Rare and collectible test pressings of over 160 artists are up for grabs at this year’s White Label Auction.

The ‘white label’ test pressings will be available at the auction, which takes place online via Omega Auctions and on-site in Newton-Le-Willows, Greater Manchester on Tuesday June 6 at 10am.

Among the white labels and test pressings up for grabs are albums by Thin Lizzy, The Cure, Pulp, Led Zeppelin, New Order, Nova Twins, Robbie Williams, Sam Ryder, Steve Winwood, The 1975 and others.

The auction will raise money for The BRIT Trust, the charity that promotes education and wellbeing through music and the creative arts by supporting causes that include the BRIT School and Nordoff and Robbins. The White Label Auction was first staged in October 2019, with last year’s event raising a total of £44,000.

Highlights include The Cure’s ‘Disintegration’, ‘Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me’, ‘Acoustic Hits’, ‘Greatest Hits’, ‘Wish’, ‘Three Imaginary Boys’, ‘Seventeen Seconds’, ‘Faith’, ‘Pornography’, ‘The Top’ and ‘The Head on The Door’ all signed by Robert Smith, along with a very rare test pressing of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s ‘Welcome To The Pleasuredome’ signed by all five members.

Omega Auctions manager Dan Hampson shared in a press release: “We are excited to be part of the White Label Auction once more in what is always a highlight of our year.”

He continued: “Demand for music memorabilia remains buoyant despite the recent squeeze on disposable income as collectors spy a strong investment opportunity, and with the lots coming directly from labels, combined with their rarity, we expect the usual keen interest and for last year’s total hammer price to be eclipsed.”

Check out the 200+ vinyls available on the Omega Auctions website.

Taylor Swift has revealed both Fall Out Boy and Hayley Williams make guest appearances on her upcoming release, ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’.

• READ MORE: Taylor Swift live in New Jersey: a glittering celebration of every era

Taking to social media, Swift shared the entire tracklisting of the LP, writing: “I’m VERY excited to show you the back cover of ‘Speak Now (my version)’.”

On choosing Fall Out Boy and Paramore‘s frontwoman as collaborators, Swift said: “Since ‘Speak Now’ was all about my songwriting, I decided to go to the artists who I feel influenced me most powerfully as a lyricist at that time and ask them to sing on the album. They’re so cool and generous for agreeing to support my version of ‘Speak Now’. I recorded this album when I was 32 (and still growing up, now) and can’t wait to unveil it all to you on July 7th.”

I’m VERY excited to show you the back cover of Speak Now (my version) including the vault tracks and collaborations with Hayley Williams from @paramore and @falloutboy. Since Speak Now was all about my songwriting, I decided to go to the artists who I feel influenced me most… pic.twitter.com/UJOqUNfCGp

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 5, 2023

The track ‘Electric Touch’ features the pop-punk band whereas Williams guests on ‘Castles Crumbling’. New album tracks that were rumoured to be written but not recorded during the original ‘Speak Now’ era include ‘When Emma Falls in Love’, ‘I Can See You’, ‘Foolish One’ and ‘Timeless’.

‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ is set for release on July 7 via Republic. Pre-orders for the album are available here. Check out the full tracklist below.

‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ tracklisting:

‘Mine’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Sparks Fly’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Back to December’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Speak Now’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Dear John’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Mean’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘The Story of Us’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Never Grow Up’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Enchanted’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Better Than Revenge’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Innocent’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Haunted’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Last Kiss; (Taylor’s Version)
‘Long Live’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Ours’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Superman’ (Taylor’s Version)
‘Electric Touch’ (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) [ft. Fall Out Boy]
‘When Emma Falls in Love’ (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)
‘I Can See You’ (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)
‘Castles Crumbling’ (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) [ft. Hayley Williams]
‘Foolish One’ (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)
‘Timeless’ (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)

In other news, Marren Morris joined Swift for the live debut of ‘You All Over Me’ at her second ‘Eras’ tour show in Chicago on June 3.

Swift took a moment to address the start of Pride Month against a backdrop of increasing anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States at her show in Chicago on June 2.

“I’m looking out at tonight, I’m seeing so many incredible individuals who are living authentically and beautifully, and this is a safe space for you. This is a celebratory space for you,” Swift told the crowd, sat at her piano. “And one of the things that makes me feel prideful is getting to be with you and watching you interact with each other, being so loving and so thoughtful and so caring.

