Thursday, March 31, 2011
New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1593468/jason-bonham-hints-at-jam-sessions-with-jimmy-page.jhtml
Beyonce, Leonardo DiCaprio Lead Flurry Of Movie Remakes
Russell Brand, Willow Smith, Jonah Hill are just a few stars looking to revamp film and TV classics like 'Arthur', 'Annie' and '21 Jump Street.'
By Terri Schwartz
Beyoncé
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
What do Willow Smith and Beyoncé have in common with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Kenny Wormald? They're all starring (or in talks to star) in the latest round of remakes of beloved films and TV shows coming down the pike.
On Thursday, news broke that Beyoncé would be starring in a Clint Eastwood-directed remake of the 1976 Barbra Streisand classic "A Star Is Born" (which was a remake of a 1954 movie that remade a 1937 film). In the meantime, Will Smith is reportedly petitioning Sony to remake "Annie" (the 1982 movie and 1977 musical) starring his 10-year-old daughter, Willow, best known for whipping her hair.
In October it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio and best bud Tobey Maguire would be starring in Baz Luhrmann's 3-D retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," with Carey Mulligan joining as Daisy Buchanan.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have been working on bringing the '80s Johnny Depp-starring television series "21 Jump Street" to the big screen since 2008, and they might even get Depp to cameo in it in time for the film's March 16, 2012, release date.
And let's not forget the long hunt for a Ren McCormack (the character Kevin Bacon made famous in 1984), after Zac Efron and Chace Crawford dropped out of the planned "Footloose" remake that finally landed dancer Kenny Wormald the role of his life.
Then there's "Arthur," the Russell Brand-starring remake of the 1981 screwball comedy about a happily drunk millionaire who risks everything for love. The film has tapped everyone from Helen Mirren to Greta Gerwig and Nick Nolte.
Two recently announced remakes are "Lethal Weapon" and "The Wizard of Oz," which are still in early development and without stars attached. Warner Bros. announced their plans to reboot the Mel Gibson-starring franchise on Thursday and tapped writer Will Beall to pen the script with completely new characters. And director Robert Zemeckis announced back in November that he planned on remaking the 1939 Technicolor classic using the script from the original film, with Warner Bros. hoping Robert Downey Jr. will play Oz.
Just this past year, films from "Clash of the Titans" to "The Karate Kid" to "A Nightmare on Elm Street" were remade for the big screen and were well-received by audiences. "Alice in Wonderland" and "Clash of the Titans" went on to become two of the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2010, while "Piranha 3D" and "The A-Team" also went on to strong successes, proving that there definitely is a market for these kinds of remakes.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656416/beyonce-leonardo-dicaprio-lead-flurry-movie-remakes.jhtml
Adriana Lima: Victoria?s Secret Photo Shoot
Michael Jackson - Beat It
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: Bob Giraldi
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
Les News, 033111
Source: http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2011/03/les-news-033111/
'America's Next Top Model' Recap: Sticks in the Mud
The girls head home after panel to find Tyra awaiting them to talk about modeling archetypes and dealing with fans. First, Tyra breaks some famous models into categories such as sex bomb, girl next door, edgy and couture, and then the remaining contestants categorize themselves. Kasia and Mikaela are couture bombshells, Jaclyn is the girl next door, Monique is a bombshell, Alexandria is an edgy bombshell, and Brittani is couture. Molly is a weave of the damned bombshell.
Tyra then talks to the girl about fame, and how close they plan to let their public get to them. She talks about the importance of boundaries -- like not letting people take pictures of you while you're eating! -- and then has the girls practice their autographs. Tyra also talks about how to develop thick skin so your feelings don't get too hurt when you read recaps. The world throws roses and darts. And every rose has its dart. Or something.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/americas-next-top-model-recap-sticks-mud/1-a-336759
Kelly Rutherford has a new man
Candice Swanepoel: Skinny Scare?
She showed up at the Victoria?s Secret SWIM event in Los Angeles yesterday looking rather thin, and now there are fears that Candice Swanepoel is too skinny.
The South African babe appeared to have lost quite a bit of weight since her photos from a few months ago, triggering several media sources to show concern.
A post on the Hollywood Life website said Candice was ?scarily, skeletally, stick-thin,? while CBS News stated that she looked ?startlingly slim.?
