- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Director: Bill Dicicco
- Album: Dangerous
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208381
Monday, 28 February 2011
Michael Jackson - Gone Too Soon
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: n/a
- Album: Moonwalker
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=206759
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/plantkrauss-win-album-year-grammy.jhtml
Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1596756/dimmu-borgir-release-live-dvd-set-metal-file.jhtml
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Melissa Leo Drops F-Bomb While Accepting Best Supporting Actress Oscar
Presenter Kirk Douglas nearly stole the show until the 'Fighter' star made her memorable speech.
By Brian Warmoth
Melissa Leo accepts the award for Actress in a Supporting Role
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Melissa Leo sparked some pre-Oscar controversy with her last-minute advertisements in major Hollywood trades, but in the end, nothing could disrupt the Best Supporting Actress nominee's momentum from her wins at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics Choice Awards. In the end, the two-time nominee beat out Amy Adams and Helena Bonham Carter to make the 50-year-old star and her part in "The Fighter" one of the night's biggest stories.
Kirk Douglas stole the show for a few minutes before presenting Leo's award, which crowned her role as Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale's mother with a golden statue. A heavy favorite, thanks to her previous honors in the last few months, Leo also beat out young contender Hailee Steinfeld and Jacki Weaver, who was nominated for "Animal Kingdom."
But it was Leo's own speech that was being referred to for the rest of the night, thanks to her nervous slip-up.
"Yeah, I am kind of speechless; golly sakes, there's people up there too," Leo marveled, waving at the audience in the mezzanine. "When I watched Kate two years ago, it looked so f---ing easy!"
Luckily, ABC had enough of a broadcast time delay to bleep out her F-bomb, but that hasn't stopped it from being an instant classic acceptance speech.
After being passed up in 2009 for her performance in the comparatively small art-house film "Frozen River," Leo walked off the stage with international recognition for her much bigger box office success story.
Leo's belief in her character Alice Ward propelled her through the final weeks of Oscar voting. Her decision to launch ads personally, reportedly without consulting "Fighter" distributors Paramount and Relativity, stirred up headlines as voters were finalizing their picks, but whether or not she managed to sway the Academy into her corner or already had their attention won't make any difference now that she has the Oscar.
Shortly after Leo's win, Bale also took home the Supporting Actor prize.
Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658810/melissa-leo-oscars-speech.jhtml
Britney Spears - Gimme More
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Jake Sarfaty
- Album: Blackout
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=179677
Ke$ha Says She's 'Disappointed' By Grammy Snub
'I plan on making a lot more records, and hopefully one of them will be Grammy-worthy,' singer tells Vanity Fair.
By James Dinh
Ke$ha
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
Last year was full of breakout music stars, including Ke$ha, who ruled the scene with a string of dance-pop hits (and a massive overflow of glitter). But not everyone is a Ke$ha fan: The singer was snubbed when the 2011 Grammy nominees were announced in December.
The starlet recently spoke to Vanity Fair about the Grammy snub and said she's determined to score a nod sometime later in her career. And after calling the Recording Academy's award "not that big a deal," Ke$ha admitted that she was saddened by her lack of nominations.
"Of course I do," the singer said when asked if she wanted a Grammy. "I was disappointed that I didn't get nominated. But I've only been around for a year. I'm friends with the Black Keys, and they were nominated for the first time this year. And they've been around for a decade. That's like half my life, so I really can't be a brat about it."
Ke$ha isn't bitter about the situation either, telling the magazine, "I plan on making a lot more records, and hopefully one of them will be Grammy-worthy."
While she may not be gearing up for the big show on Sunday night, Ke$ha is prepping for the launch of her first North American headlining tour, the Get $leazy Tour. The country-wide trek is scheduled to kick off on Tuesday in Portland, Oregon, and continue through May.
Do you think Ke$ha deserved a Grammy nomination? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657756/kesha-grammys.jhtml
Britney Spears Tweets First Snippet Of New Single 'Inside Out'
Spears and producer Dr. Luke post 10-second audio clip for second single off new album Femme Fatale.
By Shawn Adler
Britney Spears <i>Femme Fatale</i>
Photo: Jive
Just two days after Britney Spears released her highly anticipated video for "Hold It Against Me," the 29-year-old diva is back to give fans another treat with a brief snippet from her next single, "Inside Out."
