Archive: July 2011 (1-10 of 122)

Jul 30 2011 09:21 PM ET

'120 Minutes': In honor of MTV2's re-launch tonight, host Matt Pinfield reminisces about his favorite 'Minutes' moments

by
Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Indie Rock, Music Videos, Oasis, Perry Farrell, Q&A, Radiohead, Stay Up Late, Television
Matt-Pinfield_240.jpg

Image Credit: L. Busacca/WireImage for EMI Music Publishing

An MTV classic is at last being let out of the vault. 120 Minutes, the long-running alternative-music series that spotlighted indie artists and bands not typically featured on the MTV lineup, is set to re-launch Sunday on MTV2 at 1:00am ET, with that chrome-domed font of encyclopedic musical knowledge, Matt Pinfield, back as host.

Fans who’ve never forgiven MTV for abandoning music in favor of reality shows about the attention-seeking, fame-whoring, and alcohol-guzzling, were particular dismayed when Minutes was cancelled in 2003 after a 17-year run. But they can now take heart: the premiere lineup tonight includes Sleigh Bells, the Black Angels, and Das Racist. And future guests set to join Pinfield on the 120 Minutes set at the Lower East Side’s Arlene’s Grocery include Dave Grohl, Lupe Fiasco, Kings of Leon, and PJ Harvey.

To commemorate the launch of the new show, we asked Matt Pinfield to take a ‘90s nostalgia trip and give us his favorite moments from the old 120 Minutes, a list that includes early signs of friction in Oasis, a lyrical tribute from Perry Farrell, and, of course, a drunken Jon Spencer meltdown. Take a look at Pinfield’s favorite memories after the break: READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 04:40 PM ET

Bret Michaels and Tommy Lee pose with guns, inspire federal investigation

by
Categories: Bret Michaels, Motley Crue, Rock, Things On The Internet, Things That Are Awesome, Tommy Lee

By most accounts, few makers of hair metal should have made it out of the ’80s unscathed.

Considering the amount of drugs taken, fights started, and cars crashed just among the members of Mötley Crüe, it’s remarkable that they not only still walk among us but also play sold-out summer tour dates.

And, of course, they’re still making trouble all these years later (or as some might say, “Same Ol’ Situation.”)

According to a local news station in North Carolina, a federal investigation has been launched into photos that surfaced depicting Crüe drummer Tommy Lee and current tourmate Bret Michaels hanging out and shooting guns with some local police officers. (Whoever built this slideshow of photos of everybody at the firing range is doing the Lord’s work.) (Also, would somebody please give Tommy a sandwich? The guy is wasting away!)

The shots raised a handful of red flags for the cops’ local departments (nobody seems to be sure whether or not anybody violated any internal rules) as well as for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, who are looking into whether or not either rocker has a criminal record that could have made the gun-happy adventure illegal. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 04:10 PM ET

'American Idol' roundup: What's new with seven non-winners from past seasons -- hear their latest music here

by
Categories: American Idol
Brooke-White

Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Not every American Idol contestant can be a Kelly Clarkson or a Carrie Underwood.

Most fade into relative obscurity a few months after their season wraps, communicating regularly with their small Twitter fanbases or occasionally appearing on TMZ, but rarely actually doing much on the music front.

Something different is happening this summer, though. Idol alumni are taking charge of their careers and releasing a whole slew of new music into the world—and I’m not talking about the winners. Sure, David Cook has a new album, and Jordin Sparks is hitting the pavement to promote her new single, but a handful of Idol contestants (like Brooke White, pictured) who didn’t make the finals have new material due, and we’ve gathered them all in one big listening session here just for you.

After the jump, check out all new music from Chris Richardson, Kellie Pickler, Danny Gokey, Casey James, Brooke White, Mandisa, and Anthony Federov: READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 02:34 PM ET

Darren Criss and the Warblers perform 'Teenage Dream' live for 'Glee live 3D': Listen here -- EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE

by
Categories: EW Exclusives, Glee, Soundtracks
teenage-dream

Image Credit: Adam Rose/Fox

After an entire season of invading your televisions, the kids from Glee are getting read to take over your theaters for the summer with their 3D concert movie.

