Monday, March 14, 2011
Tori Spelling And Dean McDermott Go All Out For Liam?s Birthday
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott win the “awesome parents” award this week! Their son Liam turned four this weekend and they threw him a ‘Ghostbusters’ themed birthday party. When they do a theme – they go big and CREATIVE! Tori … Continue reading
Kendra Wilkinson Talks Winning Dancing with the Stars
Kendra Wilkinson is no stranger to TV cameras. The 25-year-old former model has been on TV for eight seasons now -- five on E!'s The Girls Next Door and three on her own E! spinoff, Kendra. But she'd like to remind everyone that her next gig, as a competitor on Dancing With the Stars, is a whole new ballgame for her.
"Candid reality TV is a lot different than Dancing With the Stars," she said in a recent TV Guide interview. "I'm not that Hollywood. And Dancing is beyond Hollywood. It's a huge show."
That's true: DWTS can easily draw 20 million viewers, while Kendra usually brings in a little over one million. This suddenly much larger audience unnerved Wilkinson at first. Then the pressure mounted even more, when a TV Guide poll named Wilkinson the favorite to win this high-rated, obsessively hyped dance-off.
"I really don't like that at all!" she protested during the interview. "I don't know why people are picking me. I do not have one minute of choreographed dance experience in my life."
But Wilkinson's lack of prior dance experience is less of a handicap than it would have been in prior seasons, because this year's cast doesn't include trained dancers (like Jennifer Grey, Aaron Carter or Nicole Scherzinger) or figure skaters (like Kristi Yamaguchi or Evan Lysacek). Sure, Ralph Macchio learned a lot of martial arts choreography for The Karate Kid, but that was 27 years ago!
Despite Wilkinson's lack of experience, she revealed that she's been too stubborn to ask her former Girls costar (and DWTS Season 8 alum) Holly Madison for advice on the dance floor. "If anyone tries to tell anything to me," she says, "I shut them up immediately." Maybe that's why people are favoring Wilkinson to win: That kind of confidence, paired with her svelte body, could well produce a winner.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/kendra-wilkinson-talks-winning-dancing-stars/1-a-331837
Is The Beckham Family Planning A Move Back To The UK?
Over the weekend we got some great news about the CONFIRMED sex of the forthcoming Beckham baby (it’s a girl!) but today we are hearing a bit sad news that has yet to be officially confirmed … but, unfortch, could be very likely. There is a new report going around that claims that the Beckham [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/z9PnZSz1n3c/
'Mars Needs Moms,' Plus All These Other Nice Earthly Staples
If Mars plans to take our moms, they'll want to start gathering a whole bunch of other Earthly staples as well.
We understand that in the context of the animated flick "Mars Needs Moms" that Mars, well, needs moms, but if they want to keep those maternal forces happy and motherly, they're going to need to [...]
We understand that in the context of the animated flick "Mars Needs Moms" that Mars, well, needs moms, but if they want to keep those maternal forces happy and motherly, they're going to need to [...]
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/03/11/mars-needs-moms/
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'
Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: MTV News
With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."
It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.
"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.
"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."
Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.
"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658043/usher-rev-pop.jhtml
Jimmy Kimmel Tweets Tsunami Updates from South Pacific
Jimmy Kimmel’s trip to the South Pacific turned out to be more of a nightmare than a dream vacation. The late night host has been twittering up a storm about his unfortunately timed getaway to French Polynesia.
Kimmel was taking some time off in the area when a devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake rocked Japan on Friday, causing immeasurable damage and continuing to send ripples throughout the Pacific. The region is still under tsunami warning.
"Suddenly, relaxing on an island in the South Pacific isn’t so relaxing anymore," Kimmel twittered around 2 a.m. EST. "Good thing I brought my aqua stilts."
When some of the funnyman’s followers thought he was inappropriately making light of a dire situation, Kimmel reassured them he wasn’t kidding around. "I wish I was joking," he said. "And I’ll accept the apologies from everyone who called me an a**hole and said 'f**k you' in advance."
He then thanked all "who sent good wishes" and said he was "glued to CNN." One concerned follower asked him, "How scared are you (on a scale of 1-10)?" Kimmel answered, "A good solid 7. On a small island, with no high ground."
Later Friday morning, six hours after his initial earthquake tweets, Kimmel gave an update to his fans: "We are evacuating the island. Dogspeed."
Other celebrities have also twittered their prayers and well wishes for the crisis overseas. Read a sampling of their supportive tweets below:
"My prayers go out to anyone that is being effected by the disaster in Japan... #prayforjapan," -- Katy Perry
"Just heard about the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan. My prayers are with everyone in Japan!" -- Kim Kardashian
"Glued to TV watching this unreal earthquake footage out of Japan. Sending prayers to everyone affected. Unbelievable." -- Ryan Seacrest
"I don't care what you believe in, send prayers to all those in harm's way in Japan. I know I am." -- Glee star Darren Criss
"The images on the news are breaking my heart. I am so worried for everyone in Japan. My thoughts are with you Japan. God bless you all." -- Paris Hilton
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/jimmy-kimmel-tweets-tsunami-updates-south-pacific/1-a-331441
Alanis Morissette Takes The Family Out For Some Sunshine
Early last month we saw ADORABLE photos of Alanis Morissette, hubby Mario Souleye Treadway and their newborn baby boy Ever Imre out on their first public family outing and today we get to see a couple more photos of the fam out for another walk. I can’t even … little Ever is just the cutest [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/OgN-vMzw3uc/
Look Who's Popping!