Back in November, Swanepoel told press, "Actually, this year my problem has been more putting the weight on and getting muscle on because it's been really busy. I've been traveling around like crazy. I get skinnier if I'm very busy.?
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/candice-swanepoel/candice-swanepoel-skinny-scare-493277
Enrique Iglesias Is Not Man Enough To Open For Britney Spears
Sports & Me
This is how I'll be during Sunday's football games.
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/1/22/sports-me.html
Happy Birthday Paris!
Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/paris-hilton-celebrities/happy-birthday-paris/
EVENT FAB: Angela Simmons Hits Her Uncle Russell's Muslim-Jewish Event + Bow Wow Hosts His Birthday Bash
Bow Weezy celebrated his 24th birthday last night at Greenhouse. He turned the big 2-4 earlier this month, but is still partying it up with his YMCMB friends.
Pics of him, plus his boo Angela Simmons and others at Russell Simmons' Muslim-Jewish race relations event elsewhere in NY, when you read on...
DJ Clue and Hollywood Chuck put on at the party.
Why so serious Bow?
Elsewhere in NYC, Bow's boo Angela Simmons hit up a private residence for her uncle Russell Simmons' Muslim-Jewish relationships event:
Interesting all black look.
Russ posed with Miss Teen USA Kami Crawford and Miss USA Rima Fakih. Loves this color on Miss Kami.
Russell has been working hard on strengthening the relationships between Muslims and the Jewish community in America.
Photog: Nunez
Britney Spears' Femme Fatale Is Her 'Strongest Album,' Critics Say
Leading pop critics praise the 'craftsmanship' on the singer's 'great dance pop' release.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Christina Garibaldi
Britney Spears
Photo: Jive
On Tuesday (March 29), Britney Spears released her latest album, Femme Fatale, to much fanfare and critical praise.
Femme Fatale is a dark, churning, cohesive 12-track record that will have fans on the dance floor from beginning to end. From the opening track and current single, the Ke$ha-penned "Till the World Ends," to the last, the slower "Criminal," the momentum never stops.
Peppered in the mix are dance tunes complete with dubsteps, feisty breakdowns, NSFW lyrics and thumping beats. Spears hooked up with a number of chart-topping producers and songwriters, including Dr. Luke, Max Martin, will.i.am and Claude Kelly.
The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am also lent his vocals to their "Big Fat Bass" single, while pop newbie Sabi lent hers to the song "(Drop Dead) Beautiful." And Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker shows up on one of the deluxe-edition tracks, "Don't Keep Me Waiting."
"Femme Fatale is definitely Britney's strongest album overall," Ian Drew, senior music editor at Us magazine, told MTV News. Drew, who gave the album four stars, added, "The songs speak for themselves; it's unapologetically a great dance pop album."
Adam Markowitz, an Entertainment Weekly correspondent, gave the album a solid B+.
"It works for her because it shows that she can continue to produce really solid material," Markowitz told us. "This is a totally strong, cohesive album."
While her manager, Larry Rudolph, recently compared the new album to Madonna's Ray of Light, Drew had a different Madge comparison in mind.
"It reminds me of Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor, which is a similar album," he said. "You put it on as you're getting ready all night and going out on the town and you can keep it going. So this is one of those records you can put on and there isn't a weak track, which is great."
Femme Fatale easily stands up to one of Brit's strongest releases, Drew said. "I would say up until this point Blackout was her best album, and that's what this album really compares to because Blackout was nothing but great dance pop."
Markowitz agreed, noting that her latest album shows off the many sides of Spears. "There's no looking at this album and not seeing a lot of craftsmanship on it. I think it's a great showcase for her personality and her vocal styles. She sounds really lively on the album," he said. "It's about as good as Blackout, which I think surprised everyone as being a pretty strong album."
For more on the making of the album, fans can check out the upcoming MTV special, "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale." A trailer with more details premieres Tuesday night at 7:58 p.m. ET on MTV.
Share your reviews of Femme Fatale in the comments section below!
Related Videos Related Photos- Britney Spears Brings Down The House In Las Vegas
- Britney Spears Performs During 'Good Morning America'
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660881/britney-spears-femme-fetale-critics.jhtml
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
MSNBC Commentator Rachael Maddow Gives Props to Florida Death Metal
Archie?s Gay BFF Kevin Keller Gets His Own Comic Book Series
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/ztSoEskqF7c/
Usher - There Goes My Baby
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=544989
Hailee Steinfeld: The Next Sleeping Beauty
Hailee Steinfeld is about to become a princess - as she's been cast in the revisionary re-make of Disney's "Sleeping Beauty."
