The Nigerian musician was a restless creator who embraced the physicality of drumming and innovated until the end

• Tony Allen’s 10 best tracks
• News report: Afrobeat co-founder Tony Allen dies aged 79

Few musicians can claim to have invented a revolutionary rhythm, but then few are quite like the late Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen. Brian Eno called him “the greatest drummer that ever lived”, citing his style alongside James Brown’s funk breakbeat and the constant pulse of German band Neu! as the “three great beats of the 1970s”. Allen’s swirl of jazz, Yoruba and highlife was unlike anything the world had ever heard: a full-body polyrhythmic workout that would give most drummers sore wrists just thinking of it.

Allen came to prominence in Lagos alongside Fela Kuti. He started drumming in the late 50s while working at a radio station, looking to jazz icons such as Art Blakey and Max Roach for inspiration as he taught himself to play. In 1964 he met Kuti and they spent the next half-decade fine-tuning their fusion of west African party music and American funk and jazz, in the bands Koola Lobitos and, by 1969, Africa ’70. While Kuti, who died in 1997, is more well-known than his musical soulmate, he said that “without Tony Allen there would be no Afrobeat”.

Angélique Kidjo, Jeff Mills, Sébastien Tellier and more remember the late drummer: his humility, his brilliance, and his awesome sportswear

The musician on DIY smooching, dinner parties and why he won’t do interviews between 1.45pm and 2.15pm

Raised in Sheffield, Heaton, 57, founded the Housemartins in the early eighties. They had hit singles with Happy Hour and Caravan Of Love before splitting in 1988. Heaton then formed the Beautiful South, releasing 10 albums before disbanding in 2007. With former band member Jacqui Abbott, Heaton has released three albums, the most recent being Manchester Calling. He is married with three children and lives in Manchester.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Forgetfulness.

A single-celled algae, barely visible to the eye, plankton contributes to some of the world's most important resources and is essential to the food chain that supports all life.

Washington state has another bug to worry about in addition to Asian giant hornets -- gypsy moths, which the state's governor says could become an "infestation."

Rylan Clark-Neal has revealed his career could have taken an entirely different turn if he'd accepted an unexpected offer made by the former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Pioneering Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen has died at the age of 79.

Key worker Tommy Norton was given the life-changing cash prize while pulled over in his van

The former couple are co-parenting their daughter Summer

Ariana Grande has confirmed her relationship with real estate agent Dalton Gomez in a new music video.

Make friends while you spin

The government is still advising Brits not to travel abroad

The online event will feature a DJ set by fashion favourite, Virgil Abloh

David Beckham, Dakota Fanning and Eddie Redmayne will also narrate chapters of the first book

Long weekend breakfast, sorted

H from Steps brought tears to the judges’ eyes with his performance. Now, more than ever, we must cherish these moments of LGBTQ visibility

One of the most peculiar aspects of realising that you are LGBTQ is the loneliness. Your immediate family is unlikely to belong to the minority you may feel you have been arbitrarily parachuted into. You may be fortunate that they have supportive attitudes; many are not. The odds are that you have heard derogatory terms about LGBTQ people thrown around the playground not once or twice but like confetti. On TV and film screens, on advertising billboards, in magazines and in books, society’s expectations about settling down with someone of a different gender will bellow at you. You may struggle to come out to yourself, let alone anyone else, and fear judgment and rejection.

That is why major cultural events, such as the first same-sex performance on ITV’s Dancing on Ice last night, are so important: they can be lifelines for the closeted, whether they are aged 13 or 78. Acceptance for LGBTQ people struggling with their sexuality is like water to a sponge: anything that showcases and values our existence has a profound impact. That’s why H from Steps – one half of the couple – told the judges that it was emotional, in part because “it means so much to so many people and the world is ready for this”. It’s why the actor John Barrowman broke down in tears “because of seeing two men who represent someone who is like me and to skate as well as you did”. What’s all the fuss, the usual suspects will cry, but it matters precisely because society, and particularly currently emboldened bigots, makes such a fuss about anyone who deviates from a heterosexual norm.

Romesh Ranganathan plays Andy Murray at crazy golf and much more. Plus: a forensic look at our guts. Here’s what to watch this evening

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 8th, 2020. Today was basically a nightmare scenario for …

Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Fury Unleashed’, ‘Stone’, and Today’s Other New Releases, the Latest Sales Featuring ‘Saints Row IV’ and More"

Hilarie Burton got candid about the strain her fertility struggles had on her marriage.

Aniston also took a moment to mark America's National Nurses Day.

Maguire, Adam Levine, and Sarah Silverman for the All-In For Feeding America event last month, raising $1.75 million (£1.4 million) for the hunger relief organisation.

Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE coverage as the coronavirus crisis continues to heavily impact sport across the globe.

Aston Villa star Jack Grealish has "got his eye" on a summer transfer to Manchester United, according to Darren Bent.

Like most football fans, Jurgen Klopp has found himself with a lot of time on his hands since Premier League action was suspended.

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has announced a birthday donation of 16,000 meals to help vulnerable people in Islington.

Brighton and Hove Albion are looking into playing crowd noises through speakers at their Amex Stadium home should football return behind closed doors.

Brighton owner Tony Bloom believes it would be unfathomable to relegate clubs from the Premier League if the season cannot be completed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Brighton's Amex Stadium has been converted into a drive-in coronavirus testing centre for key workers during the pandemic.

Leyton Orient chief executive Danny Macklin says it is too early to decide the outcome of the League Two season.

Owner Tahnoon Nimer and former chairman Matt Southall intend to co-operate with the investigation

Tony Bellew has brutally trolled Jamie Carragher over Liverpool's failure to win last season's Premier League despite "having [a] parade in December".

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has pledged to cover three months' worth of catering costs at the Berlin hospital where he was born in order to help staff during the coronavirus crisis.

EXCLUSIVE

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has hinted that he will look to leave the club once his contract expires this summer.

Only clubs with a "death wish" would want to continue the National League season, according to one chairman, after the campaign was finally abandoned on Wednesday.

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen says he has received several "serious proposals" since the Premier League was brought to a halt by the coronavirus pandemic.

Charlton have called on the EFL to sanction ousted chairman Matt Southall, rather than the club, if the League's investigation finds evidence of misconduct.

Aston Villa have become the latest Premier League club to announce the agreement of salary deferrals with players during the coronavirus shutdown.

Everton say they are "appalled" and have strongly condemned the actions of Moise Kean as "completely unacceptable" after the player was reported to have flouted coronavirus lockdown measures.

Rio Ferdinand has revealed his relationship with former England team-mate John Terry has never improved after the former Chelsea captain allegedly racially abused his brother Anton in 2011.

QPR boss Mark Warburton says he cannot see how football's transfer window can go ahead this summer, in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson sent him a text message after watching Saints get hammered 9-0 by Leicester City.

Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane says teammate Jack Grealish has outgrown the club and believes it is "only a matter of time" before he gets a move.

Charlton Athletic staff were paid last month but not with funds from majority shareholder Tahnoon Nimer, who is still yet to inject any money into the beleaguered Championship club.

Brighton and Hove Albion have designed a special shirt to pay tribute to the NHS and key workers during the coronavirus pandemic.