MTV News |
- Exclusive: Paramore Say They're 'Not A Manufactured Band'
- Can Kanye West And Jay-Z Outdo Themselves On <i>Watch The Throne</i>?
- 'Jersey Shore' Newcomer Deena Is 'Like An Energizer Bunny'
- 'Breaking Dawn,' 'Super 8' Among 2011's Most Enigmatic Movies
- Taylor Swift And Jake Gyllenhaal Break Up
- Exclusive: Paramore React To Josh Farro's 'Exit Statement'
- Golden Globes Tap Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Lopez As Presenters
- Justin Bieber's 2011 Wish List Includes Grammy Win, Haircut
- Nas Reveals He Considered Giving Up Solo Projects
- Is Rock Dead? Not If Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, More Can Help It
- Justin Bieber's Magazine Covers Chart His Meteoric Rise
- Lady Gaga's Choreographer Films Reality Show
- Gucci Mane Arrested On Probation Violation
- Gerry Rafferty Dead At 63
- Britney Spears Vs. Lady Gaga: Perez Hilton Weighs In
- Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon And More 2011 Movie Pairs
- Kanye West's Style Guru Talks 'Art And Fashion'
- Kellie Pickler Marries Songwriter Kyle Jacobs
- New Kids On The Block And Backstreet Boys Add 16 Tour Dates
- Rick Ross Premieres 'Made Men' Single, Announces Album Title
| Exclusive: Paramore Say They're 'Not A Manufactured Band' Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:52 AM PST Band denies Josh Farro's claims during 'Paramore: The Last Word,' live on MTV.com Friday at 4 p.m. ET
FRANKLIN, Tennessee — Paramore are not a real band. Hayley Williams is a glorified solo artist and an easily manipulated one at that. Brand New Eyes, the group's to-the-brink-and-back 2009 album, did not close the Tennessee-size divides that had emerged between Williams and her mates (as she had previously told MTV News); it only made them larger. The album was not a new beginning but, rather, the beginning of the end.
So claimed Josh Farro, in his now-infamous "Exit Statement" from Paramore, which turned what had been an amicable separation into a nasty, venomous split. Understandably, the remaining members of the band — Williams, guitarist Taylor York and bassist Jeremy Davis — were hurt by Farro's words, as they told us when we sat down with them last week in their hometown of Franklin for their only interview about the split. But they were also more than ready to address Farro's charges. And in MTV News' "Paramore: The Last Word," a live stream on MTV.com on Friday, January 7, at 4 p.m. ET, they do — starting, appropriately enough, at the beginning, when Paramore say they were just another band looking for their big break. Farro sees it differently, writing that, even in those early days, the band was all about Williams; she was the one shopped to record labels, while the rest of the group were treated as second-class citizens. And when a contract finally was signed with Atlantic/ Fueled by Ramen, it was only Williams' name on the dotted line. So what's the truth? Are Paramore really just a solo act? Well, according to Williams, they never have been, and they never will be. "When I was 14, I was offered a contract, but my heart wasn't to be a solo artist; my heart was to be in a band," she said. "I mean, since I [was] a kid, I've always just wanted to be in a band. I didn't even want to be the singer; I wanted to be the drummer, so I could be behind everything. And that's what I fought for, and that's what we've made it. And that's why it seemed so irrelevant that everything was being pointed out [in Farro's statement]. I mean, we've been honest about it, and we are a band, and, to me, it doesn't matter if there's a name on a contract. I hate business, it's the last thing I ever want to talk about. So when that was brought up in the blog, I just felt like, 'Man, fans shouldn't care or need to hear about this stuff,' because all that does is get in the way of music." And though she hates talking about it, Farro's point does need to be clarified. So if we were to somehow pull out that contract, whose name would we see on it? "You would see my name. And the reason it's like that is because I was offered [a contract]," Williams answered. "But it just sucks so bad that fans would have to focus on that, even for a second. Because this has never been about me. I've hated anybody or anything that has ever made this about me. That's why I've worn shirts that say 'Paramore is a band,' time and time again. That's why we've written the songs we have, that's why you see the name 'Paramore' on our album covers." "And even if you go to the label, you'd have to pull out that [contract] to see [Hayley's name], because otherwise, it's Paramore stuff all over the walls, with all of us on it," Davis said. "And that's how it's been this entire time. We've all been fighting for the same things ... so it's pretty silly to say that." That, of course, brings us to perhaps the nastiest barb in Farro's statement: his accusation that Paramore are nothing more than "a manufactured product of a major label." It's a line that calls into question everything the band have accomplished over the past six-plus years, and, not surprisingly, it was also the one the band couldn't wait to answer. "We're not a manufactured band. We've dealt with that rumor for a long time, and that's because of the rumors of Fueled by Ramen and Atlantic's relationship. We've always talked about that ... saying, you know, when we started, I again fought for something that we could really work hard and start from the ground," Williams said. "That's the kind of music that I love, and that's the kind of music we've all shared interest in since day one, and we wanted to be that kind of band, we wanted to be those kind of people that worked for whatever they were going to get. We didn't know it would turn into this. Thank God it did, because we got to experience so many cool things." And to that end, you get the feeling that Paramore are growing tired of discussing the past. Not just because they're champing at the bit to move ahead, but also because, you know, there's only so much you can say about events that occurred nearly a decade ago. "So much of this could be easily misconstrued, because, like I said, I was offered a contract, and my whole mission as a 14-year-old person who was being courted by all these people was to turn them away from me and let them see what we were doing as a band," Williams said. "There have been a lot of people who have tried to use us — in the beginning — for their own good, and we've been lucky enough to get out of that each and every time and make it once again about us." MTV News will be unveiling our exclusive interview with Paramore on Friday at 4 p.m. ET with "Paramore: The Last Word," a live stream on MTV.com that will feature in-depth analysis of the band's future, real-time discussion with their biggest fans and exclusive footage of the band, past and present. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Can Kanye West And Jay-Z Outdo Themselves On <i>Watch The Throne</i>? Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:52 AM PST 'It's gonna be like a band that's worked together for a long time that's maturing into a new sound,' one expert tells MTV News about joint album.