"C'mon! Won't you give me something to remember," Spears sings in the barely 10-second clip, revealed by the singer and her producer, Dr. Luke, on Twitter.
"Baby shut your mouth and turn me inside," she crescendos.
For fans, the brief snippet is a welcome treat, but hardly a surprising one, considering that Spears teased "Hold It Against Me" in similar fashion for several weeks.
In an interview with MTV News, Spears' longtime manager himself, Larry Rudolph, indicated that fans were likely to hear another song before the March 29 release of Femme Fatale, the Mississippi native's first album in three years.
Of the song itself, which he would only speak of obliquely on Thursday, Rudolph had high praise.
"I don't think I've been this excited about releasing a Britney single in many, many years," he said. "It's that good. That's all I'm gonna say about it at the moment. I haven't heard a final mix of it, but I should get it in the next day or two. So far, what I've heard is just extraordinary. It really is amazing. Her fans will be very happy with it. I'm trying hard to get it out before the album comes out."
What do you think of the new snippet? Will "Inside Out" be another Britney hit? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658370/britney-spears-inside-out.jhtml
Deadmau5 Brings Dance Music To The 'Masses,' Wolfgang Gartner Says
'He has a major role in the younger generation to this music,' producer/DJ tells MTV News of his collaborator.
By Adam Stewart
deadmau5
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
It's no secret that 2010 was a pivotal year for electronic dance music here in the States. With deadmau5 and Swedish House Mafia becoming household names, the genre's momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Using a conduit of collaboration, artists such as deadmau5 (a.k.a. Joel Zimmerman) have paired up with various underground acts to further the rapid expansion of the genre.
Perhaps one of the most notable movers and shakers of the year is now-Grammy-Award-nominated producer and DJ Wolfgang Gartner, who recently sat down to chat with MTV News about deadmau5 and dance music's rise to the top.
"He has a major role in the younger generation to this music," Gartner says, "but there have been certain artists that have been instrumental in helping it cross over and reach the mainstream — which I think is a good thing. I think rap artists using dance beats is a great thing. I think it just brings more people towards this music that we all love."
Thanks to several key moments, such as deadmau5 taking the helm as house DJ (well, technically "House Artist") for the 2010 VMAs, dance music has been thrown into the forefront of America's youth, a key demographic for any genre.
"Everybody knows who he is now and he's kind of exposing the masses to dance music. These little five-, six- and seven-year-old kids latch on to this 'mau5head' logo — they get into the music and he's bringing this tiny young generation into this music that probably wouldn't be exposed to it."
Gartner certainly doesn't mind the exposure either. Unless you were living under a rock for the past six months, you probably heard one of this past summer's hottest anthems, "Animal Rights," a collaborative effort brought forth by deadmau5 and Gartner.
"It was interesting because I kind of had a preconceived notion about how he would be to work [with]," said Gartner. "I think our sounds are really similar, so I figured he would work in a similar way to me, but the way that he writes music is actually completely different to me. But he achieves kind of the same sound through a completely different process."
Recorded in deadmau5's favorite Los Angeles studio — that would be rocker Tommy Lee's House — "Animal Rights" is a thumping progressive house anthem that melds Wolfgang's unmistakable harmonics and funk riffs with the driving bass line and wobbly synths that make deadmau5 one of the unique forces in the dance music world.
"[Deadmau5] writes these rich complex chord progressions and he does it by drawing these little bars on a grid, which is just amazing that you can do that and get that result," Gartner goes on to say. "It just proves you don't have to be able to play keyboards to write amazing music."
The two sound pioneers never cease to stop pushing the limits on what they are able to produce. Using drastically difference production approaches, deadmau5 and Gartner had the ability to play off each other's strengths while recording the track.
"I'd say the biggest thing is that I play everything in on a keyboard, like even my drums," says Gartner. "I play everything in live and he draws it in with notes on a mouse, which blew me away because his music is very musical."
What do you think 2011 will hold for deadmau5 and Gartner? Let us know in the comments below!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654857/deadmau5-brings-dance-music-masses-wolfgang-gartner.jhtml
Kim Kardashian W magazine covers
'Black Swan,' Natalie Portman Nab Independent Spirit Awards
James Franco wins Best Actor for '127 Hours.'
By Shawn Adler
Natalie Portman at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
The day might have started out mildly overcast, but as the film community watched in anticipation, the Santa Monica beach quickly went from partly cloudy to completely black, as "Black Swan" swept the major honors on its way to dominating the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday (February 26).