Spencer Grammer & Jeremy Hesketh have a baby on the way! See more expectant stars and their growing baby bumps
Lady Gaga's Scrapped Deal Leaves Target 'Surprised And Disappointed'
Gaga dissolved relationship with retail giant over reported political contributions made to antigay gubernatorial candidate.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Tom Briglia/ WireImage
Retail giant Target has issued a statement in reaction to the news that Lady Gaga has decided not to release an exclusive deluxe edition of Born This Way, due May 23, through the store as originally planned.
In a statement released to MTV News, Target explained that Gaga's reservations about working with the company came as a shock. Gaga had reportedly dissolved her relationship with the chain megastore after LGBT groups began investigating certain donations the store made, including a 2010 donation of corporate funds to MN Forward, a political action committee that supported antigay candidate Tom Emmer in his 2010 run for governor of Minnesota.
"We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga's organization related to her partnership with Target," the company wrote. "Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established Policy Committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment."
Gaga, an outspoken gay activist, had previously addressed concerns about Target's political leanings but hoped that they would be able to work to expand their LGBT horizons with her onboard.
"That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I've ever had in a business meeting," Gaga said. "Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they've made in the past. ... Our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they've made supporting those [antigay] groups."
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659580/lady-gaga-target-deal-surprised-disappointed.jhtml
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Alicia Silverstone Shows Off Her Bump
Look at that bump!
There was no hiding her growing belly as expectant mom Alicia Silverstone stepped out to run a few errands in Los Angeles, California yesterday (March 11). Though the former Clueless star hasn't confirmed her due date, it looks like the big day isn't too far off!
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/03/12/alicia-silverstone-shows-off-her-bump
'American Idol' Recap: When We Tell You That We Hate You
(We remember all the stupid things the Judges said last night, and also how Naima made weather, and it occurs to me that this episode is going to be about sending one of these kids home. Hell, maybe two. That would be pretty amazing, wouldn't it?)
Steven Tyler is wearing a giant blue leopard scarf, and inside his jacket it's secret Dalmatians; Jenny's dress has one balloon arm and one no-arm arm. Everybody's clothes are not interested in cooling it tonight.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/american-idol-recap-when-we-tell-you-we-hate-you/1-a-331442
Bob Dylan Set to Perform in China
In an unexpected but certainly welcome bit of news, Spinner reports that the Chinese government has decided to allow Bob Dylan to perform in Beijing this April. Few expected this to occur, as Dylan–at least, 1960s era Dylan–is an icon of youth�movements and revolutionary�ideals. Not exactly values the Chinese government is known to fully support. [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/5K-BK83cOmw/
Jewel And Unborn Baby Are ?Doing Fine? After Car Accident Today
Singer and mom-to-be Jewel is reportedly doing okay after she was involved in a car accident today. The pregnant “Going Platinum” star’s car was hit on the passenger side by a volunteer fire truck this morning in Texas. According to … Continue reading
New 'Super 8' Trailer's Five Key Moments
We take a look at the most fascinating scenes featured in the new promo clip for the upcoming J.J. Abrams-directed adventure film.
By Eric Ditzian
Joel Courtney, Ryan Lee, and Riley Griffiths
Photo: Paramount Pictures
"What the hell?" says a boy at the very end of the first full-length trailer for "Super 8," neatly summarizing our own thoughts about the footage from the mysterious action-adventure film: Um, what exactly did we just see?
Well, what we saw, first off, was an incredibly effective promo clip courtesy of director J.J. Abrams and executive producer Steven Spielberg. It managed to maintain the spirit of a teaser trailer — withholding far more information than is ever unleashed — while expanding our understanding of, and getting us seriously more excited about, what we'll see in the flick when it hits theaters on June 10. Here are our picks for the new trailer's five key moments:
What Kind of Military Trucks Are Those?
In we'd already seen the fiery train crash that unleashes some sort of very angry, possible very alien creature. So what we're focused on here is what's new, like those military trucks rolling through town with red cargo bins. What kind of military vehicles haul cargo like that? We see them pull right up to the train's wreckage, so we're guessing whatever is in them is important. As an Air Force leader, played by Noah Emmerich, says to Kyle Chandler's local policeman, "I understand you have concerns about our cargo," before telling him there's nothing to worry about. Right ...
9/11 ... for Dogs?
Though the film is set in 1979, there's no mistaking the allusion to September 11, 2001, in this shot of missing-dog posters. Apparently, all the dogs hightailed it out of town after the train crash. Why is it that animals always seem to grasp potential sci-fi terror before humans? And what ever happened to man's best friend, after all?
That Looks Like It Hurts
So dogs and people start to go missing. Things, no doubt, start to go from bad to worse. Just look at this bloody-faced guy who has a gun in his hand, a terrified look in his eyes, and one word of instruction: "Go!" This raises a question about "Super 8" that we've had for a while. Early reports seemed to suggest that this movie would be more of an alien-invasion film in the vein of "Cloverfield." But most of the footage we've seen thus far gives an impression of something more akin to "E.T." So which is it? Or is it both? In the new trailer, we definitely get a sense of a Spielberg-like focus on family-oriented fare, yet things clearly get very intense and very dangerous at some point.