As Kanye West upped the ante on his and Jay-Z's joint project (as if the title Watch the Throne weren't enough) from an EP to an LP, the Chicago star also ratcheted up expectations for the album. Fresh off feeding bloggers, critics and fans a full plate with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 'Ye now faces the challenge of doing it again, mere months later. The collaboration is already one of the biggest events of the year, whether or not it arrives next week, as Kanye announced on New Year's Eve.
But given the challenge, will the two icons be able to pull it off? "A lot of cats always talk about doing something together. It's a cool idea at 3 in the morning, but it never pans out," Rap Radar's Elliott Wilson told MTV News, referring to grounded efforts by Nas and AZ, Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim and countless other superstar duos. "But the fact that they're really doing something is a smart move." Creatively, the project gives Jay-Z, arguably the most decorated MC in history, new ground to cover. And for 'Ye, it gives him the opportunity to ascend to a pedestal (albeit it briefly) next to Hov in the hip-hop landscape. As a result of their friendship, it's easy to see why they came together in the first place. But perhaps the results ('Ye quickly concocting beats and Jay putting rhymes to them just as fast) made the effort expand into a full album. "They have a very interesting and dynamic relationship. They love each other, and they also have a very competitive relationship," Complex Editor in Chief Noah Callahan-Bever explained. "But I think it brings out the best in both of them." There's no arguing the Kanye West-powered Blueprint remains one of Hov's most revered projects. "Some of Jay-Z's best work has been on Kanye's beats," New York Times critic Jon Caramanica said. "Even on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, you hear Jay stepping his game up. You hear Jay trying. 'Cause he's not just tossing out this verse and it's gonna be on Joe Blow's record. He's like, 'This is the verse for the Kanye record, so I'm gonna do this there where I really try to fit the mood and really go in.' And I think Kanye is bringing that out of him, whether it's implicitly or explicitly." Their union may not be groundbreaking, since they have a track record, including tracks on West's most recent record ("Monster" and "So Appalled") that were originally slated for the EP. Instead of an end result dripped in mystery, though, like most experimental projects, the beauty of this one is that we've sampled it before. It's just a matter of meeting the potential of so many of their past hits. "It's gonna be like a band that's worked together for a long time that's maturing into a new sound," Caramanica said. What are you expecting from the 'Ye and Jay joint album? Let us know in the comments! |
| 'Jersey Shore' Newcomer Deena Is 'Like An Energizer Bunny' Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:52 AM PST 'Me and Angelina have no similarities at all,' Snooki's BFF says of replacing ex-housemate when new season kicks off on Thursday.
"Jersey Shore" newcomer Deena Nicole Cortese recently told us she brings "a lot of positive energy to the show." That's at least partly true, if the first episode of the new season is any indication of what's to come as the cast returns from a Miami Beach sojourn. The pint-size Jersey native brings the party from the moment she steps into the Seaside Heights house, declaring, alongside gal pal Snooki, "Party's here!" We won't say what happens next, except that there's a whole lot of positive energy, followed by a seriously negative roomie vs. roomie blowout.
But whether she's kicking back in the rooftop hot tub or hurling insults at fellow castmates, there's no doubt Deena is one heck of an entertaining addition to the hit reality show, which debuts Thursday at 10 p.m. ET. "I'm like an Energizer Bunny, and you never know what you're going to get. It's great," Deena told MTV News. "I'm very kindhearted and I'm like a kid at heart. That's just me. I love life and I show how much I love life. I'm just being myself." And being herself, Deena maintains, means being nothing like ex-castmember Angelina Pivarnick (even if they're both trained dental hygienists). "Me and Angelina have no similarities at all," Deena said. "We're very different. We're completely opposite, like oil and vinegar. I'm very positive. There are ups and downs in the house, but I don't provoke things. I just like everything to be a good time. Positive energy is a blast." The new season of MTV's "Jersey Shore" premieres Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos |
| 'Breaking Dawn,' 'Super 8' Among 2011's Most Enigmatic Movies Posted: 05 Jan 2011 03:52 AM PST We dig for clues about a spate of eagerly anticipated flicks that filmmakers have shrouded in secrecy.