A schizophrenic thriller about a ballerina's inner demons made manifest, "Black Swan" danced away with four awards, winning Best Feature, Best Director for Darren Aronofsky, Best Actress for Natalie Portman and Best Cinematography for Matthew Libatique. The flick is nominated in the same four categories at Sunday's Academy Awards.
Among other winners, the rural drama "Winter's Bone" nabbed two awards: Best Supporting Male for John Hawkes and Best Supporting Female for Dale Dickey. Presumptive Oscar Best Picture favorite "The King's Speech," meanwhile, won Best Foreign Film.
James Franco, who played a man who literally had to give up an arm to be here today, finally got his due, winning Best Actor for his performance in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours." The 32-year-old, who is in almost every moment of the film as the camera focuses on his character's struggle to make a nearly unthinkable sacrifice, will be front and center as co-host of the Academy Awards.
Other winners included "The Kids Are All Right" for Best Screenplay, "Get Low" for Best First Feature and "Exit Through the Gift Shop" for Best Documentary. Thierry Guetta, aka "Mr. Brainwash," accepted the award for "Exit" on behalf of the film's reclusive director, Banksy.
Hosted by Joel McHale, the show honored independent and original filmmaking throughout 2010, moving from last year's venue, the downtown L.A. Live complex, back to the beach in Santa Monica.
Will it be a regal evening for "The King's Speech"? Can "The Social Network" dial up Oscar gold? Don't miss MTV News' "2011 Oscars Live" at 6 p.m. Sunday, February 27, when we'll be chatting with your favorite Hollywood stars live from the red carpet on MTVNews.com, and stick with us all Oscar night for winners, interviews, photos and more!
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658793/independent-spirit-awards-winners.jhtml
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Michael Jackson Estate Rakes In $310 Million To Date
Singer left behind more than $400 million in debt.
Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im
Between album sales, movie profits, licensing arrangements and lucrative deals for Cirque du Soleil shows, the estate of late King of Pop Michael Jackson has raked in more than $300 million since the singer's shocking death in June 2009.
According to TMZ, legal documents released on Thursday reveal that executors of MJ's estate have managed to make a major dent in the more than $400 million in debt that Jackson owed at the time of his death.
The first accounting from the executors shows that they have already spent around $159 million paying back various debts, income taxes and other expenses, which include providing support for the pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, as well as his three young children.
"Although there remain unresolved creditor claims, pending litigation and additional challenging business, tax and legal issues, and the estate is not yet in a condition to be closed, the executors have made substantial progress in reducing the estate's debt," the documents state, according to a Reuters report. Two of Jackson's longtime confidants, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, were named as administrators in a will sign by the pop icon.
In addition to paying to make "substantial improvements" to the Jackson family's Havenhurst estate in Encino, California, the executors also spent an undetermined amount of money on "last illness and funeral and memorial service expenses." Those costs included a $900,000 payment to the Forest Lawn Memorial cemetery where Jackson is buried and $35,000 on expenses described as "costume for memorial."
TMZ reported that not only did the famously cash-strapped Jackson have more than $400 million in debt, but his estate also owed more than $40 million to concert promoter AEG tied to the scuttled This Is It Tour, for which MJ was rehearsing when he died unexpectedly. They've also paid $27.2 million in taxes and $4 million in mortgage payments on Jackson's properties.
Despite the solid sales of the Michael album and millions of units of the singer's back catalog being sold, as well as the box office of the "This Is It" movie and DVD sales, the estate is not nearly out of the woods. TMZ noted that the administrators have received more than 65 creditors' claims, some of which are subject to "extremely high" interest rates, and there are several outstanding lawsuits against the estate in several countries.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658290/michael-jackson-estate.jhtml
Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray Ordered To Stand Trial
Murray faces manslaughter charges in the singer's death; his medical license has also been suspended.
By Kara Warner
Dr. Conrad Murray
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images
Dr. Conrad Murray has been ordered to stand trial for manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.
According to The Associated Press, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor made the decision after a six-day preliminary hearing during which witnesses testified that the Houston cardiologist administered a dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol and other sedatives then left the pop star unmonitored.
