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Gordon Moakes – the former bassist of Bloc Party – has formed a new band, The None, and announced their new EP ‘Care’.
Comprised of Moakes, vocalist Kai Whyte (Blue Ruth, Youth Man), guitarist Jim Beck (Cassels) and drummer Chris Francombe (Frauds), the band have also shared the EP’s lead single ‘On Automatic’, a raucous and rowdy track that features a clanky guitar riff, pounding drums and a deep bass line. Paired with Whyte’s distinct and edgy vocals, the track feels both fun and uneasy. You can listen to the song on the band’s Bandcamp page here.
Speaking about the creation of the song in a press release, the band shared: “There was some uncertainty when we started writing this one. We thought the main riff might be a bit too ‘jock-rock’. Thankfully Gordon and Chris came up with some interesting parts which changed the feel and helped build tension. Once Kai added their vocals it quickly became one of our favourites to play live”.
‘Care’ is set for release on February 14 and can be pre-ordered here. It follows their debut EP ‘Matter’ which was released last summer. Speaking about the creation of ‘Care’ which was recorded fully live, Beck said: “I think we’d only done around three or four practices with Kai [vocals] when we recorded the first EP. It was pretty seat-of-the-pants stuff. This time we had a much clearer idea of who we are as a band, and how we wanted everything to sound.”
The None are also set to embark on a 2025 UK tour later this week. Check out the full list of dates below and visit here to purchase tickets.
1. My People
2. Assembly
3. Rusty Roads
4. On Automatic
JANUARY
11 – Electric Ballroom, London (w. The Jesus Lizard)
FEBRUARY
14 – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
15 – Where Else?, Margate
16 – Prince Albert, Brighton
18 – YES (Basement), Manchester
19 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
20 – The Hug & Pint, Glasgow
21 – Zerox, Newcastle
MARCH
29 – Oslo, London
MAY
24 – Portals Festival, EartH, London
25 – Bearded Theory Festival, Catton Park, Derbyshire
JULY
25 – Deer Shed Festival, Thirsk, Yorkshire
Moakes joined Bloc Party after responding to an advert placed in NME by frontman Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack, who were seeking a bassist. He was part of the band until his departure in 2015. He then joined the band Young Legionnaire, whose most recent release was their second album, 2016’s ‘Zero Worship’.
Back in 2015, Okereke opened up on the band’s line-up changes, sharing: “I can tell you it was about someone doing cocaine and someone not being into it. That’s all I’m gonna say.”
He continued: “People think bands breaking up is sexy but often it’s super mundane, like not flushing the toilet or washing up. It’s often not about the flashpoints but deep-seated issues.”
Last year, former Bloc Party drummer Matt Tong opened up about his departure from the band and called the frontman “an insurmountable obstacle”.
The drummer appeared on the 22 Grand Pod and addressed his 2013 exit from the band when he “quit mid-tour”. “It’s come to my attention very recently that, you know, a lot of people actually have inferred that maybe I had a drug problem. Which I didn’t, at all,” he clarified.
Tong alluded to being ready to exit the band before the album cycle ended: “I’m good, this is it,” he recalled thinking. “I’m fine. I don’t think there’s anything else I can gain, really, from being in this band. I certainly felt in terms of being a musician, I wasn’t really able to offer much else.”
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The cause of death of Liam Payne has been confirmed by a doctor at a new UK inquest as “polytrauma”.
The former One Direction star died on October 16 last year, after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. The Argentinian prosecutor’s office shared at the time that the cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
Now, at a hearing at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court, it was confirmed by Dr. Roberto Victor Cohen that the death was the result of “polytrauma”, which refers to multiple traumatic injuries sustained by a body’s organ systems (via BBC).
The inquest into Payne’s death has been told that it may still take “some time” to fully ascertain how the 31-year-old died, with the hearing now adjourned until later in 2025.
Senior Coroner Crispin Butler said: “Whilst there are ongoing investigations in Argentina into the circumstances of Liam’s death, over which I have no legal jurisdiction, it is anticipated that procuring the relevant information to address particularly how Liam came by his death may take some time through the formal channel of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”
Five people have been charged in Argentina over the death: Payne’s friend Roger Nores, CasaSur Palermo hotel manager Gilda Martin, reception head Esteban Grassi, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz.
Wrongful death charges were made against Nores, Martin and Grassi, with the judge noting: “I do not believe that [Nores, Martin, and Grassi] planned and wanted Payne’s death. They did not plan the result but created a legally disapproved risk.”
The judge in Argentina, Laura Bruniard, also declared that the singer jumped off his hotel balcony in an attempt to escape the building while in a drugged state.
“Payne’s consciousness was altered and a balcony was in the room. The proper thing to do was to leave him in a safe place, and with company, until a doctor arrived,” she wrote, adding that the hotel employees who had taken him back to his room “did not act maliciously” but were “imprudent” in their actions.
She continued: “I maintain that [Payne] tried to leave from the balcony of the place where he was left because the forensic experts noted that he did not lose his balance. This is how the fall occurred.”
An earlier report in November from the National Crime and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14 revealed that Payne’s toxicology results showed that cocaine, alcohol and antidepressants were all in his system at the time of his death.
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