MTV News |
| Axl Rose's Most Amazing MTV Moments, In <i>Bigger Than The Sound</i> Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Chinese Democracy's impending arrival has us digging into the MTV News vaults for gems from the Guns N' Roses frontman.
For something like 15 years now, Axl Rose hasn't existed in the music industry so much as he's haunted it. He's been the creepy old guy with the goatee and the Raiders jersey who lives in the mansion on top of the hill. A spook story. A cornrowed specter. You never really knew if Axl was real or not, but you definitely believed in him — you could feel his presence every time rock music would get dragged through the mud, or whenever Britney Spears would notch another #1 album on her bejeweled belt. You had a fearful faith in him, a knowledge that he was out there, watching, waiting, working on something big. That something big was — as it always was — Chinese Democracy, which I'm pretty sure you're aware will finally arrive in stores November 23. To say that it is the decade's most-anticipated album is perhaps a disservice to the phrase "most-anticipated," and not only because it's been in the works for more than a decade now, features more musicians than a Zappa record and has reportedly cost something north of $13 million to make. No, Rose himself — the man, the myth, the mystery — has had more than a bit to do with all the hyperbole surrounding the album, if only because he's remained persona non grata for most of its creation. There have been few in-depth interviews, in-the-studio pieces and sneak peeks. Rose has been content to simply tinker away on Democracy from his mansion atop the hill, maintaining radio silence throughout. It has not always been this way, though. There was a time (pardon the pun) when Rose was just like any other super-mega rock star out there. He did interviews, he incited riots, he got arrested. And luckily, all this has happened during MTV News' lifespan. So, when Rose passed on our requests for an interview in support of Chinese Democracy, we dove deep into our archives and dug up some of our best Axl moments. Some of them are sort of hilarious. Others are testaments to the magnetic power Rose had (and still has). But all of them are part of that myth I was referring to ... the process that turned a kid from Indiana into a genuine Rock God. So with Democracy on our doorsteps, please enjoy this humble tribute to that creepy old guy in the mansion: the one and only W. Axl Rose. October 24, 1987: Guns N' Roses Trash "Headbangers Ball" This is GN'R's first-ever appearance on MTV, and they definitely made a lasting impression, especially on "Headbangers" host Asher Benrubi (who, incidentally, looks like a cross between Ron Jeremy and your aunt's pontoon-boat-owning boyfriend). After a perfunctory interview (Axl mostly just scowls and wears a leather fedora), GN'R are given 30 seconds to "redecorate" the studio, at which point all hell breaks loose. Axl displays his superhuman strength by hoisting a casket-shaped riser above his head and tossing it at Benrubi, nearly killing him (OK, so Slash helps). Bonus points for the entire clip being a metaphor for Rose's career post-1993. September 7, 1988: "Welcome to the Jungle" Live at the Video Music Awards If you ever wanted to see a band at the absolute peak of its powers, this is it. Axl and company positively destroy the VMAs with a pummeling, brutal performance of "Welcome to the Jungle," signaling to the entire world that they had arrived and making the night's other performers — a list that included Michael Jackson, Aerosmith and the Fat Boys (with Chubby Checker!) — quake in their boots. Also of note: the fact that Axl prowls and growls in a white leather jacket that would be totally wussy if it were being worn by anyone else on the planet, yet another example of why he rules so hard. August 31, 1990: "I Want to Challenge You to a Fight" At the 1989 VMAs, GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin allegedly made a few passes at Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil's wife, which led to Neil allegedly taking a few swings at Stradlin's alleged face (allegedly). As a result, Axl leapt to the defense of his bandmate (something he would cease doing at any point after 1993) and challenged Neil to a fight in Atlantic City. Neil