“Being with you during Pride Month, getting to sing the words to ‘You Need To Calm Down’ – there are lyrics like, ‘Can you not step on his gown?’ or ‘Shade never made anybody less gay’. We need those lyrics.”

Also this week, Swift announced the first international dates of the ‘Eras’ tour. She will be performing three shows in Mexico in August before coming to South America in November for two shows in Argentina and three in Brazil.

Sabrina Carpenter will serve as the opener for all of the international dates. Tickets to the Mexico City shows go on sale June 13 at 2pm local time via Ticketmaster. For an opportunity to purchase tickets, fans can register via Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform until Wednesday, June 7.

Rammstein have issued a statement following the accusations raised against frontman Till Lindemann, who was dropped from his book publisher after being accused of drink spiking and sexual misconduct.

The allegations against the German singer-songwriter first arose last month, when a fan took to social media claiming to have been spiked at a pre-show party.

As reported by Loudwire, the accusations came from a Reddit user going by the name of Shelby69666, who uploaded a now-deleted post titled “Fuck Rammstein” that showed a photo of a large bruise with the caption “Spiked, no idea when this happened.”

According to the report, she had attended the band’s concert in Vilnius the day before and was invited to a pre-party by a crew member. After numerous threads related to the initial update were deleted from Reddit due to them being considered hearsay, an account with a Shelby69666 username appeared on Twitter, elaborating on the allegations.

Here the user explained that she had contacted a crew member who allegedly recruits women to stand in the front row at Rammstein concerts, and was later escorted with a group of women to “Row 0” — a pre-party where she was allegedly spiked and shouted at by the frontman when she said she didn’t want to have sex with him.

After returning to “Row 0”, she claimed to have vague memories of attending an afterparty, vomiting in a bathroom and returning to her hotel room. She has made it clear in her posts that she is not accusing Lindemann of rape, stating: “Till did NOT touch me. He accepted I did not want to have sex with him”. Following the accusations, the band denied any wrongdoing.

Elsewhere, last Friday (June 2) German Publication Tagesschau published a report that contained new charges from other women, all of which accused the frontman of sexual assault.

Now, Lindemann has been dropped by his book publisher, Kiepenheuer & Witsch following the allegations, and the band have issued a second statement online.

Announcing the news on Twitter, the publishing house — which also goes by the acronym KiWi — wrote (translated from German): “It is with shock that we have followed public allegations against Till Lindemann in the last few days. Our sympathy and respect goes to the women affected.”

It also proceeded to reference a recently-earthed “porn video in which Till Lindemann celebrates sexual violence against women” as contributing to the decision to part ways with the singer, as well as citing Lindemann’s book of poetry On Quiet Nights, which was published by the company and contained sections of erotica. The latter, it described as a “gross breach of trust” and “a ruthless act in relation to the values we represent as a publisher.”

“From our point of view, Till Lindemann exceeds immovable limits in dealing with women,” it read. “We have therefore decided to end our collaboration with Till Lindemann with immediate effect, as our relationship of trust with the author has been irretrievably broken.”

Wir beenden die Zusammenarbeit mit Till Lindemann https://t.co/Jaazhn951E #TillLindemann #Rammstein pic.twitter.com/RfXllNsUyg

— KiWi_Verlag (@KiWi_Verlag) June 2, 2023

Responding to both the comments from the publishing house and the accusations raised by Tagesschau, the band have once again denied all allegations on social media, and urged fans to withhold from joining in the “public prejudice” against the members and those coming forward with accusations.

“The publications of the last few days have caused irritation and questions among the public and especially among our fans. The allegations hit us all very hard, and we take them extremely seriously,” the statement wrote. “We say to our fans: It is important to us that you feel comfortable and safe at our shows – in front of and behind the stage.”

“We condemn any kind of transgression and ask you: Do not engage in public prejudice of any kind against those who have made allegations,” it continued. “You have a right to your point of view. But we, the band, also have a right – namely not to be prejudiced either.”

At time of writing, Lindemann’s upcoming shows — which include a solo show at London’s Wembley Arena — are still set to take place as scheduled.

NME has reached out to a spokesperson for Lindemann and Rammstein for further comment.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.