SCISSOR SISTERS added some Spice to their set supporting Duran Duran – by inviting Melanie C to join them on stage.
Gushing over landing Sporty Spice as a special guest at the BST Hyde Park Festival on Sunday, frontman Jake Shears said: “We love Melanie C, she’s always been the loveliest person.
“She loves what she does, she’s a killer singer, so we’re so happy she could join us.
“We’re all big show ponies!
“We’ve had a blast.”
Jake told the audience he still can’t believe the group are still going strong and selling out arenas this far into their career, adding: “It’s been 25 years for us this year, and we’ve gone from literally singing along to CDs to being a fully fledged band in that time.
“Showmanship takes a long time to learn, as does enjoying yourself on stage.
“Our favourite moments on stage are when we achieve a sense of, ‘What the hell is going on here?’”
Reflecting on their sometimes chaotic live shows, Jake spoke of a particularly memorable performance with the late Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns.
He recalled: “One of our best collaborations has to be in the early days with Pete.
“He was such a special, special human being.
“He was a fierce, amazing character – in stilettos – and we like that, we like a little bit of chaos.
“That show was dangerous, scary, and fun.
“We look back at those times and feel like that was another era, those are people that are gone now.
“It’s very special to know we could do that with someone we looked up to before even becoming a band.”
CAUGHT LIVE: LONDON ROCKED BY METALLICA
FOR a band 45 years into their career, Metallica were still full of life as they tore through the final night of their three-year M72 World Tour.
The rockers turned London Stadium into a theatre on Sunday with an in-the-round stage in the centre of the venue as part of their “no repeats” weekend.
They also played there on Friday night but vowed there would be an entirely different setlist.
That meant they didn’t play many of their hits, but still had plenty of material to keep going for over two hours.
The gig fell on the one-year anniversary of the Back To The Beginning concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park, which the band performed at and where Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne played for the final time.
Honouring the late rocker as his widow Sharon watched on from the crowd, they covered the Sabbath epic, Electric Funeral.
Ending on their biggest UK hit Enter Sandman, it was clear Metallica are still at the top of their game.
★★★★☆
NICK: I ALMOST BECAME MONSTER
NICK JONAS almost went by a pseudonym when he launched his solo career and planned to release music under the odd moniker, Monster.
The Jonas Brothers star admitted he felt wounded when the group first split in 2013 amid declining record sales, and he was anxious about putting music out under his own name.
Recalling a conversation with David Massey, former boss of Island Records, Nick explained: “I was, at this point, so discouraged by all the things that were happening, the fact that music wasn’t really connecting with the brothers.
“Obviously the band broke up. I disguised my insecurity and vulnerability. I was, like, ‘I just want to go under a pseudonym and not be that guy any more and try to do something different’.
“And David was, like, ‘But don’t you want to be the biggest artist in the world?’”
Recalling the strange names he came up with, Nick, inset – who later had solo success with the hits Jealous and Close – added on the Unfamous with Justin Tranter podcast: “I tried to think of something, but every time I had something that felt maybe close to right, I was, like, this is so dumb.
“I was, like, what am I doing? I think one was Monster or something.”
Thanks a bunch, Sara
SARA COX kicked off her tenure as the host of the Radio 2 breakfast show by blasting out Lizzo‘s About Damn Time just after 6.30am.
Full of beans, she was congratulated on air over her new job by Hollywood star Tom Hanks, before leaving the studio with flowers just after 10am.
It sounds like Sara’s taking it old school with a new feature called SurpRise And Shine, where she will phone up listeners who have to answer with a specific phrase to win a special prize – either orange socks with her face on or a Sara-branded toothbrush.
One person who definitely wasn’t listening to Sara’s debut though was sacked host Scott Mills.
His husband Sam Vaughan posted a rare story on Instagram which showed he had snubbed the show and was tuning in to Heart Radio instead.
Can’t say that I blame him . . .
COLE’S KEEPING US COLE’D
HIS England teammates got us hot and bothered with that thrilling victory over Mexico at the World Cup.
But Cole Palmer – who was not picked for the Three Lions squad – kept fans nice and cool back home.
The Chelsea ace’s ice brand, Cole’d by Cole Palmer, in partnership with GoPuff, was a huge hit on TikTok ahead of the match on Sunday with site visits up over 200 per cent as fans stocked up on cubes to cool down drinks.
Fans have jumped on the trend with one writing: “Other players melt under pressure. Cole Palmer just brings his own Cole’d ice.”
A spokesperson added: “Demand for Cole’d Ice has continued to grow and we expect another busy evening on Saturday for the Norway game.”
Watch out Erling Haaland, we’re coming for you.
Hot Tyla, so cool
IF this heatwave carries on, I might have to start dressing like TYLA just to stay cool.
The South African singer took to the stage at Afro Nation festival in Portugal at the weekend wearing this miniscule white top and the tiniest of black miniskirts.
She is gearing up to release her second studio album A*Pop on July 24, which includes her recent singles Chanel and She Did It Again featuring Zara Larsson.
I’ve got a sneaking suspicion we can expect a tour announcement in the not-so-distant future, too.
Tyla was forced to cancel her first headline tour in 2024 due to injury, but she was back on stage last year and is earning rave reviews for her festival sets.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed it isn’t long until she’s back here in the UK.
Shania ends in Styles
HARRY Styles had a smile on his face and the Three Lions on his chest before taking to the stage for the 12th and final night of his record-breaking Wembley Stadium residency.
He posed backstage with Shania Twain, who has been opening for him at the shows, which have been seen by almost one million fans.
Writing on Instagram after the concert – where fellow singer Kylie Minogue and actress Rosamund Pike were spotted in the audience – Shania said: “Thank you again @harrystyles for the memories. You have the greatest fans! Leaving London with an overflowing cup – happy and grateful.”
MADONNA’s Confessions II is now outselling the rest of the Top Five combined in the UK album charts, as it races to become her first No1 record in 14 years.
It came out on Friday and is also on track to land two singles in the Top 40 – Danceteria and her Sabrina Carpenter collab, Bring Your Love.