responded by offering to fight Rose outside of Tower Records in Hollywood. Though neither challenge ever went answered, the event still gave us a veritable cornucopia of amazing moments, including: a) Rose issuing his challenge while plaintively posing in a West Hollywood garden; b) Neil's decision to do his interview while sitting in front of a futuristic fish tank; c) Neil's A&M Records hat; d) The following quote, by Rose: "Vince should be careful what golf courses he's mouthing off about Axl on — and who he's playing golf with. When he goes out playing golf and mouths off about Axl, and he happens to be playing golf with people who work with me, the stories come back." I challenge you to find a quote in which Rose uses the word "golf" as many times as he does here. Seriously. I will give you money if you do. July 2, 1991: "Thanks to the Lame-Ass Security, I'm Going Home" During a concert stop at the Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri, Rose becomes angered when he spots a fan filming GN'R's performance. After ordering security to have the fan thrown out, Axl takes matters into his own hands and leaps into the crowd, fists flying. That he does this while wearing a leather cap, furry jacket and tiny bicycle shorts is only part of the reason this clip is so amazing. The other is that Rose's actions — plus the hissy fit he throws as he storms off the stage — lead to a full-scale riot, which injured 60 and caused more than $200,000 in damages. The frontman is charged with four misdemeanor counts of assault. July 22, 1992: "NYC Cops Are Great" Rose pleads "not guilty" to those four counts of assault. The case eventually goes to trial, but not before Rose is arrested in New York City on an outstanding warrant from a St. Louis prosecutor. As he arrives at the Queens County courthouse — in handcuffs and a pink Versace GN'R T-shirt — MTV's intrepid Kurt Loder is there and not only interviews Rose while he's being led away ("I'm doing great," Rose scoffs. "I'm doing awesome"), but then hops into a limo with him as he's sprung from the slammer three hours later. "I basically spent my time writing autographs for cops and talking to them about rock and roll," Rose says, gently ensconced in his limo. "I met all the really cool cops who were telling me about when they went to Woodstock." September 9, 1992: "Hi, Axl! Where's Axl?" The 1992 Video Music Awards were memorable for several reasons, most of which involved host Dana Carvey. On the undercard, we had the now-infamous feud between Rose and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, which started when Cobain and his wife, Courtney Love, asked Rose if he would like to be the godfather of their child. Rose, not wanting to be saddled with the responsibilities that come with godfatherhood, challenges Cobain to a fight. The Nirvana frontman didn't take him up on his offer (seriously, why does no one ever fight Axl?), but drummer Dave Grohl does mockingly call out Rose's name at the end of 'Vana's set. Oh, and also, this was the VMAs in which Axl proved that he wasn't a homophobe (you know, despite the lyrical content of "One in a Million") by inviting Elton John onstage to perform "November Rain." Somewhere, a teenage Eminem stores the moment in the back of his brain. August 29, 2002: "Welcome to the — Gasp, Gasp — Jungle!" Live at the VMAs (Again) A spazzy Jimmy Fallon introduces a winded and weighty Rose ("oversized football jerseys" are clearly the chubby man's "vertical stripes"), who bleats his way through a medley of GN'R hits, flanked by a bunch of dudes who weren't original members of GN'R. Billed as a star-making return for the band, the lackluster performance instead leaves fans wondering if Rose is past his prime (and if he'd had some work done) — questions that are still lingering more than six years later. Guess we'll find out Sunday ... Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears Asks, 'Do I Know My Life Is Weird?' In 'For The Record' Documentary Posted: 18 Nov 2008 12:44 AM PST 'For The Record' airs on MTV Sunday, November 30 at 10 p.m. ET.
On Sunday, November 30, the world will have a much better sense of what it's like to be Britney Spears: That's when "For the Record," a 90-minute documentary about the singer's return to the spotlight, produced by Britney in partnership with MTV, airs.