Boom! Boom!
Throughout the trailer, we've seen how this alien presence can somehow manipulate electricity and exert a telekinetic power on objects. Here we see a prime example of that ability, as the local electronics store goes boom. At others points, power lines explode, a bus tips over, and, well, it's all leading to...
Look, Up in the Sky
The most eye-popping scene in the entire trailer comes at nearly the very end. Main Street is trashed, the citizenry is freaked out and the military is nowhere to be seen as vehicles rise up into the air. The kids (portrayed by Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning) — both looking very much like characters from "E.T.," he Elliot, she Gertie — take in the craziness. Like in "E.T.," it seems that only the children fully understand the implications of what's actually going on. For example: No one believes a man in the hospital, for instance, who claims to have seen the creature ... except the boy. As he tells the man, "I believe you."
What are your favorite moments in the new "Super 8" teaser? Tell us in the comments.
Check out everything we've got on "Super 8."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659716/super-8-trailer.jhtml
Friday, March 11, 2011
Lady Gaga Says No Duets On Born This Way
'I want to stand on my own two feet,' Gaga says.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
On Lady Gaga's 2009 smash The Fame Monster, the eccentric star hooked up with one of the fiercest ladies in the game when she and Beyoncé got their party on for the club anthem "Telephone." The singers then appeared together in an over-the-top music video in which they played a Quentin Tarantino-esque version of Thelma and Louise.
As the May 23 release date of Gaga's latest musical opus Born This Way draws near, the singer's little monsters are wondering if the star has secured any A-list talent for a collaboration on the new album.
In a recent radio chat, Gaga revealed that she's not planning on having anyone guest on Born This Way, according to Digital Spy. "I want to stand on my own two feet. I've already collaborated with my favorite female in the business," she teased. "We'll see how I'm feeling when I'm wrapping up the album."
With the anticipation for the record so high, fans are beginning to piece together the puzzle of BTW. Reported lyrics for her second single, "Judas," have already hit the Internet. On the track, Gaga waxes poetic about a lover whom she loves more than he loves her.
"Judas/ You never ever never/ Ever really ever loved me more, than I/ But Nemesis is watching over-high," she reportedly sings. "And this is your time/ Judas, lie on lie, write/ Tears drop 'cause I cry/ The echo truth killed you so you may finally die."
Lyrics for another BTW track, "Government Hooker," also reportedly found their way onto the Internet. A remix of the song debuted last week at the Thierry Mugler fashion show in Paris.
On the song, Gaga sings, "We had our night/ Our real nature/ No more time to decide/ Let it climb, let it ignite/ I can be cool/ I can be anything/ I'll be your everything/ Just touch me baby."
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659407/lady-gaga-born-this-way.jhtml
An 8.9 Earthquake Strikes Off The Coast Of Japan, Triggers Enormous Tsunami
Very tragic news to pass along … just a few hours ago an 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the Northeast coast of Japan that triggered a deadly tsunami that proceeded to wash ashore and wash away homes, cars and — very sadly — some people. The news is unfolding now so the story will change [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/Me3JNfvT3m0/
Ke$ha Enlists James Van Der Beek For 'Blow' Video
Singer and former 'Dawson's Creek' star battle it out in her new music video.
By Jocelyn Vena
Ke$ha in her video for "Blow"
Photo: RCA
Ke$ha's new music video for her song "Blow" opens with this disclaimer: "No mythological creatures were harmed in the making of this video."
Ke$ha isn't referring to "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek, who makes a cameo in the video, which was directed by Chris Marrs Piliero. She's referring to the champagne-swilling, hard-partying unicorns that also make an appearance in the video, which takes place at a society party.
Looking glossy and glam in her one-shoulder dress, she tells two unicorns, "I grabbed the bear by the throat, looked him right in the eyes and said, 'Bear you have until the count of zero to put some pants on and apologize to the president. And that's the story of how I was elected to the parliament of Uzbekistan."
She then giggles as she looks into the camera, telling viewers to "dance." Soon, she locks eyes with Van Der Beek. Ke$ha and Van Der Beek exchange glances as they make their way through the party. Scenes of their longing (and unicorns dancing with one another) are edited with scenes of Ke$ha, in a bodysuit, mugging for the camera, singing the song and kissing more unicorns.
Van Der Beek begins stripping off his suit jacket and dances his way towards the singer, who then pulls off her bra from under her gown. He follows suit, leaving viewers laughing and Ke$ha understandably perplexed about why he wears a bra under his dress shirt.
"Well, well, well ... if it isn't James Van Der Douche," she says.
"I don't appreciate you slander-beeking my name," Van Der Beek replies.
After snipping at one another and trading barbs, they begin shooting lasers at one another in a battle sequence, knocking down and killing rainbow-shooting unicorns in the process. In the end, it's revealed that Ke$ha has killed the actor and mounted his head on her wall, laughing off the encounter. The plaque in which his head is displayed reads "James Van Der Dead."