But if the anticipation is killing you and Aug. 12 just seems too far away, EW is happy to present your exclusive first listen to Darren Criss and the Warblers performing “Teenage Dream.”

The track, which can also be heard on the soundtrack (out Aug. 9), features Criss’ silky pipes, solid backing vocals from his blazered brothers, and just enough screaming girls to get the live experience (minus the temporary deafness that usually results from being surrounded by shrieks for extended periods of time).

Listen below and enjoy this EXCLUSIVE premiere, Mixers! READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 12:50 PM ET

Beyonce performs 'Best Thing I Never Had' on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, song writer releases original version

by
Categories: Beyonce, Divas!, Pop, R&B, Things That Are Awesome

As we announced earlier this week, Beyoncé hit the Late Night stage yesterday to perform her latest single, “Best Thing I Never Had.”

The diva, dressed in white and backed by house band The Roots, flipped the track three ways—first performing it as heard in its piano-driven album version, then funked up a bit for the second verse, before closing out in jazzy fashion on the bridge.

Beyoncé’s vocals, as always, were flawless. Check out her performance with on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon here:

READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 12:34 PM ET

Morrissey compares Norway massacre to KFC, should probably stick to self-loathing

by
Categories: Indie Rock, Morrissey, Rock Stars Say the Darndest Things, Things That Are British, Things That Really Could Have Been Avoided, Whoopsies!
Morrissey

Image Credit: Annabel Staff/Redferns/Getty Images

Oh Morrissey. Sometimes you just make it so hard to love you.

And we really want to! Your songs have gotten us through countless bad break-ups and rainy afternoons cleaning the apartment. Your work with the Smiths is legendary, and your solo career isn’t too shabby either (“Hairdresser On Fire” remains a favorite).

But you have a tendency to run your mouth at weird times, which is why we’re considering cutting ties with you after you compared the tragedy in Norway to the production of meat in fast food restaurants.

READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 11:54 AM ET

Journey perform 'Don't Stop Believin' on 'Today'

by
Categories: Journey, Rock, Television
journey

Image Credit: Peter Kramer/NBC

When humanity’s time on this planet comes to an end via some sort of environmental disaster, obliteration via giant transforming robots or a giant ape takeover, the only indestructible remnants of our culture left behind will be Twinkies, reruns of Lifetime Original Movies, and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.”

The song, which was originally a top-ten hit in 1981 but has gone through an amazing renaissance in the 21st century thanks to key appearances on Laguna Beach, The Sopranos series finale , and Glee (as well as every wedding you’ve ever been to), it continues to be a song that is constantly embraced by new listeners.

Journey proved that this morning on Today, where they took the stage to perform a handful of their classics, including the song that will not die. Check out the video here: READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 09:31 AM ET

Perry Farrell's favorite Lollapalooza memories: Lady Gaga dives, Pearl Jam flies, and Patti Smith frightens the children

by
Categories: Lady Gaga, Listmania!, Lollapalooza, Pearl Jam, Perry Farrell, Rage Against the Machine, Rock
Perry-Farrell

Image Credit: FilmMagic.com

Next weekend, Perry Farrell will once again take over Chicago’s massive Grant Park and welcome some of the biggest names in music, including Eminem, Coldplay, Muse, Foo Fighters and My Morning Jacket, to Lollapalooza.

The long-running festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year (the very first Lolla, in 1991, traveled across the country and featured Jane’s Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails, Living Colour, Ice-T & Body Count, Butthole Surfers, Rollins Band, Violent Femmes and Fishbone), and in honor of all those epic sets and crazy tales, here are Farrell’s five favorite Lollapalooza memories.