In three new promos for the show, the singer talks a bit about how the life she lives is normal for her, despite how crazy it may look to people on the outside. "Do I know my life is weird?" she asks. "It's all I've ever known." The documentary shows the singer's life through her eyes — a mix of paparazzi flashes, dance rehearsals and photo shoots as she gears up to promote her new album, Circus, which comes out on December 2. In a second promo spot, she laughs, saying, "Complaining is not my style." In the third promo, the longest of the three, Spears says, "There's a lot people don't know about me that I want them to know. ... I've been through a lot in the last two or three years. I've grown up, big time." One notable moment comes when Spears points out that no one is ever ready to live their life constantly in the spotlight. "I don't think anyone can prepare themselves for what stardom brings," she says. In a previously released promo for the special, the singer candidly admitted to not fully understanding how her life publicly spiraled out of control over the last few years. "I've been through a lot, and there's a lot people don't know," she said. "Sometimes it can get lonely 'cause you don't open the gate. I'm stuck in this place, and I just cope every day." She added, "I sit there and I look back," before asking rhetorically: "I'm a smart person, what the hell was I thinking?" Getting pumped about the Britney Spears documentary? Share your thoughts by uploading a video to YouRHere.MTV.com, or sound off in the comments section below. "For the Record" airs Sunday, November 30, at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos Related Artists |
| FAA Releases Air-Traffic Control Tapes From Travis Barker/ DJ AM Jet Crash Posted: 19 Nov 2008 07:44 AM PST Audio reveals air-traffic controller's instructions for pilots, emergency response team.
The Federal Aviation Administration has released excerpts of the tapes of the air-traffic control chatter recorded in the lead-up to the devastating plane crash that killed four and resulted in serious injuries to DJ AM and Travis Barker. In the tapes, obtained by TMZ, air-traffic controllers can be heard asking for clearance for the private jet to take off on its flight to an airport in Van Nuys, California. Everything seems to be going well at first, then a controller at South Carolina's Columbia Metropolitan Airport can be heard saying, "We've had an emergency -- sir, you're not going to be able to land runway 1-1. We've had an emergency -- fly straight ahead." Sounding increasingly distressed, the controller, apparently speaking to emergency response personnel, then says, "You need to get out there. The aircraft is -- there is a -- flames -- a fire, out on 3-0-2." The pilot of the Learjet 60 aircraft, which investigators believe suffered a blown tire that may have led to the crash, attempted to abort the takeoff, and controllers reported seeing sparks coming from the plane as it veered off the runway. It ended up more than 100 feet past the end of the runway in a smoldering heap after crossing the 302 highway. At one point, the air-traffic controller can be heard saying, "And I'm not sure you can get there via that way, you may have to go outside the airport to get to 'em. ... It went right off the end of 1-1 and right into -- on 302. You can see the smoke, I assume, heading to your right there." AM and Barker are recovering from the second- and third-degree burns they suffered in the crash, which took the lives of Barker's close friend and assistant, Chris Baker; his bodyguard, Charles "Che" Still; pilot Sarah Lemmon and co-pilot James Bland. AM recently returned to the stage for the first time, appearing with Jay-Z, and on Sunday, Barker made his first televised appearance since the crash on "Total Finale Live," speaking via satellite from his studio in Los Angeles about the challenges of getting behind the drum kit again. Related Artists |
| Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Killing T.I.'s Friend Philant Johnson Posted: 19 Nov 2008 07:44 AM PST Prosecutors say Hosea Thomas pulled the trigger in 2006 shooting.