The 14-year-old brunette will reportedly star in the 2011 movie adaption of what's often called the ultimate classic fairytale.
Miss Steinfeld will tell the story from her character's point of view - offering a sweetened "Inception" type plot which requires her to find her way out of the dream world that she has been cast into.
This makes for the second big role in which the Oscar-nominated actress has nabbed since her breakout turn as fast talking, revenge-seeking Mattie Ross in the Coen Brothers' hit western "True Grit".
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/hailee-steinfeld/hailee-steinfeld-next-sleeping-beauty-492955
Chris Brown DWTS Performance ? Hide The Chairs!
If I worked as a production assistant for Dancing With The Stars, I just might give Brown the dressing room with no [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/AqNMvOGbADk/
'Lost' In One Tweet And Ashley Green's Million Followers In Today's Twitter-Wood
"Damaged people crash on damaged island. People fix each other, then island. All consumed in bright light. Yay! [...]
Britney Spears - Womanizer
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Zomba Label Group/Jive
- Director: Joseph Kahn
- Album: Circus
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=288244
Justin Bieber Passes Michael Jackson's Box-Office Record
'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' has outgrossed MJ's 'This Is It' in U.S.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber in "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Michael Jackson may have dubbed himself the King of Pop, but the late icon didn't hold the box-office crown for long. Less than a year after the posthumous MJ documentary "This Is It" became the most successful concert-themed film in U.S. history, Justin Bieber is poised to snatch the mantle.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" has earned $72.2 million in domestic box office so far, passing Jackson's $72.1 million haul. And while Bieber has racked up those impressive numbers in just six weeks, he's got a long way to go before he laps the global receipts for the MJ doc.
"This Is It" has grossed $189.1 million overseas for a global total of $261.2 million. Music films don't typically play well overseas, and THR noted that "Never Say Never" has grossed a more modest $10.8 million overseas so far, with Paramount executives predicting that it could top out around $20 million internationally.
The impressive U.S. numbers were likely goosed by the re-release of the film recently with 40 additional minutes of bonus footage from director Jon M. Chu. Bieber still has a little way to go to climb the list of the top-grossing documentaries of all time. "Never Say Never" is currently stalled out at the #3 position, around $5 million behind "March of the Penguins," according to Box Office Mojo, and well short of the all-time record held by Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which has taken in $119.1 million to date.
Bieber set off a classic MJ-style fan frenzy a few weeks ago when he visited Liverpool, England, for his world tour. And just a week later, he posed with his new wax figure at London's Madame Tussauds, checking off another item on the list of milestones to an MJ-like career.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660299/justin-bieber-never-say-never-box-office.jhtml
Courteney Cox & Coco's Rainy Beach Day
Courteney Cox and her 6 1/2-year-old daughter Coco were spotted on a tropical holiday in the Caribbean on Tuesday (March 29) for some mother-daughter bonding time. Unfortunately, their vacation got off to a rocky start as the two were caught in the rain.
The 46-year-old mother of one recently opened up about her separation from husband, David Arquette, and how Coco is handling the split.
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/03/30/courteney-cox-cocos-rainy-beach-day
'Superman' Reboot Taps Amy Adams To Play Lois Lane
Oscar-nominated actress will play the 'smart, tough, funny' journalist, director Zack Snyder announces.
By Aly Semigran
Amy Adams
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Clark Kent, meet your Lois Lane.
After weeks of guessing who would play the Man of Steel's leading lady in the upcoming "Superman" reboot, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, along with director Zack Snyder announced on Sunday (March 27) that Academy Award-nominated actress Amy Adams will take on the iconic role.
Snyder, whose latest endeavor, "Sucker Punch," opened in second place at the box office this weekend, said in a statement, "Second only to Superman himself, the question of who will play Lois Lane is arguably what fans have been most curious about. So we are excited to announce the casting of Amy Adams, one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today. Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois: smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful."
Adams, 36, whose versatile résumé includes "Enchanted," "Talladega Nights," "Doubt" and, most recently, "The Fighter," which earned her an Oscar nod, will star opposite the new Superman, Henry Cavill, who is nine years her junior.
