Tickets for Official Team Presentation, Grand Depart Tour de France

Do you want to be at the showstopping Team Presentation of the Grand Départ 2014?
The official ceremony will be held at the Just Music award winning first direct arena in Leeds on Thursday 3rd July and is being billed as a once in a lifetime opportunity. After the huge success of the recent BBC Sports Personality at the Arena this is sure the be another great show, showcasing Leeds and the Arena
Tickets will go on sale soon but if interested you are encouraged to register that interest here

Morrissey speaks - Novels, Albums and David Bowie

In a wide-ranging new Q&A with fans, Morrissey reveals that he’s midway through writing a novel, about to start recording a new album, and how he failed to get David Bowie to record a duet of the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” — “with David doing the deep Bill Medley parts, and me doing the Bobby Hatfield shrieks.”

The Q&A was posted late Thursday at fansite True To You, and also finds the singer addressing his vegetarianism, fashion sense, crusades for animal welfare, listening habits and The Smiths (“As an entity, I have no interest in the Smiths, so as long as I’m not asked about the Smiths, I won’t slip into permanent unconsciousness. And that’s a promise.”)


You can read the full q and a Here at True To You or the highlights below

Why he is writing a novel

“In 2013 I published my Autobiography and it has been more successful than any record I have ever released, so, yes, I am mid-way through my novel. I have my hopes. The actuality is that radio stations will not play my music, and the majority of people have lost faith in the music industry, and it’s generally assumed – quite rightly – that the number one chart positions are “bought” by the major labels, so there really is no passion left in pop or rock music, and I don’t think people believe for an instant that the faces we constantly see on television and in magazines are remotely popular. It’s all, now, solely a question of marketing. All success stories are safe and dreary, and you will never be taken by surprise by a hit song that sounds out of place. This is not just my view but the view of everyone I know.”

New album

“Well, we are about to record our new album, and one of the tracks is called Istanbul. It is second to Rome as my most favorite city in the world. When I’m in Istanbul I feel as if I could never die. My life is matched. I have been trying to book the Istanbul Opera House, and I long to play Ankara, Izmir and Bursa, but local promoters say I am not well-known enough. Even if I sing to one hundred people in Izmir I’d be happy!”

That David Bowie duet

“When I made the record Ringleader of the tormentors, the producer (Tony Visconti), who is a very close friend of David Bowie, tried to get both Bowie and I together to do our version of ‘You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’,” with David doing the deep Bill Medley parts, and me doing the Bobby Hatfield shrieks. I loved this idea, but David wouldn’t budge. I know I’ve criticized David in the past, but it’s all been snotnosed junior high ribbing on my part. I think he knows that.”

Favorite song he’s written

“It would be ‘Life is a Pigsty’ from Ringleader of the Tormentors. I’m accused of always saying too much, but dear God, there are enough people who say nothing. Surely at least one of us can be allowed to speak freely? Feelings, I think, are much deeper than expressions, and all of us carry a terrible loneliness within us, and life is a pigsty because we all — without exception — end our lives in tears. Very few people die in a fit of hysterics on a Ferris Wheel.”

Now enjoy a rare version on Sweetie Pie...beautiful!

UPDATE Leeds closing in on winger

Update 9.01am 9/1/2014

Leeds United have signed Stewart on an initial 93 day loan. He passed a medical at Leeds last night and will be unveiled today. He is expected to go straight into the squad for Saturday

Previously...
Leeds are attempting to sign Stewart on an 93 day emergency loan. We understand this is because of Football League rules which prevent him making a permanent transfer to Leeds.

Football League regs allow players to feature for a maximum of two English clubs in one season. Stewart played once for Hull in a League Cup tie against Leyton Orient in August and featured 18 times for Charlton during his recent spell on loan at The Valley.
Charlton signed the former Manchester United trainee on a standard half-season loan, taking his quota of clubs for the term to two. Emergency loans in the Football League do not count towards that quota, however.

We understand though that United are likely to reach an agreement guaranteeing Stewart a permanent move when his deal at Hull expires in the summer.