The trial of the man accused of the killing T.I.'s assistant and boyhood friend, Philant Johnson, began in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Hosea Thomas, 34, is charged with murder, felonious assault and several other charges in the incident, which took place on the streets of Cincinnati after an appearance by Tip at a local nightclub on May 3, 2006. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Hamilton County prosecutors told a jury on Tuesday that they are sure that Thomas fired the fatal shot that killed Johnson because their star witness, Thomas' older brother, Padron Thomas, was driving the Jeep that the brothers were traveling in as they chased the rapper and his crew that night. The running gun battle resulted in three of T.I.'s crew being injured and the death of Johnson, who was shot in the head in the incident. The assault came after T.I. had performed a concert that night and appeared at an afterparty at a local club later in the evening. "It's all going to come down to witness testimony," Assistant Prosecutor Heather Gosselin told jurors, according to the paper. Thomas' lawyer, Charles Isaly, agreed with Gosselin's point on the importance of witness testimony, but he warned jurors that all of the witnesses against his client were shady characters and that many of them, including Padron, were rolling over on Hosea in order to get lighter sentences for their crimes. "Credibility. That's what this case comes down to," Isaly said, according to the Enquirer. Isaly did not say in his opening statement that Thomas didn't fire the shots that killed Johnson. "[Prosecutors] just don't have enough. They just don't have enough evidence," Isaly claimed. The shooting — which is referenced in several songs on T.I.'s Paper Trail album — remained unsolved for a year, until three people charged with federal gun crimes, among them Padron Thomas, contacted authorities and said they had information on Johnson's murder. Gosselin said that Hosea Thomas was hit in the head with a bottle while attending a T.I. afterparty at Club Ritz, which started a fight that resulted in patrons pouring out of the club. Soon after, T.I. and his crew fled the scene in two vans and were chased by the green Jeep Cherokee driven by Padron Thomas, 40, who told officials that his brother fired at T.I.'s vans and that at least one of the rapper's crew returned fire, the Enquirer reported. Cincinnati Police Officer Dom Meece testified that the scene inside one of T.I.'s vans was like "something out of a horror movie," with blood dripping from the ceiling. Gosselin said that after the shooting, Padron Thomas had his Jeep painted black and had a bullet hole repaired. In exchange for testifying against his brother, Padron has gotten an agreement from prosecutors to drop murder charges against him, allowing him to plead guilty to manslaughter and serve whatever sentence he gets concurrently with his federal sentence on gun charges, which essentially means he will serve no additional time for his part in the shooting. The trial is expected to last into next week, and T.I. is slated to testify at some point in the proceedings. A year after the incident, T.I. was arrested on federal gun charges, and he told MTV News earlier this year that part of the reason he was trying to buy machines guns and silencers was because of his intense fears about his family's safety after Johnson's murder. Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Talks Acting, College And A Dream Collaboration With 'Amazing' T.I. Posted: 18 Nov 2008 01:18 AM PST 'I would like one of my songs to be the hook to a rap song,' the country singer says.
Taylor Swift is making a career out of singing sweet country-pop love songs. On her latest album, Fearless, she worked with "Bubbly" singer Colbie Caillat, and she told MTV News she would even like to work with the subject of her first hit — Tim McGraw — someday. But, Swift said there's a more tantalizing duet she's hoping to make happen. "I'd like to do a completely off-the-wall collaboration," she said. "I would like one of my songs to be the hook to a rap song. That would be so much fun! You know, I love Kanye West and I love T.I. — he's amazing."
If Swift's love of hip-hop wasn't surprising enough, she also has a shady side — the bouncy teen star told us that the only way you'd get her to leave music for acting is if she could embrace her inner bad girl and play a criminal mastermind. "I think, as far as branching out with acting, it would take something really right on the mark to distract me from music, because music is everything to me," she said. "If it were 'CSI' or 'Grey's Anatomy' or a movie that was really, really smart, then I think I might venture off. "I could be a crook," she said of a possible cameo on the crime drama "CSI." "Hopefully one that's really twisted, that took, like, four episodes to figure out." But it wouldn't take much of a story line to get her on "Grey's Anatomy." "On 'Grey's Anatomy' I wouldn't care what I was playing — I would play a corpse, 'cause I love it that much. It is deep true love and it will never die." It pretty obvious that the VMA-nominated country chanteuse is always ready to try something new — she's goal-oriented, but vows to not define herself by her ambitions. "As soon as I accomplish one goal, I replace it with another one," she explained. "I try not to get too far ahead of myself. I just say to myself, 'All right, well, I'd like to headline a tour,' and then when I get there, we'll see what my next goal is." In fact, her pop career replaced her previous ambition of going to college, where she probably would have studied video editing. And although she's the right age, Swift said she just doesn't see it in the stars for her at this point. "College, to me ... I always thought I was going to go. Both my parents went to college ... so I thought that's what I was going to do, but life took a different turn," she said. "And I think that college is great because it can be a wonderful tool to make you well-rounded and get all these social-networking skills." Swift is learning those things on the road and in the recording studio — it's the type of education she feels is better for her at this point in her life. "The things you learn in the classroom are one thing, but ... part of me thinks that being on the road, the promotion of an album and management ... learning all of those things, I think, makes you well-rounded, too." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Nickelback Hope <i>Dark Horse</i> Keeps Their Newfound Fans On Board Posted: 18 Nov 2008 01:01 AM PST 'We want to keep going back to all those towns and have those people show up and want to sing our songs back at us, twice as loud,' Chad Kroeger says.
