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A judge has refused to delay the implementation of the COVID vaccine passport scheme in Scotland.

Earlier this week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that the Scottish government would be delaying its plans for the implementation of the passports as a requirement for entry into the country’s nightclubs, after criticism from many establishments across the country.

As the BBC reports, the delay came after a legal challenge from the Scottish nightlife industry who said the proposal was “discriminatory” and “disproportionate”.

It has now been revealed that Judge Lord Burns has refused the delay, saying that the implementation of the scheme is a “balanced way” to address “legitimate issues” surrounding the pandemic.

As such, the scheme will come into force from 5am tomorrow morning (October 1) as planned.

Earlier this month (September 9) Scottish MPs ruled in favour of the introduction of vaccine passports, with 68 votes for and 55 against.

The plans, introduced this week, mean passports declaring full vaccination status will be needed for those over 18-years-old to enter concerts, nightclubs, venues and big sporting events.

Announcing the planned delay, Sturgeon said: “The government is persuaded that a COVID certification scheme will help us mitigate the risk the virus poses to us over the winter.

“However, the pragmatic compromise that I have just outlined in relation to a staged introduction of the scheme demonstrates, I hope, that we are listening to business about the practical challenges they face.”

Following the initial announcement of the passport scheme, the Night Time Industry Association CEO Michael Kill said the vote “has put an already fragile nighttime economy on a ‘dangerous path’ to devastation”.

“The call for evidence from the Scottish government has been ignored, and has left us no option but to challenge this, as an industry in the coming weeks, or we will suffer the catastrophic consequences of ill thought out policy,” he added.

In England, meanwhile, the plan for vaccine passports for nightclubs, sporting events and large live music events has also been scrapped.

The post Judge refuses to delay implementation of COVID vaccine passports in Scotland appeared first on NME.

Ashnikko has shared two brand new songs – watch the videos for ‘Panic Attacks In Paradise’ and ‘Maggots’ below.

The new tracks follow the pop star’s ‘Demidevil’ mixtape, which came out back in January.

• READ MORE: Ashnikko at Reading Festival 2021: “My debut album sounds like very angry fairy music”

“’Panic Attacks In Paradise’ and ‘Maggots’ were both written when I was in a very low place,” Ashnikko said of the tracks in a statement. “A nasty festering place where brushing my teeth and getting out of bed felt like a win. PAIP is a commentary on how much I was annoying myself at the time. Everything was fine.

“I was healthy and my career was going great. I was in a metaphorical ‘paradise’. But alas my brain chemistry had other plans. I was in so much pain and I couldn’t put a finger on it.”

She added: “I was an insufferable mess, so obsessed with my own hurt. I was leading it around with me like a rabid dog, letting it bite anyone I came into contact with. Where PAIP is soft and forlorn, maggots is pure rage. I’m casting a protective shield of electricity around myself and daring anyone to try to cross it.

“I decide that being a little villainous is an easier lifestyle choice. I’d rather be a raging bitch than let people take advantage of my kindness. I will take every parasite burrowing its way into my flesh and flatten it under my boots.”

Speaking to NME backstage at Reading Festival 2021 last month, Ashnikko discussed her upcoming debut album.

“Album is a really loaded word,” she said. “I’ve been putting off an album for some time now, I called the last one a mixtape, [but] it was really an album. But yeah, I’m working on it – it’s happening.”

Watch the video interview in full below.

Ashnikko is set to tour the UK and Ireland at the end of the year – see the dates in full below:

DECEMBER 2022
7 – London, Kentish Town Forum (sold out)
8 – London, Kentish Town Forum (sold out)
10 – Manchester, Ritz (sold out)
11 – Dublin, Academy (sold out)
12 – Glasgow, SWG3 (Galvanizers) (sold out)

The post Ashnikko shares two new songs, ‘Panic Attacks In Paradise’ and ‘Maggots’ appeared first on NME.

Eminem surprised fans who visited his new Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant in Detroit during its official opening yesterday (September 29).

The rapper has opened the restaurant in his home city and named it after a lyric from his 2002 hit ‘Lose Yourself’, which featured on the 8 Mile soundtrack: “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy / There’s vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti.”

• READ MORE: Eminem’s ‘Music To Be Murdered By – Side B’: the big talking points

Eminem manned the walk-up window of Mom’s Spaghetti for a short period yesterday to celebrate its opening, with the rapper serving food and taking pictures with the first 10 customers in the queue.

The queue for Mom’s Spaghetti “lined several blocks” by the opening time of 5pm, according to the Detroit Free Press. Some fans had camped out since the early hours of the morning to secure their place at the front.