Sometimes at the movies, as in life and crappy relationships, there is no mystery. Just one look at the poster for the Ashton Kutcher/ Natalie Portman rom-com "No Strings Attached" tells us everything we need to know about that late-January release. Other 2011 films, however, are still shrink-wrapped in secrecy and stamped with a big fat "Huh?" The brains behind these movies have managed an impressive task in our blog post-a-minute times: keeping the public guessing. Check out five of this year's most enigmatic projects. "Apollo 18," March 4 And that's about all we know. A viral site and social networking accounts haven't added any pieces to the puzzle. Who's starring, how the plot unfolds, what the tone will be — all these details remain unknown. And that's exactly how the Weinstein Company wants it. "Super 8," June 10 Helpful! A teaser trailer showcased a fiery train crash in the wake of the closing of Area 51, the purported locus of government-backed alien experimentation. Post-crash, some kind of ultra-strong creature tries to bust out of a cargo hold. These visual crumbs are all we have to go on for now. "Paranormal Activity 3," October 21 "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," November 18 "Project X," November 23 Late last year, star Miles Teller dished us a bit of info when he spoke to MTV News about his role. "I play a kid who graduated from the high school the year before, kind of like the cool guy, cool dude on campus and brings a level of excitement and energy and other party favors to the party," he said. Is Teller the guy who contributes to the "f---ed up incident," in much the same way Zach Galifianakis catalyzed "The Hangover" with some secretly delivered roofies? Is it messed up to say we hope so? Which of these mostly under-wraps movies are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos |
| Taylor Swift And Jake Gyllenhaal Break Up Posted: 04 Jan 2011 03:55 AM PST A source tells People magazine that their relationship 'ended last month.'
Just when everyone was getting excited about how long Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift would last as a couple come reports that they are no longer together. According to People, Gyllenhaal and Swift have not been together for quite some time. "They're over," a source told the mag about the short-lived relationship. "It ended last month." Gyllenhaal and Swift started the rumor mill churning with whispers of their romance back in October, when they both showed up to support pal Emma Stone when she hosted "Saturday Night Live." After that, the lovebirds were spotted together in Brooklyn then laughing and getting ice cream sundaes in Big Sur, California. Things heated up in the media when reports surfaced that Gyllenhaal had allegedly dropped $150,000 to fly swift to the U.K. to hang out with him while he promoted "Love & Other Drugs." Then, at Thanksgiving, "Jaylor" reportedly spent the holiday with Gyllenhaal's sister, Maggie, and her husband, Peter Sarsgaard. Despite all the reports of the pair having been seen together, taking trips, etc., neither Swift nor Gyllenhaal ever commented on the supposed romance. The most we got from the country star was that her rumored boyfriend's latest movie "Love & Other Drugs" was "good." "I write in great detail about my personal life," she told Entertainment Weekly. "But I don't talk about it." If "Swiftenhaal" are indeed no more, perhaps the actor and pop star are the first victims of the predicted fallout from "mistletoe syndrome," a phenomenon that occurs from roughly November through February, often brought on by the warm fuzzy feelings surrounding the holidays. Related Artists |
| Exclusive: Paramore React To Josh Farro's 'Exit Statement' Posted: 04 Jan 2011 09:59 AM PST Band opens up about Farro brothers' departure during 'Paramore: The Last Word,' live on MTV.com Friday at 4 p.m. ET.
FRANKLIN, Tennessee — Hayley Williams isn't going to deny any of it. Not the anger, the sense of betrayal she felt two weeks ago when reading Josh Farro's "Exit Statement," or the bewilderment over the bizarre set of circumstances that led to that statement. But more than anything, she's not going to deny her overwhelming desire to put the whole incident behind her ... which is why MTV News flew to Tennessee last Thursday to talk to Williams and her Paramore bandmates Taylor York and Jeremy Davis about the split with the Farro brothers, and their plans to move forward without them. Because, as they told us, once 2010 came to a close they had no intention of addressing the topic anymore.
"There's been a lot of things said online, especially in the past week, and it sucks ... it sucks to read it, and it also sucks to know that responding isn't really going to help, online, because things travel so terribly on the Internet," Williams said. "So we really wanted the opportunity to show our fans that we're OK, you know? The three of us are still here, we're not going anywhere. A lot of kids are still asking if the band is breaking up, and that just goes to show how broken the communication online can be, when rumors start traveling. So this is our way of showing that there's a future and we're stoked for it." MTV News will examine the band's past and future in "Paramore: The Last Word," a live stream on MTV.com on Friday, January 7, at 4 p.m. ET. Because unlike any other band of their stature and status, Paramore just can't seem to escape the past. To this day, questions exist about their formation, talk of Williams' initial pseudo-career as a solo artist and about the group's early days as an indie-label act with major-label backing. And if, by some bizarre circumstance, you weren't aware of any of that, well then Josh Farros' statement probably brought you up to speed. A large portion of our interview last week dealt specifically with Josh's central points — points the band deemed "irrelevant" — and, on Wednesday, we'll publish Paramore's responses to them. But we figured the best place to start with a situation this complex is at the beginning: with the band's first reactions to Farro's statement, which turned what had been a rather amicable split into something else entirely. "I don't know if I got a phone call or an e-mail, but I woke up to it, basically, and that sucked, and I was not happy," Williams said. "And yeah, it hurts, because what we were told was that they weren't happy, they didn't want to do this, and you can't be mad at someone for not feeling something. ... But then when it really became about all these other things, I was very surprised and kind of felt led on, almost. We've been doing this for six, seven years now. I don't think any of this has been in vain, for any of us ... and I don't think anyone should discredit it." "It was a drag. ... Once we released our statement, we all knew they would probably release something," guitarist Taylor York added. "So I think we were all kind of bracing ourselves. You know, breakups are hard, and there's a lot of feelings so we kind of, in a way, we expected there to be something weird. So, yeah, it was really hard to read, just because it seemed like a lot of the stuff was pretty irrelevant to what happened. I think that was the weird thing, 'cause it just didn't seem really necessary." Of course, Williams and York said all of this in carefully measured, downright diplomatic tones. You get the feeling, had we sat down with them on the morning of December 22, immediately following Farros' statement, their reactions would've been slightly different. But Paramore made it clear that are trying very hard not to get angry, if not for the sake of the band, then for the sake of their fans. "You feel every single type of emotion possible when something like this happens with someone that either was — or is — very close to you, you just feel everything, all at once," Williams smiled. "I've never felt so ... I don't know, I couldn't even figure out how I felt. But after realizing, like Taylor said, that it was kind of going to happen this way, you've just got to know that what's important is the three of us are still here, and that we want to do this, and that's the positive part about this." MTV News will be unveiling our exclusive interview with Paramore on Friday at 4 p.m. ET with "Paramore: The Last Word," a live stream on MTV.com that will feature in-depth analysis of the band's future, real-time discussion with their biggest fans and exclusive footage of the band, past and present. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Golden Globes Tap Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Lopez As Presenters Posted: 04 Jan 2011 03:55 AM PST Matt Damon will present the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime-achievement award to Robert De Niro during the January 16 awards show.
