Leroys stuff: 2011

Dienstag, 19. Juli 2011

Coldplay's New Album About 'Addiction,' 'OCD'

Frontman Chris Martin tells the BBC that fifth album is 'thinly veiled account of what happens within the group.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Coldplay
Photo: Eamonn McCormack/ WireImage

Coldplay may just bust apart their image as sensitive, hipster-dad rock gods with their fifth LP.

Frontman Chris Martin recently told BBC's Radio 1 that the platinum-selling collective's follow-up to the 2008 smash Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends is inspired by the band's brushes with personal vices and industry drama. The singer and pianist said the record's content touches on "love, addiction, OCD, escape and working for someone you don't like." Martin also described the project as a "thinly veiled account of what happens within the group."

However, Coldplay fans needn't fret that the upcoming untitled effort — which Martin denied is a concept album as he previously asserted — is an express ticket to Bummerville. The "Clocks" crooner maintained the album "also has a lot of uplifting stuff. It's supposed to be about life, the good stuff and the bad stuff. Everything."

The band's drummer Will Champion backed up Martin's description, aptly using a marital anecdote to explain the emotional complexity of the record.

"There's a phrase which my wife told me from a book, I can't remember which book, but a man is asked, 'Are you married?' And he says, 'Yes, of course I'm married. I have a wife, kids, the whole catastrophe,' " he said."Catastrophe just means something big and seismic but not necessarily bad. It's all about embracing the whole thing. Appreciating the good and bad and realising it's all part of life."

The group are once again teaming up with Markus Dravs and Roxy Music legend Brian Eno, who produced Viva, for the project. The album currently has no release date.

Are you looking forward to Coldplay's new album? Let us know in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655557/coldplays-new-album-about-addiction-ocd.jhtml

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Photos | Beyonce, Ne-Yo And More At 2009 Essence Music Festival

Beyonce, Ne-Yo And More At 2009 Essence Music Festival

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Chris Brown - Next To You

Next To You

Artist: Chris Brown
Label: Jive, JLG
Director: Collin Tilley

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1961441&vid=666238

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Montag, 18. Juli 2011

'American Idol' Guest Judges: We Grade Katy Perry, Joe Jonas And More

Could any of the fill-ins replace Simon, or should they never be asked back? Our 'Idol' expert takes a closer look.
By Jim Cantiello

Katy Perry
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

With Paula Abdul moving on to bigger and better things (TBD), "American Idol" had a gaping hole to fill during their season-nine audition process. As a solution, producers put their Rolodexes to good use and called up some celeb pals to sit in during the tryouts.

Everyone from Broadway vet Kristin Chenoweth to heartthrob Joe Jonas answered the call. But how did the various Rent-A-Judges stack up against one another? Which ones floundered and which ones made the grade?

It's time to rate the "American Idol" guest judges!

Katy Perry: A+
Katy was filter-free, and we loved her for it. When she didn't like the contestants, she told them so. And when she noticed Kara DioGuardi judging contestants based on their depressing life situations instead of their singing ability, Katy called her out on national television: "This is not a Lifetime movie, sweetheart." Truer words have never been spoken. Actually, that's false. "Katy Perry should replace Simon next season." There. Now truer words have never been spoken.

Mary J. Blige: A-
Mary had the audacity to laugh in contestants' faces and disagree with the other judges. While we wouldn't want her to replace Paula indefinitely, her diva attitude helped give the Atlanta auditions a neat "what-will-she-do-next" edge. If only she looked like she wanted to be there. On second thought, that made her appearance even more compelling.

Neil Patrick Harris: A-
Neil Patrick Harris had a winning mix of Paula's kindhearted sensitivity and Simon's razor-sharp wit. (Our fave NPH quip was this response to a dominatrix who revealed she was on "Barney and Friends" as a child: "I knew I recognized you!") In fact, Neil may have been too similar to Simon. How else to explain the tension between the two judges? Extra points to NPH for not flinching when he was on the receiving end of the Cowell Scowl!

Shania Twain: B+
Shania has been out of the spotlight these past few years, but once we got over the "why is she there?" factor, we appreciated Ms. Twain's voice of compassion, which now had a vaguely Midwestern accent! (Perhaps an ode to Chicago, the city she was critiquing?) Plus, Shania provided an instant-classic "Idol" audition moment when she told Asian stud-muffin John Park that he had a "nice bottom end." Hello!

Kristin Chenoweth: C+
We had high hopes for the pint-size Broadway superstar (who you may remember from "Pushing Daisies" and "Glee"). Alas, Kristin only hung around for half the Orlando auditions and her girly sensibilities encouraged DioGuardi to be even more annoying than usual.

Victoria Beckham: C-
Posh Spice seems like a very nice robot, but wow, Suri Cruise could have provided more in-depth critiques of the auditioning hopefuls in Boston. (Victoria will be back Tuesday for the Denver episode. Perhaps she'll redeem herself? We think "zig-a-zig-NOT.")

Avril Lavigne: D+
The Canadian "punk" rocker was awkward, fidgety and obviously more invested in her devil hoodie than the singers in front of her. The one "insight" Avril brought to the table was that successful musicians can't be married with children. What?!

Joe Jonas: F
If he didn't put any effort into his "Idol" appearance, we're not going to put any effort into reviewing it. No wonder producers kept the day-two segments of Dallas noticeably brief.

Who did you think were the best and worst guest judges? Did you miss Paula? And who would you put on a short list for Simon's replacement, if anyone? Leave a comment below.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Clarence Clemons, Sax Player For Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Suffers Stroke

E Street Band member, 69, suffered stroke in his home in Florida.
By Jocelyn Vena

Clarence Clemons
Photo: Getty

Clarence Clemons, legendary member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has suffered a stroke according to The Associated Press.

A source close to the saxophonist confirmed to the AP that the 69-year-old suffered the stroke in his Florida home on Sunday night; no further details about his health were currently available at press time. However, Showbiz 411 reported that the musician's condition is very serious.

Send Clarence your well wishes on Facebook!

Most recently, Clemons was featured on Lady Gaga's massive Born This Way album, appearing on two tracks and performing with her live on "American Idol" last month.

Clemons, also known as "The Big Man," began performing with the E Street Band in 1972, giving an assist on Springsteen's debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.. In addition to appearing on 20 albums with Springsteen, including the breakthrough Born to Run, he's worked with a number of other artists including Gaga, Jackson Browne and Ringo Starr. He's also appeared in films like "New York, New York"and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," as well as TV shows like "The Wire" and "The Simpsons."

Recently, however, he has had problems with his health, and following the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's tour in 2009, he had to have both knees replaced and a spinal fusion surgery, according to Rolling Stone. But he vowed, "As long as my mouth, hands and brain still work I'll be out there doing it."

When MTV News caught up with Gaga's longtime collaborator, Fernando Garibay, the producer recalled how excited Gaga was to hit the studio with one of her icons for the songs "Hair" and her latest single, "Edge of Glory."

"She grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and she goes, 'Can we get Clarence?' And I go, 'Of course we can get Clarence. You're Lady Gaga!' " he said. "You can see the years of influence and you can see her lighting up when he's playing [with her in the studio]."