Update 13.30 3/1/2014
In his press conference Brian McDermott has confirmed they are close to doing a deal for Cameron


Leeds said to be closing in on winger

Hull manager Steve Bruce confirmed that both Charlton and Leeds Utd are in for Cameron Stewart. Cameron is currently on loan at Charlton from Hull. A deal with Leeds for the winger cum outright striker is said to be at an advanced stage and believed to be the player Brian McDermott was in discussions with last week.

Is this the answer to our wing problems?

Fancy being at a Sky Sports show..

Our friends at Sky Sports are giving us the heads up on two shows that they want YOU to be involved in.

Limited tickets for both shows so click now..

• SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: FOR PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL FANS - Be LIVE at the SKY SPORTS studios for the day with David Jones and Jamie Redknapp and watch al the day's games LIVE - including the 3 O'Clock kick offs!
• GAME CHANGERS: FOR KIDS AGED 8 to 12 - Take your kids along to be LIVE on SKY SPORTS on a Saturday morning and join Olympian Darren Campbell and celebrity guests to get involved in the show and learn some sports skills!

Meet the staff..Karen, Just Families Editor

Name: Karen

What do you do: I am the Editor of Just Families, assistant Editor of Just Music and wife to Just Music founder and Editor Dave

Where was your photo taken?: On holiday in Rethymnon September 2013

What do you like most about what you do?:
Meeting and interviewing my teen heros, working on the Rewind Festival and Back to the 80's I have met and chewed the fat with Boy George, Holly Johnson, Human League, ABC and more...its like a living Smash Hits

And dislike most: Well we all have real jobs to pay the bills so at times the deadlines can be a real pain. Sometimes too you have to go watch bands you really would rather not but you know our readers love - wont name anybody here - and try be positive. All you would rather do is curl up with a bottle of Gavi and watch Eastenders.

Favourite band / Artist: Keane, ok it might be untrendy but I love Sovereign Light Cafe and have seen them many times live.

Favourite job of 2013: Bingley Music Live, we were working with Lucy Spraggan but got to see Nile Rodgers and Chic and were invited on stage with him, it was amazing facing the crowd stood next to a real legend.

What are you looking forward to in 2014: Well in March I am due to have our first baby so will be taking some time out, I cant see beyond that really but I hope to launch a food blog this year, something different. Oh and seeing Robbie on his swing tour at Leeds Arena too!

Blondie - Medley - New Year's Rockin' Eve 2014

Blondie rounded off a very succesful 2013 with a gig in Times Square and we get bloody Gary "Ken" Barlow. Enjoy this..

Leeds 1 Blackburn 2. Gulf Wars

Leeds 1 Blackburn 2  1st January 2014.

Not much to say but its a bugger when your man of the match is a man who comes on and kicks a few people up in the air, step forward Michael Brown. To be fair he did in his bit part what collectively we had failed to do otherwise, get among them and compete.

To be fair also, over a post match pint or several of Leeds Pale it was clear that this match most clearly illustrated how shallow our pockets are. Is Jordan Rhodes any better than Ross McCormack. Pound for pound I'd say not but on an afternoon when it was clear that system we have had wasn't working, Ross had to come deeper to see some of the ball. Jordan could, and did keep his position and was a danger more than just his goal.

Matt Smith pushed and pulled to the floor, no pen apparently

Rudi splits opinion at Elland Road like no player I can remember.. On his day he is direct, causing damage and with an eye for the shot. Today, as in recent weeks he was largely ineffective, jaded, shattered. The system does not allow for changes. 
Positives, well Byram looks like he is coming back to something like the form that had premiership clubs foaming last summer. Zaliukas looks nicely at home in our back four and deserving of an improved contract. Mowatt was massively unlucky to smash his shot against the bar which would have leveled the scores. Matt Smith toiled and was pulled from pillar to post and should have earned a penalty.Thoroughly undeserved but hey who ever said football was fair.

This weekend sees the distraction of the FA Cup, by then we hope, we pray that David Haigh has had notification that his take over has been approved. In Brian McDermott we trust but after the Barnsley, Blackpool and Blackburn games, we aren't quite the attractive proposition we were say, Mid November and the sell to prospective  new additions is just that bit tougher.