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Brian May ‘highly emotional’ announcing special edition of album with Van Halen | Music | Entertainment

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3 years ago

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Following the Gold Series re-releases of his two solo albums Back to the Light and Another World, Sir Brian May has followed up with a new version of his mini one that he recorded on a whim with Eddie Van Halen and more.

The Queen legend promised fans: “It’s all here. ALL of it !

“Every note we played on those two unforgettable, exhilarating days is right here, on show for the first time.

“Hearing these sessions, especially through the new restoration and mixes we’ve now produced, still sends shivers up my spine.”

Brian May and Friends: Star Fleet Project came together spontaneously back in 1983 when Queen were on a break.

READ MORE: Brian May praises ‘astounding’ 11-year-old guitarist playing Back to the Future

Brian was in Los Angeles and decided to phone up a few friends, including Van Halen to collaborate together on some tracks at California’s Record Plant studies. The result of their work over two days that April was the Star Fleet Project, named after the record’s hard rock reimagining of the theme from the Japanese kids sci-fi programme of the same name.

The Queen guitarist recalled: “We did a little preparation, on the phone and at home with tiny Rockman amps and earphones. Then we went in. The tapes rolled. My LA neighbour Alan Gratzer beat the Hell out of his kit with the fattest, heaviest drumsticks I had ever seen. Phil Chen, a friend I had met when he played with Rod Stewart, brought his unusual style of funk-orientated rock playing to the party, along with his sunny Caribbean energy and humour. And Fred Mandel, one of the classiest keyboard players I have ever met, tickled both the ivories and some very technical synth patches to bring the spacey riffs to life.

“Ed (I can still never call him ‘Eddie Van Halen’ because he more than once told me he found it annoying!) played the guitar as if it were a piano … tapping and snapping, and sliding and skipping around the fingerboard like an electric sprite – always with a cheeky smile. If anything he did was difficult for him, he never showed it. A total original. Pure joy. What an everlasting privilege to play with him.”

The original three-track record has now been remastered and expanded into a 40th anniversary edition with multiple takes, mixes, live recordings (including Queen songs) for fans to enjoy across 136 minutes. Check out the titular single above. Sir Brian shared: “It’s been very exciting to open up the vault to find these tapes where, in the blink of an eye, I’m trading licks with my friends, including the fantastic Ed Van Halen. It’s highly emotional, especially since Ed is sadly no longer around. We have since also lost Phil – so the rest of us cherish these fleeting moments together.”

Van Halen fans should take note as the Star Fleet Sessions included eight guitar solos by the late star. The Queen rocker added: “Ed was a wonderful soul. Listening to him and me, I feel completely outclassed by him in the studio. But in a very pleasant way – what a joy for me to be around a guy who could do all that. Such a privilege.”

Brian May + Friends: Star Fleet Sessions 2-CD, Vinyl Single & LP Deluxe Box Set Gold Series Release is out on July 14, 2023 and can be pre-ordered here.



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Fortnite DOWN – Here’s when game will be online for Chapter 7, Season 3 | Gaming | Entertainment

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12 hours ago

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June 5, 2026

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Fortnite server downtime for Chapter 7, Season 3

Fortnite server downtime for Chapter 7, Season 3 (Image: GETTY)

There’s good news and bad news for Fortnite fans, as Epic Games gets ready to release a brand new season, titled Runners. The good news, of course, is that Chapter 7, Season 3 is just moments away from making its debut, complete with new points of interest, a new Battle Pass, new weapons, gameplay features and a whole lot more.

The bad news, however, is that Fortnite fans will have to sit through hours of server downtime before they can jump into the action. If you’re wondering when Fortnite will be taken offline, when server maintenance will come to an end and when you can start playing Chapter 7, Season 3, then keep reading to find out more.

Fortnite will be taken offline immediately following the conclusion of the Shattered event, which pits Team Ice King against Team Foundation.

“Following the Shattered Live Event, Fortnite will go into downtime at 7:30 PM ET / 11:30 PM UTC as we release the new Fortnite: Runners Season,” reads an Epic Games tweet.

“Enjoy the event, and we’ll see you soon in v41.00!”

For UK fans, Fortnite server downtime for the new season will begin at 12.30am BST on June 6. That’s 4.30pm PT / 7.30pm ET if you live in the US, or 1.30am CET for European fans.

According to the Fortnite server status page, downtime will last for five hours and 30 minutes, which is much longer than usual, but par of the course when it comes to a new season.

This means Fortnite Chapter 7, Season 3 has a 6am BT UK release time on the morning of June 6.

That’s 10pm PT on June 5 in the west coast of the US, and 1am ET on the east coast of the US. European fans, meanwhile, should expect downtime to end at 7am CET on June 6.

When maintenance ends, fans will be able to grab the new Battle Pass, which features some interesting new items.

The Battle Pass includes the Heatwave PJ skin, Cluster, Dylan, The Guardian, John Wick (pen and ink), The Voidblade, Vanguard Slone and Wolfe.