With the 68th annual Golden Globes a little more than a week away, it's time to find out what famous faces we'll be seeing onstage January 16 from the Beverly Hilton Hotel — in addition to the nominees, of course. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Tuesday (January 4) via Twitter the names of three presenters. The lucky lady and gentlemen are: new "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez, "Twilight" superstar Robert Pattinson and "True Grit" actor Matt Damon. It was not announced for which categories Lopez and Pattinson will present, but Damon will present the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime-achievement award to Robert De Niro. The annual event, which is one of the few awards shows to recognize achievements in both television and film, is always a star-studded affair. Katie Holmes, Blair Underwood and Josh Duhamel announced the nominations back in December, which singled out "The King's Speech," starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, with seven nods in categories including Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director. "Black Swan" and "The Social Network" were the next most-nominated films, with four nods each. Many critics agreed that the most surprising nominations went to Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie for the "The Tourist," which received lukewarm reviews. In the world of television, "Glee" was once again the most-nominated TV series, followed by critical darlings and award favorites "30 Rock" and "Mad Men." The 68th annual Golden Globe Awards will air live Sunday, January 16, at 8 p.m. ET, hosted by awards-show scene stealer and "Office" creator Ricky Gervais. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber's 2011 Wish List Includes Grammy Win, Haircut Posted: 04 Jan 2011 03:52 AM PST 'If I win a Grammy that would be awesome,' the teen pop sensation tells MTV News.
Justin Bieber had a huge 2010, and the well-coifed teen star seems poised to have an even bigger 2011. Along with his "Never Say Never" movie set for a February release, an album in the works, more touring and perhaps more canoodling with Selena Gomez, Bieber has a big goal on his docket: to take home one of the biggest prizes in the music industry — a Grammy.
"This year, I mean, I hope that I win a Grammy, 'cause I'm up for two," he told MTV News. "So if I win a Grammy that would be awesome." Of course, Bieber isn't expecting anything at the big awards show this February. Like most nominees, he says he's just honored to have been recognized for his work. "Even if I didn't win anything, I would still be happy because I was nominated, and that's pretty big in itself," he explained. "It's gonna be big. The Grammys are definitely something I've looked forward to, so this year's going to be definitely really big." So, what other big plans does Bieber have in store for the recently launched New Year? Brace yourselves, Beliebers. It has something to do with his hair. "I think after my movie I might cut my hair a little shorter," he admitted. Last week, as the year came to a close, Bieber tweeted about his action-packed 2010. "Chillin and happy. Its been a fun year with a lot of blessings," he wrote. "Some crazy rumors but so much love and memories. We r just gettin started!! So enjoy the holidays. Get crazy and have some laughs. Life is too short. At least that is what they tell me. #newyearsIsComin" Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Nas Reveals He Considered Giving Up Solo Projects Posted: 04 Jan 2011 04:05 AM PST MC tells MTV News he got deep into Distant Relatives collabo, 'but it's that time' for a Nas album.
He went from Nasty Nas to Nas Escobar, blossoming into a mature voice that could collaborate with the likes of dancehall star Damian Marley for a full-length album. But As Nas' street-edged material has continued to leak online, the question is which Nas will show up on his next effort, due later this year: Nasty or an entirely new persona? Neither, according to the Queensbridge MC.
"Sometimes, you can approach a record and can think, I got to take care of this person and I got to take care of that person, but you really got to take care of you," Nas recently told MTV News. "I look at Michael Jackson, and before he passed away, I can only imagine the pressure he had to live up to for the next moonwalk," he continued. "And the reality is physically, he wasn't able to live up to that. I would have loved to see him come up with the next level, without even dancing, just using his creativity. It's all about evolving and that's what I want to do, evolve." Nas spent last year touring in support of Distant Relatives, his joint project with Marley. The rapper said he was so comfortable working alongside Bob Marley's offspring that he momentarily considered putting his solo career on the back burner. "I been so caught up into me and [Damian's] thing that I started to get used to it," Nas recalled. "Like, I didn't want to do the solo thing for a while. Me and D have just been doing our thing, reaching millions of people, but it's that time." For his next album, Nas said he expects to bundle the material with the latest volume of his Lost Tapes series. He still isn't sure, however, whether his current label will release the album. "It's not safe to say that it's gonna be on Def Jam," he told MTV News. "You know, news at 11," he laughed. "We coming with the information on that soon." Are you looking to the next Nas album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Is Rock Dead? Not If Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, More Can Help It Posted: 03 Jan 2011 10:16 PM PST Rock bands had a hard time breaking through in 2010, but our critics say new indie groups might be nirvana for the genre.