But age clearly didn't factor into Snyder's decision, as he told the Los Angeles Times, "There was a big, giant search for Lois. For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it."
Snyder, who reached out to Adams regarding the "Superman" news via phone while in Paris on Sunday, went on to explain why the Lois Lane role will be "a linchpin" for his vision for the tentatively titled "Man of Steel."
"It goes back to what I've said about Superman and making him really understandable for today. What's important to us is making him relevant and real and making him empathetic to today's audience so that we understand the decisions he makes," he said, "That applies to Lois as well. She has to be in the same universe as him [in tone and substance]."
Adams and Cavill will be joined by Diane Lane and Kevin Costner, who will play Clark Kent's adoptive parents.
What do you think of Amy Adams being cast as Lois Lane in the new "Superman" movie? Tell us in the comments!
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660738/superman-reboot-taps-amy-adams-play-lois-lane.jhtml
'Sucker Punch' Secrets Revealed!
MTV News spoke with filmmaker Zack Snyder and the cast about the making of the fantastical battle movie.
By Kara Warner
Emily Browning in "Sucker Punch"
Photo: Warner Bros.
At long last, Zack Snyder's mysterious, "Alice in Wonderland With Machine Guns" film "Sucker Punch" has arrived in theaters. MTV News has been on the case since its humble beginnings, bringing you all the news, videos, scoops and interviews ... in a nutshell, everything you need to know.
To celebrate the film's opening day, we present a few more fun facts about the film that we learned directly from the film's director/writer Zack Snyder and the cast.
1. Snyder's original plan for the movie was to build it around a big musical number.
"I had this idea that it'd be cool if we used the musical number for the spine of the movie or the spine of the action sequence," Snyder told MTV News. "And then getting in and out of it would be like, the music would start and that would draw us in. That would be the sort of mechanism for the fantasy to begin, and when the music ended, that would be the mechanism for it ending. And that was sort of how it started."
2. Inspiration for the look of the film came from the adult fantasy magazine Heavy Metal.
"I still read it, actually," Snyder said. "It's got little short stories in it and they're illustrated. And so it's like a comic strip that has more sex and violence than you would get from a normal comic book," Snyder said, adding that he started reading the magazine in his youth. "I think it influenced this movie in a pretty big way."
3. For the high-action "train sequence," Snyder used hundreds of shots to look like one, which took seven days to shoot.
"[The train sequence] is a sequence that's broken up into maybe 120 shots that look like one shot," Snyder explained. "So you just kind of have to know where the cameras are going and knowing where it came from, and put these little camera moves in and all these shifts that have to happen. ... You shoot one angle and then you shoot the other angle and then it's going to be stitched with the CG section. So you have to know what you're capable of," he said. "How far you can push the CG stitch so it doesn't break the shot. There's a whole bunch of things like that."
4. Everyone in the cast is wearing a ton of makeup.
Even for Oscar Isaac, who plays creepy institution overlord Blue Jones and has the privilege of being one of the only men in the cast, the makeup process was extensive.
"I remember they would spray-tan me and then put an extra coat of shine on it," he recalled. "Then blush and then tons of eyeliner. My hair was basically glued tight to my head."
But compared to what the ladies endured, Isaac's process wasn't that bad. Carla Gugino told us the filmmakers wanted the makeup to make a statement, and that she spent at least two hours in the makeup chair every morning.
"We definitely had so much fun," Gugino said. "Rosalina [Da Silva] designed the look of the film makeup-wise. And we did 'Watchmen' together as well," she explained. "She's amazing. But there was a point when she said, 'Carla, guess how many sets of lashes you have on your eyes?' and I was like, 'Including my real ones?' and she was like, 'Yes.' And we realized that it was four."
5. Snyder had to cut back on the violence in the movie, particularly a few scenes that involve implied or attempted rape.
"Those [scenes] of course got trimmed away," he said. "It's really delicate because even that subject matter, you have the harder version that is sometimes better because it actually makes the point a little bit more directly. The PG-13 version was difficult for me," he revealed. "I would say that the very things that they didn't like were the very things that you needed to see in order for you to understand the content of the scene. You know, to know how to feel about it, because otherwise you're sort of left in this weird middle ground," he said. "So it's difficult. It's tricky."