Chad Kroeger wants you to stop playing "Guitar Hero." On Monday, less than 24 hours before the release of his band's new album, Dark Horse, the Nickelback frontman was sitting inside the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood, California, grumbling about what he perceives to be rock and roll's dwindling numbers. "I feel like there's not enough rock bands out there, especially when we go on the road," said Kroeger, who performs with the Canadian rock outfit on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Wednesday night. "It's tough to find other bands out there, because either they're making a record, or they just got done touring. So kids: Start rock bands. Set down the 'Guitar Hero,' learn how to play an actual guitar and start a band, because it's hard to find more bands to put a solid rock-and-roll package together, to get out there. It's getting harder and harder, but I think we've done it." Of course, Kroeger was referring to Nickelback's upcoming tour, which is set to kick off in late February and feature support acts Seether and Saving Abel. Based on the band's previous album sales, it's safe to say that by the time that tour gets under way, Nickelback's new LP will have already gone gold. But making Dark Horse was no easy task, he said. The record took more than six months to create, from conception to delivery, and Kroeger said he's pretty sure the band accomplished its stated mission of releasing a record that surpasses its previous offering, 2005's All the Right Reasons. "The bar's been raised — it's pretty high, especially if we are going to be looking back at the last record," he said. "I think our fans were pretty happy with it, and we made a lot of new fans with that one, and we want to keep 'em. Call us greedy, but we want to keep 'em all. We want to keep going back to all those towns and have those people show up and want to sing our songs back at us, twice as loud. That's why we keep doing what we're doing. This is a good gig. It's a lot of fun, and it's every young kid's dream." Kroeger admitted that some of the album's lyricism relies heavily on innuendo (take the track "Something in Your Mouth," for instance), but the singer's not trying to be controversial or creepy — he's just trying to pull you in. "I wanted to get into grabbing someone's attention and holding it," he said. "Sometimes, there are a couple of moments within the record where parents might be going, 'What? This has to come out of the minivan.' But I think we're at the point now where we have to grab people's attention. Other than that, on this album, we were just focused on sustaining — to stay where we're at. We just wanted to write and record a bunch of good rock-and-roll songs we'll enjoy touring. We just hope that our friends are going to dig it half as much as we do." Kroeger said that, while the whole record is something he and the rest of Nickelback are extremely proud of, he does have a few favorites on Dark Horse, including "Something in Your Mouth." "That was the first song we worked on for the record," he said. "We were in Sweden and went over a bunch of material with our producer, Mutt Lange, and he wanted to get to a rocker. I've got this phrase: 'You look so much cuter with something in your mouth.' He thought that was perfect and was like, 'Let's start with that one right there.' So we just went off and just wrote this silly rock song that's got this great groove to it, and away we went." "Burn It to the Ground" is a song that the band had to revise three different times, because producer "Joey Moi, who works with us on a lot of stuff, was sitting in the back of the studio, and said, 'I don't know — it doesn't make me want to pump my fist in the air and crack a beer open.' " The band continued to tweak the track until "everybody's head started moving in the same direction, and Joey said, 'Now I want to crack open a beer, now I want to party with my buddies, now I want to crank the song, and now it's doing what I thought the song should do.' " The song "Gotta Be Somebody" is a tune Kroeger feels everyone will be able to relate to. "It's just one of those universal themes that Nickelback love to gravitate towards and something everyone can identify with," he said. "It hits such a common thread, because I think everybody that's single — or in a relationship and thinking, 'This may not be the one' — says to themselves, 'There's got to be that perfect somebody for me out there,' and that's what the song is about." Other songs, like album closer "This Afternoon," were inspired by Kroeger's life experiences. "It's a good rock-and-roll version of [Garth Brooks'] 'Friends in Low Places,' " he said. "Anyone who's ever had roommates, or more than a couple, will relate to this song. I used to have four roommates. We all lived in this house. It was a bunch of drunken kids, barely getting by, trying to find money for beer. Food was low on the priority list. So it's a song about trying to get by and having the best times — ever." Related Artists |