Ice-T & Body Count (1991)
“On the first Lollapalooza, Ice-T used to come out during the Jane’s set and we would perform [Sly Stone's] ‘Don’t Call Me N—–, Whitey.’ It was always a real heavy experience. [To start] I would tell a ‘n—a’ joke to the audience and everybody would laugh, and as they’re laughing, out Ice-T would come from the shadow. He’d slip right behind me and he’d go ‘Don’t call me n—a, whitey!’ That’s how we’d get into it. Then we would end up doing a square dance together.”

Pearl Jam (1992)
“Pearl Jam played the second Lollapalooza. Eddie Vedder is just the consummate showman and gives you every last bit of sweat and blood and guts in his performances. I remember him jumping into the crowd off a speaker stack that was really high. I couldn’t actually believe he did it. The crowd carrying him away will stay in my memory as one of the moments when I knew that Lollapalooza was really an important component to modern music.” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 08:00 AM ET

Enrique Iglesias on 'Behind the Music': His meteoric rise to stardom -- EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW VIDEO

by
Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Attack of the '90s, Enrique Iglesias, Music, Pop, Television, VH1, Video Exclusive

Only a handful of stars have rocketed to fame as quickly as Latin singer Enrique Iglesias did when he cracked the global pop market in 1999.

A string of hits that included “Be With You” and “Hero” solidified him as a superstar here in America. That meteoric rise is chronicled in the latest episode of VH1′s Behind the Music: Enrique Iglesias, which will air on the cable network Sunday, July 31, at 10 p.m. EW has the exclusive preview clip of the hour-long episode.

“My first album had just sold, like, six and a half million copies in Spanish,” Iglesias remembers in the preview clip, “and two million in the U.S. with the Spanish album, which was crazy.” The clip also features an interview from a much-younger Iglesias, talking about his pre-fame romantic trials back in 1999. “Before I was a singer, I used to get dumped all the time,” he says. “Suddenly, you become a singer, and someone’s sex life can definitely get a lot better.”

The episode, of course, also retraces the rest of Iglesias’ career and what led him to sell more than 58 million records worldwide. Iglesias discusses how he came to be the man he is today, what the people in his life mean to him, and his 10-year relationship with tennis superstar Anna Kournikova. Plus: He reveals his thoughts on the rumors and issues that have plagued him during his career.

EW has the exclusive first look at the episode here:

READ FULL STORY »

Jul 28 2011 05:46 PM ET

Independent record stores protest Jay-Z and Kanye's album-release shutout

by
Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Supergroups, Things That Are Frustrating

watch-the-throne

The roll-out of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collab album Watch the Throne is threefold: On Aug. 8, both standard and deluxe versions hit iTunes digitally. Next comes the standard physical version (CD and albums), which gets to formal stores Aug. 12. Best Buy, however, will have the deluxe version exclusively. Then on Aug. 22 it’s out everywhere else.

It’s the second and third part that has indie record store owners up in arms. Peeved that Best Buy will be the only place to buy the Throne CD, the Record Store Day folks sent an email out to their indie store brothers and sisters addressed to the rhymers. In it they call Jay and Kanye’s decision to give Best Buy a deluxe head start a “short-sighted strategy, and that your decisions will be doing great damage to over 1,700 independent record stores —stores that have supported you and your music for years.”

(Though they do ask nicely: the letter also says “We know that you are busy, and that you put most of your energies into creating great music, but we are writing to you in the hope that you will hear us and take the time to rectify this matter.”)

The deluxe version of Throne features an additional four tracks—ones that the kind of music fanatics who frequent indie joints for music will want. They’ll likely have to take their dollars to the mainstream giant to get all 16 songs.

It’s definitely not fair. But as they say, business is business. Allowing the indies to sell the deluxe on Aug. 12 is probably the “right” thing to do. Really though, it’s the artists’ album. And if they want to keep it away from the little guys (as bad as that sounds), it’s their prerogative.

Sound off and check out the full letter (and the growing number of signatures supporting it) after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP