My Music, My Way: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Doug Stanhope Speaks

We sat down with Doug Stanhope last year and got his thoughts on a variety of subjects, and a selection of those opinions have been captured in the video above. In the clip, Stanhope talks about why he chose to record his upcoming album Before Turning the Gun On Himself in Salt Lake City, Utah; his opinion of critics as a class; and how he got his start in comedy.

Before Turning the Gun On Himself will be available digitally starting March 6; click here to pre-order it on iTunes.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/stanhope-video-20120229

Drowning Pool Jay-Z

American Idol Recap - The 5 Best Of the Top 13 Men

The judges seemed to like everything in this first round of live televised performances for season 11 of American Idol. However, there were definitely performances that stood out beyond others. The most memorable for tonight ranged from all stops out gospel to one of the most delicate ballads of the 1980s. Find out which five performances rose above the rest in the American Idol Top 13 Men Recap.

...

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Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/28/american-idol-recap-the-5-best-of-the-top-13-men.htm

Tom Waits Faith No More

'Star Trek 2' Cast 'Welcoming' To Benedict Cumberbatch

'It's a great thing to come into something that everybody's familiar with and knows each other very well,' new addition tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner

Benedict Cumberbatch
Photo: MTV News

With all the hullabaloo caused by the recently leaked photos from the "Star Trek 2" set, people are getting a wee bit distracted from the bigger picture surrounding the film: They're actually making the sequel, people! Let's be content with that happy news and the fact that all our favorite castmembers from the first film have returned, as well as a few very welcome additions, chief among them current actor-in-everything Benedict Cumberbatch.

MTV News recently caught up with the "Sherlock," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "War Horse" actor to find out how things are going on set and his thoughts about his castmates' very high praise for how the British actor has elevated their collective game.

"Well, it's very sweet to say," Cumberbatch told us at Elton John's Oscar viewing party in regards to Chris Pine's compliments. "I actually did a year at drama school, so I'm not that trained; I'm not that classical, but I'm flattered. I think they are brilliant on that show, and it's a real privilege to be on that set. There's a patter and a kind of knowledge of who they're playing and the other main characters, which I'm learning a lot from. It's just good fun. It's great to work with Chris. He's very professional. So is Zach [Quinto], who I've been working a lot with; I adore him, he's a brilliant, brilliant guy.

"I'm kinda getting busy with the film now," Cumberbatch teased of his villainous character's actions in and around deep space. "I've been away doing other things — 'The Hobbit,' which was fantastic. And so my part of the film is really sorta kicking in now. It's great fun, great, great fun. But what I'm trying to say is it's a great thing to come into something that everybody's familiar with and knows each other very well. So it's [in] a weird way a very easy thing to get up to speed with, because everybody is so welcoming and gets along with one another."

Check out everything we've got on "Star Trek 2."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680100/star-trek-2-benedict-cumberbatch.jhtml

Axl Rose The Rolling Stones

Nick Jonas Had 'Fun' Playing A Bad-Boy Teen Star On 'Smash'

'It's kind of an odd pair, she and I together,' Nick tells MTV News of going head-to-head with Anjelica Huston on tonight's episode.
By Jocelyn Vena

Nick Jonas
Photo: MTV News

For the past few weeks, theater lovers have been lining up to see Nick Jonas on Broadway in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." But on Monday night (February 27), fans can catch him on a different kind of Broadway show when he makes a much-anticipated cameo on NBC's "Smash."

Nick plays a Lyle West, cocky teen star who negotiates over money with a producer played by Anjelica Huston. And while Nick is well-mannered in real life, his brash, small-screen persona might surprise fans.

"He's a fun character," the Jonas Brother told MTV News last week. "Lyle is very precocious and definitely a bit different than I am in reality. But there are a lot of similarities too: Lyle started off in musical theater [and so did I]. That's how he knows all the people involved in 'Marilyn' [the musical at the center of the show]. ... He's a fun character; I hope he can come back again."

When Lyle isn't busy trying to romance the ladies, he's helping to create original music for the musical and putting his spin on Michael Buble songs. But besides performing those musical numbers, Jonas said he reveled in going head-to-head with screen legend Huston as her character tries to shake him down for money to help fund the show.

"Working with her was an unbelievable experience and she's a legend, obviously," Nick said, "And was so great to talk to off-camera as well. Being in the room with her, first of all, was an honor and to be able to work opposite her in a scene was really interesting. It's kind of an odd pair, she and I together kind of negotiating like that, but it's sort of fun and sweet and works and that what was nice about finding that chemistry with her. I love her. I think she's a ray of light."

Jonas first announced the cameo late last year and fans have been eagerly awaiting the episode, which airs tonight on NBC at 10 p.m. ET, ever since. When MTV News asked him what we could expect, he teased, "You [get] to see everything — almost everything. There's quite a bit.

"If we're gonna open that up, then there's quite a bit that you didn't see," he joked. "But that's why I have to come back."

Are you excited to watch Nick's debut on "Smash"? Tell us in the comments!

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Nick Jonas And The Administration Rock Philly

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680064/nick-jonas-smash.jhtml

Katy Perry Justin Bieber

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Oscars 2012: Winners And Losers

From Emma Stone to Angelina Jolie's right leg, MTV News relives the best and worst of Sunday night's show.
By Eric Ditzian

Emma Stone arrives at the 84th annual Academy Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

The winners of the 2012 Oscars have already been announced. Those lucky men and women have already gone off, gleaming statuettes in hand, to jump from celeb-filled party to celeb-filled party and learn how to carry a champagne glass in one hand and an Academy Award in the other without spilling the former and breaking the latter.

But the official winners' list only tells part of the story of Sunday night's show. There were nipples that might have slipped, legs that poked bizarrely out and an ash-filled urn malfunction on the red carpet. There were front-runners who fell short and dark horses who pulled out unexpected victories. Who were the true winners and losers at the Oscars this year? Let's take a look...

Winner: Billy Crystal
Hauled out from some cryogenic awards-show freezer where time does not pass and wrinkles are not allowed to crease one's face, Crystal emerged onto the Oscar stage for the ninth time ... and didn't make us fall asleep. Much to our surprise, he was consistently funny (and at times, shockingly and thankfully, a tad mean), and delivered a bunch of LOL-worthy video bits.

Loser: Anne Hathaway and James Franco
Remember when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thought it needed to get all edgy, recruiting two hot young things to helm the biggest night in Hollywood? Hollywood, in turn, hated them. The ghosts of Hathaway and Franco's phoned-in performances could be seen every time Crystal belted out a parody tune or a Borscht Belt zinger to the sustained guffaws of his audience.

Winner: Jennifer Lopez's nipple
It was the singer's most talked-about release in at least a decade. And it may not have actually, ya know, been released from beneath her dress.

Loser: Angelina Jolie's right leg
'Cause, seriously, that was just weird.