Send your well-wishes to Clarence Clemons in the comments below.

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Miley Cyrus - Fly On The Wall

Fly On The Wall

Artist: Miley Cyrus
Label: Hollywood Records
Director: Philip Andelman
Album: Breakout

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=2408193&vid=323071

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Photos | 2011 Billboard Music Awards

2011 Billboard Music Awards

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White Stripes Claim Air Force Super Bowl Ad Uses Song Without Permission

Spot seems to feature re-recording of 'Fell in Love With a Girl.'
By Gil Kaufman

White Stripes' Jack White
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

That extreme "Grab Some Air" Air Force ad during the Super Bowl with the wicked snowboarding, skiing, surfing and skateboard moves did feature a surfy guitar riff that sounded an awful lot like the White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl."

That's certainly what Jack White thinks, and judging by a message on the band's Web site, he's not too pleased about it. Under a side-by-side post of the original "Girl" video and a link to the Air Force Reserve ad, the site read, "We believe our song was re-recorded and used without permission of the White Stripes, our publishers, label or management. The White Stripes take strong insult and objection to the Air Force Reserve's presenting this advertisement with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support."

While the band pledged their strong support for the U.S. military "at home and during times when our country needs and depends on them," the message added, "We simply don't want to be a cog in the wheel of the current conflict, and hope for a safe and speedy return home for our troops."

The letter ended with a promise to seek legal advice on the matter. "We have not licensed our song to the Air Force Reserve and we plan to take strong action to stop the ad containing this music," White said.

A spokesperson for the Air Force could not be reached for comment at press time.

The White Stripes have been on hiatus since 2007, when drummer Meg White's acute anxiety forced the duo to cancel their tour. They have reportedly been working on a new album, though Jack White has promised that a second disc by his most recent side project, the Dead Weather, would be released first.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631536/white-stripes-object-air-force-super-bowl-ad.jhtml

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Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' And More Posthumous Music Videos

Aaliyah, Tupac Shakur, Elvis Presley and more late superstars have popped up in videos after their deaths.
By James Montgomery

Michael Jackson in the video for "Hold My Hand"
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment

On Thursday (December 9), the late, great Michael Jackson returned to the music-video world with "Hold My Hand," a clip from the upcoming Michael album, which pairs his vocals with production work from some of today's top producers.

And much like that album, the "Hold My Hand" video is very much a retrospective affair, loaded with triumphant MJ performance footage and uplifting imagery (smiling children, sunrises, bright blue skies), not to mention a whole lot of Akon. And while fans can debate whether the clip is a worthy addition to the King of Pop's massive music-video legacy, it certainly carries on the tradition of the posthumous video, a rather ignominious — and incredibly profitable — wing of the music-industry machine.

Yes, ever since Elvis Presley shuffled off this mortal coil, record labels have been churning out videos by deceased stars, for reasons that run the gamut from tribute to pure profit. Out of necessity (since the star is no longer with us), these videos are usually by-the-numbers affairs, full of stock footage and performance clips, the occasional use of animation and, of course, the odd celebrity cameo. More often than not, fans love them — which is why we keep seeing them. And since "Hold My Hand" has just been unveiled, we decided to take a look back at some of the most notable examples of stars who may no longer be with us, but continue to make music videos. Here's our Posthumous Playlist.

Aaliyah
She died tragically in a 2001 plane crash, but her videos kept showing up on MTV. "I Care 4 U" was a collection of clips from the Japanese anime "Macross Pluss II," which feature her as a ghostly figure. "Miss You" was a tribute vid, starting with a heartfelt monologue by DMX and featuring cameos by the likes of Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim and Toni Braxton. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" is a combination of footage from her old videos and newly animated bits, which reimagine Aaliyah as a superhero in a skintight getup.

Elvis Presley
He died in 1977 but found chart success once again in 2002, when a remixed version of his song "A Little Less Conversation" was featured in a Nike World Cup commercial. A video, featuring performance footage of the King playing on a TV monitor (and a bunch of hyperactive dancers and models re-enacting his famous "Jailhouse Rock" video) was quickly assembled to capitalize. It was appropriately massive.

John Lennon
Murdered outside his New York City home in 1980, Lennon's (then) just-released Double Fantasy quickly rose to #1 on the album charts and even won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The follow-up, Milk and Honey, was also a hit and featured the single "Nobody Told Me," which came with a posthumous video, complete with photos of Lennon as a child, his iconic wire-frame specs and even some of his illustrations.

Nirvana
After the death of Kurt Cobain, there was no shortage of Nirvana sundry released, though the video for "You Know You're Right" — one of the last songs he recorded with the band — is the true standout, full of performance clips and backstage footage that capture the grunge icon at his most powerful, moody and, strangely enough, happy.

The Notorious B.I.G.
He was killed in 1997, but his talent — and the prodigious amount of pre-recorded material he left behind — survives to this day. There truly is no shortage of posthumous Biggie videos, though the most notable are probably the flossy, glossy "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems," Spike Jonze's riotous "Sky's the Limit" (which stars nothing but children) and "Notorious Thugz," a team up with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony that features his ghost rapping inside a studio.

Sublime
Frontman Bradley Nowell died just before the release of the trio's breakout self-titled album, and so — mostly out of necessity — Nowell (and his beloved dog, Lou) continued to turn up in the band's videos, including "What I Got," "Santeria" and "Wrong Way."

TLC
Just before the release of their 2002 album 3D, founding member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras. The group's two remaining members pressed on, releasing a series of videos that paid tribute to their late friend. In the video for "Girl Talk," they wear outfits emblazoned with her name, and she shows up in animated form too. "Turntable" is a more traditional posthumous clip, made up of performance footage of the trio taken from their live shows and videos.

Tupac Shakur
Unlike most late stars, Tupac left behind so much material that he never really left. The vaults were mined for more than a decade following his 1996 death, to the point where some believe he may actually still be with us. Not surprisingly, there are no shortage of posthumous music videos out there, including "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto," which picks up after he was shot (and was filmed from his "point of view"); "Changes," a solemn tribute clip made up of news footage, scenes from his videos and movies and still photos; and "Until the End of Time," a more sparse affair, featuring clips of him onstage and in the studio.

What is your favorite posthumous clip? Let us know in the comments.

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Was Clay Aiken Dropped From His Label?

'American Idol' alum absent from RCA's Grammy press material and label Web site.
By Jocelyn Vena

Clay Aiken
Photo: Bruce Glikas/ FilmMagic

According to reports, it looks like Clay Aiken is the latest "American Idol" alum to be dropped by his record label. The Faded Youth blog noticed that in recent Grammy press material sent out by RCA, Aiken had been left off the label's roster.

On top of that, the blog is reporting that Aiken-related press materials have been removed from RCA's Web site. Aiken's RCA artist page and message board have also apparently been deleted, and the URL now redirects to the his non-RCA-owned fan club Web site.

At press time, reps for Aiken had not responded to a request from MTV News for comment regarding the singer's status with the label; a rep for the label had no comment.