| Pete Wentz And Ashlee Simpson Keep Fall Out Boy Bandmates In The Dark About Baby Posted: 18 Nov 2008 01:01 AM PST Frontman Patrick Stump says they have no idea when little Wentzlee is due, or what he/she will be called.
The guys in Fall Out Boy are a lot like you and me — they have no idea just when Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson's is due. Or at least that's what they were telling us backstage at Sunday's "Total Finale Live," moments after three-fourths of them — minus Wentz, who was at home with the very pregnant Simpson — bundled up and performed on a flatbed truck in the middle of Times Square.
"Pete is at home with his wife, they're just getting ready for the baby," FOB frontman Patrick Stump said. "It was a collective decision, because Pete is the type of guy who would do anything for this band, but the band is the type of band that would do anything for him. And it was one of those things where we decided that, for Ashlee's sake, he needs to be there right now, no matter what happens. "I'm not spilling anything. As far as I know, there's no baby yet," he continued. "But still, there's a very pregnant woman, so he definitely needs to be there. It was a mutual thing, though I miss the crud out of him. I wish he were here." And though, as of this moment, there's still no update on the baby front, that didn't stop Wentz's FOB-mates from sending well wishes to their bassist and his wife. "It was really cool playing Times Square; it would've been way cooler if you were there ... you know, even if [the Academy Is... bassist] Adam [Siska] was there ... but seriously, it's cool," Stump laughed. "Ashlee's been a saint through this whole thing, and my hat doesn't come off, but it's off to her." Of course, whenever the Wentzlee baby is born, there's going to be plenty of speculation about just what his or her name will be. And once again, the guys in Fall Out Boy are just like us — because they have no idea what that name will be, either. "This is the first Fall Out Kid," Stump laughed. "I did, briefly, [have a conversation about baby names] with Pete, and he was like, 'I'm not going to have this conversation.' Pete is a showman to the end, and he was like 'No, no no. You'll find out.' He's got something planned. It's probably going to be a really good name." Related Artists |
| Justin Timberlake Releases New Single 'Follow My Lead,' Featuring Esmee Denters Posted: 18 Nov 2008 06:34 AM PST Song debuts on MySpace Music and will raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
It's not a new album, but it looks like we'll have to stop teasing Justin Timberlake for being lazy. JT's new single, "Follow My Lead," debuted on MySpace Music on Tuesday (November 18). The tune is a fundraiser for Shriners Hospitals for Children, and it features vocals from the first signing to Timberlake's Tennman Records, Internet sensation Esmée Denters, who appeared with her new boss at "Total Finale Live" on Sunday night. The funky track was recorded live at the recent Justin Timberlake and Friends concert benefiting the Shriners Hospitals for Children. It opens with a rap-style intro from Timberlake, followed by Denters' powerful Rihanna-meets-Beyoncé-style vocals. Timberlake pitches in on the empowering chorus, "Listen to me/ Love is a song/ I'll be the melody/ You be my drum/ Follow my lead, we'll go where no one goes." Timberlake shakes off the rust mid-song as well, reprising his opening verse: "Hands up, I show you what I do, I got my stance up/ Everybody knows this is the anthem/ Everybody knows this is the anthem," over a funky live drumbeat and snaky keyboard line. The tune is currently available for purchase for 99 cents, but MySpace Music users can also