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| Adam Lambert Got 'American Idol' Training At Wild 'Zodiac Show' Posted: 21 Apr 2009 03:50 AM PDT 'He's really cut out for this on every level,' says Lee Cherry, the L.A. revue's co-creator.
For most "American Idol" fans, Adam Lambert is the wildest, most unusual contestant they've ever seen on the show. But to his friends and castmates in Los Angeles' long-running variety extravaganza "The Zodiac Show," the Adam you see on the "Idol" stage every week is nothing compared to what they've witnessed back home. Lee Cherry, "Zodiac" co-creator and director, first met Lambert in Europe in 2003, when the singer was touring with the musical "Hair," and he directed Lambert in his "Zodiac" stage debut in 2004. "He did [Sam Cooke's] 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and as Randy would say, he blew it out the box, dog," Cherry said. "That was pretty much the first time in L.A. anyone saw him being Adam in all his full fabulousness, and everybody lost their minds." Several years later, at the most recent "Zodiac" show in December, Cherry said Lambert wrote some songs with Madonna collaborator Monty Pittman, and he got a real sense of how far the 28-year-old singer could go. "That was a big collaboration and a big production number, where he had the whole outfit and the dancers and the whole thing. ... We love seeing Adam do his thing how he loves to do it, and you've only seen the half of it on 'American Idol,' " Cherry said. The six-year-old "Zodiac Show" started as an underground, after-hours monthly party hosted by Los Angeles' dance and glam-rock communities that grew into an irregular series of big, one-off productions at the city's Avalon Theatre. The events revolve around a sign of the Zodiac, and they include every kind of performer imaginable, from singers, dancers and actors to comedians, jugglers, fire-eaters and high-wire acts. It's been described as a "rock 'n' roll Cirque du Soleil." Part of the reason Cherry thinks Lambert is doing so well on "Idol" is because of the experience he's had onstage at the "Zodiac," performing his own outrageous glam-rock songs, as well as creative covers of other songs and learning how to be part of an ensemble. "Before 'American Idol,' [he] didn't really have an outlet for his talent, to do it the way he wanted to do it," Cherry said. "Every time he was working, he had to fit into some kind of box. He was doing it because he had to do it, he had to live. But on our stage is where he got to ... bring the black nail polish, bring as much glitter as you can bring, what's the craziest outfit you can. It's never too much, except for when it is. Because sometimes, sometimes we ... " Scarlett, the show's other co-creator and co-lead singer, interrupted Cherry: "We have to tone him down," she laughed. Like, for instance, the time he wanted to perform a song with a flaming headdress, and they had to convince him it was too dangerous. Cherry, Scarlett and co-creative director and former Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar said they are all immensely proud of Lambert's success on "Idol," but they're not surprised he's doing so well on such a mainstream national stage. "I think that it's really been beautiful on the show to see him grow and take in all the comments and the constructive criticism and really add it to his performances, and he's so humble and so beautiful, and he means it and he's real," Scarlett said. That doesn't mean they weren't a bit worried that America wouldn't know what to do with a eyeliner-wearing, banshee-wailing, glam-rock, emo theater kid who didn't exactly fit the more traditional style of an "Idol" front runner. "He's really cut out for this on every level," Cherry said. "[But] we ... honestly didn't know how he was going to be received. We thought he was either going to get kicked off right away or he was going to win. We figured it was going to be one or the other. We knew he was going to be the best singer of the bunch by far." After conferring with Lambert early on, Cherry posted a number of the singer's "Zodiac" performances on YouTube, including the very David Bowie-esque glam-rock original "Crawl Thru Fire" from last September, which has garnered more than 400,000 views to date. While each "Zodiac" revue is full of performances from a variety of Hollywood artists at the top of their respective games (choreography, dancing, songwriting, makeup, singing), he said Lambert has that indescribable "it" factor that sets him apart even on a stage with other super-talented performers. Scarlett said despite Lambert's unusual background and flamboyant (for "Idol") style, she's not surprised America is embracing him. "They heard somebody breaking through," she said of the early embrace of Lambert. "When you're witnessing something like that, it's undeniable, even if you're from, like, Arkansas. You're like, 'Oh, my god, I'm watching a star. This is incredible!' " Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Killers, Tool, Beastie Boys To Headline Lollapalooza 2009 Posted: 21 Apr 2009 04:18 AM PDT Festival will also include performances by Kings of Leon, Jane's Addiction and Depeche Mode, among others.
