That's it for this first Monday in December.

Scroll down for news of Sia's epic journey to her gig in Sydney, Taylor and some new rapper called Ed performing in LA, Noel's dis' for 'parka monkey' bro Liam after his third #1 album and the debut single from the new X Factor winners.

All that and more.

We'll leave you with 6 ft 7 inch Stoke and England footballer Peter Crouch enjoying his now annual Kasabian rave up.

Imagine being stuck behind him for the whole gig?

Just don't spill his pint when the beat drops...

See you tomorrow.

Finally today...

Following in the footsteps of Adele, Harry Styles and Sam Smith, U2 will get the BBC red carpet treatment later this month.

U2 at the BBC will be broadcast on 19 December at 21:00 GMT but if you simply can't wait until then, you can watch the band singing their track All I Want Is You (above) now.

And if that's still not enough scroll down to see them on US TV this weekend.

After that you're on your own.

Paloma Faith was the latest star to co-host BBC One's Sounds Like Friday Night on...erm...when was it again?

She treated fellow host Greg James to an open bus tour of her native Stoke-Newington in east London.

Watch above and shout up if you see anyone/anywhere that you know.

As well as Paloma, the penultimate show of the series also featured performances from the likes of Rita Ora, Sigrid and Royal Blood.

Check out the Brighton rockers (who incidentally provide the show's theme tune) smashing it above

How do two blokes make that much noise?

Rolling Stone magazine

Prior to his death in 2015, the Motorhead bassist and frontman recorded what would be his final song with guitarist Chris Declercq.

We Are the Ones is now available to hear above.

Paying tribute to the late hard rock legend, Declercq told Rolling Stone: "You opened a door no one else wanted to open for me.

"You allowed me to share precious moments with you as a composer, musician and friend. By helping me, you showed that you were the most generous, humble and honest man."

Read more, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Pete Best, the drummer who was in The Beatles until being unceremoniously replaced by Ringo Starr just as their careers were taking off, is to make his acting debut - in a play about John Lennon.

Best will play himself in three performances of a new comedy called Lennon's Banjo, external, about the quest to track down the instrument on which Lennon learned to play his first song.

It's based on the novel Julia's Banjo by Rob Fennah and Helen A Jones and will be staged at the appropriately-named Epstein Theatre in Liverpool in April and May.

Best said:

And so it has come to pass - he'll appear in two performances on 25 April and one on 5 May.

Acting is already in the family - his niece is Leanne Best, who plays Tina in Cold Feet.

No clues now...

Christmas really has come early pop fans.

Ed Sheeran (minus his little guitar) burst on to the stage wearing a baseball cap to add a little Future-style rap to Taylor's track End Game at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball at the Forum in Inglewood, California at the weekend.

The gig was Taylor's first since the release of her latest album Reputation.

The performance was broadcast on US TV but you check out Ed in action above.

Should Kendrick, Skepta and Jay be worried?

He memorably popped up in an episode of Ricky Gervais' Extras and now Coldplay's head honcho has been showing off his thespian tendencies in Modern Family.

We're sure there's a reason why he's in the same hospital and is kind of mates with Phil Dunphy...but we're yet to learn what it is.

We love this show but the phrase 'jumping the shark' comes into mind...

We love a musical rarity and this ticks a lot of boxes...

A recording of Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl performing an impromptu gig at Edinburgh's Southern Bar in 1991.

The secret acoustic set for charity took place the day following a Nirvana show in the city and took place on front of a few dozen people.

It features performances of Dumb and Polly as well as a cover of Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam, which was originally recorded by one of Kurt's favourite bands, the Scottish group, The Vaselines.

"Gaun yersel!" shouts one delighted audience member after the opening track.

It being a pub in Scotland at night, there are a few muffled offensive words in the background so you have been warned before you listen above.

The charity Help Musicians UK (HMUK) has launched a new mental health service Music Minds Matter, for anyone working in the music industry.

The new campaign will cover advice, professional therapeutic services, including counselling and will also provide access to the charity’s financial funds.

The number 0808 802 8008 is free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Singer-songwriter Nadine Shah (above) said: “It’s about time we had a service that is always there for people, one that really caters to the myriad of mental health challenges and complexities that musicians and people in the music industry face.

"As someone that has experienced struggles of my own, I know how important it is to know that I could access help and support when I need it."

Read more

Manchester Evening News

Here's a belter for with your lunch...

Christopher Scamp from Liverpool has gone viral after playing a two-hour medley outside Forsyth's Music Shop on Deansgate in Manchester city centre.

The 30-year-old mixed up Christmas songs, Hacienda classics and even a bit of Dr Dre and his performance has been viewed 4.5 million times on Facebook, external.

Proving beyond all doubt that all city rivalries can be cast side in the name of great music.

Chris told the Manchester Evening News: “I can play a few hundred songs and I can do them all the way through but tend to just mix parts of them together as not everyone has the patience for a full song."

"He's amazing!" exclaims one on-looker. "Wow...this is going viral!"

Watch above and read more., external

Image source, PA

Friends, family and fans of Lil Peep gathered at a memorial in his hometown of Long Beach, New York on Sunday to pay tribute to the late rapper.

The 21-year-old died of a suspected drug overdose last month.

Check out some fan-shot footage of the ceremony below.

The rapper's image was also apparently beamed on to the side of the House of Commons in London yesterday, as you can see below.