Winner: The screenwriter who made fun of Angelina Jolie's right leg
After the "Descendants" won Best Adapted Screenplay, Jim Rash (who also happens to be a series regular on "Community") took to the stage and thrust his leg out in silent, searing mockery of Jolie's prominently displayed body part.

Winner: Emma Stone
She can sing, she can bust into an awesome old-timey voice, she can make fun of Ben Stiller and he'll just take it. The evening was filled with surprisingly funny presenters, but Stone's shtick won the night. Casting directors, listen up: Get that girl a big-screen musical stat!

Winner: Octavia Spencer
Long an awards-season darling, "The Help" ended up only nabbing a single Oscar. Best Supporting Actress winner Spencer made the best of the opportunity, breaking down in tears during a heartfelt acceptance speech in which she thanked everyone from her castmates to the state of Alabama.

Loser: Meryl Streep
Though she won Best Actress — which, according to our estimates, was the 37th Oscar win of her career — even Streep herself appeared sheepish to have swiped the category away from front-runner Viola Davis.

Winner: Sacha Baron Cohen
Handed the gift of a temporary ban from the Academy because he planned to walk the red carpet as his character from "The Dictator," Baron Cohen played the PR war game perfectly, releasing an amusing YouTube video before the show and then, after the Academy relented, spilling the faux-ashes of Kim Jong Il on Ryan Seacrest during a red-carpet interview.

Loser: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The academy not only proved it had no sense of humor when it banned Baron Cohen, but showed it had no spine when it reinstated him and ended up posting his image on the front page of its Oscar website.

Loser: Michael Douglas
While it was great to see Douglas out on stage and looking so healthy after his battle with cancer, everyone was disappointed that his dad wasn't the one standing in front of the cameras. Then 94-year-old Kirk Douglas' show-stealing intro at last year's Oscars was bizarre and uncomfortable and kinda amazing.

Winner: Zach Galifianakis' inability to pronounce Zach Galifianakis' name
The white tux-clad presenter, perhaps reaching out to Michel Hazanavicius, his brother in unpronounceable surnames, butchered his own family name in the middle of a memorable bit with Will Ferrell.

Winner: The women of "Bridesmaids"
They may not have won an award, but their continuing bit about a Martin Scorsese drinking game was hilarious. And the fact that they were able to bring some humor to the shorts categories — comparing them to the male anatomy — was an impressive feat.

Loser: Bradley Cooper's mustache
Cooper might be the reigning Sexiest Man Alive, but his lip fuzz stood out as the night's creepiest collection of facial hair.

Loser: Bubba Smith
Every year, a handful of beloved actors are left off Oscar's "In Memoriam" montage. In 2012, poor Bubba Smith, who memorably played Hightower in the "Police Academy" movies and who passed away in August at the age of 66, didn't make the cut.

Who do you think were the biggest winners and losers of the night? Leave your comment below!

The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Keep it locked at MTV.com for updates on the night's big winners and the best red-carpet fashion.

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Ryan Seacrest Surprised By Sacha Baron Cohen's Oscar Stunt

'I definitely did not know that he was going to do that,' Seacrest said on his radio show on Monday.
By Gil Kaufman

Ryan Seacrest and Sacha Baron Cohen at the Oscars on Sunday
Photo: E! Entertainment

Who better to try to flap than the unflappable Ryan Seacrest? If he could put up with Simon Cowell's constant attacks for nearly a decade, surely the 'Crest could handle a sneak attack from the Dictator.

And, true to his laser-focus reputation, when Sacha Baron Cohen's Dictator ash-bombed Seacrest on the Oscars red carpet on Sunday night, the "American Idol" host kept his composure. After all, he had to know that SBC was not just going to show up in costume, but was very likely going to create one of his infamous scenes to drive up some hype for his upcoming tyrant spoof.

"I was surprised, but not surprised. I definitely did not know that he was going to do that," Seacrest said on Monday morning (February 27) on his radio show, "On Air With Ryan Seacrest," about his surprise when Cohen "accidentally" spilled an urn filled with the purported ashes of late North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il on the TV presenter's tux. "He comes over and I asked him a couple of questions but ... you know that feeling in your gut."

Knowing that Cohen was not going to let him off that easy, Seacrest said in the back of his mind he kept thinking, "This guy isn't coming as the Dictator to not do something ... you know in your gut, you feel like, 'This is going too normally.' " And then when he saw the urn come out, Seacrest could see something coming. "It was getting closer to my chest and then it tipped over. And it wasn't the wind. He spilt it on my tuxedo."

Did we mention Seacrest is hard to rattle? The consummate professional didn't flinch because he smartly followed the advice his mother, Connie, gave him long ago when he was just a wee wannabe presenter: " 'You always want to have two jackets. You never know what's going to happen. You never know what you're going to spill on yourself and you want to be red carpet-ready at all times. That's your job.' So I had another jacket." Seacrest had a great attitude about the gag, which drew a thumbs-up from some of the other celebs MTV News talked to at Elton John's annual Oscar-viewing party and charity gala.

How do you think Ryan Seacrest handled Sacha Baron Cohen's stunt? Leave your comment below!

The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Keep it locked at MTV.com for updates on the night's big winners and the best red-carpet fashion.

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Oscars 2012: Red Carpet Highlights

3 Days Grace Avenged Sevenfold

Meet Ed Sheeran

He won two Brit Awards, and he has been cited as one of the top artists to watch in 2012. Just who is this hot new artist that blasted ...

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Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/25/meet-ed-sheeran.htm

Shinedown Collective Soul

Rihanna Angrily Defends Chris Brown On Twitter; Logic Now No Longer Exists

Last week we reported the news that Rihanna had recorded a new single with Chris Brown, her former boyfriend who A) violently and repetitively punched her in the face, B) repeatedly bit her neck and ear, C) slammed her face over and over again with a car door, D) publicly displayed little to no remorse [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/8_bGWKAXCfM/

Offspring Ozzy Osbourne

Monday, February 27, 2012

Carly Rae Jepsen's "More Fun Than An Official Music Video" Video

Official music videos are almost never this much fun. Last weekend a group of young pop stars, Justin Bieber, his girlfriend Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, and members of Big Time Rush among them, released a lip-synched homemade style video interpretation of Carly Rae Jepsen's #1 Canadian pop hit "Call Me Maybe." It has become a viral sensation having been viewed more than eight million times. It is for good reason. The whole clip is pure good-natured fun.

...

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Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/24/carly-rae-jepsens-more-fun-than-an-official-music-video-video.htm

Joe Perry N.E.R.D.