Well, now we know all six. Last month, after four of this year's Lollapalooza headliners were revealed, event founder Perry Farrell told MTV News that wasn't stressed by the premature leakage ... after all, he still had a pair of big-name bill-toppers to announce, and late Monday he did just that — and then some. Farrell unveiled the full Lollapalooza 2009 lineup — a list of more than 100 acts — including his two top-secret headliners: Tool and the Killers, who will join previously reported headliners the Kings of Leon, the reunited Jane's Addiction, the Beastie Boys and Depeche Mode (as in previous years — 2008's closing-night duel between Kanye West and Nine Inch Nails, for example — each night at Lolla 2009 will have two headliners). Artists on the undercard include Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Rise Against, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, the Decemberists and Ben Harper and Relentless 7. In keeping with previous years' Lolla lineups, there's also a strong undercurrent of electronic music (Thievery Corporation, MSTRKRFT, Crystal Castles and Simian Mobile Disco), hip-hop (Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, Rye Rye) and hotly tipped indie acts (Animal Collective, Band of Horses, Of Montreal, Deerhunter and Ida Maria). Lollapalooza 2009 will take place August 7-9 in Chicago's Grant Park. A limited number of advance-price three-day passes are now available through Lollapalooza.com for $190. When those are gone, regular three-day passes will go on sale for $205. There are also VIP packages and private luxury cabanas available for the well-heeled members of the alternative nation. The full lineup for Lollapalooza 2009: Depeche Mode Featured electronic performers in Perry Farrell's electronica tent: Bassnectar |
| Rick Ross Buries 50 Cent In 'Cold Blood' Video Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:20 AM PDT Miami MC says he might feud with Eminem next.
Rick Ross has claimed that his insults against 50 Cent have ended the Queens rhyme lord's career. The Miami boss recently held a ceremony in honor of what he calls his accomplishment. Over the weekend, Ross released the trailer to a video for "Cold Blood," a record from Deeper Than Rap. You see flashes of Ross sitting in church wearing a suit. The viewer is led to believe that once again he'll be mocking 50, because the words "R.I.P. Curtis Jackson" appear on the screen.
This is yet another salvo in the ongoing feud between 50 and Ross that started several weeks ago when the husky down-South MC called 50 out with "Mafia Music." Since then, the back-and-forth has been incessant. Last week, Ross released a remix to "Mafia Music," featuring the Game, Ja Rule and Fat Joe. On a recent trip to New York, Ross told radio personality DJ Envy that many more MCs had given him raps to include in the remix. Maybe with the release of "Cold Blood," Ross is signifying an end to his war with Fif, at least on his part. Rick told Envy that 50 was boring him and that he might have to look toward Eminem for real comp. Later in the Envy interview, Ross implied that if he did go into competition with Slim Shady, it might not be a traditional trade of barbs but rather a battle over who makes the best music. He did tell Envy he wasn't exactly excited about Em's new "We Made You" video. "His swag ain't the same, though," he said, adding that he was just giving an opinion. "We not dissing. We'll never dis. [The video] was funny. This time I'm not gonna be critical because I'm a fan. But I see the swag ain't the same." Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Hills' Recap: Audrina Sets Her Sights On Brody Posted: 20 Apr 2009 07:39 AM PDT Plus: Heidi and Spencer hit couple's therapy; Stephanie has trouble focusing on the job.
Remember when you found out that Greg and Marcia Brady were "doing it" behind the scenes of "The Brady Bunch"? I get the same kind of incestuous vibe from the latest episode of "The Hills," in which Audrina expressed her attraction to Brody Jenner. I know they're not related and they have every right to hook up and have fun, but still ... I can't quite shake the feeling that they came from the same MTV Lab Test Tube. Audrina's "Brody's hot" proclamation wasn't the only OMG-worthy nugget from Monday's (April 20) episode. Heidi and Spencer's therapy session was straight out of a sitcom, as was Stephanie Prattfall's "Did I do that?"-filled first day on the job at People's Revolution. Wait a second. Is Norman Lear working at MTV these days?
