Keith Richards hits someone in the face in this video without the band even flinching is legendary!

• This great piece of footage from a Nirvana gig shows a bouncer retaliating after Kurt Cobain wraps his guitar round his head! From this clip it appears the security is for the crowd rather than the band!

• Amy Winehouse, pop’s messed up princess, proves her aggressive tendencies again and again. Normally, however, it’s directed towards overeager paparazzi, her Glasto performance this year packed a few punches literally.

• Akon keeps banging on about being locked up and with moves like these you can understand why! This is a ridiculously elaborate over-reaction. What did the young lad do you ask? He threw a screwed up paper bag at Akon. Outrageous…

• Tool round up this list with my favourite footage of bands vs fans. This is truly brilliant. During a performance of Pushit, a hapless lovelorn fan manages to get on stage. As he runs towards Maynard for what looks like a cuddle, he is subjected to a Mr Miyagi style attack. What is brilliant is how, when lying on the floor in a headlock with a knee in his back, the fan is still enamoured punching the air with elation. Bless.

Have I left any epic fights out? Let me know and share your favourites