Mom’s Spaghetti is located on Woodward Avenue within the newly opened Union Assembly restaurant. You can see the menu here.

“We’ve had a lot of fun putting this project together with the folks at Union Joints, and the response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive,” Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s manager, said in a recent statement.

“The previous pop-ups were really a test for us to determine whether there was enthusiasm for a regularly-occurring Mom’s Spaghetti spot that would be open all year long.

“We are really pleased to announce the arrival of the walk-up restaurant and adjacent upstairs store, called The Trailer, where fans can experience a uniquely-curated environment and obtain merch and other items from Eminem and his new pasta operation.”

Elsewhere, Eminem’s new song with Skylar Grey – which also features Polo G and Mozzy – for the Venom 2 soundtrack has been released

The post Eminem surprises fans at opening of Mom’s Spaghetti restaurant in Detroit appeared first on NME.

Elton John and Stevie Wonder have linked up for a new collaboration – listen to ‘Finish Line’ below.

The track will appear on ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, John’s recently announced collaborations album which will also feature Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Eddie Vedder and more.

’I couldn’t be more proud of ‘Finish Line’,” John said of the song in a statement. “I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best records I’ve ever made.

“Stevie’s voice is as good as I can ever remember hearing him – he sounds like a 17-year-old again, he’s singing with a sheer joy and exuberance in his vocals. Andrew Watt has done an unbelievable job on the production. It was a magical process.”

John continued: “I’ve always loved collaborating with Stevie, and I’m delighted that after 50 years of friendship we finally get to do a full blown duet. He has always been so kind and sweet to me, and his talent is beyond ridiculous. When you listen to what he does vocally and instrumentally on ‘Finish Line’ you think, this is a true genius here.”

Speaking of the track, Stevie Wonder added: “It is both a joy and honour to sing, play piano and harmonica for Elton! He has truly been one of the great spirits of music, life, friendship and love, who I’ve met on this life journey! True artistry and music like love equals a forever commitment lasting many lifetimes.

“And Elton, anyone who hears your voice singing ‘Finish Line’ will hear and feel your wisdom, your pain, your soul, your love, but also your resilience….. I love it!! Congratulations to you and our forever and never, never-ending music, friendship, life-song! Long live Sir Elton John!!!”

Recorded over the last 18 months, work on the singer’s 32nd studio album – which is due to arrive on October 22 – began after he was forced to pause his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The last thing I expected to do during lockdown was make an album,” John said in a statement. “But, as the pandemic went on, one‐off projects kept cropping up.”

Earlier this month, John announced that he has been forced to reschedule his remaining 2021 ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour dates to 2023 due to a hip injury, saying that it is a decision he took “with great sadness and a heavy heart”.

The post Elton John and Stevie Wonder collaborate on new track ‘Finish Line’ appeared first on NME.

Dave Grohl has said that he is open to playing live with ABBA, while also revealing that he “wept like a baby” when he heard the group’s recent comeback single.

The Swedish band released two tracks earlier this month to preview their long-awaited new album ‘Voyage’, which is set for release on November 5, and their upcoming “digital” ‘ABBA Voyage’ residency in London, which begins in May 2022.

• READ MORE: The ABBA ‘Voyage’ producers on what to expect from the “magical space circus” live show

Speaking to BBC News this week, Grohl – who has previously cited ABBA as an influence – was asked for his reaction to ABBA’s comeback.

“Oh my god, I’m such a big ABBA fan,” the Foo Fighters frontman said. “When I saw that they were coming back and they had a record, I shot that link to 100 people I knew, then listened to the new song and wept like a baby. I cried like a baby. Oh man!”

Pressed on what it was about the new songs that so moved him, Grohl replied: “It almost sounded like time hadn’t passed. Plus it was such a beautiful, romantic, melancholy, bitter-sweet retrospective.

“Ugh, it’s amazing. ABBA can do no wrong.”

Grohl then expressed his openness towards playing live with ABBA, saying: “Listen, I will get up and play drums at the opening of an envelope. Show me a drum set and I will sit down to it.

“So yes, I would play with ABBA.”

ABBA’s already-assembled 10-piece live band for their ‘ABBA Voyage’ residency next year includes former Klaxons member James Righton and Little Boots.

In another interview this week Grohl reflected on the opportunities he’s had to play with his musical heroes over the years, saying that he still “cannot believe that it’s happening to me”.

The post Dave Grohl is open to playing drums for ABBA: “I’m such a big ABBA fan” appeared first on NME.