Snyder went on to explain why the sexual violence and lobotomy images were necessary to include in the film, juxtaposed with the idea of women not being victims and being able to defend themselves.
"For me it was all about having incredible threat in that world. Like, what is the most dangerous thing? What is the worst possible thing, and to me being lobotomized and then raped is probably the worst possible thing," he explained. "I like the idea that the verdict or the ... like if someone were to make a sacrifice, and you have two alternatives and one is just go back to jail. OK. You know, I get that. And one is you know, be lobotomized and then possibly raped for the rest of your zombified life. You know, you really need to think about that. You're giving up a lot, I guess, is my point."
Check out everything we've got on "Sucker Punch."
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/1660722/sucker-punch.jhtml
Zac And Michelle On New Years Eve Plot Deets!
Okay, so we know that Zac Effron and Michelle [...]
Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-03-30-zac-and-michelle-in-nye-plot-details
Pink's "Clumsy" Pregnancy
It seems that pregnancy is throwing Pink off balance! The musical mom-to-be took to Twitter today to complain about her klutzy ways.
"i am the clumsiest i have ever been in my life. fell AGAIN today! i feel like my 92 yr old grammom in a shower with oil on my feet," she wrote, adding, "i just feel that silly. i fell up the stairs. saved the cookie tho."
Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/03/29/pinks-clumsy-pregnancy
Chris Pine Moves Forward With 'Star Trek' Sequel Before Jack Ryan Reboot
Chances are good that you've already met both of these men, but only one of them is coming [...]
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/03/29/star-trek-2-chris-pine-jack-ryan/
Britney Spears Announces Tour With Enrique Iglesias
Spears tells 'Good Morning America' the tour will start in June.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears performs at her "Good Morning America" concert
Photo: Flanigan/ FilmMagic
After rumors hit the Internet about Britney Spears' forthcoming summer tour, on Tuesday morning (March 29), the singer confirmed the news. In between songs at her pretaped San Francisco show on "Good Morning America," the singer made the huge announcement.
The tour is scheduled to kick off on June 17 in Sacramento and will run for 26 dates through North America, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. More details will be announced soon.
Hanging out backstage with her dancers, wearing a billowing white shirt and jeans, she told the show's host, Robin Roberts, "I'm going on tour with Enrique Iglesias in June."
Fans gathered at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to watch Spears shimmy her way through Femme Fatale tracks "Hold It Against Me," "Big Fat Bass" and her latest single, "Till the World Ends," in varying body-hugging sexy costumes.
"Thank you so much for all your love and support. You guys are beautiful," she told the audience. "I love it. I love music. It's my world. It's my everything."
Before Britney even hit the stage in San Francisco, the room was kept entertained by five local drag queens, who told MTV News after Spears left the building that the performer really proved that she is still the pop star everyone knows and loves.
"As a huge Britney fan, it was amazing," Pollo Del Mar told us. "I was excited just to have Britney Spears here in San Francisco, but to participate and be a part of it was amazing.
"It shows why she's a superstar and certainly, I think that the crowd response showed that she's beloved. ... The reason I love Britney Spears is, throughout her career, she's shown she's human, she's fallible ... I think that makes her someone people can rally behind and love."
Spears' Femme Fatale album drops Tuesday.
Britney's tour dates with Enrique Iglesias, according to Live Nation Entertainment:
» June 17 - Sacramento, CA @ Power Balance Pavilion
» June 18 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
» June 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
» June 24 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
» June 25 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand
» June 28 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena
» June 29 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
» July 1 - Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
» July 4 - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
» July 6 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Center
» July 8 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
» July 12 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
» July 13 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
» July 15 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
» July 17 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
» July 20 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
» July 22 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
» July 26 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
» July 28 vDetroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
» July 30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
» July 31 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
» August 2 - Uniondale, NJ @ Nassau Coliseum
» August 5 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
» August 8 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
» August 11 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
» August 13 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
Watch the trailer for the upcoming MTV special "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" Tuesday night at 7:58 p.m.
Related ArtistsStone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586020/stone-temple-pilots-reunited-tour-with-zeppelin.jhtml
Beyonce To Star In Clint Eastwood's 'A Star Is Born' Remake
Movie will be directed and produced by the Oscar winner.
