Faithless singer Maxi Jazz dies aged 65
Maxi Jazz, the lead singer of dance group Faithless, has died at 65.
Announcing his death on Facebook, the group said: “We are heartbroken to say Maxi Jazz died last night. He was a man who changed our lives in so many ways.
“He gave proper meaning and message to our music.
“He was a lovely human being with time for everyone and a wisdom that was both profound and accessible. It was an honour and, of course, a true pleasure to work with him.
“He was a brilliant lyricist, a DJ, a Buddhist, a magnificent stage presence, car lover, endless talker, beautiful person, moral compass and genius.”
Sister Bliss, the group’s keyboardist, said on Twitter: “Sending love to all of you who shared our musical journey. Look after each other y’hear.”
No cause of death has been given.
Faithless formed in 1995 and is perhaps best known for its trance hits Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1.
They have headlined some of the biggest festivals in the world, including Glastonbury, and have often been seen as political in nature.
The group has released seven albums, with their most recent being 2020’s All Blessed, and been nominated for two Brit Awards.
Maxi Jazz in 2007
Born Maxwell Fraser in Brixton in 1957, Jazz went on to have an illustrious music career, both with Faithless and as a solo artist.
He also fronted Maxi Jazz and the E-Type Boys, playing guitar and singing lead vocals, frequently performing at festivals alongside Faithless.
They also toured with UB40, who said on Twitter: “A lovely guy, again who has gone too soon, but finally Maxi you can get some sleep.”
During his career, he also collaborated with the likes of Tiesto, Jamiroquai and Robbie Williams.
As well as his music, he was also a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace FC, and in 2012 became an associate director of the club.
The club paid tribute, saying: “We are mourning the loss of legendary musician Maxi Jazz, who has passed away at the age of 65.
“The team will walk out to Faithless on Boxing Day in tribute.”
Maxi Jazz at Glastonbury in 2010. Pic: AP
Jazz was also into motor racing and occasionally would take part in races.
In 2001, he was involved in a crash, which meant some Faithless tour dates had to be postponed.
DJ Dave Pearce added his tributes, writing on Twitter: “So sad to learn Maxi Jazz has passed away. Faithless were an iconic force in UK dance music from the mid 90s and touched so many lives.
“Throughout their meteoric rise to fame Maxi remained a warm, cool, friendly soul – dance music’s poet – thoughts with his family and friends RIP.”
Mistajam, the radio presenter and DJ, said: “I only met him IRL once and he was the kindest man with such an aura about him.
“His words and performances touched so many of us and he’ll be sorely missed. Love to The Sister Bliss and the whole Faithless family.
“Rest in Power Maxi Jazz.”
Taylor Swift has revealed the release date for her new album, The Life Of A Showgirl.
The pop megastar announced her 12th studio album earlier this week but didn’t give many details.
Now, in social media posts and an appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s sports podcast, Swift revealed just what fans can expect from the new album.
Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce on the New Heights podcast. Pic: New Heights
The Life of Showgirl, written during the European leg of her record-breaking Eras tour, will be released on 3 October.
It consists of 12 songs, including the title track that features pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
The full track list is:
1. The Fate Of Ophelia
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Opalite
4. Father Figure
5. Eldest Daughter
6. Ruin The Friendship
7. Actually Romantic
8. Wi$h Li$t
9. Wood
10. Cancelled!
11. Honey
12. The Life Of A Showgirl (featuring Sabrina Carpenter)
Long-time collaborators Max Martin and Shellback, two Swedish producers who worked with Swift on some of her biggest hits, joined the pop star for this album.
Within four hours of posting the full podcast episode on YouTube, it had already gathered 4.7m views.
The cover of Taylor Swift’s newly announced album. Pic: Republic Records
The back cover of Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album The Life Of A Showgirl. Pic: Republic Records
‘The hardest-working star in pop’
The album follows last year’s The Tortured Poets Department, which was released during the Eras tour.
That tour, with shows on five continents and in 51 cities, raked in more than $2.2bn (£1.62bn) and was the highest-grossing tour of all time.
Read more about Taylor Swift:
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“This album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this tour, which was so exuberant and electric and vibrant,” Swift said during her podcast appearance.
Sky News culture and entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow said after her globe-trotting tour and a swathe of re-releases over recent years, the new album cemented Swift’s reputation “as the hardest-working star in pop”.
Disgraced US film producer Harvey Weinstein is to be tried for a third time in a sexual assault case.
A jury in New York could not reach a verdict in June against the 73-year-old who was accused of raping actress Jessica Mann, and a mistrial was declared.
Judge Curtis Farber has said he wants the new trial to happen before the end of this year.
The same jury found Weinstein guilty in June of sexually assaulting former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006 and not guilty of assaulting Polish former runway model Kaja Sokola the same year.
Weinstein will be sentenced for the guilty verdict in Ms Haley’s case on 30 September.
He denied all of the charges. Throughout the retrial, his lawyers insisted the sexual encounters with his three accusers were “transactional” and “consensual,” and labelled the women as opportunists.
Weinstein was originally convicted of rape and criminal sexual act by the same court in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in prison for the crimes.
Last year, however, New York’s highest court overturned the conviction, prompting Weinstein’s retrial this summer.
Weinstein was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood – the co-founder of film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, who produced films such as the Oscar-winning Shakespeare In Love, Pulp Fiction, and The Crying Game.
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In 2017, a series of sexual misconduct allegations against him propelled the #MeToo movement.
Some of those accusations later led to criminal charges and his convictions in New York and California.
Before the retrial, Weinstein was also serving a 16-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape in California in December 2022. He has also denied this charge.
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