Brit Music Scene

Lily Allen Quits Twitter, MySpace Etc. For New Boyfriend

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 07:29 PM PDT

Lily Allen is clearly a big quitter these days. Not a week goes by without her quitting something or other. First it was music, even though she still has a tour planned. Next it was her blog about the issues surrounding illegal filesharing, which she deleted and walked away from seemingly without warning.

And now? Now, it’s all technology, including MySpace, Twitter, and her BlackBerry, allegedly all in aid of pleasing her boyfriend Sam Cooper.

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One of Lily’s pals reportedly told The Daily Star:

“We thought she was joking, but it’s been a month since she last Twittered. Before then you could always get a response from her straight away. No matter what time of day or where she was, she’d be glued to her BlackBerry. Now you have to leave a message on her home answer phone.”

“She does have a clapped out old mobile phone, but you’re lucky to get her on that because she keeps leaving it when she goes out. She was so obsessed with the next new thing that it has shocked everyone. It’s like she’s back in the 80s.”

This is truly bizarre because Lily built her career using social networking sites and used them religiously to keep up with fans and have the odd celebrity bith fight, usually with Perez Hilton. And now, nothing?

I’m guessing this came as a result of the abuse she received from her views on filesharing. Some of which weren’t exactly complimentary. Lily’s last tweet read, “I am a neo-luddite, goodbye.” And it seems that has now proved to be an accurate statement.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Post from: Brit Music Scene

The Rakes Split & Cancel UK and US Tours

Posted: 22 Oct 2009 01:24 PM PDT

The Rakes were one of several bands which started gaining traction in the British music scene around 2005. Their contemporaries include Bloc Party, The Futureheads, and Maximo Park, three of my favorite British bands. Unfortunately, The Rakes are the first of that group to split.

The band announced the split today and the cancellation UK and US tours in the process. The UK leg was due to start in Leeds on Oct. 26, but all ticket holders will now be issued with full refunds.

The Rakes issued a statement to NME regarding the split, saying:

“The Rakes have always been very adamant and proud of the fact that we give 100 per cent to every gig we’ve ever played. If we can’t give it everything then we won’t do it. That was the rule we set ourselves from day one. After much deliberation we have come to the shared conclusion that we can’t give it 100 per cent any more and regret to announce that The Rakes are calling it a day.”

“Writing your own obituary is a surreal thing to do. But we want to give particular thanks to our much-loved fans, all the great people we’ve worked with over the years, our management and loyal record label. We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to write music together and perform around the world. Genuinely, thanks for the good times… that was one hell of a party! But now, we really must get some sleep.”

The reason for the split seems to be purely because their hearts were no longer in it, though why that was so isn’t clear. Maybe it was just a case of never quite managing to break through to the mainstream in the way those other bands mentioned did.

The fact that my favorite song by The Rakes is 22 Grand Job from their first album, Capture/Release, released way back in 2005 (video embedded below) says it all.

It’s a shame though as The Rakes had a very loyal fan base who will surely be gutted to hear the band has ended suddenly and inexplicably.