Alphabeat deny Lady Gaga rift on UK Monster Ball tour

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Anders SG (second left) and Anders B (third left) say they "loved" the tour

Alphabeat have said there's no truth in reports they didn't get on with Lady Gaga while supporting her on her Monster Ball tour.

The band were quoted as saying they didn't socialise with the star and didn't have time to soundcheck because she spent too much time rehearsing.

However, the Danish band say the press twisted their words.

Anders B said Gaga had in fact been very polite: 'We had a really good time and she was, actually, extremely nice."

He added: "She came to our room on the first day of the tour and said hi and we got a present from her. We got some flowers and champagne."

Anders SG, another member of the pop six-piece, backed up the claim and said the star introduced herself as "Gaga".

'We didn't actually really expect to meet her," he said. "And we were very surprised when she came to our room backstage."

'Twisted' quotes

Alphabeat, who are best known for 2006 hit Fascination, supported the singer on her February and March dates in the UK and Ireland.

Anders B said supporting Lady Gaga was a great experience and described how people might have got the wrong end of the stick.

Lady Gaga always keeps up her unique sense of style, say Alphabeat

"I think what happened was we did an interview and we were talking generally about the difference of being a support act and headlining. And it got twisted.

"I mean we loved that tour. It was an amazing opportunity and we got to see her show every night."

The boys also said they doubted whether Lady Gaga ever truly comes out of character. Anders SG was especially sceptical at the suggestion she ever lounges around in tracksuit bottoms.

"I don't think so", he said. "Even when she came into our room, she was in a kimono thing and was still really good looking."

Anders B, however, said the star probably wasn't quite as bizarre as her dress sense suggested.

"I saw her one day in the catering lab, where I think she was having a cup of tea. That was pretty normal."

Paramore release first 'love song'

Page last updated at 8:03 BST, Thursday, 1 April 2010

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By Oli Wilson and Greg Cochrane Newsbeat reporters Paramore's Hayley Williams says they're releasing their first "love song"

"It felt like the right time to do this," says Paramore's Hayley Williams with a deep breath. A long pause follows. "It's our first ballad."

New single The Only Exception might come to casual fans as something of a shock. It's not the usual skid-wheeled glossy punk the Tennessee fivesome produce.

"It's our first love song that speaks about love in not a negative way. It's a more positive light," she says.

"It's about me learning to believe that love can happen and exist in this world where I've never experienced it or witnessed it before. I'm really stoked about that message."

Continue reading the main story

I get bored of maybe five or six days at home. I'm like, 'Get me out of here, I'm don't know what to do with myself'

Hayley Williams says she gets bored not doing anything

It is easy to forget that Hayley Williams is only 21 and that the million-selling band she fronts were signed when she was 16.

"It was written with someone in mind," she continues. "I feel really lucky to have felt what I considered to be something authentic and genuine and pure. I'm still pretty young.

"I wouldn't say that getting older has anything to do with playing a slower song.

"This song is definitely different for us and it's a side we've never shown but I think the typical Paramore sound that everyone is used to, that is who we are."

'I get bored'

A change of direction indeed, and the slowest track of most recent album Brand New Eyes released last year.

The video features Williams lying on a bed of cards sent from fans of the band.

"Over the Christmas holiday we got so many fan mails and Christmas gifts - crazy things from fans," she explains.

Paramore are playing this year's Reading and Leeds festivals

"It was really amazing to see how much time and effort people want to give to you that's a piece of them.

"When we put the email blast about it we had 400 cards in a week. They were all really personal."

As well as playing packed arenas in the UK last autumn (Wembley sold out in four hours) they toured the US alongside reformed ska-poppers No Doubt, fronted by Gwen Stefani.

"It was a dream come true," enthuses Williams. "I still can't believe we did it.

"When I'm 40 years old I want to be doing what Gwen's doing. It was really motivating."

The single isn't the last we'll be hearing from them, they're playing this year's Reading and Leeds festivals as well after two stateside jaunts. They're prepared to keep going.

"I get bored of maybe five or six days at home," she laughs.

"I'm like, 'Get me out of here, I'm don't know what to do with myself'."

The Only Exception is released on Monday 5 April

N-Dubz hit back at critics by launching autobiography

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By Chi Chi Izundu Newsbeat entertainment reporter

N-Dubz chart their rise from the streets to the charts

London group N-Dubz have written a mini autobiography called Against All Odds: From Street Life To Chart Life to hit back at their critics.

Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer say they want to put "everything out there" and be honest and open about their lives.

They say they're sick of the negative press they've been getting lately and want to "set the record straight" about who they are.

In January, Dappy was forced to apologise to a woman for sending her threatening text messages after she contacted Radio 1 expressing her dislike for the band.

Chloe Moody texted The Chris Moyles Show while the band were being interviewed, calling them "losers" and labelling Dappy "repulsive" but got a message back the next day from him saying: "Your [sic] gonna die".

N-Dubz were dropped as ambassadors of anti-bullying charity Beatbullying after the incident.

They also had a go at Elly Jackson from La Roux last October calling her "bitter" after comments she made criticising Tinchy Stryder and R&B music.

In their new book, the double-Mobo award winners talk about being part of gangs and carrying knives.

Tulisa also admits to trying to take her own life on several occasions.

Libertines pledge not to split before summer gigs

The reunited Libertines played their first gig in a north London pub

By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

The Libertines have played together for the first time since they split in 2004 and pledged not to break up before their summer festival dates.

Frontmen Peter Doherty and Carl Barat, bassist John Hassall and drummer Gary Powell also held a media conference at the north London pub venue.

Doherty said: "Looking back on it, we did produce things we are so proud of and we want to get back to that."

The band is due to play the Reading and Leeds festivals at the end of August.

The press conference took place in a packed bar with the four band members sitting on bar stools.

Libertines say they're looking forward to playing live at Reading and Leeds

Doherty made light of many of the questions, particularly about his past drug problems.

Asked how hard it had been for them to get back together, Doherty looked at Barat and quipped: "He never answers his phone."

On the reported fee in excess of £1 million to play the festivals, Doherty said: "What's appealing about the money is what's left over after tax."

He added: "I'm dying to play some of those songs with the boys and get some new things done."

Barat said: "Four months is a long time for the Libertines, so whatever happens happens. We're going to see how it goes. If it works, it works."

'We're committed'

The pair have a turbulent history, including Doherty's burglary of Barat's flat in 2003 which led to a jail term.

Despite this, the band members said they expected to still be together by the time of the summer festivals.

"We're not going to fall out," Doherty said.

Barat added: "We're all really excited to do it - we're not going to let anything silly get in the way. I think we're committed."

After The Libertines split in 2004, Barat formed Dirty Pretty Things and Doherty formed Babyshambles.

The reunited band said they did not expect to play new material at Reading and Leeds.

"It's going to be hard enough to work out some riffs from the old days," Doherty said.

Barat added: "We just wrote a song in the guitar shop - we bought some guitars to bring down here - and it turned out to be Don't Look Back in Anger!"

The media conference accompanied a short gig for fans at the venue, including the song Can't Stand Me Now, which refers to the sometimes difficult relationship between the two frontmen.