Seth Rogen Criticizes The Grammys And Chris Brown At The Independent Spirit Awards

Along with a lot of other people (mostly the all the sane people on planet Earth), comic actor Seth Rogen apparently does not care much for rapper Chris Brown and his famous, girlfriend-assaulting, green-room destroying, tantrum-throwing temper.� Nor does he seem to look highly upon the Grammys for continuing to celebrate and award Brown, despite [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/bIqPCpSAdh8/

N.E.R.D. Simon and Garfunkel

Matt Heafy Interview

Trivium frontman Matt Heafy was interviewed by Full Metal Jackie on her radio show last weekend, and the full transcript has been posted on Loudwire.

Said Matt about their recently-completed tour with In Flames, "When we toured with them in 2006, we were direct support – so exact slot, same time, same bands except there was DevilDriver and Zao before us. On that tour I got egged. We got heckled numerous nights, bottled with glass bottles, shot glasses, plastic bottles, bottles filled with piss, kids waiting for us outside our van threatening us – same cities, same amount of people and it was really rough.

"This time around, 100% of the crowd are completely into our show every single night and every single night keeps getting better. So the fact that we can see how much the U.S. has come around for us is pretty amazing. It look a little while. We’ve been a band since 1999 and touring since 2004 – and now the excitement is as if we’re some new band or something."

He also talked a little bit about the band's plans for the near future, saying "The day this tour finishes in Chicago we fly to Australia for Soundwave with System of a Down, Slipknot, No Doubt, In Flames – so it’ll be like our ninth tour with In Flames. Basically every other band that exists including a ton of ’90s nu-metal bands [will be there]. So we’ll be doing that, fly back to Los Angeles to begin the Asking Alexandria support tour. It’s Asking Alexandria, Trivium, a band yet to be known, which was Dir En Grey, but their singer has to have surgery so they’re gonna flip it in with someone else. Then three other bands are on there as well."

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/trivium-matt-interview-20120223

Rage Against the Machine Foo Fighters

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Matt Heafy Interview

Trivium frontman Matt Heafy was interviewed by Full Metal Jackie on her radio show last weekend, and the full transcript has been posted on Loudwire.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/trivium-matt-interview-20120223

George Harrison Nicki Minaj

Flo Rida Brings A Good Feeling To NBA All-Star Weekend

The rapper performed his record "Good Feeling" during the Saturday activities for night two of All-Star weekend.

Flo Rida
Photo: MTV News

Orlando, Florida-- When it comes to music Flo Rida is a definite all-star, but before he made it big on the radio the Miami rapper had some pretty big hoop dreams. He didn't get to shoot the rock this weekend but Flo set the Amway Arena on fire on Saturday night when he performed his hit single "Good Feeling" moments before the NBA kicked off their annual All-Star Slam Dunk Contest.

"Early on with my boys, we played basketball and loved it so much and one day dreamed of playing basketball," Flo told MTV News immediately after his performance. "So for me to go out there in an environment where I may not be an NBA player, but I'm definitely looked at as a celebrity as well, it's just a blessing and I get chills just thinking about it."

Flo performed his Etta James-sampling "Good Feeling" flanked by a number of energetic dancers. It was a lively showing and for the rapper an unforgettable on as well. "I definitely enjoyed myself out there, you seen me jump around all over the stage," he said.

Performing during the live television broadcast was a thrill for Flo and so was watching the Slam Dunk Contest, which NBA baller Jeremy Evans won thanks to a move where he dunked two different basketballs in one jump. Flo Rida, an accomplished hit-maker who usually is out touring is also looking forward to spending time with his homeys during the star-studded weekend. "Besides that just hanging out with a bunch of my friends who I normally wouldn't see around this time because I'm doing gigs," he said when asked about his weekend highlights.

Flo just narrowly missed his pal Rick Ross last night at the Sheltair Executive Airport Hanger in Orlando. Rozay threw an all-star bash and partied alongside Meek Mill, DJ Holiday and Maybach crew members Dre Films and Spiff TV. Ross and company left, just as Flo was coming in the club. No biggie though, the "Good Feeling" rapper kept the party going into early Sunday morning with R&B singer Pleasure P.

What did you think of Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" performance during the NBA's All-Star Saturday festivities? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679936/flo-rida-brings-good-feeling-nba-allstar-weekend.jhtml

Soundgarden Oasis

The Amity Affliction Playing SXSW!

The Amity Affliction will be performing a free outdoor show, open to the public, on Saturday, March 17 at Red 7 (611 East 7th Street, Austin, TX). They're going to be on the bill of the Alternative Press 100 Bands You Need To Know showcase, headlined by Breathe Carolina, The Used, Forever the Sickest Kids, Cancer Bats and The Early November, with supporting performances by Ghost Thrower, Such Gold, Spycatcher, Tonight Alive, The Company We Keep, We Are the Ocean, Sleeping With Sirens and Cherri Bomb. The show runs from noon to 6 PM on two stages and is absolutely free and open to the public - no RSVP necessary.

The Amity Affliction's latest album, Youngbloods, is on sale for just $3.99 at all Newbury Comics locations and on NewburyComics.com; click here to get it!

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/amity-affliction-sxsw-20120224

Simon and Garfunkel Shinedown

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Photos Of Whitney Houston In Her Funeral Casket Leak; Humanity?s Basically A Lost Cause At This Point

Well, this certainly reaffirms one?s faith in humanity as an essentially decent and dignified species?the National Enquirer is now publishing picture?s of Whitney Houston?s corpse as it was seen at her funeral last weekend.� The past few weeks have seen fervent media coverage of Whitney Houston?s life and death, which is to be understood when [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/Qy4ddSpg4yU/

Robert Plant Drake

B.o.B.'s Ryan Tedder Produced "So Good" Leads The Week's Top New Songs

It is a second great single from B.o.B.'s upcoming second studio album. This time he is in a pop mood and collaborated with Ryan Tedder. It is just ...

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Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/23/b-o-b-s-ryan-tedder-produced-so-good-leads-the-weeks-top-new-songs.htm

Bruno Mars Ray Charles

Matt Heafy Interview

Trivium frontman Matt Heafy was interviewed by Full Metal Jackie on her radio show last weekend, and the full transcript has been posted on Loudwire.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/trivium-matt-interview-20120223

Kanye West The Beatles

Intense Drama In This Week's Glee Songs Report Card

As Glee headed toward its mid-winter hiatus, the show presented some of the most powerful drama of the season. It was also the occasional for annual Regionals performances. There were some outstanding performances on this week's show. Check out the details in this week's Glee songs report card.

Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/22/intense-drama-in-this-weeks-glee-songs-report-card.htm

Black Sabbath Breaking Benjamin

Friday, February 24, 2012

Intense Drama In This Week's Glee Songs Report Card

Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/22/intense-drama-in-this-weeks-glee-songs-report-card.htm

Ray Charles Travie McCoy

Gerard Butler In Rehab

'300' actor reportedly entered treatment three weeks ago for substance abuse and 'pain management.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Gerard Butler
Photo: George Napolitano/FilmMagic

Gerard Butler is currently seeking treatment at the Betty Ford Center.