During the course of the hearing, testimony was given that Murray ordered hundreds of bottles of propofol in the months before Jackson's death. The AP report also cited the fact that the prosecutors concluded their case with testimony from two doctors who said Murray acted outside the standard of medical care when he administered propofol and failed to provide proper care.
Other damning testimony included that of Jackson's bodyguard, who said that on the morning of the singer's death, it appeared that Murray didn't know how to administer CPR to his dying patient.
Judge Pastor also granted a request by the California Medical Board to suspend Murray's license to practice medicine in the state. Pastor said he made the decision in the interest of public safety and ordered Murray to notify every district in which he practices of the decision within 24 hours. Murray has clinics in Houston and Las Vegas.
Murray, 57, has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys have argued that he did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him. Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
Related ArtistsJustin Bieber 'Real Hairstyle' Dolls Keep Swoop Alive
We hit a New York toy fair for scoop on the latest dolls, including a first look at an mp3-equipped, purple Bieber tour bus.
By Aly Semigran, with reporting by Brian Jacks
Justin Bieber figure
Photo: MTV News
If you're still mourning the loss of Justin Bieber's luscious locks, there's some news that could very well perk you up (and, no, it hasn't grown back yet). Just days before the "Never Say Never" star chopped off his trademark coif, toy company Bridge Direct debuted Justin Bieber "Real Hairstyle" dolls at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
MTV News caught up with George Vorkas of Bridge Direct, who give us the rundown on everything fans can expect from the doll, whose retail price is set at $17.99 and is slated to hit shelves this August.
After the company received complaints about their first Bieber model, which featured plastic hair, Vorkas and his associates gave the 2011 model "real" hair.
"This year, we have Justin with hair. Every girl at home can now play with his hair and style it the way they want," Vorkas explained.
In addition to styling their toy Biebs — like the original, it "sings," only this time newer hits like "U Smile" and "Never Say Never" have been added — fans can also put him on the road. The company has created a purple (naturally) Bieber tour bus, complete with a functioning mp3 player dock and a stage setup that includes guitar, drums, keyboard and the heart-shaped cage he featured on his most recent tour.
"As Justin does new things with his stage sets, we'll be coming out with matching toys," Vorkas assured us. (The stage sets and tour bus will go for a whopping $79.99.)
And that's not the only way the company plans to evolve with the ever-changing pop phenom. While the 2011 doll features a variety of Bieber-inspired accessories and outfits, collectors and/or purse string-opening parents can also expect ever-changing fashions from the "Baby" singer. As Vorkas told MTV News, "When Justin changes into a new outfit, we'll also be coming out with that outfit."
Will you buy the "real hairstyle" Justin Bieber doll? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658621/justin-bieber-dolls.jhtml
Exclusive: Teen Mom Leah?s Love Triangle
Leah Messer is often referred to as the ?responsible? Teen Mom ? the hard-working mother of twins who put her wild days firmly behind her when she married her baby daddy, Corey Simms, 20. But Leah may not be the girl whom viewers ? and Corey ? think she is. In Touch has learned that when her husband?s back is turned, Leah has been secretly getting together with her bad-boy ex Seth George ? and indulging what a friend of hers calls her ?wild streak.?
?She has definitely met up with Seth without telling Corey,? says a friend, who adds that with Seth, Leah ?has fun and feels like a teenager again.?
As devoted as she is to her girls Aleeah and Aliannah, 1, now, the friend says it was a ?total shock? when Leah discovered she was pregnant, just one month after meeting Corey. Feeling lonely and overwhelmed by new motherhood, Leah first cheated on Corey with bad-boy ex Robbie Kidd. Shortly after her fling ended, Leah, 19, hooked up with Seth and things ?got serious,? the friend says.
But before long, she shifted her attention back to Corey, making a desperate play to try and win him back. The pair did reconcile, getting married in October ? but there was something Corey didn?t know.
?She was still dating Seth last summer, when she was trying to get back together with Corey,? the friend says, adding that even as she begged him to give her another chance, Leah ?never told Corey about Seth.?
For more on Teen Mom ? including Leah?s double life and exclusive details on Kailyn and Chelsea ? pick up the new issue of In Touch Weekly, on stands now.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InTouchWeekly/~3/8b1CBPIQRYM/teen_mom.php
Chris Medina Music Video: "What Are Words"
Amidst a sea of J. Lo's tears, Chris Medina was eliminated from American Idol this week.