add it to their playlist for free. Timberlake, who hasn't released a new album since 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds, has been creeping back into the spotlight recently. He gave a rave-worthy pair of cameos on last weekend's "Saturday Night Live," can currently be heard in a guest spot on T-Pain's remix of "Can't Believe It" and appears in the video for Rihanna's "Rehab," which he co-wrote. He also recently took the stage with Madonna in Los Angeles, though the night ended without him collaborating with his ex, Britney Spears, who also appeared at the gig. A spokesperson for Timberlake said he's not currently working on a solo record but is in the studio writing and producing songs for Denters as well as Tennman Records artists Matt Morris, Free Sol and Brenda Radney. Related Photos Related Artists |
| The Roots To Stop Touring, Become Jimmy Fallon's House Band On 'Late Night'? Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:28 PM PST Drummer/leader ?uestlove says group will always perform live, but might abandon large-scale touring.
Over the weekend, a video interview popped up on the Internet in which Roots drummer/leader ?uestlove announced that the long-running group will be retiring from large-scale touring and taking on a new gig as Jimmy Fallon's house band when he takes over NBC's "Late Night" from Conan O'Brien in 2009. ?uest must've said something that someone found objectionable: That interview has been removed from YouTube and apparently everywhere else. However, we did manage to find a transcript on one blog, which reportedly took it from the Roots' official site, OkayPlayer.com. In the interview, ?uestlove put the announcement in perspective, saying that the group will not be retiring from playing live, but from long, large-scale tours. "Yeah, it's hard to make this announcement 'cause it's not like we wanted to pull the heartstrings on some 'This is our last tour' [statement], 'cause we will forever do gigs," he said. "I see the possible chance of this being a 'bigger' move ... but on the real? I don't know if I want to be 40, on the road and single no more. And with the kids my group has now getting older ... it's harder for the guys to leave more than it was when the kids were 2 and 3. And I can't even start to go on that path till a woman takes me seriously. And ain't no one taking a man serious who is in his own home for only three months out the year. I been in my crib since 2006 and I still ain't unpacked everything yet." To facilitate that, he said smaller-scale tours are the course the band will probably take. "I mean, people east of Chicago shouldn't fear [that they'll never see the group], and I'm certain that on weekends we could trek to an occasional Seattle or [San] Diego," he said. "But obviously Europe and abroad could miss out." Later on in the interview, ?uest talked about his excitement over the Fallon gig. "I'mma love my new home at 30 Rock [NBC's headquarters]," he said. "Two visits and I'm already on a first-name basis with the 'SNL' cats." While ?uestlove and reps for the group's label, Island Def Jam, had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment — and a rep for NBC said, "Nothing to confirm at this time" — a label rep reportedly confirmed the report to the Philadelphia Daily News, saying the group will join Fallon on the show in June. The paper also reported that Fallon and the group recently taped "something" at Philly nightclub Kung Fu Necktie. The long-running Philadelphia group, which released its first album in 1993 and was one of the first groups to pair rappers with a live band, enjoys a popularity and influence not necessarily reflected by its one major hit, 1999's collaboration with Erykah Badu, "You Got Me." The Roots have toured and worked with a wide range of musicians, including backing Jay-Z at his "Unplugged" concert in 2001 and Reasonable Doubt anniversary show in 2006, touring with the Dave Matthews Band and other jam bands, and collaborating with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump. ?uestlove in particular has worked with an enormous variety of artists — most prominently Badu, Common and D'Angelo — serving as musical director for the Jay-Z concerts (including his 2003 "Fade to Black" show) as well as "The Dave Chappelle Show." Related Artists |
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