The episode started off where every good episode of television should begin: At a bar called Big Wangs. (I hear the cocktails at Big Wangs are especially well-endowed.) Audrina tells Lauren she's finally content with being single, but follows that up with: "If you see anyone who's my type, send him over!" If only Big Wangs were located next to a methadone clinic. So basically, Audrina is less content with being single and is just happy to be promiscuous. Sign me up. While Audrina was emerging as the Traci Lords of "The Hills," Stephanie Prattfall emerged as the Dwight Schrute of People's Revolution. Her first couple of days went as well as can be expected from a girl who wrote "fluent in French" on her résumé when she was really talking about salad dressing. Kelly Cutrone is already regretting hiring her, even though Steph comes with her own camera crew. She's leaving garbage on tables, she's eating crackers over sweaters, she's hanging up on people. Watch your back, Lucy and Ethel at the Chocolate Shop — there's a new inept woman in the workforce! Things got so bad that Lauren had to step in and say, "When you're here, focus." Otherwise, the big bad Kelly Cutrone will cut you. Too bad Stephanie was too busy doodling to pay attention. (Poor thing is "bad at confrontation" at the workplace.) Meanwhile, Stephanie's brother Spencer is about to get fired from his relationship. (Bad transition, I know. They can't all be winners.) Spencer doesn't want to be "caged in" by his fiancée Heidi. If he wants to go slut it up with a Def Leppard-obsessed bartender straight out of Central Casting, why shouldn't he be allowed to? But Heidi disagrees and doesn't trust Spencer to stay away from Stacie the Bartender. Spencer insists, "She's not my type! She doesn't have blond hair, and I'm into blondes!" (That explains Charlie.) A comment that stupid can only land a man in one spot: couple's therapy! Dr. Mansbacher is the brave therapist who took on the Speidi sessions. (Incidentally, she's a blonde.) Upon hearing Heidi and Spencer prattle on about text messages and Patrón and "secret lives" and "emotional affairs" and "Mexican marriages," Dr. Mansbacher cut through all the bull with, "This sounds all really high-schoolish to me." Welcome to "The Hills," lady! You thought you were on "In Treatment"? Spencer didn't take the televised fake therapy session seriously (how dare he!) which led Heidi to deliver this instantly classic line: "You've been emotionally checked out in some kind of weird stripper hotel for a while now." I don't know what a weird stripper hotel is, but I'm pretty sure A-Rod does. Wait, wasn't that where the ShamWow! guy got his tongue chewed off by a hooker? In the end, the TV therapist asked the question we've all been asking ourselves for three seasons. "What are you doing with him?" Back in LC Land, the gang goes out for drinks at Coco de Ville. Hold up a second: Between Big Wangs and Coco de Ville, it seems like these "Hills" kids like to hang out at joints that sound like gay bars. Big Wangs? Obvious. Coco de Ville? Total drag club. Anyway, at Coco de Ville, Audrina is about to kick off her "I'm ready, willing and able" tour when a particularly homeless-looking Justin comes stumbling back into her life. Despite LC's noble attempts at getting Audrina to lip-read (you can't teach an old dog new tricks), Justin is back in Audrina's life and back to his old Prince Charming ways. After a civil hug between the ex-lovers, Justin slurs, "Don't pat me! You can't pat me! Who pats anymore? That's like a burp. You want me to burp you?" Swoon! Obviously shaken by Justin's odd non-confrontation, Brody jumped at the chance for more screen time to comfort Audrina, whispering in her ear, "You're beautiful. You should be having fun!" Easy, Brody! You already have a girlfriend, Jayde. So we knew Audrina's type was dirt bags, but this episode we learned that Brody's type is brunettes with chipmunk faces. The next night, Audrina sees (and smells) Justin again. (Small world!) Instead of criticizing her burp technique, this time Justin drunkenly ruminates on the meaning of life. (Justin is one "Jesus Loves You" away from being that dude I see on the A-Train once a week.) Our girl Audrina stands up to the Worst Boyfriend on the Planet (aside from Spencer) by getting a lot off her, uh, chest. "I want to feel special, and you don't make me feel like that at all, Justin. It's like a slap in the face." Finally, the ladies lunch while plotting to crash a boys-only Hawaii trip. Audrina's over all the Justin drama ("I love him, but I'm not in love with him." Zzzzzzzzzz) and is ready to turn over a new leaf. A leaf that looks, acts and smells like Brody Jenner. "Brody is a ball of love." (Um, Audrina? That ball belongs to Jayde. She even announced it to you: "He grabbed my boob so I grabbed his junk." That was her marking her territory.) Lauren and Lo catch Audrina's eyes twinkle with excitement while mentioning Brody, but Audrina insists, "I don't want a boyfriend. I just want to have fun with guys." Beat. "Let's go to Hawaii so I can stalk my new man prey! He'll be alone because his girlfriend isn't invited, and I'll put on my best 'Into the Blue 2' bikini and he'll find me irresistible!" (I'm paraphrasing, of course.) "No drama," Audrina promises. "Well just have fun!" And so will we, dear Audrina. So. Will. We. What did you think of the latest "Hills?" Do you think Lauren is going to flip out with jealousy when Audrina starts hooking up with her ex, Brody? Is all the Heidi/Spencer drama anti-climactic since all the gossip rags are reporting that they're getting married in a matter of days? And are you looking forward to the Jayde/Audrina catfight that producers are probably going to deliver us? Leave your comments below! Related Videos |
| Green Day Announce <i>21st Century Breakdown</i> Tour Dates Posted: 20 Apr 2009 08:54 AM PDT Two-month jaunt kicks off July 3 in Seattle.
It's been more than three years since Green Day hit the road, and they're making up for lost time. On Monday (April 20), they announced the first dates of a massive world tour in support of their upcoming album 21st Century Breakdown (due May 15), a two-month jaunt that will take the band across the U.S. and Canada. The tour kicks off July 3 in Seattle and wraps August 25 in Los Angeles. No venues have been announced yet, nor have on-sale dates or opening acts.
Green Day's last tour — in support of their massive American Idiot album — spanned two years and was their most successful (and lengthy) jaunt to date. While working on Breakdown, the band took time off for a week-long tour as alter egos the Foxboro Hot Tubs. With Monday's announcement of a tour, it's shaping up to be quite a week for Green Day fans. On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, their much-anticipated new video for the song "Know Your Enemy" will make its world premiere on more than 250 MTV on-air and online outlets. Dates and cities for Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown tour, according to Reprise Records: » 7/3 -- Seattle |
| Asher Roth Has A Lot More To Offer Than 'I Love College' Posted: 21 Apr 2009 03:50 AM PDT 'People need to trust me when I say this — there is going to be a lot more benchmarks along the way,' MC says.
Asher Roth knows there have been plenty of rappers before him that started with the spark of a breakout single but weren't able to catapult beyond their initial success. But for every Sir Mix-a-Lot ("Baby Got Back") or Panjabi MC ("Beware of the Boys"), there's a 50 Cent or Eminem — artists with a track record of credible hits. Roth gets that he's going to be identified as the "I Love College guy" at first — but despite the rest of his album, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, being "not even close" to the sound of that single, the recent Atlanta transplant said he's embraced the popularity that's come along with the success of his first hit. " 'I Love College' is like a concept record. It's very close to being a novelty record," Roth told MTV News. "Is it something I want to base my career off of? Did I expect that to be like, 'This is going to be my career? This is my career launcher?' Absolutely not. I wrote that song for me, because I'm sitting on the couch and I'm like, 'I love college, I miss college, I want to go to college for the rest of my life.' I wrote that song for me. Next thing you knew, you had a bunch of people being like, 'I feel that same exact way.' So yes, in my career everyone's going to date it back to 'I Love College,' but people need to trust me when I say this — there is going to be a lot more benchmarks along the way." For now, however, the quick-witted MC is reveling in the "I Love College" glory. He recently performed at his alma mater, West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Back when he was enrolled, he appeared at a number of shows on campus before he dropped out to pursue music — this time, however, with a hit on his hands, the blond rapper headlined for the first time in front of family and friends. "It's a little crazy, man. It just goes to show you it's working," Roth of his recent success. "This music is bringing people together. West Chester — I'm kinda cheating a little bit, because that's home. So it isn't until I walk the streets of British Columbia and people are outside waiting for me. Then, I know, 'OK, this is really working.' " Related Videos Related Photos |
| Meet Susan Boyle's Competition, Shaheen Jafargholi Posted: 20 Apr 2009 09:40 AM PDT 'Britain's Got Talent' judge calls 12-year-old a 'young Stevie Wonder.'