There was a time not long ago when good-old fashioned meat-and-potatoes rockers like Nickelback, Hinder and Disturbed frequently landed albums in the top 10 and reeled off solid chart singles. Then came a new generation of bands like MGMT, Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire who were heralded as the saviors of a limping-along genre that had been overtaken by pop cuties like Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. "In 2010, we just didn't see the people like the MGMTs, who potentially could have taken over the top from being a great niche artist to being a pop sensation [take off]," said Noah Callahan-Bever, editor in chief of Complex magazine, addressing the psychedelic duo's confounding, sometimes confusing second album, Congratulations.
But maybe it was just an off year and, as Elliott Wilson, founder and CEO of Rap Radar, suggested, we're due for the kind of musical flushing of the pipes we experienced back in 1991 with the rise of Nirvana. Back then, music was emerging from an era of spandex and lipstick ruled by a generation of hair-metal bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe, as well as mega-selling boy bands like New Kids on the Block, when the punk-fueled trio started a revolution that shook up the industry. With the airwaves currently flooded with hip-hop/R&B collaborations and dance floor-ready pop, Wilson said a riff-fueled correction could be on the horizon. "I think rock is due for that kind of Nirvana-esque explosion," he said. "I think it's just gonna be the right artist with something different, with more of the tradition of the foundations of rock — great melodies and songwriting, hard guitars and a kick-ass kind of attitude." With rap stars such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake and Lil Wayne taking on the mantle of rock stars thanks to fast-selling albums, hit singles, major tours and an embrace of live backing bands, what rock needs to storm back is a group with a dynamic frontman who can capture music lovers' attention, or a sound that can spawn a million imitators. In the meantime, urban artists have certainly taken their cues from rockers, with Rihanna employing heavy guitars on "Rockstar 101," Wayne releasing his "rock" album, Rebirth, last year, and Jay-Z opening for U2 and reportedly cooking up a collaboration with the White Stripes' Jack White called "Ray Bans." And while 2011 will not suffer from a lack of new music from rockers, with tentatively scheduled new efforts from U2, the Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Radiohead, the Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age, My Morning Jacket, a reunited Blink-182, the Decemberists and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, we're still looking for the act that will help tip the balance. Like so much of the music biz, the rock charts in 2010 showed a further splintering of the audience for the genre, according to New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica. "What happened this year is you really got a stratification of the rock audience," he said. "If you look at a Billboard rock chart you got bands like Shinedown, Godsmack and these hard bands that have absolutely no play in major cities. And then at the same time you have this creeping up of Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend who had a lot of traction at indie rock for a long time and all of a sudden had #1 records." Caramanica, like Wilson, argued that the rise of those indie acts is similar to the arc of the Seattle grunge bands of the early 1990s. In time, he predicted, you may see mainstream rock influenced by their sound. "I think a few years from now we'll be sitting here talking about rock bands that grew up on Vampire Weekend." Do you think rock is due for a revival? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber's Magazine Covers Chart His Meteoric Rise Posted: 04 Jan 2011 01:37 AM PST Teen sensation's Vanity Fair cover follows a spate of increasingly high-profile mag appearances.
Justin Bieber first appeared on teen magazines like J-14 and Tiger Beat alongside fellow idols like the Jonas Brothers, but Bieber quickly established himself as a marquee cover boy. He was soon being profiled by industry publications like Billboard and embraced by mainstream mags like People. Bieber's first big solo cover was the March 27, 2010, issue of Billboard. On the cover, Bieber sported a cardigan and those signature bangs while holding up a boom box. That appearance was quickly followed by his April 19, 2010, People magazine cover, which came out just weeks after the release of his My World 2.0. Early on, Bieber proved he was comfortable on shoots. "He's always been a natural in front of the camera," said Melissa Victor, VP, Media & Artist Relations at Island Def Jam Music Group. "I don't think that kid can take a bad frame." By the summer, Bieber was making headlines as teen magazines began proclaiming they had "Bieber Fever." He covered Seventeen's June/July issue and Teen Vogue's October edition. "He has very strong ideas of how he wants to look," Victor said of the Island Def Jam artist's visual evolution. "His mom is already working on a scrapbook of all his covers," she revealed. "She requests every single cover no matter how big or small; everything from J-14 to People magazine." In addition to making the covers of some of the entertainment industry's most popular magazines, the singer also scored some memorable profiles in places like VMAN, Interview and Elle, in which he waded on the beach with Kim Kardashian. With his latest cover for Vanity Fair, Bieber shows he's growing in terms of his public image, from teen heartthrob to pop superstar — one who can be appreciated by both teens and adults. "Justin loves his core audience but it is important for him to continue to evolve as an artist, and with that evolution we want to insure that more and more people of all ages embrace his music," she said. "It is great that these magazines have been there to chronicle his journey." 2011 already looks to be a massive year for Bieber, and Vanity Fair is just the beginning. "He so honored and excited to grace the cover of Vanity Fair. He knows he is in great company, he doesn't take it for granted at all," Victor said. "This is has been a great way to kick off the New Year. But this is just the beginning. His fans can rest assured they will continue to get their 'Bieber Fix.' " What do you think of Justin's Vanity Fair cover? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's Choreographer Films Reality Show Posted: 04 Jan 2011 02:02 AM PST Laurieann Gibson's E! show, tentatively titled 'The Dance Scene,' set for April 10 premiere.