By Kara Warner
Beyoncé
Photo: Paul Warner/ WireImage
Beyoncé Knowles is headed back to the big screen and into the familiar territory of playing an aspiring singer-turned-superstar. According to Deadline, Knowles will star in a remake of "A Star Is Born," to be directed and produced by Oscar winner Clint Eastwood for Warner Bros.
The remake will be the fourth telling of the "A Star Is Born" tale, the most memorable in recent years being the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson as star-crossed lovers of sorts. It is also worth mentioning that the producers of that film, Billy Gerber and Jon Peters, are also attached to this new project. It is said to be a full-on musical with production set to begin sometime in the fall.
Naturally, the plot details are under wraps, but the original story revolves around an aspiring singer who meets and falls in love with a troubled, failing former star who helps get the young ingénue her big break in the business.
No announcements have been made with regard to the male lead, but the report mentioned that major names like Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Hamm have been floated around.
It's definitely an interesting step for Knowles but not necessarily a surprise, given the fact that the majority of her film roles have been as singers ("Cadillac Records," "Dreamgirls," "The Fighting Temptations"). While many thought "Dreamgirls" would bring awards recognition for Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson's supporting role ended up garnering the most attention. With Oscar fave Eastwood at the helm of this new project, Knowles could be in line for some hardware yet.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656365/beyonce-star-clint-eastwoods-star-born-remake.jhtml
Usher - Trading Places
- Artist: Usher
- Label: Zomba/LaFace Records
- Director: Chris Robinson
- Album: Here I Stand
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=285678
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Justin Bieber Causes Fan Frenzy In Liverpool, England
Police confirm to MTV News that fans are gathered outside the star's hotel.
By Jocelyn Vena
Fans outside Justin Bieber's hotel in Liverpool
Photo: Mercury Press/PacificCoastNews.com
Justin Bieber is in Liverpool, England, on Thursday (March 10) for his world tour, and his fans are very happy about it, which might explain why they've gathered in an abundance outside his hotel room.
A rep for the Merseyside Police department confirmed to MTV News that there are "large number of fans" outside Bieber's hotel, though she "wouldn't say it's a riot situation, yet." Funny enough, this is all going down at the Hard Days Night Hotel, named after the movie that chronicled the Beatles' encounters with mobs of fans.
"Merseyside Police has been called to North John Street in Liverpool City Centre to ensure control of a crowd that has gathered outside the Hard Days Night Hotel. North John Street has been closed to traffic and police would urge the public to avoid the area if possible," a statement sent to MTV News reads. "Officers are working with the management of the hotel and with Justin Bieber's security team to ensure his safety, the safety of other guests and of the crowd."
According to TMZ, in order to keep the peace, Bieber's camp is following police orders. And though the gossip site said arrests could be made if anyone in his camp tried to elicit further response from the fans by going on the balcony, the police said, "Merseyside Police has at no time threatened to arrest Justin Bieber or members of his management team."
Bieber himself was the first to expose the craziness online when he posted a photo of his fans, gathered in droves outside his hotel. "This is crazy. There are like thousands of people out there. love everybody but gonna try and get some sleep. please dont scream. Lol," he tweeted and later reiterated, "THIS IS CRAZY!"
This is hardly the first time Bieber has had his fans in a frenzy. He caused quit a stir during a trip to the mall in Kitchener, Ontario, on Boxing Day in December. Prior to that he had to shut down an appearance at a Long Island area mall in late 2009, followed by a canceled in-store signing in Paris in February 2010. He caused Bieber Fever in Australia and New Zealand last April and had fans all worked up in September, when he stopped by an Edmonton, Alberta, Hooters for some grub.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659619/justin-bieber-causes-fan-frenzy-liverpool-england.jhtml
Zsa Zsa Gabor's Husband: We May Lose Her
Taking another turn for the worse, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband fears the star is close to death after she started coughing up blood at home on Tuesday (March 29).
The Hollywood legend has been in and out of hospital since breaking her hip in a fall last summer and Prince Frederic von Anhalt is worried his wife may never return home after her latest health emergency.
According to TMZ, an ambulance was called to Prince and Zsa Zsa's Bel Air home after Gabor experienced breathing problems and then began spitting up blood.
Von Anhalt told of the situation, "I'm really worried we may lose her this time."
The news comes after Gabor was hospitalized last week at the UCLA Medical Center in California after the ailing 94 year old's health deteriorated upon hearing news of her friend Elizabeth Taylor's death.