Other "American Idol" vets have had some bad luck with their labels in the past: Blake Lewis, Katharine McPhee and Ruben Studdard have all lost their record contracts in the past year and a half.

In January, Aiken ended his run as Sir Robin in "Monty Python's Spamalot" when the show closed its doors. He also surprised everyone late last year when he announced he was gay and became a father. "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things," the singer said at the time. "I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605498/was-clay-aiken-dropped-from-his-label.jhtml

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Sonntag, 17. Juli 2011

Lil Wayne, Red Hot Chili Peppers Lead Most-Anticipated Albums

Drake, Blink-182, David Guetta, Evanescence and 'American Idol' alums also expected to drop new music in 2011 second half.
By Gil Kaufman

Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV

The record industry finally had some good news to report in the first half of the year thanks to some incremental positive growth as a result of strong album sales from Lady Gaga, Adele, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. But with six months left in 2011, the returns could bulge even further if even half of the albums left on label rosters see the light of day.

Release dates have constantly shifted and some aren't even on schedules yet, but the second half of this year promises new releases from Lil Wayne; Kanye West and Jay-Z; Dr. Dre; Evanescence; Joe Jonas; last year's chart slayers, country trio Lady Antebellum; dance master David Guetta; and original "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson.

Here's a breakdown of the most anticipated albums on tap for the rest of the year (with the caveat that some release dates could and likely will change).

Hip-Hop
Although a release date is still one of the best-kept secrets in music, all eyes are on Watch the Throne, the hotly anticipated collabo between Kanye West and Jay-Z. We've seen the album cover art so far and pre-orders are being taken for what could be an early August ship date, but no official announcement has been made so far.

Another record that's been pushed around more than LeBron James in this year's NBA finals is Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV. Weezy's given us a preview of his latest opus with "How to Love," which is already a hit on iTunes, and the latest due date for the fourth installment in the Carter series is August 29.

Fans are also looking forward to Rick Ross' God Forgives, I Don't album, the major-label debut from Jay Electronica, 50 Cent's long-gestating new effort, and another disc that's been bubbling under for more than a year, Game's The R.E.D. Album, which could finally hit shelves on August 23.

Game has promised to have formerly estranged mentor Dr. Dre back in the pocket on that one, and speaking of the good doctor, the reclusive studio genius may finally release his near decade-in-the-making Detox disc this year. Maybe.

Almost equally salivated over is Drake's second studio effort, Take Care, which is slated to hit on October 24. Fans have already gotten a taste of what to expect from the recently released track "Marvins Room," which followed another song that may make the cut, "Dreams Money Can Buy."

B.o.B has made it clear that he's not packing a bunch of flashy features on the follow-up to his gold-certified debut, The Adventures of Bobby Ray. What we don't know yet is when, exactly, it will drop.

Also look for new albums from Akon and Nas.

Pop/Country/R&B
Lady Gaga and Britney Spears appeared to suck all of the oxygen out of the pop sphere earlier this year, but there is plenty more on the horizon, including a new album from last year's chart champs, country trio Lady Antebellum, Own the Night; the debuts from "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery, runner-up Lauren Alaina and ninth-place finisher Pia Toscano around the holidays; and the first full-length from Internet sensation Greyson Chance, Hold on 'Til the Night, on August 2.

Jonas Brothers singer Joe Jonas steps out with his dance-inspired solo debut, Fast Life, in September, and Mary J. Blige gets help from Kanye, Swizz Beatz and Stargate on My Life II, The Journey Continues (also due in September).

"Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert is working on his "dream" album as the follow-up to his 2009 debut, with help from such songwriting pros as Ryan Tedder, Nikka Costa and Sia. Hoping to get something in stores this year, oft-thwarted former Pussycat Dolls singer (and "X Factor" replacement judge) Nicole Scherzinger is planning to unleash her latest solo album, Killer Love, before year's end, with assists from RedOne, Jim Jonsin, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. And it's probably a long shot, but long-dormant reggae popsters No Doubt are nearly done with their first album in a decade, which may see the light of day before 2011 is out.

Also slated for this year: Fiona Apple, former "American Idol" champs Kris Allen and Kelly Clarkson, Santigold, ex-Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland (Here I Am, July 26) and electronic beatmeister David Guetta's Nothing But the Beat (August 30), which features contributions from Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj, Taio Cruz, Ludacris, will.i.am, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Akon, Jennifer Hudson and Sia.

Rock
2011 has been a bit light on the rock so far, but a number of artists look to correct that, including long-dormant Evanescence. The Amy Lee-led band will roar back with The Open Door on October 4, a disc Lee promises "smacks you right in the face."

Speaking of face-smacking, veteran funk-rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers have the usual collection of heavy grooves on tap for I'm With You, their Rick Rubin-produced album due out on August 30.

Another lifer, Lenny Kravitz, also ends a self-imposed hiatus that day with his latest, Black and White America, and after reuniting in 2009, punk-poppers Blink-182 swear we'll get new music from them before summer is out.

We're still not sure exactly what Coldplay's new album is really about, but we know they'll probably be playing some of the tunes from the still-untitled effort this summer at Lollapalooza. And that the paint-splashed video for the first single, "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall," is packed with the kind of uplifting, positive vibes we've come to expect from the group.

Also on tap: The Great Escape Artist, the first new album in eight years from alternative godfathers Jane's Addiction; the first independent label effort from Wilco, The Whole Love (September 27); the solo debut of former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump; another chunk of hot metal from Mastodon; an album-length collaboration between Metallica and punk icon Lou Reed; the long-anticipated third album from professional train wreck Amy Winehouse; and the first listen to fellow former FOB member Pete Wentz's new band, Black Cards.

What albums are you most looking forward to in the second half of 2011? Let us know in the comments!

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Train And B.o.B Top iTunes Singles Chart

Jack Johnson's To the Sea holds the top spot on the digital-albums chart.
By Gil Kaufman

Train's Patrick Monahan
Photo: C. Flanigan/ FilmMagic

The weekly iTunes albums and singles chart aren't always identical to the Billboard tallies, because downloading habits are sometimes way different from what people are picking up on the trip to the local Wal-Mart. And while much of this week's iTunes top 10 mirrors the action on the Billboard side, there are a few notable highlights that show where mainstream tastes diverge from Web ones.

Let's take the iTunes singles chart first. It is currently topped by mellow rockers Train with their comeback hit "Hey, Soul Sister," which is a few slots further down on the Billboard side. iTunes doesn't release specific sales figures, but suffice it to say it was another solid week for up-and-coming MC B.o.B, whose collabo with Bruno Mars, "Nothin' on You," is at #2 on the singles chart, followed by Rihanna ("Rude Boy"), Taio Cruz and Ludacris ("Break Your Heart"), Jason Derülo, ("In My Head"), Usher and Will.I.Am ("OMG") and Justin Bieber with Luda ("Baby").

And while he's M.I.A. on the traditional charts, mellow strummer Jack Johnson is at a solid #8 with "You and Your Heart," which bumps Miley Cyrus' "When I Look at You" out of the top 10. Rounding out the singles chart are Lady Gaga and Beyoncé ("Telephone") and the ubiquitous Black Eyed Peas ("Imma Be").

Over on the iTunes albums chart, Johnson is at the top of the heap with To the Sea, followed by the self-titled solo debut from former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, Usher's Raymond v. Raymond, Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 and Lady Antebellum's Need You Now, according to figures provided by Apple.

Holding strong at #6 is Lady Gaga's The Fame, which nosed out the second solo album from Jakob Dylan, Women and Country. Another jam fave, the John Butler Trio, slid into the #8 slot with April Uprising, which edged out the solo album from Sigur Rós singer/guitarist Jónsi, Go, as Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part 2: Return of the Ankh slipped eight spots to #10.

Dropping off the top of the charts was the Wu Massacre album from Raekwon, Method Man and Ghostface Killah, comedian Robin Williams' Weapons of Self Destruction and the soundtrack to the Cyrus-starring film "The Last Song."

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Chris Brown Latest Celeb To Apologize For Using Gay Slur

Cee Lo Green, Tracy Morgan and Blake Shelton have also issued mea culpas recently for seemingly homophobic comments.
By Gil Kaufman

Chris Brown
Photo: Jason Kempin/ WireImage

On Wednesday, Chris Brown became the latest celebrity to apologize to the LGBT community for using a gay slur in anger. The singer issued a Twitter mea culpa for an incident on Tuesday in which he lashed out at several photographers in Los Angeles whom he believed had tipped off parking-enforcement officers to his illegally parked car, saying, "Y'all n---as is weak. Did you call them to try and film me? Y'all n---as is gay!"

The comments came just days after comedian Tracy Morgan met with LGBT youth in New York following his anti-gay rant during a recent stand-up appearance, which earned the "30 Rock" star widespread scorn from the gay community for his seeming advocacy of violence against gay youth.

The Human Rights Campaign told TMZ that "invoking words to demean gay Americans is just plain unacceptable ... Brown should know better."

Brown, who has made outrageous digital comments before — including a homophobic attack on former B2K singer Raz B in December — only to ask forgiveness for them a short time later, issued an apology on Twitter on Wednesday night, writing, "I have total respect for Gay community and my intention was not to insult anyone in it."

A spokesperson for Brown could not be reached for comment at press time.

Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs for GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), told MTV News that while it may seem like this kind of casual homophobia is on the rise, what we're seeing might simply be a result of the increasingly interconnected nature of our society. "People are being filmed while getting a parking ticket and commenting on Twitter and there's more opportunity for the things celebrities say to reach the public," he said. "But I think celebrities and people in the public eye are also increasingly cognizant that they have to respect all of their fans, and when things happen, they have an interest in correcting that behavior."

Brown is certainly not alone in using words that may hurt some of his fans. Two members of the celebrity judging panel on NBC's hit reality singing show "The Voice" have also issued apologies recently for using anti-gay slurs. After a performance with Rihanna in Minneapolis last week, Cee Lo Green posted a Twitter response to a negative review by critic Andrea Swensson, writing, "I respect your criticism, but be fair! People enjoyed last night! I'm guessing you're gay? And my masculinity offended you? Well f--- you!"

After the rant went viral, Green issued a public apology, telling Us Weekly, "I most certainly am not harboring any sort of negative feeling toward the gay community. I don't have an opinion on people with different religious, sexual or political preferences," said Green, who added that he assumed the critic would understand that his comments were "all in good fun" and that he didn't mean any harm. "I'm one of the most liberal artists that I think you will ever meet, and I pride myself on that. Two of the remaining members that I have on my team on 'The Voice' are proud and outspokenly gay. We just did a team performance of 'Everyday People,' and I picked that song for us to do specifically to highlight how we can get along even though we're so different."

Similarly, fellow judge Blake Shelton landed in hot water last month when he tweeted the comment, "Re-writing my fav Shania Twain song ... Any man that tries touching my behind he's gonna be a beaten, bleedin', heaving kind of guy." The original lyrics are, "Any man of mine better walk the line/ Better show me a teasin', squeezin', pleasin' kinda time." GLAAD weighed in, suggesting that Shelton's comments sounded like a threat against any man who took a pass at him and demanded an apology.

Shelton quickly recanted in a series of tweets, writing, "Hey y'all allow me to seriously apologize for the misunderstanding with the whole re-write on the Shania song last night ... It honestly wasn't even meant that way... I now know that [there] are people out there waiting to jump at everything I say on here or anywhere ... But when it comes to gay/lesbian rights or just feelings ... I love everybody. So go look for a real villain and leave me out of it!!!"

After communicating with GLAAD, Shelton posted this final tweet: "@glaad hey I want my fans and @nbcthevoice fans to know that anti-gay and lesbian violence is unacceptable!!!!! Help me!!!! And DM me.."

Graddick said that with an American public that is more supportive of gay people than ever, not to mention more aware of the impact of harmful language, for better or worse, celebrities are often looked to to set the standard for acceptable behavior. "I think that language can be homophobic and people can as well," he said. "I'm not going to judge the intent of what [Brown] was saying; he was clearly pissed about a parking ticket. But his intent is less important than the actual impact. When people hear other people use the kind of language that makes 'gay' equivalent to 'bad,' it communicates a message, and it's important that people are aware of that. I don't think every time anyone has spoken those words their personal viewpoint is homophobic, but the impact can be damaging."

The string of public anti-gay slurs has also included a number of sports figures, such as Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was fined $100,000 for yelling anti-gay slurs at a referee in April, and the Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah, who was fined $50,000 in May for directing an anti-gay slur at a fan during game three of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Share your thoughts on the recent celebrity anti-gay slurs in the comments.

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New Releases: Fall Out Boy, Bloc Party, Used, Apples In Stereo & More

Also due Tuesday: Bayside, Barenaked Ladies, Patty Griffin, Sondre Lerche, Clouds, Arab Strap, Apocalyptica.
By Kurt Orzeck

It's been a slow year so far for rock fans, with a best-of Unwritten Law CD and new Shins effort among the most prominent releases so far in 2007. Now it's finally time to strap on the guitars: With nary a rapper in sight — save Jay-Z, who drops a verse on the new Fall Out Boy album — this week is all about the rock.

Doing It Up Right: Say what you will about Fall Out Boy, but they sure do know how to sweeten a deal. In the wake of their Infinity on High being leaked online, the band promised to reward fans who actually buy the set with online access to a live EP, Leaked in London, that was just recorded January 29. But the pop-punk princes aren't stopping there: A limited-edition deluxe digipak comes with five tarot cards and an exclusive booklet cover, while fans who preordered have been treated with an exclusive pack of five buttons.

Party On: Believe it or not, there's actually a second-degree connection between FOB and this week's other heavyweights, Bloc Party. Infinity on High features guest guitar licks by Ryan Ross of Panic! at the Disco — last year, Bloc bailed from a tour with that same band. The sophomore hipsters are feeling less generous than FOB, though: Fans who preordered A Weekend in the City have received only a bonus remix of the song "The Prayer," and the CD itself is frill-free. The album — which lead singer Kele Okereke has called "the living noise of a metropolis" — includes "Song for Clay (Disappear Here)," "Hunting for Witches" and "Waiting for the 7.18."

Get Used To It: One of the most annoying ways record labels try to make an extra buck is by releasing a band's live CD and DVD separately — sometimes at different intervals and sometimes without warning. On that count, fans of the Used have nothing to worry about: The pop-punk group's Berth contains both the CD and DVD versions of its 2005 headlining show in Vancouver, British Columbia. Better yet, the Used have stuffed the package with videos, making-of features and clips of them answering fan questions — and if you order Berth through TheUsed.net, you'll get a T-shirt too.

Snoop Dogg piped up a month ago with a new cut on the "Arthur and the Invisibles" soundtrack, and now he's contributing a fresh slice to another musical companion disc — albeit to a slightly different type of movie. The alternately funny and gory "Hood of Horror" — its tagline is "It ain't all good in da 'hood" — stars the rapper alongside choice B-actors Ernie Hudson and Danny Trejo. Snoop chipped in "Welcome to the Hood" for the soundtrack, which also includes his "Shake That Sh--" (featuring Young Walt, Terrace Martin and Tiffany Foxx), plus selections from Cool & Dre, Al Kapone and, bizarrely, blues-rock fiends the North Mississippi Allstars.

They Do Not Rock: But if your ears are ringing from all the rock and roll this week, don't worry: There are some lower-volume alternatives, as always. "High School Musical" darling Ashley Tisdale — who made history as the first female artist to debut two songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 — proves how Headstrong she is with her new LP. Fans who got a head start and ordered through AshleyMusic.com have been gifted with an autographed copy of the disc and a sticker pack.

Someone else who is decidedly not rocking is Jessica Simpson hero Patty Griffin, whose Children Running Through trots out R&B- and gospel-inflected tracks including "Up to the Mountains (MLK Song)," "Burgundy Shoes" and "Someone Else's Tomorrow." Griffin gets a boost from Emmylou Harris on "Trapeze."

Also toning things down is ex-Gus Gus lead singer Daníel Ágúst, whose Swallowed a Star was crafted with Madonna remixer Bix and features mild, bleep-y tunes. U.K. trio Fujiya & Miyagi take it one step further with Transparent Things, which is heavy on kraut and other electronic sounds, and was named after a Vladimir Nabokov novel.

Comp'd: This week also sees the release of a litany of compilation CDs, some slightly more freakish than others. While you're likely to find Yes, I'm a Witch filed in the CD bins under "O," the Yoko Ono collection was largely crafted by other artists. Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, Cat Power and Antony scooped up chunks of previous Ono recordings — mostly her vocals — and spliced them with new musical tracks. Also participating are the Apples in Stereo, who drop their own New Magnetic Wonder LP this week — the album is the first one distributed through Elijah Wood's Simian Records.

The long-winded but self-explanatory 8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk Performed on Vintage 8-Bit Video Game Systems is another odd tribute of sorts, blipping and bleeping its way through 15 chestnuts by the electro-kraut pioneers. The roster involves an array of international artists who have delved deep into the genre also known as "chiptune" or "bitpop."

Unlike those tributes, Brian Wilson actually participated directly in a salute to himself that was staged by MusiCares, a group that helps people in the music industry with financial and medical assistance. Everyone and their mother turned up for the 2005 event, and their renditions of classic Wilson/ Beach Boys cuts are captured here: the Red Hot Chili Peppers tackle "I Get Around," John Legend re-creates "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times," the Backstreet Boys reinterpret "When I Grow Up to Be a Man," and more. Wilson helps cap the show by running through "Pet Sounds," "Heroes and Villains" and three more numbers.

Polishing off this week's batch of bizarre comps is A Date With John Waters, a set of 14 love songs handpicked by Mr. "Pink Flamingos" himself. Claiming to go "back to the first record Waters ever shoplifted, 'Tonight You Belong to Me' by Patience and Prudence," the album also encompasses selections by Ike & Tina Turner and Ray Charles, as well as the more obscure Elton Motello and Eileen Barton, the latter of whom appeared in a long list of Waters flicks. And no, the disc doesn't come with a chicken.

Song Title of the Week:

"They're Not Horses, They're Unicorns" from Bayside's The Walking Wounded

Other Notables:

Aereogramme's My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go: The fourth album by the Scottish ensemble doesn't sound all that much like the band's previous releases — instead of alternating big blasts of distorted guitar with introverted, mellow passages, this effort is much more even-tempered. That's largely because a nasty throat infection left singer Craig B mute for a portion of the recording session, which took place in Glasgow. The band can't take credit for the powerful album title, though: It's a line from William Peter Blatty's book "The Exorcist" that didn't make it to William Friedkin's big-screen version.

Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter's Like, Love, Lust & the Open Halls of the Soul: Jesse Sykes's career has an enormous span, what with her having once been a member of alt-country commandos Whiskeytown but more recently collaborating with the likes of doom-noise metallers Boris and Sunn0))). Her latest with backing band the Sweet Hereafter is their third outing, and it continues the minimalist approach forged with 2002's Reckless Burning and 2004's Oh, My Girl. Scandinavian singer/songwriter Nicolai Dunger lends a hand, but the entire effort was produced by Decemberists collaborator Tucker Martine.

The Makes Nice's Candy Wrapper & Twelve Other Songs: In yet another example of a musician doing the unexpected this week, Josh Smith of Bay Area stoner-metal faves the F---ing Champs and Drunk Horse has come up with ... an R&B album? Recalling the Zombies and Small Faces, Smith gangs up with Aaron Burnham — who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a music degree — and software engineer Jack Matthew for the 13-track opus. Trans Am's Phil Manley, who is also a member of the F---ing Champs, helped the band record Candy Wrapper.

New Releases:

· Aereogramme - My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go (Sonic Unyon) [Buy Now] · Daníel Ágúst - Swallowed a Star (One Little Indian) · Angels & Agony - Unison (Metropolis) · Animal Collective - People (EP; Fat Cat) [Buy Now] · The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder (digipak; Simian/ Yep Roc/ Elephant 6) [Buy Now] · Backyard Tire Fire - Vagabonds and Hooligans (digipak; O.L.E.) [Buy Now] · Bayside - The Walking Wounded (Victory) [Buy Now] · Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block (with bonus CD; Almost Gold) · Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City (Vice/Atlantic) [Buy Now] Read: "After Failed Panic! At The Disco Tour, Bloc Party Look Ahead To New LP" · Stefano Bollani - Piano Solo (ECM) · Belinda Carlisle - Voila (with bonus CD; Rykodisc) · Car Bomb - Centralia (Relapse) [Buy Now] · Jason Michael Carroll - Waitin' in the Country (Arista Nashville) · The Cat Empire - Two Shoes (Velour) [Buy Now] · Clouds - Legendary Demo (Hydra Head) · Danny Cohen - Shades of Dorian Gray (Anti-) · The Colour - Between Earth & Sky (Rethink) · Dead Child - Dead Child (EP; Cold Sweat) · Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves (Equal Vision) · The Dexateens - Hardware Healing (Skybucket) · Elliott Brood - Ambassador (Six Shooter) · The End - Elementary (Relapse) · Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High (limited-edition digipak with tarot cards due same day; Island) [Buy Now] Read: "Jigga What? Fall Out Boy Get A Hand From Jay-Z On Infinity" · Fat Freddy's Drop - Based on a True Story (Quango) · Ruthie Foster - The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn) · Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things (Deaf Dumb & Blind) · Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse EP (enhanced; Mute) [Buy Now] · Patty Griffin - Children Running Through (ATO) Read: "Kelly Clarkson's 'Favorite Person' Is On Jessica Simpson's Playlist Too" · Ernie Halter - Congress Hotel (Rock Ridge) · Rickie Lee Jones - The Sermon on Exposition Boulevard (digipak; limited deluxe edition with bonus CD due same day; New West) · Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch (Astralwerks) · Little Brazil - Tighten the Noose (Mt. Fuji) · Lonely, Dear - Lonely Noir (Sub Pop) · Love Arcade - Love Arcade (enhanced; Atlantic) [Buy Now] · The Makes Nice - Candy Wrapper & Twelve Other Songs (Frenetic) · Eleni Mandell - Miracle of Five (digipak; Zedtone) · David Martin - Something in Your Eyes (Astonish) · Mnemic - Passenger (digipak; Nuclear Blast) · Phonograph - Phonograph (Arclight) · Pornopop - And the Slow Songs About the Dead Calm in Your Arms (Dynamophone) · The Postmarks - The Postmarks (Unfiltered) · Jordan Pruitt - No Ordinary Girl (with DVD; Hollywood) · John Reuben - Word of Mouth (Gotee) · Secret Mommy - Plays (Ache) [Buy Now] · The Tierney Sutton Band - On the Other Side (Telarc) · Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter - Like, Love, Lust & the Open Halls of the Soul (Barsuk) · Ashley Tisdale - Headstrong (Warner Bros.) · Titan - A Raining Sun of Light and Love for You & You & You (Tee Pee) · The Used - Berth (live CD with DVD; Reprise) [Buy Now] Read: "The Used Hate Los Angeles But Love To Write About It" · Tyrone Wells - Hold On (Republic) · Keller Williams - Dream (digipak; Sci Fidelity) · Winning - This Is an Ad for Cigarettes (Ache) · Various artists - 8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk Performed on Vintage 8-Bit Video Game Systems (Astralwerks) · Various artists - "Hood of Horror" soundtrack (Chime Entertainment) · Various artists - Ono: Yes, I'm a Witch (Astralwerks) · Various artists - Take Action! Volume 6 (digipak with DVD; Hopeless/ Sub City)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Arab Strap - Ten Years of Tears! (Chemikal Underground) · Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked Ladies Are Men (enhanced; Desperation) [Buy Now] · Freddie Jackson - Greatest Hits (Capitol/EMI) · Monty Python - Another Monty Python Album, Monty Python's Life Of Brian, Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life and Monty Python's Previous Record (Virgin/EMI) · Public Enemy - Fight the Power! Greatest Hits Live! (with DVD; Pyramid) [Buy Now] · Rhino Bucket - No Song Left Behind and Pain & Suffering (Acetate) · The Sleeping - Believe What We Tell You (with bonus DVD; Victory) · Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway (with bonus CD; Caldo Verde) · Teddybears - Soft Machine (Big Beat) · Various artists - A Date With John Waters (New Line) · Various artists - Celebrate! Songs of Praise (Sony Urban/Legacy) · Various artists - "Romeo+Juliet" soundtrack (Capitol/EMI)

Music DVDs:

· Apocalyptica - "The Life Burns Tour" (Red Ink) · Crowbar - "Live: With Full Force" (Candlelight) · Deep Purple - "Deep Purple's In Rock: The Essential Albums of All Time" (Classic Rock Legends) · Bob Marley - "Music in Review" (Classic Rock Legends) · Pink Floyd - "Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother: The Essential Albums of All Time" (Classic Rock Legends) · Paul Weller - "Hit Parade" (Yep Roc) · Various artists - "Liberation: The Songs of the New Cuban Underground" (Petrol) · Various artists - "MusiCares: A Tribute to Brian Wilson" (Eagle Vision) · Various artists - "Romeo+Juliet: Music Edition" (Capitol/EMI)

Coming Attractions:

February 13: · Gerald LeVert - In My Songs (Atlantic) · Bobby Valentino - Special Occasion (Def Jam) Read: "Bobby Valentino Asks Sean Garrett, Rodney Jerkins To Attend Special Occasion" · Lucinda Williams - West (digipak; Lost Highway)

February 20: · Calla - Strength in Numbers (Beggars Banquet) · Kittie - Funeral for Yesterday (X of Infamy) · Various artists - Kidz Bop 11 (Razor & Tie)

February 27: · Beck - The Information (deluxe-edition reissue; Geffen) · Fabolous - From Nothing to Something (Def Jam) [Preorder] Read: "Fabolous Opens Up About Shooting Incident; Hooks Up With Jeezy, Ne-Yo" · Slim Thug & Tha Boss Hogg Outlawz - Serve & Collect (Koch)

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Samstag, 16. Juli 2011

Nirvana Exhibit Leads Fans Through Band's Humble Start, Meteoric Rise

'Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses' opens Saturday in Seattle.
By Gil Kaufman

Nirvana's Kurt Cobain in the early '90s
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

SEATTLE — It's fitting that on Monday morning, the inside of the "Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses" exhibit at the Experience Music Project in this Northwestern music mecca looked much like the band's music sounded: messy, splintered into 1,000 pieces, all over the place, yet somehow meticulously together and beautifully chaotic.

Museum workers inside this gleaming temple to the enduring influence of the city and region's musical heritage were in a mad scramble to get the first-of-its-kind exhibition of Nirvana artifacts into shape for Saturday's opening. Glass display cases with spots destined to feature one-of-a-kind treasures stood empty, while others were already fitted with touchstone effects. Among them were the iconic green sweater worn by late singer Kurt Cobain in the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, the hastily drawn-up recording contract with Sub Pop Records promising the group $600 for their first album and a then-princely $12,000 for their second and a variety of smashed guitars from pivotal points in the band's career.

But curator Jacob McMurray cautioned that "Taking Punk to the Masses" is much more than a deification of already grunge-sainted late singer Cobain. "One of the things that was really important to me is that it isn't a novel that I'm writing," he said. "It isn't about me or EMP, so I wanted to make sure through the oral-history quotes and the video that it's all being told as much as possible through the primary sources."

Check out photos of Kurt Cobain's art, broken guitars and more on exhibit.

Like so many projects at the EMP, the 225-piece Nirvana show leans heavily on videotaped interviews with the musicians, producers, artists and scene-makers who contributed to and influenced the music that would, in turn, influence Nirvana. Giant iPod-like touch-pad video kiosks feature dozens of vintage posters, fanzines and artwork chronicling punk scenes from Minneapolis, Los Angeles and New York that helped set the groundwork for Nirvana, as well as more than 100 oral histories of little-known local, regional and national bands like Ze Whiz Kidz, the Tupperwares, the Lewd and U Men who stirred dozens of local future notables to take up instruments.

The exhibition — which will run two years and then may tour the country — opens with a trio of images of Nirvana in their prime and spotlights one of drummer Dave Grohl's Tama drum kits from 1993-'94, with a note about how he hit the skins so hard that he went through several kits during his tenure in the band. And though it was not yet hung, the opening space will also feature Cobain's treasured Mosrite Gospel guitar, which he was playing at the OK Hotel show in Seattle on April 17, 1991, when he debuted "Teen Spirit" live.

Bassist Krist Novoselic lives on a farm south of Seattle and is the head of his local grange hall, and the rough-hewn wooden cases for some of the displays are from a 100-year-old elm tree that fell on the grange property. McMurray bought the wood from Novoselic for use housing the items, many of which came from the private collections of Novoselic, Grohl and former drummer Chad Channing. "From grunge to grange," McMurray laughed.

There are also a series of iPod listening stations loaded with a selection of influential bands such as R.E.M., Hüsker Dü, Fugazi and Sonic Youth, with introductions for newbies on the landmark acts. Among the early curios is the "Fecal Matter" demo recorded by Kurt before he formed Nirvana, as well as the "Organized Confusion" demo he cut in 1982, along with the four-track machine he recorded the songs on and the bass he played on the tape.

One of McMurray's favorite pieces is a letter from Buzz Osborne (leader of the Melvins, one of Cobain's early musical icons) to Novoselic in April 1986 about a demo Kurt and the Melvins' drummer Dale Crover recorded at Cobain's aunt's house that Osborne dubbed "killer." He signs off by writing, "I think he could have some kind of future in music if he keeps at it."

In addition to one of the first bass guitars Novoselic played in the band — which is listed on some early fliers variously as Skid Row, Ted Ed Fred, Bliss and Pen Cap Chew — there is also a handwritten set list from 1987 that features songs McMurray had never heard of such as "Dope Hippie" and other rarities like "Vendetagainst," a cover of a song by the Cream-like obscure band Thunder and Roses as well as soon-to-be-familiar anthems "Love Buzz" and "Downer."

All along, visitors will hear an eerie 60-minute soundtrack created by Washington-based engineer/producer Steve Fisk. But rather than focus solely on Nirvana's music, the piece is an undulating tapestry of ambient sound meant to embody the spirit of the region, evoking images of misty forests, rain-heavy clouds and a spooky calm-before-the-storm vibe. The sound collage gives the space an eerie feel, but McMurray said even with the specter of Cobain's suicide, he was careful not to make the mood of the show too morose or somber.

You can find a sense of Cobain's droll, smart humor throughout on objects like the poster he illustrated for the band's first official show as Nirvana, on March 19, 1988, at the Community World Theatre. The striking image of a Virgin Mary-like figure with black hair and blacked-out eyes wearing a white robe and bleeding from her left hand features the legend, "Hey Kids! Don't buy a gram this week-end, come see a Revelation in Progress. It will be a gosh darn ... HEALING EXPLOSION."

You'll also find the first Nirvana demo tape recorded by famed grunge producer Jack Endino in January 1988 for $152.44, featuring nine-and-a-half songs including later Bleach tracks such as "Floyd the Barber" and "Paper Cuts." Why nine and a half? Because the tape ran out in the middle of the session for "Pen Cap Chew," and the guys were so broke they couldn't afford to buy another reel.

"These are a couple of road boxes from a Nirvana tour that people can get a little magic from and one of the In Utero angels will be standing up here," McMurray said, pointing to a pair of black road cases that are among the rare objects in the collection that fans will be able to lay their hands on. But it isn't just a visual and audio treat; there is also a booth in the back where visitors can record their own memories or tributes to the band, which will then be integrated into a moving wall of voices projected outside the booth.

One of McMurray's favorite pieces is the first guitar Cobain ever broke at a show, an instrument splintered at the end of a Halloween gig at Evergreen Community College in October 1988. "They played in the living room, and there's basically 50 people there," McMurray said. "The Sub Pop single had just come out the month before, but somebody is so psyched about this band that no one knows that they kept the guitar and sold it to us a decade later."

The same case will contain a sliver of the same guitar loaned by another fan and a letter from a fan who wrote excitedly to his sister at 3:30 a.m. that night to tell her, "Dana, if you thought that they played great on Friday night [at Union Station with the Butthole Surfers] you should have seen them tonight ... Kurt smashed his guitar as a grand finale!" Included is an illustration from the fan of the room where the band played. "To me that is really important, to have that connection between the band and the fans. ... The band is only as good as that connection to the fans," McMurray said, noting that Novoselic also recorded an audio guide for the entire show.

The chronological depiction of the band's slow and then meteoric rise takes pit stops at some of the other humorous moments in their story, including a classic note from the art director at the band's major-label home, DGC, wondering if Cobain wanted him to airbrush out the penis on the child who was photographed for the cover of Nevermind. "If anyone has a problem with his di-- we can remove it," scrawled DGC art director Robert Fisher, which sits next to a photo-booth image of the band just before they got kicked out of their own record-release party for starting a food fight.

The trip ends with a copy of a ticket from their final show in Munich, Germany, on March 1, 1994, and the set list from the "MTV Unplugged" shoot in November 1993, which aired just four months before Cobain's suicide in April 1994.

"I think people are really excited that we're doing this serious exhibition that really is focusing on the band ... because I feel like most things have been about Kurt and the myth," McMurray said. "Which is a whole different story."

Check out our series of blog posts on objects from the Nirvana exhibit.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661983/nirvana-kurt-cobain-exhibit.jhtml

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The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness

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Artist: The Strokes
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For The Record: Quick News On Coldplay, Green Day, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Salt-N-Pepa, Mobb Deep & More

Coldplay's Chris Martin (file)
Photo: John Shearer

Coldplay, the Darkness and Travis are among the acts invited to take part in the re-recording of the 1984 song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" according to organizers of Band Aid. The organization recruited a host of British musicians — including George Michael, Duran Duran and U2 — for the original single, proceeds of which went to famine relief in Ethiopia. Proceeds from the sale of this new version will benefit famine victims in the Sudan. ...

The stolen master tapes of the album Green Day originally recorded before American Idiot have yet to surface, but the band is waiting for the inevitable. "My only request is whoever's got those songs, if you put it out, put a decent cover on it," Mike Dirnt joked. In all seriousness, the bassist said some of the material may be rescued officially. "Some of that may turn into other songs when we record again," he said. ... Kanye West has inked a deal with the Sony Music Label Group to form a new imprint, Getting Out Our Dreams (GOOD). The label's first release will be R&B singer John Legend's Get Lifted on December 28. As part of the agreement, West has also entered into a production deal with Sony. ...

Jennifer Lopez is not just working on one album to follow up her This Is Me ... Then from 2002 — she's working on two, an English-language LP and a Spanish-language one as well. The English-language album will be more funk-oriented, while the Spanish-language set is supposed to be more passionate-sounding. ... Gwen Stefani's releasing a special edition of her forthcoming solo album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby, on November 23 in addition to the regular CD. The special edition will feature a custom-designed case, wrapped in fabric and embossed in gold, with a book-style layout complete with a ribbon bookmark. ...

Mobb Deep, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Everlast, KRS-One, Alchemist, WC, Mack 10, Defari and Dilated Peoples have joined forces for " S.T.O.P. Movement 2 - Dear Mr. President," a seven-minute track attacking George W. Bush. Fred Wreck produced the tune, available at www.fredwreck.com, which is the second single he's created to promote his S.T.O.P. (Stop the Oppressive Politics) movement. The first was the anti-war "Down With Us," which included many of the same rappers. ... Pioneering female rap group Salt-N-Pepa, who shot a sitcom pilot in 1994 that was never picked up, are back developing another TV show. The sitcom will be based on the rappers' lives. ...

Something Corporate are between albums, but the DVD "Live at the Ventura Theater," recorded in May and due November 9, should satisfy fans until the Southern California band can follow up last year's North. Beginning November 9 in West Hollywood, California, the band will hit the road for two weeks of college dates to support the release. ... Madonna's tour documentary, which chronicles her Reinvention Tour and the "new" Madonna, among other things, is now tentatively projected to hit theaters by this spring, her spokesperson said. Jonas Akerlund is directing. ...

Jewel is making good use of her name by helping to open a new Harry Winston salon in Las Vegas on Friday. The singer will cut a diamond-studded ribbon worth $150,000 at the new store in the Forum Shops area. ... As Slayer prepare to hit the road on the Jägermeister Music Tour on October 29, they're also getting ready to see red. A new stage prop called the Wall of Blood will rain stage blood on the band during their classic "Raining Blood." On November 2, days after the first gig in Springfield, Missouri, the metal stalwarts' DVD "Still Reigning" will drop. ...

10.19.2004

Eminem is hoping to make illegal file-sharers feel so empty. In an effort to stop Internet piracy of the rapper's new album, Interscope Records is launching the Very Shady Xmas Contest, in which fans who buy Eminem's new release, Encore, will have the chance to make this year's Shady Xmas List and be eligible to receive one of 400 presents in Shady wrapping paper, including platinum plaques, Sirius satellite radio equipment and subscriptions, exclusive Encore shoes, video memorabilia, Shady Ltd. merchandise and gift certificates, and the chance to work on Eminem's next music video. Fans will have to purchase a legit copy of the album, due November 16, and slide it into their computers to access the registration site, where they will be able to enter the contest up until December 24. ...

Mase tells girls they do not have to show their goodies to attract men, and Ciara agrees. The Atlanta singer has agreed to appear on a remix of Mase's "Keep It On," which is also set to include an appearance by P. Diddy. Ciara has also just completed work on her next video, "1,2 Step," with director Benny Boom and music industry do-it-all Missy Elliott. The clip chiefly takes place in a roller-skating rink and features a performance of the teen's new dance step. ... Guess it really isn't "Bad Boy for Life." After a long feud with P. Diddy, the Hoodfellaz have finally broken ties with Puff's label. Although the group says it is not breaking up in the wake of its release, member Morock has been working on a solo album and is seeking distribution for it. ...

The Nirvana box set, due November 23, finally has a title: With the Lights Out. Among the 81 tracks in the three-CD collection are 68 previously unreleased live tracks, studio outtakes and home demos. A DVD featuring Nirvana performing at a house party in 1987, among other footage, will also be included. ... Trent Reznor has changed his mind. The title of Nine Inch Nails' first studio album since 1999's The Fragile will no longer be called Bleedthrough. The songs are done, Reznor writes on NIN.com, but the title didn't fit them. The album is still expected out in March, with a tour to follow. ...

The band most likely to make lemonade from lemons, New Found Glory will drop the DVD "This Disaster: Live in London" on November 23. The two-hour home video is so named because during the concert, the power went out. Instead of calling off the show, the band simply offered up an acoustic set. ... The last place you'd expect to find lewd, crude rockers the Darkness is in a chick flick, but their hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" appears on the soundtrack to "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," along with tunes from Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Kylie Minogue. Tracks exclusive to the soundtrack, due November 16, three days before the sequel hits theaters, include duets by Rufus Wainwright and Dido, and Sting and Annie Lennox. ...

Madonna's fourth kabbalah-inspired children's book is about to hit stores. "The Adventures of Abdi" follows a little boy who has been given a big task, to deliver a precious necklace to the queen. Along the way, he is robbed, thrown in a dungeon, and encounters a savage snake, but he never despairs, always remembering the words of his mentor: "Everything we have been given in life is always for the best." "The Adventures of Abdi" will hit shelves November 4. ... Because of his humanitarian work, U2's Bono — along with a medical-technologies pioneer and a photo artist — has been named the winner of the inaugural TED prize, which grants the recipient three wishes (actually $100,000 to be spent however he chooses in support of the wishes). Among those on the panel who selected Bono were Goldie Hawn, Eve Ensler, Herbie Hancock and Amazon's Jeff Bezos. The wishes are to be revealed at the next TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference in Monterey, California, in February. ...

"The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story," a documentary that first aired two years ago on the BBC and has only been available as an import, will be released domestically on DVD November 16. The disc features early performance footage and interviews with the band's Roger Waters and David Gilmour, among others. Barrett, the group's original singer, became something of an enigmatic legend after leaving Pink Floyd following the release of their first album, 1967's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Barrett released two albums in 1970 and has remained a recluse ever since. ... In addition to working on their new album, the Flaming Lips have a whole mess of projects in the works. First up is a photo book titled "Waking Up with a Placebo Head Wound: Images of the Flaming Lips From the Archives of Jay Blakesberg and J. Michelle Martin-Coyne 1987-2004." Due November 15, the book will be released in a limited-edition publishing run of 1,500 copies. Pre-orders before November 12 will include a special 7-inch that features two unreleased tracks from the Lips' long-awaited "Christmas on Mars" film. Music critic Jim DeRogatis — who immortalized critic Lester Bangs in "Let It Blurt" — will do the same to the Oklahoma oddballs in his book "Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips," due in fall 2005. Meanwhile, Yoko Ono has enlisted the Lips to remix her track "Cambridge 1969" and add their own original music to the song. ...

Robbie Williams has become the first artist to launch an album, with additional video content, on a memory card. In stores Tuesday, the pre-loaded memory card, called simply Greatest Hits, includes 18 of the British singer's hits, such as "Angels" (recently remade by Jessica Simpson) and "Rock DJ." Williams' record label EMI is hoping to deliver more pre-loaded memory cards by other artists in time for the holidays. ... Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power, will release "Speaking for Trees: A Film by Mark Borthwick" on October 26. The CD/DVD features a nearly two-hour film of Marshall playing solo outdoors in the countryside as well as an unreleased 18-minute song, "Willie Deadwilder." The packaging, created by experimental filmmaker and visual artist Borthwick, comes with a 64-page booklet. ...

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