Image source, PA

You can still watch the full memorial service, external which features speeches from Peep's mother and grandmother.

Robbie Williams was on The Graham Norton Show this weekend plugging his new biography Reveal.

He told Graham and a star-studded couch which included Elton John and Pink, about smuggling 'friend' and Spice Girl Geri Horner out of his London flat in a holdall in order to avoid the paparazzi.

"I literally put her in this duffle bag and put her over my shoulder...," he said.

"She had her car and I put her in the boot of her car..."

Watch above as the toe-curling story unfurls.

All good things do...

The Pulp frontman has hosted his Sunday Service on and off since 2010 but sadly he's now on the home straight.

Cocker will host four remaining episodes with the final one coming on New Year's Eve.

“It’s not goodbye, it’s just farewell,” he said.

Referring to the December shows, he added: "Let's keep warm together."

Listen to yesterday's episode.

So it's out with the old (no offence Jarv) and in with the new from next year, as the singer will be replaced by London Night Tzar Amy Lamé.

Amy said: “I’m so pleased to be the latest addition to the 6 Music family. I’ve been a dedicated listener since the inception of 6 Music, and to now have a weekly show on the station I love so much is a dream come true.

"Jarvis has always been an important part of my Sundays and I - like many others - will miss him. I can’t wait to get cracking, connect with listeners, and keep the alternative spirit of music and culture alive and well!”

Read more.

Sir Elton John has posted an emotional tweet paying tribute to his mother Sheila who has died.

He wrote: "So sad to say that my mother passed away this morning. I only saw her last Monday and I am in shock.

He added: "Travel safe Mum. Thank-you for everything."

The pair reconciled last year after a row which apparently lasted nearly a decade.

The Watford-based boy band beat fellow finalist Grace Davies to be named winners of the X Factor 2017.

It's the first boy band to win the show since it started in 2004.

Mentor Simon Cowell - who, let's face it has a vested interest - hailed them as "stars".

Proceeds from Rak-Su's new single Dimelo (which you can hear above) will go to children's hospice charities Together For Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase.

We hope they fare better than last year's winner Matt Terry who saw his debut single When Christmas Comes Around peak at number three in 2016 and his debut album Trouble limp into the top 30 at number 29 last week.

On New Music Friday we told you all about U2's new album Songs of Experience.

Now the American public have been learning all about it as Bono and the guys appeared on Saturday Night Live.

Watch above as four Irish men lecture the US audience about American Soul, with the help of (a pre-recorded) Kendrick Lamar.

Bono got his star-spangled mega-phone out once again for a rendition of new single Get Out of Your Own Way.

Check that out below.

We're still four weeks away from 2018 but the year is off to a winning start for the R&B singer from the west midlands.

The 20-year-old beat two other newcomers, Mabel and Stefflon Don, to the prize, which recognises "the future stars of British recording talent".

Previous winners include Adele and Emeli Sande.

Jorja took fourth place on the BBC Sound of 2017.

She will be presented with the award at the Brits at London's O2 Arena on 21 February, 2018.

Check her out above.

Read more

Image source, Getty Images

Production on the new Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic has been suspended, so director Bryan Singer can deal with "a personal health matter".

The film, titled Bohemian Rhapsody, will tell the story of the late Queen frontman's life.

Twentieth Century Fox told the BBC work had been temporarily halted "due to the unexpected unavailability" of Singer.

The director's representative said it was "a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family".

A statement added: "Bryan hopes to get back to work on the film soon after the holidays."

Read more.

So we all assume tpop stars get smoothly transported in and out of big gigs.

They don't have to worry about the same logistical issues as the rest of us - right?

Wrong.

Aussie hit-maker Sia arrived late to a gig in Sydney on Saturday after severe weather caused her flight from Melbourne to be cancelled.

She hit the road instead for an epic automobile journey and ran into some difficulties along the way - the stress of which apparently brought on a poorly stomach.

"I may be five minutes late," the 41-year-old tweeted.

"We couldn't catch a plane due to weather, so drove thirteen hours then blew a tire which has given me crazy diarrhoea."

TMI Sia. TMI.

The 41-year-old kept her dedicated, rain-drenched followers up to date as she approached the Allianz Stadium, adding:

Good things come to those who wait (and regularly check tweets).

She managed to knock out a full set, which included her Rihanna hit Diamonds and David Guetta collab Titanium.

A day earlier the singer had treated fans to another early gift from her Christmas album stocking which you can check out below.

Image source, PA

Noel Gallagher's third solo album Who Built The Moon? went straight to number one in the album charts on Friday evening after we left you.

The record, which gave the former Oasis guitarist his 10th career number one album, sold 78,000 copies to reach the top spot, including 12,800 on vinyl.

"I'm on a better winning streak than Man City are at the minute," he told the Official Charts.

"I'm actually on a par with [City manager] Pep Guardiola. I'm a bit of a wizard, I often thought I was."

However, the album didn't sell as well as Liam Gallagher's recent album, As You Were, which shifted 102,660 copies in its first week of release.

That hasn't stopped the elder Gallagher from taunting his brother and his legions of fans - aka 'the parka monkeys'.

• Read our interview with Noel

He posted the above pic alongside a celebratory message which ended; "Spare a thought for this little fella..he’ll be having a bad day."

Come on lads, you both had number one records, now let it go will you.

If not, it's probably best if Noel visits mum Peggy on Boxing Day this year, if Liam is going to be there for Christmas.

Read more.