2011 is bound to be a big year for Lady Gaga, and now it seems that her choreographer, Laurieann Gibson, is also poised for a big year. Gibson will star in her own E! reality show, tentatively titled "The Dance Scene," set to premiere in April, EW reports. The show will follow Gibson as she trains assistant choreographers and dancers to work with celebrities. Ryan Seacrest, who will serve as the show's producer, explains, "Dance is at the center of pop culture — today more than ever — and Laurieann is an amazing force accelerating this huge wave of creativity. This series gives audiences an insider's view of how competitive the dance world is, the talent and ambition that a dancer needs to be successful in the Hollywood scene, and the drama that ensues along the way." The eight episode docu-series will officially debut April 10. "The competitive world of the professional dancer is grueling creative work," said Lisa Berger, executive vice president of programming at E!. "Watching Laurieann mentor these young artists, who will do anything to make it in the business, gives us a glimpse into a world where the pursuit of success and excellence outweighs all else." Gibson most recently worked with Gaga, but has also worked with Diddy and Alicia Keys. She's also tasted reality show life, having appeared on "Making the Band" and "Skating With the Stars." This week, Gibson tweeted about filming her show, writing, "In London.. Shooting new show on E"!!! Its gonna be Epic.!!" She later tweeted a photo of her cameramen, adding, "Lookin' good guys! Team BoomKack ... shooting E show in London!!!" Will you watch Laurieann Gibson's new reality show? Tell us in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Gucci Mane Arrested On Probation Violation Posted: 03 Jan 2011 11:37 PM PST Rapper is in an Atlanta hospital pending mental examination before January 24 sentencing.
Troubled rapper Gucci Mane is in custody once again, this time on a probation violation stemming from an arrest in early November. The Atlanta-based star (real name Radric Davis) was arrested on November 2 when police discovered him driving on the wrong side of the road. Police needed to use pepper spray to subdue the rapper but he was later released. The traffic charges against the "Lemonade" lyricist were eventually dropped. On Monday, the rapper appeared in court for a probation hearing related to the incident. Records from the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk's office obtained by MTV News reveal Gucci Mane filed a "special plea of mental incompetency" on December 27 indicating he is unable to "intelligently participate" in the revocation process. Gucci Mane is set to stand before a judge again on January 24. At that time, a sentence will be recommended — expected to be 17 months — for violating his post-prison supervision terms. The rapper was released from prison last May after a previous violation. In the meantime, the rapper has been admitted to Anchor Hospital where he will undergo a "competency hearing" to determine his mental state. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gucci Mane's protégé Waka Flocka Flame is also in custody, on drug and weapons charges. Related Artists |
| Posted: 04 Jan 2011 02:31 AM PST Singer/songwriter was behind hits like 'Baker Street' and 'Stuck in the Middle With You.'
Gerry Rafferty, the singer/songwriter behind smooth '70s hits like "Stuck in the Middle With You," "Right Down the Line" and "Baker Street," died Tuesday (January 4). He was 63. Born in Scotland, Rafferty busked on the streets of Glasgow and formed a folk group called the Humblebums with Billy Connolly, who would go on to become a renowned stand-up comedian and actor. After releasing a pair of albums with the band, Rafferty released a solo record and then formed Stealers Wheel, who scored Stateside success in 1972 — they were viewed as the British Invasion's answer to Crosby, Stills Nash & Young — with their debut album and, of course, the song "Stuck in the Middle With You," which would achieve additional notoriety when it was prominently featured in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" some two decades later. Rafferty would move on from Stealers Wheel and find success as a solo artist with 1978's City to City, which featured "Right Down the Line" and "Baker Street," which features one of the most legendary saxophone solos in music history and has since been covered by everyone from Waylon Jennings to the Foo Fighters. His follow-up, 1979's Night Owl, featured appearances from Richard and Linda Thompson and was a moderate success, though each of his subsequent albums fared poorly on the charts, due in no small part to Rafferty's reluctance to perform live. He continued to release albums into the 2000s, but for the most part, he disappeared from the public eye, and his later years were marked by a series of reports that suggested he was battling alcoholism. Last month, Rafferty reportedly suffered kidney failure and was placed on life support in an English hospital. U.K. newspaper The Guardian reported that he died at his home in Dorset with his daughter Martha by his side. Share your memories of Gerry Rafferty in the comments. Related Artists |
| Britney Spears Vs. Lady Gaga: Perez Hilton Weighs In Posted: 04 Jan 2011 01:14 AM PST 'It's gonna be a very competitive year for females in music, and that's exciting,' celeb blogger explains.
Fans are responding with fervor to the great pop battle of 2011. Who will come out on top when Lady Gaga and Britney Spears release new music this year? Well, it seems that Perez Hilton has a feeling that both ladies will be wildly successful. And he also pointed out that there are a few other horses in this race.
"The gays will be very happy. I think it's going to be super exciting and competitive, especially because Ke$ha's still going to be around and Katy Perry's still around," he told MTV News. "It's gonna be a very competitive year for females in music, and that's exciting." If we're putting Gaga and Brit head to head, who would Perez place his bet on? "When the dust settles, I definitely think that Lady Gaga will win in this battle just because I know personally that Gaga is so hungry and determined to make this album successful that she's going to work so hard," he said. "Whereas Britney and her camp think she doesn't have to work as hard. It will be successful, but I don't think it will be as successful as Gaga's." He may give it to Gaga in the end, but he noted that Britney does have a leg up — initially, at least. "Britney Spears has an advantage coming out first, because if Gaga would have come out first, that would have hurt Britney," he explained. "But Britney can have her moment to shine, and I look forward to hearing [her single]." Do you agree with Perez? Who is your money on? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon And More 2011 Movie Pairs Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:40 AM PST Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill and Johnny Depp & Penelope Cruz also will team up onscreen this year.
As frigid temperatures and frozen banks of filthy snow have taken hold outside the MTV News offices in Times Square, we've been warming ourselves with thoughts of what's to come at the multiplex in 2011, where heavy doses of buttered popcorn and Sno-caps will keep us content all year round. In the months to come, we'll take in a series of films featuring highly anticipated twosomes, some romantic and others platonic, some heavy on explosive laughs, and others featuring heavy explosions. Here are our picks for the big-screen pairings we're most looking forward to checking out this year: Robert Pattinson & Reese Witherspoon in "Water for Elephants" While we enjoyed his turn in last year's romantic drama "Remember Me," a performance opposite the Oscar-winning Witherspoon in "Elephants" will mark Pattinson's biggest opportunity yet to establish himself as a formidable talent. The first trailer mostly showcased RPattz in smoldering default mode. Can the 24-year-old Brit step it up? Can his chemistry with Witherspoon begin to compare, in fan's eyes, with the Bella-Edward-Jacob love triangle? Answers will arrive with the film's release in April. Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill in "Moneyball" The two play fast-talking, ego-heavy execs for the Oakland A's. With a dramatic, real-life story line about the hard-scrabble, small-market ball club and a script that got a makeover from dialogue whiz Aaron Sorkin, "Moneyball" has the perfect framework for a memorable dynamic between Pitt and Hill. Shia LaBeouf & Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" We look forward to seeing how LaBeouf and Huntington-Whiteley play off each other, one a savvy vet of Spielberg and Stone movies, the other a Victoria's Secret model making her big-screen debut. Johnny Depp & Penelope Cruz in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" With Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley out of the picture, the head-butting between Depp's Captain Jack and Cruz's swashbuckling beauty will take center stage. Are we ready to see the softer side of the dreadlocked pirate? Simon Pegg & Nick Frost in "Paul" "Paul" is a sci-fi comedy in which Pegg and Frost play conspiracy-minded friends on a road trip to a purported alien-landing sight, where — much to their surprise — they actually discover an alien. Frost and Pegg excel when challenging themselves with such high-concept comedic obstacles, and if the film's trailers are any indication, they've got another winner on their hands. Daniel Craig & Rooney Mara in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" The "Tattoo" stars have a lot to live up to: The book on which the film is based was a best-seller across the globe, and the Swedish adaptation has garnered plaudits from critics and audiences alike. But we've got high hopes: David Fincher is in the director's chair, and the story line sizzles with emotional stakes and high-tension plot twists. Which onscreen pairing are you most looking forward to in 2011? Tell us your pick in the comments below! For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| Kanye West's Style Guru Talks 'Art And Fashion' Posted: 04 Jan 2011 01:16 AM PST Cassius Marcellus Cornelius Clay tells MTV News about helping the MC develop his Rosewood movement.
From Egyptian jewelry to "wearing women's accessories," as he mentioned himself during the New York premiere of his film "Runaway" in October, Kanye West is always pushing the fashion envelope. Most recently, the MC hired a 20-year-old Yale student named Cassius Marcellus Cornelius Clay to work behind the scenes of his Rosewood movement.
Sporting an eye-catching bowtie made of feathers, Clay described to MTV News his duties for the MC: "We work on art and fashion, and I do a lot of research for style and design things for him." Late last year, Clay's working relationship with West surfaced on the Web, prompting many fans to ask, "When did Kanye meet this guy?" According to Clay, his tide of G.O.O.D. fortune began earlier in 2010. "We met this summer in New York, we became friends, and I really respect him a lot so I'm happy to be working with him," he said. He shies away from being called "Kanye's stylist," but Internet buzz suggests Clay advised Kanye to apologize to Taylor Swift via Twitter in September for interrupting her 2009 Video Music Awards acceptance speech. Still, Clay's main focus is fashion and all things beautiful. "We work on clothes together," he explained. "I'm an art history major at Yale, so my focus is really art and the whole aesthetic culture, and that's really what interests me. And I think that he appreciates it, and it's nice to talk to him about it as well." The style consultant went on to say that he's taken a leave of absence from Yale to focus on his new job. What do you think of Kanye's recent style? Sound off in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kellie Pickler Marries Songwriter Kyle Jacobs Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:19 AM PST The 'American Idol' alum married her longtime boyfriend on January 1.
Kellie Pickler is the latest in a slew of celebrity marriages. Like Valerie Bertinelli and Shania Twain, the country singer got married over New Year's weekend, her rep confirmed. "Country star Kellie Pickler and songwriter Kyle Jacobs were married in an intimate ceremony on Saturday, January 1, 2011, on a private island in the Caribbean," the statement to E! News reads. "No further details or photos are available at this time." The rep added that the wedding took place "somewhere in the Caribbean." In the days prior to her beach ceremony, on December 28, the "American Idol" alum tweeted a photo of herself, dressed in a sparkling dress, and Jacobs, writing, "Crazy about this man." The pair, who began dating in 2008, got engaged on June 15, when Jacobs asked Pickler to marry him on the beach in Florida. "It was the most spiritual moment," Pickler said of the proposal to People.com. "We would've gotten married that night had there been a preacher walking by!" Jacobs chose June 15 to ask Pickler to marry him because it was her late grandmother's birthday. "It turned out to be the most amazing day of my life," she said. "My whole world changed. We both feel like we got my grandmother's blessing. I remember saying to Kyle, 'Baby it's like I'm dreaming — but if this isn't real, I'm going to be very upset!' " When Pickler spoke to UsMagazine.com about Jacobs, she gushed about spending the rest of her life with him. "I'm so excited that when I am home I get to wake up next to him, because no one will love me the way that he does," she said. "I could never love somebody the way I love him. He's my world. I'm so excited about us planning our life together and our future. He's such a man of God, and that's so important." Related Photos Related Artists |
| New Kids On The Block And Backstreet Boys Add 16 Tour Dates Posted: 04 Jan 2011 12:05 AM PST Boy-band supergroup NKOTBSB will hit even more cities on first joint tour.
Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder. And when it's two of the biggest boy bands in modern history that you're missing, go ahead and double that longing. That might explain why the boy-band supergroup NKOTBSB (otherwise known as New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys) have announced plans to nearly double the amount of dates on their first-ever joint tour. After initially announcing two dozen dates slated to kick off June 2 in Uncasville, Connecticut, and run through a July 9 date in Vancouver, British Columbia, the scream-feeder pairing will now stay on the road through July 30 due to what promoter Live Nation called "overwhelming" demand for tickets. The 41-date swing will now wrap up with a July 30 show at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The additional dates include shows in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Orlando, Cleveland and Atlantic City. In their biggest tune-up to date for the outing, the group rocked it in front of millions on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" eight months after they set fans' hearts aflutter by performing onstage together for the first time at a sold-out NKOTB show at Radio City Music Hall in New York in June. Then they knocked it out of the park in November when they closed the American Music Awards with a medley that included Backstreet's "I Want It That Way" and NKOTB's "Hangin' Tough." The tour will feature appearances by all but one of the groups' original members: Joey McIntyre, AJ McLean, Jordan Knight, Howie Dorough, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Littrell, Danny Wood and Nick Carter (BSB's Kevin Richardson left the group in 2006). Tickets for the new dates go on sale on January 15. NKOTBSB tour dates: » 6/2 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena |
| Rick Ross Premieres 'Made Men' Single, Announces Album Title Posted: 04 Jan 2011 08:32 AM PST First single from God Forgives, I Don't features Drake, mentions Rihanna and others in lyrics.
Rick Ross is just on one of those runs right now. From mixtapes to guest appearances to albums, the Miami MC is churning out quality work at an incredible pace. The rapper just released his latest mixtape offering, Ashes to Ashes, over the holidays, but not even a week into the new year, he premiered the single from his next official project. Ross' "Made Men," featuring Drake, debuted on Tuesday (January 4) on New York hip-hop station Power 105's morning show, "The Breakfast Club."
The track is the first single from the Boss' forthcoming album, God Forgives, I Don't. (The title is the same as upstart Cory Gunz's forthcoming EP.) "I just wanted to put some final touches on it," Ross told show hosts DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne tha God about why "Made Men" wasn't included on his mixtape. "I'm back in the lab. Meek Mill, Wale, they back in the lab now. I'm working on my project." The rapper also discussed the prospect of potentially signing newcomer Mill and Wale to his own Maybach Music Group. "It's looking real good," he said. "We gonna be making that announcement soon." On "Made Men," Ross and Drake swap boastful rhymes about fast cars and fine women. "Two-door Bugatti coup, I call it Katy Perry," Ross raps. "Wiz Khalifa papers, my favorite berries/ That '65, I call it Rihanna/ It got a red top but it's white like Madonna." Drake slyly mirrors Ross' rhymes, but he's sure to get folks talking with his reference to former fling Rih-Rih. "Spending tomorrow money, I call it mañana," he spits. "Off the rack just ain't my style, I call a designer/ One of my baddest women ever, I call her Rihanna/ But that's because her name is Rihanna." "I think it's the beginning of a lot of big things to come," Ross told MTV News just before the holidays about his upcoming tunes. "So I wanted to give the people something before the year was out ... because I have a new album I'm cooking up ... I feel like it's a new beginning. There's a lot of things that got to go. And this is the beginning of some new things that [will] pop off in music. Some new sounds, some new styles, some new techniques, some new bosses. And that's what it's about." As of press time, a release date for God Forgives, I Don't had not been set. Related Artists |
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