What do you think of the new Ke$ha video? Tell us in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658721/kesha-james-van-der-beek-blow-video.jhtml
Mel Gibson Pleas No Contest, Will Avoid Jail For Assaulting His Babymama
Last Summer we were “treated” to a series of recorded telephone conversations (HERE, HERE and HERE) between admitted racist Mel Gibson and the mother of his youngest child Oksana Grigorieva that resulted in charges being brought against him for assault. Despite the fact that Gibson admitted to slapping Oksana (tho her injuries imply that he [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/dDJ4-eGgP1c/
Here Comes The Kate Middleton Doll
Yesterday we got to see fun photos and video of bride-to-be Kate Middleton (and her princely fianc�e William) partaking in some pancake flipping in Belfast. Today we learn that the beautiful Kate has been made into a doll that you can play with. While there has already been a big influx of Royal Wedding memorabilia [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/6KrVjdc8HB4/
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Charlie Sheen: Infamous Comic Book Hero
You know who pretty much everyone is talking about these days? Charlie Sheen. You know what comic book company has just announced a comic devoted entirely to the life of Charlie Sheen? Bluewater Productions … the very same company that has brought us comic books on some of our fave celebs (like Britney Spears, Prince [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/4SxKmekUC88/
Ke$ha To Release Dance Remix Album In March
I Am the Dance Commander + I Commander You to Dance: The Remix Album hits stores March 22.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Ke$ha
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Ke$ha has made a name for herself as a party girl who makes party songs. But maybe you find the choice tracks on her debut, Animal, and the follow-up, Cannibal, not quite up to snuff for your dance-floor needs. And maybe that's why the singer has decided to release her first ever remix album, I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album, on March 22.
For the album, Ke$ha hooked up with a number of dance DJs and producers, as well as a few notable guests. The track listing includes: "Blow" (Cirkut Remix), "The Sleazy Remix" (which includes an appearance by Andre 3000), "Tik Tok Untold Remix," "F--- Him He's a DJ" (live version), "Animal Switch Remix," "Your Love Is My Drug" Dave Audé club remix, "We R Who We R" Fred Falke club remix, "Take It Off" Billboard remix, "Tik Tok" Chuck Buckett's Veruca Salt remix and her track with 3OH!3, "Blah Blah Blah" DJ Skeet Skeet radio remix.
In addition to the new music, Ke$ha is also set to release the music video for her latest single, "Blow." She tweeted about filming it in late January. On Tuesday, the singer shared that she saw some footage from the video, writing, "Just saw the final cut of my new video for BLOW all I can say is HOT DAMN."
Currently, Ke$ha is on the road for her Get $leazy Tour, which she kicked off last week in Portland, Oregon. She's set to wrap up her tour in Las Vegas on May 7.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658529/kesha-remix.jhtml
Steven Tyler to Head Back to the Studio With Aerosmith
It’s been a big year for Steven Tyler–maybe even bigger than the year that Armageddon reminded viewers that Aerosmith used to write good ol’fashioned blues rock (just turn the movie off before the end credits and you can forget that the group turned into a boy band for a few years). By taking a gig [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/aNj1V3KazmY/
Mike Starr's Death Continues Alice In Chains' Dark Legacy
Singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002.
By Gil Kaufman
Photo: 2011 Getty Images
The death on Tuesday of former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr continued the tragic legacy of one of the most beloved bands to emerge out of the early 1990s grunge scene in Seattle.
Largely because of late singer Layne Staley's debilitating drug addiction, in their heyday, AIC were known almost as much for their long periods of inactivity as they were for their gloom-laden, brooding music.
Melding hard-rock guitars and the sludgy grunge aesthetic of the time, AIC stood out from the pack thanks to their adoption of a more classic heavy-metal sound and intense, almost unrelentingly bleak lyrics that touched on everything from drug addiction and isolation to the plight of Vietnam veterans.
The seeds of the group were formed in 1986, when a then-teenage Staley quit his first group, Sleeze, and formed a new band, Alice N Chains, which followed the lead of a number of other Seattle bands at the time in mixing up the gender-bending look and sound of glam metal with the more hard-hitting sound of speed-metal acts such as Slayer.
The rail-thin, enigmatic Staley met future AIC guitarist Jerry Cantrell when both were working at the Music Bank rehearsal studios, and they soon became roommates. When Alice N Chains fizzled out, Staley joined forces with Cantrell, who brought along his bandmates from the glam act Diamond Lie, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Starr. They considered a number of names for their new group, including Mothra, but decided to go with Alice in Chains because Staley thought it suggested the image of a cross-dressing speed-metal band.
After working on their patented mix of brutish, crunching guitars and grim psychedelic blues, the group quickly stood apart from future Seattle peers by honing a menacing sound that owed more to the work of metal icons Black Sabbath and Deep Purple than the punk-derived sound of such grunge contemporaries as Nirvana and Soundgarden.
A demo called The Treehouse Tapes in 1988 won them a major-label deal with Columbia Records the next year. A three-song promotional EP, We Die Young, was released in July 1990, spawning the hard-rock radio hit in the title track, followed by their first full-length effort, Facelift, in August of that year.
