I’ll remember I’m a Wombat

SOLO MURPH BAND PRIDE

INDIE veterans are finally ready to headline festivals – but singer Matthew “Murph” Murphy is more scared at playing small venues on his solo tour.

The Liverpudlian is currently touring the UK under his alias of Love Fame Tragedy.

Murph told me: “The smaller shows are more nerve-wracking because you can really see people’s faces and tell if they’re actually enjoying it or not.

“That’s much more stressful than playing to thousands, where it’s less personal, because you just see a sea of people.”

The Wombats headline their first festival – All Points East at London’s

Wombats The

Victoria Park on May 30, 14 years after their debut.

Murph enthused: “We were never the most loved band by the press and we’ve had some hiccups in our career.

“But we’ve kept going and we’re bigger than ever.

“That feels great. It gives me a sense of pride that all the hard work is paying off.”

Murph’s new single as Love Fame Tragedy is Multiply, out next month, featuring Dan Smith from Bastille.

“We’ve been good friends for a few years,” he revealed. “I wasn’t prepared for how amazing Dan’s singing is up close in the studio. “When he first opened his voice, was ‘What the…?!’ because

IDEEP Purple have confirmed their 21st studio album is called Whoosh! and will be with us on June

12. Guitarist Steve Morse said: “We’ve included everything that made the whole band smile.”

Dan’s voice is to mine!”

The first Love Fame Tragedy album will be out this summer, featuring members of The Killers, Alt-J, Pixies and Australian musicians after Murph recorded in Sydney.

He said: “It’s not about getting big name features, it’s just people I know and want to hang out with.”

Love Fame Tragedy play Manchester Academy tomorrow night followed by Birmingham,

London and

Bristol next week.

amachine compared

GETTY Picture: ★

TAYLOR Swift becomes The Man in her powerful new music video.

For the feminist anthem, she is transformed into a powerhungry businessman.

★

The Man is Swifty’s solo directorial debut and she hired the manly Dwayne Johnson to do the voiceover.

At the end of the video, she shows how she was given her dramatic transformation.