But that isn't stopping the aspiring singer from pursuing his dreams. The former contestant, whose fiancee suffered a brain injury in a 2009 car accident, will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening and perform the single "What Are Words."
“It’s a song about making promises and fulfilling them, about telling someone you love that you’ll be there and having them be able to count on you because you said it," Chris says. "Because the words that you say really mean something. It’s a powerful song.”
Medina has already released a video for it. Watch and react to it now:
Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/02/chris-medina-music-video-what-are-words/
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: n/a
- Album: Moonwalker
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=206759
'Drive Angry': The Reviews Are In!
Should you hit the road with Nicolas Cage? See what the critics have to say.
By Eric Ditzian
David Morse and Nicolas Cage in "Drive Angry"
Photo: Summit Publicity
"Drive Angry" marks three-straight supernatural films for Nicolas Cage, though each could not be more different. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" was a Disney-driven tale of magical realism. "Season of the Witch" dove into the intersection of medieval black magic and campy B-movie wackiness. And "Drive Angry" literally begins with Cage driving a muscle car straight outta hell with the devil's henchman fast on his heels and doesn't slow down as it splashes blood and fire across the screen.
All three flicks share something else in common: below-average reviews. "Sorcerer's" and "Season" each went on to conjure up lukewarm box-office receipts. Can "Drive Angry" break the spell? Check out what the critics are saying and decide if the new 3-D film is the right choice for you this weekend.
The Story
"[It] may be a bit too slickly self-aware for its own good, but it's also rivetingly paced, outrageously funny and makes retina-scorching use of the new 3D technology. Nicolas Cage is on teeth-baring, eye-rolling form as John Milton (nice), the deceased felon who busts out of hell to track down the Southern death cult who kidnapped his baby granddaughter. Hooking up with mouthy muscle-car-driving white-trash waitress Piper (Amber Heard), Milton sets off in pursuit, all the while attempting to avoid the attentions of Satan's right-hand man, The Accountant (a majestically arch William Fichtner)." -- Tom Huddleston, Time Out
Crazy Nic Cage
"A little respect, if you please, for His Satanic Majesty Nicolas Cage. Nobody goes off the deep end like Nic. Nobody gives better value in bad movies than the sleepy-eyed Oscar winner with a gift for picking bad movies. 'Drive Angry' is a very entertaining B, C or D-movie, an over-the-top and in-your-face grindhouse gore, guns and 'Gun it' picture that's about epic shootouts, bone-snapping brawls, bare breasts and muscle cars. The gunplay is funny and the sex hilarious in this 'Ghost Rider is Gone in 60 Seconds' mashup." -- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The 3-D
" 'Drive Angry' is intensely bloody, violent and carries quite a few payoffs that are well delivered. It's also a movie you'd actually want to see in 3-D, unlike so many frauds in the marketplace these days. In fact, Lussier, who directed 'My Bloody Valentine 3D,' shows his growth as a 3-dimensional director by taking 'Drive Angry' to new heights. Seeing it in Real D, the depth was astounding, and Lussier throws a few CGI tricks right in the viewer's face. Even more impressive was his flashback sequence that could easily become one of the most influential in the 3-D age (the way he layers three 'thoughts' at once is mind-blowing visually). In short, it's worth the extra few bucks." -- Brad Miska, Bloody Disgusting
Going Grindhouse
" 'Drive Angry' is loud and busy, and it's rarely boring. But it's also never really good. 'Drive Angry' comes at the tail end of the grindhouse revival trend, and while it's better made than films like 'Machete' or the scores of indie films that followed in Quentin Tarantino's wake, it succumbs to the same problem so many of those movies do: it's a movie about the things that the filmmakers think are cool, and that's never cool. 'Drive Angry' isn't about anything, it's just a series of ideas that struck Lussier and Farmer as awesome, strung together at feature length. There's a lot of balls in Drive Angry, and even some brains, but no heart." -- Devin Faraci, Badass Digest
The Final Word
" 'Drive Angry' is, in the end, a genre romp. It's not aiming any higher than that. But it is made with real skill and style, and there's such knowledge of genre in the way they have built the script and both embraced and avoided certain conventions that it makes me feel like we're just seeing Farmer and Lussier warm up. Hopefully they'll keep working with collaborators as game as their partners in this particular crime, because 'Drive Angry' is a white-knuckle ride worth taking." -- Drew McWeeny, HitFix
Check out everything we've got on "Drive Angry."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658776/drive-angry-reviews.jhtml
Friday, 25 February 2011
New 'Never Say Never' Clip Shows Justin Bieber Singing With Fan
The 'Director's Fan Cut' teaser captures the teen sensation performing an acoustic version of 'Baby' with a young girl.