The album was a landmark in contemporary hard rock, mixing the over-the-top guitar heroics of the previous decade with grinding tempos. Staley's rumbling vocals were hypnotic, ominously singing lines such as "Love, sex, pain, confusion, suffering/ You're there crying/ I feel not a thing/ Drilling my way deeper in your head/ Sinking, draining, drowning, bleeding, dead" on the track "Confusion."
The album produced a bona fide hit with a song that bore the band's soon-to-be hallmark music signature, "Man in the Box." It was inspired by a story Staley reportedly overheard about how veal were raised in tiny spaces, and it combines his haunted vocals with Cantrell's fuzzed-out, choppy guitar. Other songs, such as "Sea of Sorrow" and "Bleed the Freak," set out the template for Staley's emerging creative voice: a morbidly disaffected social outcast fighting to survive in mainstream society.
AIC hit the road for their first U.S. tour that year, followed by a summer swing with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth the next summer under the title Clash of the Titans. They were back in March 1992 with a largely acoustic four-song EP called Sap, which featured the vocals of Ann Wilson of Heart and Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell. Thanks to the smash success of Nirvana's Nevermind and the inclusion of the AIC song "Would?" on the soundtrack of the grunge movie "Singles" in the summer of 1992, Columbia began marketing AIC to both metal and alternative fans, which greatly increased the group's fanbase.
Work on their second full-length, Dirt, began in Los Angeles on the same day riots erupted in that city, postponing the sessions for two weeks. The resulting music was another bleak manifesto from the now commercially successful, Grammy-nominated group. While Staley sang about the ravages of drug addiction and self-destruction ("Junkhead," "God Smack," "Sickman," "Angry Chair"), Cantrell attempted to make peace with his father through the dramatic Vietnam-themed epic "Rooster."
The album was influential in a number of ways. Singer/songwriter Ryan Adams and the hard-rock band Fuel have covered "Down in a Hole," and rockers Godsmack chose their name from a song with that title.
After the album's release, Starr, then struggling with drug problems, was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Mike Inez. Though rumors of Staley's drug issues were rampant at the time, the band successfully hit the road as part of the third Lollapalooza tour in 1993, and Dirt went on to sell more than 3 million copies.
Another EP of mostly acoustic tunes, Jar of Flies, was released in January 1994. It features two of the group's most iconic songs: the power ballads "I Stay Away" and "No Excuses." Staley broke off for a tour and album by his side project, Mad Season, in 1995, and AIC came back later that year with a self-titled album that debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart. But, as with Jar of Flies, there was no tour to support the album, and a long period of inactivity followed its release.
They got together for their first live show in three years for MTV's "Unplugged" in April 1996, an intense performance that was released on CD in July 1996. With the exception of a few opening gigs for Kiss that summer, the "Unplugged" show would be the final time the group performed live.
Cantrell released his solo debut, Boggy Depot, in 1998, with contributions from Inez and Kinney, but Staley was replaced by Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan on Mad Season's second album. A four-disc box set featuring rare and previously released AIC material entitled Music Bank was released in 1999 and a live album followed a year later. Staley became a recluse, rarely seen or heard from until news of his death emerged in early April 2002, when he was found dead of an overdose of cocaine and heroin at the age of 34, almost eight years to the day after Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain's suicide.
Cantrell continued to work solo, while Inez joined Slash's Snakepit, Black Label Society and the short-lived grunge supergroup Spys 4 Darwin. Kinney joined his former bandmates in 2005 for a benefit concert for tsunami relief, and the three original members regrouped under the AIC banner in 2006 with Comes With the Fall's William DuVall on vocals.
The re-formed bandreleased Black Gives Way to Blue in September 2009.
The original AIC had a short-but-crucial period of creativity that helped reshape the face of heavy metal in the 1990s after the excess and pop trash of the late 1980s L.A. glam-rock scene. Their nihilistic, brooding tone and dark edge helped inspire a new generation of bands, from Creed and Godsmack to Theory of a Deadman, the Deftones and Staind, and their songs remain a staple of hard-rock radio to this day.
Share your memories of Mike Starr and Alice in Chains in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659531/mike-starr-dead.jhtml
Julianne Moore to Play Sarah Palin in Game Change
Four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore is about to turn into a mama Grizzly! The actress, 50, has signed on to play Sarah Palin in the upcoming HBO film Game Change. The adaptation of the best-selling nonfiction book will recreate John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, beginning with his selection of the former governor of Alaska.
The real Sarah Palin has criticized the book for inaccuracy, and no wonder: Game Change portrays her as mentally and emotionally unstable, not to mention politically ignorant (the books says she believed that Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11). The book also says that Palin had serious regrets about running, even saying mid-campaign: "If I had known everything I know now, I would not have done this."
Whether or not the Sarah Palin of Game Change resembles the real woman, she'll make a fascinating character for the talented Moore to play. But then again, Moore has a lot to measure up to. First, there's the iconic Saturday Night Live portrayal of Palin by Tina Fey...
And then, of course, there's Sarah Palin's own TV portrayal of Sarah Palin, on her TLC reality show Sarah Palin's Alaska.
Fey played Palin as an eager-to-please beauty queen who substituted folksiness for intelligence; Palin played Palin as a no-nonsense small-town mama who's as tough as any man. We look forward to seeing what Moore brings to the party. Of course, now we also want to know who's playing Hillary Clinton!