Over the weekend, singing sensation Susan Boyle was just beginning to get used to her instant, worldwide fame when she learned the #1 lesson of Internet infamy: It doesn't last. While Boyle was setting up chats with "Oprah," CNN and every other news outlet that could get her "gobsmacked" reaction to being viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube, another "Britain's Got Talent" singer (who has also likely never been kissed) was already waiting in the wings. Welsh singer Shaheen Jafargholi, 12, appeared on the show on Saturday and initially bombed with judge Simon Cowell, who made him stop singing his Amy Winehouse version of the Zuton's hit "Valerie" after just one verse. Waving his hand and calling for the music to be stopped, a frowning Cowell said, "You've got this really wrong," as the crestfallen Jafargholi looked on. "What do you sing apart from that?" Jafargholi then suggested the Smokey Robinson song "Who's Loving You," made famous by a young Michael Jackson with the Jackson Five. When the preternaturally poised Jafargholi — who began singing at age 2 and once played a young Jackson in a stage production of "Thriller" — rebooted with the second song, the audience went nuts. And much like they did when Boyle surprised them, Cowell and fellow judge Piers Morgan smiled broadly and seemed genuinely stunned by the boy's outsize talent. "This is how one song can change your life," Cowell said afterward, after dishing out one of his very rare standing ovations. "And this may be the start of something special for you young man." The dimple-faced young boy has already earned a major endorsement from none other than Demi Moore, who declared on her Twitter feed, "Wow this kid is something else!" Morgan also gave Jafargholi props after the show, writing in his blog that the young man had been the stand-out performer on the show and could challenge Boyle for the $146,000 top prize. "Once Simon got him to sing the right kind of song for his voice, he was sensational. Like a young Stevie Wonder," Morgan wrote. So far, Jafargholi has a long way to go to reach Boyle's YouTube ubiquity, with just over 300,000 views to her more than 50 million at press time. |
| Kelly Clarkson Gets Sexy Sad In 'I Do Not Hook Up' Video Posted: 19 Apr 2009 11:08 PM PDT 'American Idol' champ shows a new side in the clip — but the ending is all too familiar.
Generally speaking, Kelly Clarkson videos tend to follow one of two formulas: 1. Kelly is jilted, either by a former love or a father figure, and she rebels in some form (tossing clothes out the window, haunting someone in airport bathrooms); or 2. Kelly rocks out, either in a spooky forest or on a stage somewhere, usually accompanied by her band and several flashing lights. Sometimes, she wears impossibly baggy pants.
Regardless of the path they follow, all Kelly Clarkson videos tend to end the same way: badly. Kelly never gets the guy or the closure or even the satisfaction. This is all fairly uncommon in the pop universe. In fact, she may very well be the saddest pop star in the world. Now, take all that into consideration while viewing her brand-new "I Do Not Hook Up" video, the second single from her (really genuinely great) All I Ever Wanted album. Here — possibly for the first time in her career — we get to see a different Kelly. She's no longer the victim, she hasn't been jilted — she's in control, she's sexy, she's the one doing the jilting. That she's doing it all in her head is par for the course. After all, she's the saddest pop star currently working. She has a reputation to uphold. Still, whether it's because the song was originally intended for Katy Perry's album or because of director Bryan Barber's effervescent color scheme and exceedingly literal treatment (here, Kelly's opening plea of "Oh sweetheart, put that bottle down/ You've got too much talent" isn't directed at some half-in-the-bag flame, but rather a sorta-cute waiter at a highfalutin soiree), "I Do Not Hook Up" isn't your usual Clarkson fare. She tackles said waiter and shoves strawberries in his mouth. She takes a pratfall off a bar — and emerges unscathed, much to the delight of everyone. She gets to be sexy and funny and happy. It's sort of refreshing, actually. Of course, none of it actually is real, and at the clip's end, Clarkson is pretty much all alone: just another single girl on a Saturday night. Again, that's kind of sad (and it kind of makes her like the rest of us normal people too), but you get the feeling that she wants it this way. All of Clarkson's best videos — "Because of You," "Never Again," "Behind These Hazel Eyes" — have that same sweet sadness to them. It's what she does. If this were a Katy Perry video, things might be different. But it's Kelly Clarkson, and even when she's happy, she's still plenty sad. Or normal. Often, those are the same when you're talking pop stars. Related Videos Related Artists |
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