Fans will be able to build their Guardian Mech with sprites, parts and colours, and can take advantage of launch week bonuses such as Gold Huntress Dyland and the Marbled Speedboat.

Other rewards include John Wick’s dog as a Sidekick, as well as the Gunglider, Dark Cubic Sneakers and lots more.



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Fortnite Season 3 release date, time, downtime schedule, Battle Pass and gameplay trailer | Gaming | Entertainment

CHANNEL TODAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Published

13 hours ago

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June 5, 2026

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Fortnite Chapter 7, Season 3 Battle Pass

Fortnite Chapter 7, Season 3 Battle Pass (Image: EPIC GAMES)

The Fortnite end of season event pits Team Ice King against Team Foundation in an epic battle for the survival of the island. More importantly, however, the in-game event ushers in the end of one season and the start of another, as Chapter 7, Season 3 gets ready to begin on PS5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch consoles and mobile.

Fortnite Chapter 7, Season 3 has a June 6 release date on all platforms and in most time zones. Needless to say, timings depend on where you live and how long server maintenance lasts, although we have a pretty good idea based on what Epic Games has announced.

“Following the Shattered Live Event, Fortnite will go into downtime at 7:30 PM ET / 11:30 PM UTC as we release the new Fortnite: Runners Season,” reads an Epic Games tweet.

“Enjoy the event, and we’ll see you soon in v41.00!”

For UK fans, Fortnite server downtime for the new season will begin at 12.30am BST on June 6.

According to the Fortnite server status page, downtime will last for a whopping five hours and 30 minutes in total.

This means Fortnite Chapter 7, Season 3 has a 6am BT UK release time on the morning of June 6.

That’s 10pm PT on June 5 in the west coast of the US, and 1am ET on the east coast of the US. European fans, meanwhile, should expect downtime to end at 7am CET on June 6.

Daily Express will be back with all the latest updates and information about server downtime, so keep checking back to find out more.

Likewise, while you can check out a Chapter 7, Season 3 preview trailer below, a gameplay video will be released during the Summer Games Fest event on June 5.

Of course, we already have a pretty good idea about what to expect, including all of the Battle Pass skins.

As you can see from the image at the top of the page, the Battle Pass contains the Heatwave PJ skin, Cluster, Dylan, The Guardian, John Wick (pen and ink), The Voidblade, Vanguard Slone and Wolfe.

Fans will be able to build their Guardian Mech with sprites, parts and colours, and can take advantage of launch week bonuses such as Gold Huntress Dyland and the Marbled Speedboat.

Other rewards include John Wick’s dog as a Sidekick, as well as the Gunglider, Dark Cubic Sneakers and lots more.



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‘Best’ period drama that is ‘almost as good as Downton Abbey’ | Films | Entertainment

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Published

14 hours ago

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June 5, 2026

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Fans of a good old period drama may need to add another series to their lists. The Gilded Age is an American historical drama television series created and written by Julian Fellowes. The three-season period drama was created for HBO and takes place in New York during the Gilded Age, the boom years of the 1880s. The first season premiered in 2022, and fans are eagerly anticipating the fourth season.

Upon its release and throughout its journey, the series has continued to receive positive reviews, with particular praise for the costumes and performances of lead actors Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski. It has been nominated for several awards at the Emmys.

The Glossary highlighted The Gilded Age in its listing of “The 21 most captivating period dramas of all time to stream next”. The series placed only one place behind Downton Abbey, meaning it is almost as good as the hit show.

The series’ synopsis reads: “The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and huge fortunes were made and lost. In 1882, young Marian Brook moves from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father to live with her aunts Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook. Accompanied by Peggy Scott, an aspiring writer seeking a fresh start, Marian inadvertently becomes enmeshed in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of the old money set, and her stupendously rich neighbours, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife, George and Bertha Russell. Exposed to a world on the brink of the modern age, Marian must choose if she will follow the established rules of society or forge her own path.”

It has amassed an incredible 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus stating: “Providing its gleaming ensemble with some of their juiciest material yet, The Gilded Age‘s tongue is still firmly in cheek but finds itself with plenty new to say.”

One viewer said: “One of the best series on TV. My daughter and I absolutely loved it. All 3 seasons. The nail-biting drama at the end of each episode kept us on the edge of our seats. Nicely done. The acting was superb.

“They made you feel every emotion of the moment…from crying, to anger, to laughter. Oh my, and I can’t say enough awesome and wonderful things about the wardrobes…. the dresses and gowns were absolutely stunning.

“It made me wish that we could purchase and wear these beautiful gowns in today’s society. Simply stunning. The show is a 10 out of 10 for me. Can’t wait for season 4.”

A second said it was “one of the best series on TV”, while another added: “Amazing series! Can’t wait for season 4.”

The Gilded Age is available to stream on NOW TV.



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