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/julianne-moore-play-sarah-palin-game-change/1-a-330814
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Lupe Fiasco Says He's 'Joyous' That Fans Rallied For Lasers Release
'To have my fans support it in a major way feels really good,' rapper tells MTV News.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Photo: MTV News
Six months ago, Lupe Fiasco's Lasers LP was in limbo and in danger of being ignored by his record label. The Chicago rapper and Atlantic Records were at odds over creative and business decisions. But then Lupe's fans mobilized to organize the "Fiasco Friday" protest, resulting in the long-delayed Lasers, Lupe's third album, finally getting a release date, which came earlier this week.
The effort of his fans was not lost on the rapper. "I'm joyous, it's happy times. It's something that's never been done before in hip-hop, to have fans protest for the release of a record," he told MTV News. "That's never been done before, so that milestone in itself is something to be happy about. The other side of it is that it's another Lupe Fiasco record. It always feels good to put new music out there."
With Lasers, the talented lyricist aimed to target a larger audience, as evident by his current single, "The Show Goes On." "For this record, being a more popular record and being the goal of this record from its inception, no matter what changes and phases and label battles that it went through, it was always about, 'Let's take it to another level,' " he told MTV News.
That his devoted fanbase stayed on the board touched the rapper. "Getting a chance to introduce my message and my movement to a wider audience is always a good thing, but at the same time, to have my fans support it in a major way feels really good," he said.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659528/lupe-fiasco-releases-lasers-album.jhtml
Beyonce Donated Gadhafi Money To Haiti Relief Last Year
Music industry urges other stars who played for Libyan dictator's family to donate their earnings.
By Gil Kaufman
Beyonce
Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage
Just days after singer Nelly Furtado announced that she planned to donate to charity money she received for playing a concert for the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, a spokesperson for Beyoncé said that the "Halo" singer had already done the same.
Documents obtained by the WikiLeaks website revealed that stars including Beyoncé, Usher and Mariah Carey had played big-paycheck gigs for Gadhafi. On Monday, Rolling Stone magazine reported that the industry was urging the stars (noting that rapper 50 Cent had also played such gigs) to return the money they earned for the concerts.
"They've done it for tons of artists," an unnamed music-business source told the magazine about lavish parties by Gadhafi's son, Muatassim, which are reportedly often "jammed" with supermodels. "Those guys are all over the world."
On Wednesday, a rep for Beyoncé — who played a New Year's Eve gig for Muatassim with Usher on the Caribbean island of St. Barts in 2009 — told the Huffington Post that the singer had long ago resolved the matter.
"All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year's Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago," her publicist said. "Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."
The money was donated to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of last year's devastating earthquake, and a spokesperson for the fund confirmed that it received the $1 million check in the weeks after the January 2010 earthquake.
According to her official Twitter feed, Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado confirmed on Monday that she once did a show for the dictator's family and now plans to donate the money to charity. "In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy," she wrote on Monday. "I am going to donate the $."
The star-studded shows were part of the extravagant lifestyle of the dictator's sons, whose splashy parties and out-of-control spending have angered their countrymen, many of whom wallow in poverty as the Gadhafi clan benefits from the country's oil riches.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659097/beyonce-gadhafi-donation.jhtml
Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash Light Up Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show
Foursome is joined by special guests and tons of lights for smash-hit medley.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Black Eyed Peas perform during the Super Bowl XLV halftime show
Photo: Getty Images
The Black Eyed Peas promised a party at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (February 6), and the pop supernovas definitely delivered, with a performance teeming with lights, dancers and surprise appearances from celebrity pals.
Following a Chatter.com commercial that showed animated versions of the Peas showing off their social-media skills, the group kicked things off with their 2009 smash "I Gotta Feeling," descending from the ceiling on illuminated platforms onto a stage surrounded by a cluster of dancers clad in white bodysuits. The foursome led the team of fist-pumping troops in "Tron"-like getups, with Taboo sporting an outfit covered in flashing lights, will.i.am rocking a shiny hairpiece, Apl.de.ap wearing huge bright studs and Fergie vamping it up in bling-laden shoulder pads.
When the speaker-busting bass of "Boom Boom Pow" dropped, the dancers dispersed across the field to create arrow-shaped formations as the glow-in-the-dark lights on their suits illuminated the stadium. Then rumored surprise guest Slash of Guns N' Roses rose from below the stage for a "Sweet Child O' Mine" duet with Fergie. The GNR great rocked a finger-searing solo in a studded version of his signature black top hat as more angular platforms and dancers moved across the gridiron. The platforms were bearing scores of marching-band musicians who blasted their horns and pounded away on their drums as the Peas went into "Pump It" and blue lights splashed across the production.
Quick streams of fog heralded the arrival of the Peas' second surprise guest, Usher, who swooped in on a long chain to bust out his will.i.am-assisted joint "OMG." Rocking a sparkly collar on an otherwise all-white ensemble, the R&B hitmaker cranked out several counts of energetic choreography, enlivening moves from his "OMG" video and at one point jumping over Will and landing in a split.
A spray of pyro ushered in the collective's breakout 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" as the oddly shaped platforms spelled out the word "Love" in bright-red letters. The team of dancers, which appeared to have multiplied to over 100, formed hearts across the field as will updated the lyrics of the smash with lines like, "Obama, let's get these educated."
Then the group jumped ahead to their most recent single, 2010's "The Time (Dirty Bit)," as several back up hoofers rocking cubed helmets joined the Peas onstage and dancers lined up along the gridiron to simultaneously bust out the Running Man, a move which drew cheers from the crowd.
The platinum-selling Peas wrapped up the performance with a reprise of "I Gotta Feeling," as the quartet triumphantly signed off amid of blitz of fog, firepower and flashing lights.
Ripping the halftime show was clearly a touching moment for will, who tweeted beforehand, "Me and apl started the peas when we were 16 yesterday we were dreamin now were livin it. Wow. I'm not crying out of sadness or nervousness its joy and pride and memories and the journey."
And once the crew left the stage, the frontman was not only proud, but pumped. "That was so freakin sick," he wrote. "Wow...!!!"
What did you think of the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657356/black-eyed-peas-usher-slash-super-bowl.jhtml
'The Bachelor' Recap: Tears of a Clown
Every season, as I recap this show, I manage to start to think that no one watches this show sincerely, that everyone's watching ironically, taking the piss. And then we come to "The Women Tell All," featuring an audience of people who laugh and cry and nod and gasp and look utterly caught up in petty details of these people's lives. And I despair for humanity. But above all else, I blame the show, which as usual for "The Women Tell All" special, manages to mistake "any woman who has been on the show" for "the most memorable women of the season".
Chris Harrison tells us that many of the show's "fans" were "angry" about Brad being given a second chance, but he does not speculate as to the emptiness of these fans' lives that they would actually give a crap one way or the other. It would be unwise of him to do so.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/bachelor-recap-tears-clown/1-a-330324
Beyoncé - Halo
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Philip Andelman
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=332332
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Concert Picks: Eddie Spaghetti, Esben and the Witch, Girl Talk?
For the first weekend of March we tour you through the various genres – country & rock, heavily ambient indie rock, experimental rock, remixes & mash-ups, and so on. No note-taking necessary, just bring your energy. Check out our picks below…
Eddie Spaghetti | Friday, March 4 | 8:00 pm | 21+ | $12 |Tiki Bar, [...]
Eddie Spaghetti | Friday, March 4 | 8:00 pm | 21+ | $12 |Tiki Bar, [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/8KfXRDzK6fc/
Valentine's Day Cakes
Look at these cute Valentine's Day cakes from the blog i am baker:
Click here for the Heart Cake tutorial.
And click here for the Rose Cake tutorial.
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/2/7/valentines-day-cakes.html
Beyoncé - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=455581
Evan Lysacek Interview
Last year, Evan Lysacek took a life-changing turn on the ice when he was crowned with a men's figure-skating gold medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Now, the skater is already busy planning for the future.
"As far as the next Olympics, I'm definitely looking forward to Sochi, (Russia), in 2014, which is now three years away, as a very real option for me," he tells iVillage exclusively.
While looking to what lies ahead, 25-year-old Lysacek is also paying homage to the past with the documentary film Rise, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Team that perished in a plane crash on its way to the World Championships in Prague. "It's commemorating basically everything that's happened over the course of the past 50 years," says Lysacek, who’s a spokesperson for the film. "Mine was just one of the stories of triumph." First released for a one-night-only run in February, it returns to theaters on March 7 with an encore engagement. (Click here for theaters screening the movie).
And one of Lysacek's biggest supporters during the 2010 Olympics was gold medal-winning gymnast Nastia Liukin. The skater, who confirmed that they were dating at the time, remains close with the Russian-born athlete -- though gives a "no comment" response when asked if they're still an item. "Nastia's been a really, really great person to have in my life," Lysacek explains. "She really helped me leading up to Vancouver because there's a lot of emotions and a lot of things that you go through while you're in the isolation of preparing for the Olympics. And then to have her there and be there for support really meant a lot to me."
Watch our exclusive video (above) to find out what Evan Lysacek was like as a "shy" kid and how his life has changed since nabbing a gold at the Olympics.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/evan-lysacek-interview/1-a-330134
Monday, March 7, 2011
Britney Spears May Release Ke$ha-Penned Track As Next Single
'Till The World Ends' expected out sometime next week.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage
Slowly but surely, fans are getting a taste of what Britney Spears' March 29 album release, Femme Fatale, will sound like. On Wednesday, Spears slowed things down with the tease for her track "Criminal" and psyched fans up with the news that she worked with Travis Barker on the album.
Fans are speculating that the next single released will be the Ke$ha-penned track, "Till the World Ends." Art for the single's cover, in which Spears appears sitting on a couch in a sweater and heels, was posted at Deezer.com.
A 30-second snippet of the song appeared on Amazon.de, which indicates that the single will be available on March 11. The track sounds like a fist-pumping anthem, and the sample showcases Spears' electronically enhanced vocals going "Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh."
The single will reportedly drop sometime next week, according to a tweet sent out by Tampa radio station 93.3 FM. "Hearing from Jive Records that we'll have a new @BritneySpears single to play next week!"
Ke$ha recently dished about the track to Spin.com, noting that the song is about the power of an artist performing a great gig. "That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world," she says. "You know, when you go out, and you're having an amazing, magical night and you don't want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends."
Spears' longtime manager Larry Rudolph recently told MTV News that he's super-excited about the next single off Femme Fatale. "I don't think I've been this excited about releasing a Britney single in many, many years," he said. "It's that good. That's all I'm gonna say about it at the moment. I haven't heard a final mix of it, but I should get it in the next day or two. So far, what I've heard is just extraordinary. It really is amazing. Her fans will be very happy with it. I'm trying hard to get it out before the album comes out."
For those keeping count, it's not the first time Ke$ha and Spears have worked together. Ke$ha appeared on the Circus song "Lace and Leather." "I just did backgrounds for her 'cause I was so broke. I needed to pay my rent," she shared back in 2009. "I got a few bucks. No, [I didn't meet her]. I just did backups for her."
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659101/britney-spears-till-the-world-ends.jhtml
Matt Damon: Meeting Wife Luciana Was Fate
In Matt Damon's new film The Adjustment Bureau, fate appears to bring the actor together with his onscreen love played by Emily Blunt. And in a case of art imitating life, Matt says it was his destiny to meet wife Luciana and have a family that includes four daughters ? Alexia, 12, Isabella, 4, Gia, 2, and Stella, 3 months.
"When I look back at my life, and look at some of the most incredible things that have happened in my life, like meeting my wife, and I think of all the things that had to happen for us to meet and eight years and four kids later, I can't imagine life without her," Matt says. "All that stuff happened by some series of coincidences, so it makes you wonder - is there an 'Adjustment Bureau there', kind of, helping me out?"
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/03/07/matt-damon-meeting-wife-luciana-was-fate
Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Creative Director Explains: Why NYC?
'This was the place that birthed her,' Laurieann Gibson tells MTV News of choosing location.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga knew exactly where she wanted to shoot her trippy music video for Born This Way. If she was going to properly tell the story about the birth of a new race that doesn't judge or hate, the New York native knew she had to take it home to the Big Apple.
"We took two days and when Gags was making the album, she wanted to be in New York," Gaga's creative director, Laurieann Gibson, told MTV News on Monday. "This was the place that we started. This was the place that birthed her. This was the place that birthed my dance. New York just has something so real about birthing something specific."
Before cameras even started rolling, Gibson and Gags, as she calls her, decided there was only one place to work on the avant-garde, modern dance routine for the video.
"So I took her to Alvin Ailey [where I studied dance], and we rehearsed there because the choreography is really modern-based. It's, like, more technical than anything she's ever done," she recalled. "That was a great moment to engulf her in a real dance world and push her ability choreographically.
"And we shot the video in Brooklyn over two days and it was freezing cold. And we had to hide the location and we were quite successful except at the last day there was one paparazzi sneaking around," she added. "We had to build these boards and move because she was so passionate about it [not] getting out to her fans before it was ready."
But planning for the video started long before the Haus of Gaga landed in New York City to shoot the Nick Knight-directed clip. Gibson recalled how she and Gaga birthed the idea. "I've created, directed and choreographed for Lady Gaga since the beginning, so 'Born This Way,' this was musically such an amazing evolution and such a brilliant record, so when she played it for me, it took me a while to find out the visual interpretation that I could give back to her.
"I woke up one night and I got it and I said, 'I got it: We have to birth a new race,' " she recalled. "As genius as she is, she then begins to create all of these elements that make her Lady Gaga. When I saw the final edit I, of course, was loving some stuff and then I was like, 'But oh, here we go.' It was brilliant. Nick is amazing."
What do you think of the "Born This Way" choreography? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos- Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Video Premieres
- MTV News Extended Play: Lady Gaga Creative Director Laurieann Gibson
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658982/lady-gaga-born-this-way-video.jhtml
Charlie Sheen's Online Message To His Kids
Charlie Sheen kicked off his first "Sheen's Korner" webcast last night with a "shout out" to his five children - Cassandra, Sam, Lola, and twins Max and Bob.
Telling them, "Daddy loves you," he took a swig from Bob's blue sippy cup and added, "If you're watching, tell mom to leave the room. It's on."
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/03/06/charlie-sheens-online-message-to-his-kids
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Beyoncé - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=401347
The Chemical Brothers Score Movie
Although in regards to critical acclaim, Tron: Legacy and The Social Network have about as much in common as Matchbox 20 and The Beatles, the two are similar in that they were major films released last year that were socred not by traditional composers, but by popular musical artists. This trend continues with the adventure [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/OqEAqHJK65s/
Justin Bieber's Grammy Performance Will Be 'A Crossover,' Usher Says
The 'O.M.G.' singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single "O.M.G." and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush's Grammy plans seem rather fitting.
Especially since he'll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber's pal Jaden Smith), a move that's just as much about celebrating Usher's successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.
"Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn't want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here," Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. "And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for."
And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn't about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he's hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber ... a side most tend to overlook.
"The performance will be fun," Usher explained. "We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. ... This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn't believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He's going to play acoustically, and also, we'll get down a little bit."
And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he's most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.
"I'm very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun," Usher said. "The story of Justin Bieber doesn't stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world ... a cultural experience that's much more than just fanfare. And that's what this is. That's what the Grammys will be; that's what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way."
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657728/usher-justin-bieber-grammy-performance.jhtml
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