By Eric Ditzian
Justin Bieber in the new "Never Say Never" clip
Photo: Paramount
Earlier this week, "Never Say Never" director Jon Chu promised MTV News that his new "Director's Fan Cut" of Justin Bieber's 3-D flick would deliver 40 minutes of fresh footage, including different songs (such as "Favorite Girl"), some more shirtless shots of the teen singer ("Maybe some abs!") and extra scenes of him interacting with fans.
With the recut movie hitting theaters on Friday (February 25), Paramount Pictures has released a clip showing just that: the Biebs hanging out with some of his young fanatical followers. The 71-second promo shows Bieber — pre-haircut, of course — at an intimate gathering in Phoenix. While the pop star gives an acoustic performance on a small stage, his fans beg him to play "Baby," but he jokes, "I don't know that song."
He then declares to a very young fan, "I'll only sing 'Baby' if you come up here and sing it with me." Cue the cuteness. The girl sits on his lap and together they belt out the hit single.
This isn't the first time we've seen Bieber show off an easy, breezy way with his youngest fans. Last year, he popped up on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to surprise a 3-year-old Belieber named Cody who'd become an Internet sensation after her sister posted a video of her crying over the teen heartthrob on YouTube. As he tweeted later, "Makin faces with Cody!"
The re-released "Never Say Never" represents an effort both to goose box-office receipts three weeks after the film's initial opening and to feed the Beliebers' seemingly insatiable appetite for anything and everything connected to the star.
"We originally had a two-and-a-half-hour version of the movie, which we obviously couldn't release," Chu explained to us. "So we started to think about putting stuff back in that didn't have to do with our story but that we knew people would love."
Are you planning to go see the "Director's Fan Cut" of "Never Say Never"? Let us know in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658725/justin-bieber-never-say-never-clip.jhtml
Ronnie James Dio Dead at 67
Today, the heavy metal world lost a true legend. Ronnie James Dio, who most recently fronted the Black Sabbath-without-Ozzy band Heaven & Hell, lost his battle with stomach cancer at 7:45 a.m. PST. He was 67.
?My heart is broken,? said his wife and manager, Wendy Dio in a statement. ?Many, many friends and family were [...]
?My heart is broken,? said his wife and manager, Wendy Dio in a statement. ?Many, many friends and family were [...]
Source: http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/05/16/ronnie-james-dio-dead-at-67/
Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Muse Added To Grammy Show
Usher, Jaden Smith, B.o.B, Janelle Monae and Lady Antebellum will also perform on February 13.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber and Usher
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
While Willow Smith is the one who made music headlines with "Whip My Hair" last year, it's her brother, "Karate Kid" actor Jaden Smith, who will take the stage at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards in a special performance alongside Usher and Justin Bieber, with whom he collaborated on the song "Never Say Never" last summer.
The trio joins a list of new performers added to the show on Thursday (January 20) that will also include another power trifecta made up of B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, according to a press release from the Recording Academy announcing the additions to the February 13 telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Also taking the stage next month will be nominees Muse and Lady Antebellum. They will join a roster of previously announced performers that includes Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert. It will be the first time on the Grammy performance stage for Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse and Smith. Eminem, Green, Gaga, Perry, Usher and Lady Antebellum will be making return visits for the occasion.
While 11-time Grammy winner Eminem leads the pack in nominations this year (with 10 nods), Mars has seven nominations, and Gaga and Lady Antebellum are not far behind with six nods each. B.o.B has notched five, Perry and Green are each up for four, and Arcade Fire and Lambert are vying for three awards. Bieber, Muse, Usher and Monáe are each nominated for two Grammys.
No details of the collaborative performances were released, but the Grammy announcement promised a rare, never-before-seen event for the Mars, B.o.B and Monáe segment.
With the addition of Antebellum, all five Album of the Year nominees (Eminem, Arcade Fire, Gaga, Perry) are now scheduled to perform on the show. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Which Grammy performance are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656279/justin-bieber-bruno-mars-muse-added-grammy-show.jhtml
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Michael Jackson - Hold My Hand
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Columbia Records/SMG
- Album: Michael
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=605180
Justin Bieber Is 'Really Growing Up,' Says 'Never Say Never' Director
Jon M. Chu says teen star is 'learning how to interact with people.'
By Eric Ditzian
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
MTV News first interviewed Justin Bieber in September of 2009, when the pint-size pop singer was on the cusp of breaking beyond his core audience into mainstream pop stardom. Then 15 years old and relatively new to the national media spotlight, Bieber wasn't nervous so much as generally tentative, a bit clipped and repetitive in his answers.
When Bieber walked into the MTV Newsroom earlier this month to promote the difference in his on-camera demeanor couldn't have been more different: He projected a breezy confidence, at times humorous or eye-on-the-prize focused, and was engaging throughout.
That Bieber has truly matured — not just as an artist, but as a person — isn't apparent only to those who occasionally cross his path. Jon M. Chu, who directed and began working with the singer in August, has noticed the change as well.
"With the movie and going to the Grammys and being respected on so many different levels beyond just his own fanbase, he's really growing up and learning how to interact with people," Chu said.
The director said he noted a great difference in the young star's disposition following the completion of his seven-month, 86-show tour.
"He's just had time to rest," said Chu, who started shooting "Never Say Never" as Bieber was in the midst of that nonstop North American tour. At first, Bieber was standoffish. Only gradually did the two establish a close creative partnership.
"Half of it was just me gaining trust with him because I was in his face with a camera," Chu said. "It was very much like 'Almost Famous,' where I was just on the bus and he didn't really want me there. Once we got past that, we were fine."
Have you noticed a change in Justin Bieber? Tell us below!
Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and Justin Bieber updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658527/justin-bieber-never-say-never.jhtml
Justin Bieber 'Doesn't Really Care' What People Think Of His Haircut
'I was inspired by yours,' Bieber tells Ellen DeGeneres of his new hairstyle.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber appears on "Ellen" on Wednesday
Photo: ABC
Justin Bieber made headlines on Tuesday when it was revealed he had cut his hair, opting for a shorter, cropped version of his famous swooping hairstyle. The star sat down with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres on Wednesday (February 23) to talk about the new look, and even had a special treat for the comedienne.
"I was inspired by yours," Bieber joked about what motivated the change, adding that he knew people would protest the new look. "Yeah [people were freaking out], but I was like, 'I don't really care.' "
Bieber then preceded to hand a lock of his famous sandy-colored hair to the host, with one major caveat. "Yes, it's really my hair, but there's a perk. I wanted to do something good. I'm giving pieces of it to different people," he explained. "The thing is, we're doing something special. We want you to donate it to whatever charity you want."
DeGeneres agreed, also requesting that the star sign something to auction off with it. She announced that she'd be giving the money raised in the auction on her website to the California animal-rescue center the Gentle Barn.
DeGeneres tried to cut Bieber's hair last May when the teen star stopped by her show. Holding up scissors, she said she wanted to cut "just a little" bit of his famous hair. He declined, but did share his secret for perfect hair. "Like five minutes," Bieber explained. "Like seriously. ... I get out of the shower, I blow-dry it and it's done in five minutes. I just shake [my head]."
Bieber is out promoting his 3-D movie, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," which is being re-released on Friday with additional footage.
Do you like JB's new 'do? Sound off below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658486/justin-bieber-haircut.jhtml
Simon Cowell Breaks Down 'X Factor' Rules, Reveals Audition Dates
'You will have never seen a show like this before in America,' former 'American Idol' judge says in new promo.
By James Dinh
Simon Cowell
Photo: Ian Derry / FOX
While "American Idol" draws closer to the televised stage of the singing competition, the U.S. version of "X Factor" will soon begin its countrywide search for the next global superstar. In a new promo for the highly anticipated competition, Simon Cowell talks about the rules for the forthcoming series, promising that America has yet to see a show like this.
"The show is basically a singing competition with a twist," the music executive says in the promo. "The auditions are open to anyone who can sing. You can be 12; you can be 112. You can be in a group; you can have 100 people in the group. It doesn't matter."
Cowell goes on to explain that the contestants are later separated into four categories: young guys, young girls, older singers and vocal groups. However, "X Factor," which premieres in September, isn't just a challenge between talented singers, but also between judges, who will mentor contestants once they make the final rounds.