According to TMZ, the actor is in rehab for a number of substance-abuse problems including prescription drugs and cocaine, but the focus of his problems are in "pain management."

The site reports that his problems stem back to 2006, when he was shooting "300" and the physical demand took a toll on him. The problem was reportedly aggravated on December 18, when he hurt himself on the set of "Of Men and Mavericks" while surfing.

He reportedly entered the rehab facility three weeks ago after he realized he had been using prescription drugs too much and didn't want it to become a full-on addiction. The site reports he is expected to leave sometime Friday (February 24).

He actually opened up about the surfing incident when he appeared on "The Graham Norton Show," calling it a "pretty close call" back in January. "The movie that I'm making is about big surf. I had been out there paddling ... and then suddenly these waves came out of nowhere. I'm paddling on my board and it came and it was about 30 feet high. I was under... I ripped my leash off. I'm just tumbling, tumbling, tumbling. And then I felt the next wave go. All I'm thinking is, 'There's a whole film crew out there,' " he recalled. "I've had a few hairy experiences in training for this movie. This time, I was under for almost a minute."

The incident took place at Maverick, a surf site near Half Moon Bay, California. The film follows Jay Moriarty, a famed young surfer who died at 22 free-diving. Butler plays his mentor, Frosty Hesson.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679841/gerard-butler-rehab.jhtml

Sick Puppies Justin Timberlake

Rihanna Angrily Defends Chris Brown On Twitter; Logic Now No Longer Exists

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David Bowie Alice in Chains

'Mirror Mirror' Star Lily Collins Leads An Enchanted Tour

Snow White herself shows off fantastical forest, crumbling village and dwarves' cottage during MTV News' set visit.
By John Mitchell, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Lily Collins in "Mirror Mirror"
Photo: Snow White Productions

When "Mirror Mirror" hits theaters March 30, moviegoers will be transported to an enchanted land of snowy forests, old-timey villages and lavish castles for a classic retelling of the Snow White fairy tale. But why wait that long when you can get a sneak peek behind the scenes right now?

MTV News' own Josh Horowitz was lucky enough to visit the "Mirror Mirror" set and received a guided tour from Snow White herself, Lily Collins.

"This is where I live," Collins declared while welcoming MTV News to the snowy forest set of the film. She was quick to caution that, unlike real snow, the white stuff piled throughout the woods wasn't exactly appetizing. "It's salt," she warned.

"This is the forest as you can see, obviously. The dwarves' tree house is somewhere in these woods. The majority of the action takes place here," Collins explained. "And I'm in big ball gowns running around in this wood. I'm fighting with Armie [Hammer]."

From the forest, Collins took MTV News to another soundstage, where a dilapidated village was constructed. The place was in disrepair — and, of course, it was all Julia Roberts' fault. "It has seen better days, yes," Collins told MTV News. "The story is that the queen [Roberts] has spent all the money, and so the village is poor."

Next, the 22-year-old "Abduction" actress introduced Josh to the dwarves' cottage, which features several small beds and a shorter-than-usual kitchen table.

"This is the classic, iconic dwarves' house, as you can tell by the little things around. So much goes on in this house," the actress said. "Everything from the iconic waking up scene with the dwarves and I [to] Armie — imagine Armie, how tall he is, he is in here quite a bit."

The lovely actress even invited Josh to stay in the cottage. "Don't you want to stay? Take a little bed up there?" she asked. Alas, none of the beds built for the seven dwarves would be a good fit and Collins knows it, having given them a go herself. "I tried fitting in one of those too; they're really small," she admitted.

Check out everything we've got on "Mirror Mirror."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679747/mirror-mirror-lily-collins.jhtml

Filter Janis Joplin

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Joe Perry, Slash Join Lenny Kravitz Onstage

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry showed up at one of Lenny Kravitz's Las Vegas shows, and joined the band onstage! Kravitz posted a photo on his Facebook page, with the caption "Joe Perry, you killed 'Are You Gonna Go My Way.' Thank you. Lenny."

Kravitz was also joined by Slash, about which he wrote, "Slash, thanks for rocking 'Always On the Run' with me in Vegas. Miss you. Lenny."

The photos (click "Show Media" to see both) were shot by Mathieu Bitton.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/lenny-kravitz-joe-perry-slash-20120222

Eagles Metallica

'Walking Dead' Creator Bites Into Image Expo

MTV News speaks with Robert Kirkman about what fans of the undead can expect from Oakland, California, convention.
By Josh Wigler

Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh in "The Walking Dead"
Photo: AMC

If the worst should happen and a zombie apocalypse occurs this weekend, there's no safer place in America to be than Northern California: "Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman will be in Oakland as part of the inaugural Image Expo, greatly increasing your survival odds if a pack of flesh-hungry walkers swarms the scene.

"The Image Expo is an Image-centric comic book convention, so all of the guests have something to do with Image Comics," Kirkman told MTV News during a recent phone interview. "All of the Image founders will be there, as well as new creators who are doing comics with Image this year: Ed Brubaker, Brian K. Vaughan, we have Jonathan Hickman coming here ... all kinds of cool guests."

Running from February 24-26, the first-ever Image Expo makes its debut during the 20th anniversary of Image Comics. Kirkman, a longtime Image reader and current partner at the company, considers the anniversary a milestone achievement for a publisher that originally launched with a very uncertain future.

"There were a lot of naysayers back in 1992 when the company was formed, saying they'd be gone within six months," Kirkman said. "For Image to still be around, still generating new ideas and content and bringing in new creators into the industry, taking a lot of chances on people who've never been published before, that's one of the things that Image does the best. It's really cool that this vision of a company created by creators for creators, that offers the greatest creator-owned deal in the industry and gives everyone the kind of freedom every creator wants to have, is still standing."

Indeed, Image has plenty of new creators to brag about going into 2012. Kirkman identified "Captain America" writer Ed Brubaker's new thriller "Fatale" as one of the books he's most excited for this year. "Y: The Last Man" scribe Brian K. Vaughan's upcoming sci-fi epic "Saga" is another of Kirkman's must-read books in 2012. But Kirkman is equally excited about the arrival of some new creative voices at Image this year, including the company's onetime PR and marketing coordinator Joe Keatinge, who launches a new series titled "Hell Yeah" in early March.

"There are a lot of things he's involved in that I'm very excited about, but the fact that he's launching a creator-owned book, 'Hell Yeah,' is really great," Kirkman said about Keatinge's upcoming projects. "Image is the place that brings in new talent and shepherds them into the comics industry, and I see big things from this Keatinge kid."

Of course, Kirkman has plenty of his own books he's bringing to the table as well. During Image Expo, Kirkman will champion some of his fan-favorite titles including "Walking Dead" and "Invincible," as well as his new comic "Thief of Thieves" that debuted from his Skybound imprint earlier this year.

"It's about a guy named Conrad Paulson who lives a double life as an international thief named Redmond, who is rumored to be the greatest thief who ever lived," Kirkman said of the book's premise. "But he has a problem: he chose his thief life over his personal life, and he has an estranged ex-wife and a son he's never talked to. He has a ton of regrets. The book is about him trying to get his life in order and turned around, turning his back on his career as a thief... but finding that he is completely and utterly unable to do that. He's completely addicted to the thrill of stealing objects. He tries to work around that by working out a way to steal for the greater good."

Taking a page from his "Walking Dead" television experience, Kirkman is implementing a writer's-room approach to "Thief of Thieves." Rather than writing the book all on his own, he's working alongside an unknown number of other writers — including "Morning Glories" scribe Nick Spencer — to add even more voices to his latest creative endeavor.

"It's been a lot of fun working on 'The Walking Dead' in the writer's room. I've grown to respect that method of crafting stories, so I figured I'd give it a shot on a comic book," Kirkman said. "It's cool to sit down with other writers — currently unnamed, but we'll be making announcements soon — and plotting out the story in the same way we'd be doing it on a television show. Having those different brains in the mix, people with different backgrounds generating different ideas and adding to the stew of the story we're putting together is very cool. When you sit down and read the first 25 issues of 'Thief of Thieves,' you're going to see all these different ideas at work. It'll be cool to see how it all comes together."

Kirkman fans traveling to Image Expo to take a bite out of the writer's biggest hit to date, "Walking Dead," won't walk away disappointed either. The convention will host variant editions of "Walking Dead" #94, as well as a select number of limited-edition "Walking Dead" watches. And, of course, there's that little AMC series to consider as well.

"We've got a panel called 'Walking Dead' Live where ['Talking Dead' host] Chris Hardwick will be interviewing myself and [actors Norman Reedus and Steven Yeun] together on a panel," Kirkman said. "We'll get to do that live before a panel audience, which should be pretty exciting. We'll also have autographs, signings, all that cool stuff. We might even play ping pong with people. I cannot confirm that, but we'll see. We're going to be having all kinds of fun!"

Are you heading to Image Expo this weekend? Sound off in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter @roundhoward!

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679770/walking-dead-image-expo-robert-kirkman.jhtml

Steven Tyler Velvet Revolver

The-Dream To Drop 'Kill The Lights' Single Today

Love IV track features Dream's new artist Casha.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

The-Dream on "RapFix Live"
Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News

The-Dream is ready to take his show on the road. In preparation for his Love IV album, the singer/songwriter is getting ready to embark on a new tour, and on Thursday (February 23), he's planning to drop a new song to commemorate the run.

The Kill the Lights Tour will begin March 11 in New York, and The-Dream is dropping his new single of the same name. "The name of the song is actually 'Kill the Lights,' featuring my artist Casha," he said on Wednesday's "RapFix Live."

The song will be featured on the upcoming Love IV, which the ATL crooner estimates will be out in the spring or summer — he doesn't want to put an exact date on it. The-Dream already dropped the LP's first single, "ROC," earlier this year, and in addition to his new LP, he wants to concentrate on grooming Casha, who made her first appearance on The-Dream's free digital album 1977 singing a remake of Minnie Riperton's "Love, Stop Making a Fool of Me."

"I'm just channeling and building her the right way and giving her the right time," he said of his new artist. "I'm not trying to get, 'She better come out and sell this'; I'm not doing that. She's too talented for that."

Instead of creating microwave hits with Casha, The-Dream would rather take his time. "She's going to sell on her own, she's great, she'll be fine," he said. "I'm trying to slow-bake it."

What are you expecting from The-Dream's new music? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679716/the-dream-kill-the-lights-tour-single.jhtml

John Coltrane Bob Dylan

Chris Broderick Interview

Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick was interviewed by Yell! Magazine recently. In the clip above, he talks about how he got into metal as a guitarist, the difference for him between the "Big Four" shows with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax and Gigantour, his first guitar (from Sears). It's an interesting conversation; check it out.

Megadeth will be on a short U.S. tour with Rob Zombie in May.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/megadeth-broderick-interview-20120222

The Who George Harrison

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Unfortunately, Glee Won?t Be Touring This Summer

It looks like McKinley’s Glee club will be staying in Lima, Ohio this year. According to Entertainment Weekly, the cast of Fox’s hit musical show “Glee” won’t be touring this summer. Instead, the cast will perform a one-time benefit show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Does no tour mean no more “Glee”? Find [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/U4dpxQGMiRQ/

Foo Fighters Prince

Free Download Of Greg Laswell's "Come Back Down" Single With Sara Bareilles

It is possible you may not be familiar with the name Greg Laswell, while you are familiar with his music. His songs have been used extensively on a variety of TV shows including 10 individual placements on Grey's Anatomy. Greg Laswell's upcoming album Landline will be released April 24, 2012. It includes contributions from top female vocalists including Ingrid Michaelson, Sia, and Sara Bareilles. "Come Back Down," the first single from the album, includes vocals from Sara Bareilles. It is an upbeat song of reassurance. "Come Back Down" is available now for free download. Check out the song below.

...

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Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/22/free-download-of-greg-laswells-come-back-down-single-with-sara-bareilles.htm

Elton John Paramore

'Community' Schedule Shuffling Not Doing NBC Any Favors

'Community' fans are excited for the cult comedy's return, but the switch-up could mean trouble for the network's lineup.
By John Mitchell

Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation
Photo: NBC

Fans of cult comedy "Community" are rejoicing at the news that the show is set to return to NBC's schedule after a three-month hiatus. It will rejoin the Thursday night lineup at 8 p.m. on March 15 to compete its third season, though no decision has been announced as to whether the low-rated, critically acclaimed comedy will get a fourth season.

The show's return will bump "30 Rock," which has been pulling down series-low numbers in the 8 p.m. timeslot since retuning on January 12, to 8:30 and "Parks and Recreation" will go on a five-week hiatus until "Up All Night" completes its season in April. "The Office" will hold on to its 9 p.m. slot.

NBC's had a difficult time attracting viewers to what is easily the best comedy block on network TV, but it's certainly not the first net to have that problem (FOX couldn't keep "Arrested Development" on the air). This latest decision, however, seems unlikely to help for a few reasons. It was a mistake to pull "Community" in the first place; the show's is so full of callbacks and self-referential asides that removing it for any length of time was bound to hemorrhage casual fans who are not as familiar with the storyline as diehards. And sacrificing the much more welcoming "Parks," which itself has struggled in the ratings despite widespread acclaim, to bring "Community" back is not going to pull in more eyes. Instead, it's only going to weaken the already low-rated lineup. Here's why.

"Community" is not a welcoming show for new viewers. I am an avid TV watcher and a big fan of NBC's smart Thursday comedies, but I've never been able to get into "Community" because I missed the boat early on. I'm not questioning its quality — by all accounts it's a witty and wonderfully weird show — but it is loaded with callbacks and winks to a now three-season-long narrative arc, and if you haven't been onboard since the beginning, you're shut out. I've tried and failed to get into the show, even though it should be on my must-see list.

Consequently, I suspect it is going to perform even worse in its old 8 p.m. time slot than when it left it in December. If it flops at 8, the results will be disastrous for "30 Rock," which, without a strong lead-in, seems likely to lose even more viewers at 8:30. "Parks and Rec" currently outperforms its "Rock" lead-in; it has its own devout fanbase, many of whom seem to skip "Rock" and tune in specifically for "Parks."

"30 Rock" is arguably past its prime (though last week's episode was admittedly the best in recent memory) and it is an expensive show to produce. Some expect that NBC may even announce that next season will be its last and that it will be a truncated 13-episode run at that. Matching "Community" with "30 Rock" from 8 to 9 is going to create an hour-long ratings void for NBC that is likely to negatively impact "The Office," which already has been losing viewers since Steve Carell's departure, though it remains NBC's top Thursday comedy.

As for "Up All Night," it's been managing numbers comparable to "Parks" at 9:30. Though, that means the well-reviewed family comedy is losing 30 percent of it lead-in.

It's a foolhardy move to temporarily shelve the only show that is really building on its lead-in (that'd be "Parks") — I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that "The Office's" ratings function pretty independently of "Parks'" — especially when it's being done for a show that seems unlikely to rope in new viewers.

The reason for the shake-up, I suspect, is rooted in the network's knowledge that the ends of "30 Rock" and "The Office" are near. They really want "Community" to work, and they trust enough that the brief absence of "Parks" from the schedule is unlikely to alienate viewers enough that they'll abandon the show. (And they're right. As upset as I am that "Parks" will be gone for five weeks, there's no way I won't be there when Leslie, Anne, Tom and Ron Swanson return on April 19.)

A smarter choice would have been to move "Up All Night" to 8 p.m., where it's star power (Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph) and subject matter — a one-time party couple adjusting to parenthood — might attract viewers who normally may look to CBS for Thursday night entertainment. Keep the often-heartwarming "Parks and Rec" at 8:30. "Parks" is, like "Rock" and "Community," a little weird, but it's the most accessible of the three and thus the most likely to keep the "Up All Night" audience and maybe build on it.

"Community" is simply going to be an awkward fit anywhere on the schedule and is unlikely to ever be strong enough in the ratings to be a top-of-the-hour lead-in. If the net insists on keeping it — though it might want to consider a deal similar to the one reached to keep "Friday Night Lights," another little-watched but much-loved show with a fervent fanbase, alive — it should consider moving it to 9:30, where it would benefit at first from "The Office." NBC would be wise to greenlight a 13-episode season for "The Office" to let it wrap up storylines and depart the airwaves on its own terms before it is forced off by flagging ratings. It's already had a great eight-season run; let it go out with grace. Conclude "The Office" big at Christmastime (the show has always shined with its holiday specials) and bring "30 Rock" back to conclude its own run with a 13-episode season in the spring of 2013.

And for goodness' sake, stop shifting everything around so often. Shuffling your best shows like this makes it difficult for current fans — and especially people who do not follow the ins and outs of entertainment industry news — to find the shows they already like.

Do you agree with NBC's decision to put "Parks and Rec" on a five-week hiatus for "Community"? Leave your comment below.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679681/community-parks-rec.jhtml

Creedence Clearwater Revival Tom Waits

Adele's 21, One Year Later: Steady As She Goes

Bigger Than the Sound takes a look back at 21's rather remarkable ride on the one-year anniversary of its release in the U.S.
By James Montgomery

Adele in her "Someone Like You" video
Photo: Columbia

Back in olde tymes, if something was a hallmark of consistency and dependability, it was proclaimed to be "so reliable you could set your watch to it."

This was high praise, and not just because watches were, like, the iPhones of their day (minus "Angry Birds," of course). No, there was a time when reliability was actually celebrated in this country, and everything unerring, unchanging or uninterrupted — from Studebakers to Johnny Unitas' haircut — was thusly awarded watch-setting status.

Not surprisingly, that's not exactly how things work anymore. Although, one could make the argument that Adele is doing her best to bring reliability off the back burner (back burners were also fairly common back then, both as a heating source and a simmering surface). Exactly one year ago today, she released her blockbuster 21 album in the U.S., and in the 52 weeks since, it's not only broken records, won an armload of Grammys and singlehandedly revitalized the record industry, it's also become the most dependable thing since Johnny U's flattop.

To wit, 21 has spent a staggering 40 percent of the past year atop the Billboard albums chart, has never been lower than #7, and has held steady in the top three since December. It not only survived challenges from Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Rihanna, but sold more copies than all their records combined. Its songs have landed on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Dance, R&B, Rock, Pop and Latin charts and have become so ubiquitous, they were a running gag in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch. It won so many Grammys they just might let Adele give Neil Portnow's keynote speech during next year's telecast.

In short, it has become the kind of thing you can set your watch to — a permanent fixture in popular culture. And, really, when was the last time you could say that about anything, let alone an album?

What's even more amazing is the fact that 21 has accomplished all this almost in spite of Adele herself. She battled vocal issues for most of the year and has played just 34 North American shows in support of the disc. In fact, besides a few television appearances, there's a pretty good chance you haven't actually seen her sing any of the songs off the album, though you've certainly heard them on innumerable radio stations. In that regard, 21 is not only a true crossover sensation, it's a throwback to the glory days of the industry itself, when a handful of singles could push an album for months at a time and platinum plaques were handed out like bottles of water.

One year ago, did anyone think this was possible? Can anyone adequately explain everything that has happened since? The answers are probably "no" on both counts, though for one day, perhaps it's best not to try and figure these things out. Because for 52 weeks, 21 has been so dependable, so dominant, that it has almost become more than just a mere album. It has become the rare zeitgeist-uniting sensation, a career-defining work, a constant in increasingly intermittent times. It is seemingly not of this era, only it has somehow come to define this era, and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

All those accomplishments not only merit genuine awe, but a well-deserved pause too. As remarkable for its massive sales as it is for its consistency, 21 has spent the past year proving everyone wrong and, in the process, might very well have established the new gold standard for reliability, circa 2012: You can set your iPhone to it. History in the making, people.

Where were you a year ago when Adele's 21 was released? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679650/adele-21-one-year-anniversary.jhtml

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Paolo Gregoletto Interview

Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto was interviewed by Beyond the Watch when the band played Toronto, Canada recently. In the clip above, he discusses his early inspirations, the determination necessary for a band to make it, his attitude to recording vs. touring, what he listens to, and more. Watch!

Trivium's latest album, In Waves, is available now; click here to get it!

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/trivium-paolo-interview-20120217

Cavo Marvin Gaye

Rihanna and Chris Brown Ignore Critics and Trade Remix Appearances

Yesterday was Rihanna's 24th birthday and she celebrated by making an independent musical statement. When word emerged that Chris Brown may be featured on a remix of her erotically ...

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Source: http://top40.about.com/b/2012/02/21/rihanna-and-chris-brown-ignore-critics-and-trade-remix-appearances.htm

3 Days Grace Avenged Sevenfold

Rick Ross Proves He's Bawse As Hottest MC In The Game

Even without his own album, Rozay owned 2011 and topped our Hottest MCs in the Game list.
By MTV News staff

Rick Ross
Photo: MTV News / Getty Images

When Rick Ross experiences a personal moment of triumph, a hearty grunt typically marks the occasion. Built up from the bowels of his belly, Rozay's baritone call has become as ubiquitous as his titillating one-liners — not that a simple ad-lib is the only thing that earned Rick Ross the #1 spot on MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game VII list, his first time up top.

Rozay was on pace to release his fifth studio album until he faced a pair of "minor setbacks," as he so poetically dubs the two seizures he suffered in October.

"God Forgives, I Don't was slated to come out in 2011, and he had the two seizures, and we thought it was going to make him fall back completely — but he came back and hit us with Rich Forever," MTV News senior hip-hop writer Rob Markman pointed out during the Hottest debate.

Want to join the debate? Just hit us on Twitter using the hashtag #HottestMC!

The truth is, Rozay's 2011 reign didn't hinge on an album release. The Bawse set things up properly in February of last year when he signed his Maybach Music Group record label over to Warner Music Group and scooped up newcomer Meek Mill (this year's #7 Hottest MC), Wale (#10) and later Stalley. Musically, Ricky Ro put his team in position to dominate with the label compilation Self Made, Vol. 1. Rather than taking all the shine, Ross passed the baton to Meek, who delivered "Ima Boss" and "Tupac Back." Wale contributed the rhythmic gem "That Way," and even ousted MMG spitter Pill logged serious miles on the LP.

HOT STREAK

Album: Self Made, Vol. 1, with Maybach Music Group

Selected Mixtapes: Rich Forever

Singles: "You the Boss" (featuring Nicki Minaj), "I Love My Bitches"

Street Bangers: "9 Piece" (featuring Lil Wayne), "Stay Schemin' " (featuring Drake and French Montana), "Yella Diamonds"

Key Guest Appearances: DJ Khaled's "I'm on One," Meek Mill's "Ima Boss," Lil Wayne's "John," French Montana's "Shot Caller" remix, Drake's "Lord Knows"

Meteoric Metrics: Ross established his Maybach Music Group brand as its CEO when he notched two #1 rap albums with Wale's Ambition and MMG's Self Made, Vol. 1

Business Ventures: Despite having a solo deal with Def Jam, Ross bossed up and took his MMG label to Warner Music Group, signing Wale, Meek Mill and Stalley.

Tours: Rozay joined Wayne on his I Am Still Music Tour

Monumental Moment: Ross is no stranger to success as a solo artist, but after he signed his MMG label to Warner, he truly became a boss!

Forecast: To be able to dominate 2011 without a solo album released is an amazing feat for Ross. With God Forgives, I Don't on the way and a possible collabo mixtape with Drake, the Double-M-Genius may be going for the repeat.

"You wouldn't even know that he didn't have an album out [early last year], because he was all over the radio," said Rahman Dukes, director of hip-hop news at MTV News.

Whether on his own singles ("You the Boss," "I Love My Bitches") or on tracks that he was featured on, the M-I-Yayo MC turned in multiple unforgettable performances. "Ima Boss" was technically Meek's song, but the casual listener may have missed that fact. Lil Wayne's "John" was basically a remix of the 2010 Ross track "I'm Not a Star," and on the summer anthem "I'm on One," Rozay flexed his muscle alongside Drake and Weezy.

"Rick Ross makes raw records, he makes street records. When he gets on a verse, his beat selection is impeccable," MTV Jams' Tuma Basa said, before pointing to Ross' star-making ability with Meek and Wale. "He's making other people hot, and these are people, without Ross, may not have been on this list. They're on this list thanks to Ross."

It's deeper than rap with the Double-M-Genius. Beyond the studio, the Bawse proved his worth in the boardroom as well. "I don't think any artist did a better job of branding than Rick Ross," said MTV RapFix blog editor Nadeska Alexis. "He was just a marketing genius this year, and you gotta give it to the man."

Ross meets all the criteria to be considered the Hottest MC in the Game. His impact is irrefutable: Even without a solo album, he maintained a healthy and consistent buzz throughout the year, notching a #1 rap album with his Self Made compilation. Lyrically, Rozay has grown from his "Hustlin' " days and become one of the game's most celebrated spitters, and his swag is through the roof. Check his big-boned, shirtless confidence, immaculately groomed beard and top-of-the-line designer-sunglass collection.

If that weren't enough, the rotund Rozay cemented his #1 spot in January when he dropped his free 19-song Rich Forever mixtape. While there is no SoundScan or Billboard chart that can measure its impact, with Rich Forever, Ross proved in this era of overdone crossover singles that rap still rules.

"Rick Ross, I think, provides hope to that MC, to that kid growing up who just wants to rap and make street music and say, 'You know what? In this world where hip-hop has become pop, you can still just rap,' " Markman said.

Insert Rick Ross grunt here!

What do you think of our list? Sound off on MTV News' "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" using the hashtag #HottestMC!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679561/rick-ross-hottest-mcs-game-1.jhtml

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Monday, February 20, 2012

'Hunger Games' Books 'Inspiring' For Wes Bentley

'I found the character of Katniss to be so intriguing,' the actor playing Seneca Crane tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Wes Bentley
Photo: MTV News

We've already heard "Hunger Games" star Wes Bentley address the fan fervor surrounding his role as Seneca Crane — or, more specifically, the beard that was specially crafted for his character. Now it's time to get into his thoughts on the impact of Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy as a whole and what he thought about reading them for the first time knowing he might be bringing Crane to life on the big screen.

"I think they're fantastic novels. She's a great writer, very poetic at times, and I love that," Bentley told MTV News. "What struck me first was that it was politically sophisticated, a level at which you don't see in adult novels. I also found it very exciting, and I found the character of Katniss to be so intriguing and so inspiring and very clever. I love to see that in a book."

Speaking to getting into the character of Seneca Crane, Bentley didn't want to give away too much but did reveal that he felt that he had a lot to work with, thanks to director Gary Ross.

"Gary created a great version of the character from the script, and I had a lot of fun with it," Bentley said. "We had a blast."

