Varèse Sarabande Records is re-issuing the long out-of-print LP The Empire Strikes Back – Symphonic Suite from the Original Motion Picture Score by Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams. Out of print since 1980, the record is pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket featuring the original Star Wars paintings and notes. Available now from VarèseSarabande.com along with two limited exclusive versions: “Imperial Grey Marble” (Newbury Comics), and a Canadian exclusive on “Cloud City Orange” available only at Sunrise retail shops.

Originally released to supplement and not compete with the 2-LP Motion Picture Soundtrack, this 1-LP release skillfully combines a “Symphonic Suite” that John Williams created for concert performance with new arrangements of other cues from the film score. The Empire Strikes Back has become not only one of Williams’ most iconic scores, but one of the most iconic film scores of all time. The LP comes in a gatefold jacket with the original iconic Star Wars paintings by William Stout, images of John Williams, and notes from author Ray Bradbury, composer and critic Christopher Palmer, and from the maestro himself.

“The Suite, which I had specially written and adapted for concert performance […] had been skillfully augmented with other music from the film to form a unified whole. A great orchestra and Gerhardt’s opulent sound and dramatic phrasing combine to make a fine addition to a rapidly growing list of great recordings of film music.” – John Williams

Viral punk rock cover band Punk Rock Factory will release their new album ‘Masters of The Uniwurst’ on July 30th.

Formed in late 2014 in South Wales, Punk Rock Factory (Peej- vocals, guitar, Benj- bass, vocals, Ryan- guitar and Kob- drums, vocals), combine everything you love about 1990s/2000s punk rock, and reimagine classic and hit songs like you’ve never heard them before. From Meat Loaf to Disney, nothing is off-limits to them.

The band rehearse, write, record, mix, master and film everything themselves in one dedicated space that they affectionately call ‘The Sausage Factory’ and have no problem bringing friends along either. To date Punk Rock Factory has had singers from bands such as Protest the Hero, Bowling for Soup, Mest, Rufio, Belvedere, Ten Foot Pole and more, provide guest vocals on tracks. Firmly cementing themselves as a punk rock household name.

On the new album, Punk Rock Factory takes on 21 classic TV theme songs including, Arthur, Power Rangers, Saved By The Bell, The Flintstones, Goof Troop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokemon and many more.

The band says, “All these TV themes hold a special place in our hearts as we grew up watching them all, and to get the chance to give them the PRF treatment is something really special for us. So grab your cereal, sit down in front of the TV and lets get strapped in… The adventure begins 30th July.”

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Ed returns with his brand new single ‘Bad Habits’ this Friday, marking his official return to music after a two-year hiatus.

There will be a YouTube premiere for the music video at 5am BST. Taking to Twitter to share the visual, the singer wrote “this was a lot of fun to shoot, apart from the jumping off a building bit x”.

To celebrate the release of ‘Bad Habits’ there will be a digitally animated version of the artwork activated on release. It will see the CD cover come to life via your phone through an AR experience.

Last month, Sheeran performed ‘Bad Habits’ live for the first time, which kicked off a week-long residency on The Late Late Show With James Corden. In his interview with Corden, Sheeran spoke about why he stays at Courteney Cox’s house whenever he visits Los Angeles, among others.

Watch the official music video for “Bad Habits” below and his vampire transformation.