"I'll assure you one thing. You will have never seen a show like this before in America and a lot is going to happen that will surprise you," Cowell continued. "But as a platform, if you're a performer, this is going to be a great opportunity for you."
In addition to the contest's age freedom, Cowell explained that contestants will have to audition in front of a live audience, saying, "If you can come out and nail it in front of 3,000 or 4,000 people, then you've got the makings of a star."
Ultimately, the former "Idol" judge said he's serious about his search for talent in America. "I'm going to come back to America and say, 'I'm serious about this' and 'I'm serious about finding talent,' " he said. "I'm going to guarantee the winner of this competition 5 million cash. It's a $5 million audition, and you're going to get the cash if you win; you just better be good."
"X Factor" audition dates, according to a press release:
» 3/27 - Los Angeles, CA @ L.A. sports arena
» 4/7 - Miami, FL @ Bank United Center
» 4/14 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
» 4/20 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
» 4/27 - Chicago, IL @ Sears Centre Arena
» TBA - Dallas, TX @ TBA
Are you excited for the U.S. version of "X Factor"? Tell us in the comments!
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658617/simon-cowell-x-factor.jhtml
Little Monsters React To Lady Gaga's Madison Square Garden Shows
Gaga's fans call her "empowering" and talk about their favorite moments from the shows.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
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'Spider-Man' Musical Star Talks Production Delays And Fighting Fear
'To give the kind of performance you want to give, there's no room for fear,' T.V. Carpio tells MTV News.
By Eric Ditzian
T.V. Carpio
Photo: Dario Cantatore/ WireImage
"Things are constantly changing. It's a very creative process," T.V. Carpio told MTV News, explaining the seemingly ever-shifting nature of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."
For some observers on the outside looking in, that might come off as spin, an "it's all good" mentality meant to calm the public while inside the musical's playhouse, "Spider-Man" continues to struggle to find its creative footing. But to Carpio, it's all part of the inspirational process of working with Julie Taymor, the visionary behind the "Lion King" musical and films like 2007's "Across the Universe."
"You have to be down to jump, because Julie is always having these crazy visions," said Carpio, who took on the role of the villainess Arachne after the original actress left the production. "She's amazing like that, and you just have to go with it."
Still, there's no doubting that the cast of "Turn Off the Dark" has had a lot to just go with. From multiple delays in the show's official Broadway debut to highly publicized safety issues and injuries, the musical is being buzzed about for all the wrong reasons. Recent reports suggest fresh behind-the-scenes talent is being welcomed into the fold.
Carpio, however, denied reports that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, a playwright and comics writer, has been hired to work on script issues. "I haven't heard anything about a writer joining us. Whenever they do change anything, they make an announcement to the cast," she said. "They told us that all the rumors, if we haven't been told about them, aren't true."
The cast has been working closely with musical supervisor Paul Bogaev, one of Taymor's longtime collaborators, to enhance various musical numbers. "There aren't any new songs," Carpio said. "Paul's just working with the songs we already have. Yesterday, he helped write a new part for my monologue in the second act. And we put in a new flight. He's just another set of outside eyes helping sculpt what's already there. But he is the only new one who's actually there and working.
"Although it's new, because he hasn't worked on 'Spider-Man' all along, Julie works with a lot of the same people," she added. "The family we have working on the music -- the choreographers, dancers, actors -- is sort of like the family from 'Across the Universe.' It didn't feel crazy, like, 'Who's this guy?' It was like, 'Oh hey, Paul!' "
Through all the changes, Carpio has kept herself insulated within what she affectionately calls her "'Spider-Man' bubble" and has been readying for the upcoming premiere of "Limitless," a thriller in which she co-stars with Bradley Cooper that hits theaters on March 18. Whatever happens with "Turn Off the Dark" in the future, the actress has managed to keep anxiety at bay -- the original Arachne, Natalie Mendoza, dropped out after suffering a concussion during a high-flying stunt -- and focused on the task at hand: delivering an entertaining Broadway experience.
"To give the kind of performance you want to give, there's no room for fear. There's always adrenaline, but it's not about fear. You just have to trust you can do it," she said. "I don't care about what goes on outside. I can't control what people say; I can only control my performance. That's the only thing I can give."
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/1658541/tv-carpio-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark-musical.jhtml
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