The "American Beauty" actor also said he tried to maintain "tunnel vision" with regard to the constant online chatter and debates over the film's casting, but his wife thwarted those efforts.

"I was sort of aware of that excitement about the book," he said. "My wife was trying to tell me how people felt about me being cast, which seemed positive, but I didn't want to hear much about it; I just wanted to focus on the work."

Bentley said if he could play any other role in the film, it would be Katniss, because she is such a strong character. He also deftly avoided the Team Peeta or Team Gale question by emphasizing the fact that the story is about survival, not romance.

"I don't even think it plays like that," he said. "[Katniss] is a strong individual character who is having to do something much bigger. It's about survival."

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Slash

Shawn Drover Talks Hockey

Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover was interviewed by Canadian sports site TheScore.com when the band played Hamilton, Ontario on their most recent North American tour. In the clip above, he talks about being a Boston Bruins fan despite growing up in Montreal, and recalls the time he almost met hockey legend Guy LaFleur. Enjoy!

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/megadeth-score-20120220

Alice in Chains Coldplay

Shawn Drover Talks Hockey

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/megadeth-score-20120220

Katy Perry Justin Bieber

Bobby Brown 'Blesses' Whitney Houston At Show

Brown honors ex-wife at Connecticut show hours after seating spat at New Jersey funeral.
By Ralphie Aversa

Bobby Brown performs at the Mohegan Sun arena on Saturday
Photo: Marc Andrew Deley/Getty Images

MONTVILLE, CONNECTICUT — Hours after the world paid its final goodbye to Whitney Houston in New Jersey, ex-husband Bobby Brown paid his alongside bandmates New Edition before a sold-out crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Brown's remarks came just hours after the singer's rapid departure from Houston's funeral services at Newark, New Jersey's New Hope Baptist church.

Brown sat out the night's first three songs, then took the stage for "Hit Me Off." He acknowledged the fallen icon before "Jealous Girl."

"I want to give blessings to my ex-wife, Whitney Houston. I love you," Brown said, pointing towards the sky. "I want to give a lot of blessings to my kids, my fiancée, my brothers, and all of you."

Brown and his New Edition band-mates powered through a set that lasted almost two hours, including hits from Brown's 1988 solo smash, "My Prerogative," to Bell Biv DeVoe's 1990 hit, "Poison."

"I lost three great people in my life, in the last year," Brown told the audience of over 7,000 before the sextet wrapped with "Home Again." "But, nothing makes me happier than to be right here, right now."

Some New Edition fans, like Lisa Pollock of Bridgeport, Conn., were simply happy just to see Houston's ex-husband in the building.

"[New Edition] just held it together. I can't imagine what today was like for them," Pollock said after the concert. "For them to come and do a show for all of us, definitely exceeded my expectations."

Serita Outlow of Norwich, Conn. also attended the show unsure if Brown would make it.

"I think he did an excellent job considering what he must have been feeling," she said. "I don't know what he went through with his voice today but I think he still pulled it off."

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Whitney Houston Dies At 48

Sad news to report this Valentine?s Day weekend?singer, actress and model Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48.� Details at this time are sketchy, but Houston?s publicist Kristen Foster has confirmed that Houston has passed.� Read more after the jump.� UPDATES BELOW. UPDATE, SUNDAY 9 PM:� TMZ notes that “a member of Whitney’s [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/QP4BzyU-KWY/

Rage Against the Machine Foo Fighters

Original Guns N? Roses To Reunite For Hall Of Fame Induction

Guns N’ Roses are getting back together for one night and one night only. Come April, the original members of the legendary rock band will reunite to attend their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. In a recent interview with Billboard, keyboardist Dizzy Reed said: “I know that all the [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/XN2gS2xvKLA/

Van Halen Temple of the Dog

Whitney Houston Remembered By Kevin Costner As 'The Greatest'

'The Bodyguard' actor relives pop diva's first screen test in a poignant eulogy on Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church.
By Rebecca Thomas

Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in "The Bodyguard"
Photo: Warner Bros.

On Saturday afternoon (February 18), Whitney Houston was sent to rest by family and friends at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, during a stirring funeral dubbed her Home-Going. While the pop diva's onetime leading man Bobby Brown reportedly left moments before the noon ceremony began, the pop diva's onscreen leading man Kevin Costner delivered a poignant eulogy in her honor.

In 1992, Houston made her film debut in "The Bodyguard," a star turn that paired her in the lead with Costner in the title role. Written by Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Mick Jackson, the romantic drama followed Frank Farmer, a Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard tasked with protecting pop star Rachel Marron from a stalker.

The film would go on to gross more than $400 million at the worldwide box office, and the diamond-selling soundtrack spawned Houston's game-changing rendition of "I Will Always Love You," the best-selling single of all time. But according to Costner, Warner Bros., the studio behind "The Bodyguard," not only had to be convinced that the film's signature song should be a cover of Dolly Parton's country tune — but also that the part should go to Houston.

"At the height of her fame as a singer, I asked her to be my co-star," Costner recalled on Saturday.

Filmmakers were concerned, however, suggesting they should "think about another singer ... maybe somebody white." Though Costner conceded "nobody ever said it out loud," he agreed that the implications were fair considering how much was at stake. The only problem was, as Costner put it, "I thought she was perfect for what we were trying to do."

Costner remained steadfast about his casting choice, even delaying production by a year so that Whitney could complete a tour. And though the actor knew he'd already all but given her the part, he submitted her to a screen test because he wanted to be "fair."

Houston, possibly the biggest pop star at the time, was frightened. Costner went to her trailer the day of the test to reassure her, holding her hand and telling her that she looked beautiful. Still, the singer zeroed in on a million things she imagined to be wrong. Feeling insecure, Houston scrubbed her camera-ready makeup job in favor of the thick layer of cover-up she used on the road. The patina of cosmetic paint was perhaps an apt metaphor for how the megastar masked her insecurities.

Of course, four minutes in, Houston's makeup job was streaking; the singer was devastated. "I just wanted to look my best," she told Costner.

"Call it doubt, call it fear, I've had mine," Costner said of the internal struggles that come with fame. "The Whitney I knew, despite her success and worldwide fame, still wondered, 'Am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me?' It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end."

Houston famously battled substance abuse issues, in particular during her tumultuous 14-year marriage to singer Bobby Brown. She was found dead a week ago in a Beverly Hills hotel; the official cause of her death is still being investigated. But Costner insisted her personal turmoil should not muddy her legacy. "As the debate heats up ... about the greatest singer of the last century, as the lists are drawn, it will have little meaning to me if her name is not on it," Costner proclaimed to applause.

"Off you go, Whitney, off you go," Costner continued tears, "Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. And when you sing before him, don't you worry — you'll be good enough."

Stay with MTVNews.com all day Saturday for continuing coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral services.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679550/whitney-houston-funeral-kevin-costner.jhtml

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