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/zsa-zsa-gabor/zsa-zsa-gabors-husband-we-may-lose-her-492423
Lady Gaga Releases Country Version Of 'Born This Way'
New take on hit song, dubbed 'The Country Road Version,' features slide guitar, mandolin and harmonica.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
You can take all those Madonna comparisons and throw them out the window of your Ford F-150 truck, because on Thursday night Lady Gaga released a new version of her global smash "Born This Way" that featured a totally unexpected spin.
After tweeting to her Little Monsters that she was preparing to release "Born This Way (The Country Road Version)," Mother Monster dropped the tune at midnight PT on Friday (March 25) via her Twitter account ... and it did not disappoint.
The new rendition of the hit opens with ominous, swirling guitars and then introduces a fuzzed-out slide guitar and harmonica wheeze, with all of the thumping disco beats replaced by restrained brush drumming and a more laid-back vibe. Once it kicks into the first chorus, the song continues to take its time, choogling along on live-sounding, laconic drumming and lots of soulful harmonica.
Just before the three-minute mark, Gaga mixes in some new lyrics, drawling, "If I wanna make it country, baby, then it's OK, cuz I was born, I was born, I was born this way," over picked mandolin. "From London, Paris, Japan back to USA/ I was born on the road, I was born to be brave," she adds, as the song breaks into full-on country-rock mode reminiscent of late-period Bon Jovi in the final minute.
Meanwhile, the original, non-boot-scooting version of "BTW" notched its sixth week in a row at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts this week, which is what Gaga said prompted her to drop the surprise remake on her fans.
Earlier this week, Gaga revealed that she's almost done recording her Born This Way album, telling fans via Twitter, "In Nebraska, finishing up record today ... I'm so proud of the album: I keep dancing+drinking: metal/techno rock journey of a woman on the run."
Plans are now being worked up for the tour in support of Born This Way (due out May 23) and Gaga's first swing at directing, a collaboration with her creative director, Laurieann Gibson, on the video for the album's upcoming second single, "Judas."
What do you think of Gaga's twanged-up version of "Born This Way"? Share your opinions in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660650/lady-gaga-country-version-born-this-way.jhtml
Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
Related Photos Related ArtistsKaty Perry's Boob-Baring Outfits Traumatize Her Preacher Mother
Katy Perry's preacher mother wants her daughter to join the family business. Mary Perry Hudson, who raised Perry in a conservative Christian home, is shopping around a book proposal about her life with her pop-star daughter. In the book proposal obtained by Page Six, Hudson expresses her wish for Katy to preach the word of the Lord, rather than the gospel of "California Gurls."
"I recognized the psalmist gift in her performance," writes Hudson about attending one of her daughter's concerts. "Yet she sang out, 'I kissed a girl, and I liked it,' while thousands joined her. One part of my heart soared... the other part broke for the thousands of hungry souls being fed something that didn't nourish their spirit, but fed their flesh."
And speaking of flesh, Katy's mom is also unhappy with the amount that Perry shows her fans when she's on stage. In a passage about being backstage with her daughter, Hudson recalls her horror at Perry's skimpy costumes.
"Katy stepped out from behind the changing doors in a tiny risqué costume. No mother wants to see the top of her daughter's boobs," recalls Hudson. "My first instinct was to order her back behind those doors and demand she put something else on... However, I had no problem letting my eyebrows say what I wouldn't allow my mouth to utter."
Hudson says she envisioned Perry being a charismatic preacher, even a faith healer who cures the sick (now that would be worth the price of a concert ticket!). She writes that she has prayed over her daughter's stardom, saying: "Oh, dear God, how can I save her from all this? The money, the fame, the network, the people surrounding her, how can I compete?"
Hudson compares her relationship with Katy to that of Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, or Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie: parents whose famous children don't live by their conservative Christian values. Yet Katy's situation is a little different, in that she actually did start out as a Christian artist (back when she was going by Katy Hudson). Perry still has "Jesus" tattooed on her wrist, and while she's made fun of her strict upbringing in the press, she has also been very protective and respectful of her parents' beliefs. Yes, she's a bit of a wild child -- but one who speaks out against blasphemy on Twitter. We wouldn't be surprised if Mary Hudson was secretly a proud mama, even if these excerpts seem to say otherwise.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/katy-perrys-boob-baring-outfits-traumatize-her-preacher-mother/1-a-335707