MTV Newsroom › Chris Harris

Another Led Zeppelin Rumor Almost Debunked

Posted 10/13/08 2:54 pm EST by in Led-Zeppelin

It's one of the crazier rumors we've ever heard here in the MTV News offices (and we hear crazy rumors all the time) and, so far, it's been impossible to confirm or disprove, because no one involved is talking — not on the record, at least.

It involves Led Zeppelin — who returned to the live stage last December, for a single performance in London — launching a full-scale reunion tour, which means it probably isn't true at all, given what frontman Robert Plant recently said.

"It's both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward," Plant told the U.K. press, following the publishing of an article intimating that Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, ex-Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell and Van Halen's erstwhile frontman Sammy Hagar could replace him on a Zeppelin reunion run. "I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects."
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With Release Date Seemingly Set, We Look Back At 17 Years Of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy

Posted 10/9/08 2:08 pm EST by in guns-n-roses, Reunions

Guns N RosesIt's been 17 years since Guns N' Roses released a studio album full of fresh material — the one-two punch that was 1991's Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II — and in that long stretch, fans have learned one thing: Axl Rose refuses to rush the creative process. OK, they've also learned that a lot of lies can be told over 17 years and that a band can still tour successfully, even if that band looks nothing like anyone remembers.

Now that Hits Daily Double is reporting a firm November 23 release date for Chinese Democracy, the wait for some fresh GN'R — at least in the way Rose meant for it to be heard — looks like it may soon be over. It also got us to thinking about what's transpired since Guns N' Roses' last studio LPs dropped. And the short answer is "a lot." Read More...

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Lil' Kim Being Sued For Being Lil' Kim

Posted 10/9/08 9:23 am EST by in Lawsuit, lil-kim

Lil' KimYou've got to love Lil' Kim's lawyer, Londell McMillan. A suit filed Tuesday by Brookland Media, an upstart label that claims it inked a deal with Kim earlier this year and planned to release her LP as its debut offering, contends that the MC has made "outlandish" demands not covered under the terms of her contract. One such demand calls for Akon and Wyclef Jean to be hired on as additional producers for the project.

In trying to demonstrate why that demand fit their definition of "outlandish," Brookland's suit charges Kim is "known in the music industry for her extravagant and costly excesses."

McMillan's response, which he gave to the New York Daily News, was honest. "Surprise, surprise — an artist of superstar stature wants to protect her image," he said.

The suit also claims that the rapper refuses to record another note until her contract is renegotiated. The label is seeking $2.5 million dollars for the undelivered album, and recently was awarded a ruling that bars Kim from taking her rhymes elsewhere.

According to McMillan, it's unlikely the case will make it to court: "We'll work it out around a conference table, in front of a judge or over some martinis," he told the News.

Read more about Lil' Kim's latest legal woes here.

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Rage To Record? Tom Morello Shoots Down Online Rumors

Posted 10/3/08 11:41 am EST by in Rage-Against-The-Machine

Tom MorelloFor months now, we've been hearing rumors about Rage Against the Machine that suggested the band, who've reunited for a spate of successful gigs, would soon be hitting the studio to write and record the follow-up to 2000's cover-filled Renegades. Obviously, you've got to take such rumors with a grain of salt, considering Rage's history. But then again, stranger things have definitely happened.

MusicRadar, citing a "source" within the band's label, Sony, reported that rumor, saying that Rage was prepping new material for an album to be released next year. "We're hopeful," the source apparently said, "but a new album is far from definite." The story was picked up by several sites, and fans responded with a great deal of skepticism — as well they should have.

We decided to go straight to the source and reached out to guitarist Tom Morello — who has been busy with his solo project, the Nightwatchman, and will make an appearance on Cypress Hill's upcoming LP — by e-mail this morning, asking him whether there was any truth to these rumors. He got back to us a few minutes later with exactly the kind of response we were anticipating. "Nope," he wrote. Short, sweet and concise. Let's hope this denial puts these Rage recording rumors to rest once and for all.

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SoundScan Corrects Albums-Chart Figures: Pussycat Dolls Are Actually #4, Kings Of Leon #5

Posted 10/2/08 3:08 pm EST by in Charts

For the second time in a month, national album-sales figures released Wednesday morning by SoundScan — the firm that tracks and reports record sales in the U.S. — have been revised, making part of our report yesterday incorrect.

It seems that the Pussycat Dolls actually sold nearly 5,000 more copies of their latest LP, Doll Domination, than was originally reported by SoundScan. On Wednesday morning, the chart posted on the SoundScan site had PCD debuting at #5 on next week's albums chart with 74,000 copies sold, and the Kings of Leon's Only By the Night opening at #4, with 74,400 copies scanned.
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Michigan Rapper MC Breed Recovering After Kidney Failure

Posted 9/8/08 10:40 am EST by in MC Breed

MC BreedFlint, Michigan-based rapper MC Breed is improving after being admitted to a hospital on Friday with kidney failure, according to TMZ. The rapper -- born Eric Breed -- was allegedly playing basketball in Atlanta when he collapsed; he was transported from the site of the pickup game to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. He has since been taken off life support.

When Breed, who has worked with the likes of Tupac and Too Short, was admitted, his kidneys were only 30 percent functional. Breed will likely need a kidney transplant and will remain in the hospital for at least another week for observation. But TMZ claims that Breed is already on the road to recovery, as he's started recognizing faces and voices.

The 36-year-old rapper's manager, Darryl Morris, told AllHipHop.com that Breed had to be revived three times. He said a number of rappers have been contacted about participating in a benefit concert to help Breed with his medical expenses. "We are hoping we can find Breed a kidney through this process, before it's too late," Morris told the site.

MC Breed was preparing to release an album titled Original Breed, featuring a guest spot from Too Short. The rapper will also issue a DVD about his life titled "Where is MC Breed."

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Van Halen, Heart Peeved At GOP, So What Song Should McCain Use?

Posted 9/5/08 9:47 am EST by in heart, John-McCain, Republican National Convention, Van-Halen

Heart's Nancy WilsonLast week, right before Republican presidential candidate John McCain introduced the world to his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, in Dayton, Ohio, he strutted out to the sounds of Van Halen's "Right Now." A few hours later, Van Halen's publicist told MTV News that the POTUS hopeful was never granted permission to use the track, and had permission been sought, it would never have been granted.

Now, Heart are furious with the McCain campaign for its use of their 1977 hit "Barracuda" as Palin's unofficial theme song during the RNC. (When the governor was a high school basketball champ, her teammates nicknamed her "Sarah Barracuda.") Heart's reps fired off a statement saying they'd asked the Republicans to stop using the song, and in a phone call to EW.com, Nancy Wilson said she felt "completely f---ed over."

It seems McCain's people just can't find the right tunes. Considering how liberal most recording artists are, it's likely this will continue to be a problem for the GOP. Perhaps John should just stick with John Rich's "Raising McCain."

If you had to pick a song to capture the spirit of McCain's or Senator Barack Obama's campaign, which song would you go with? Tell us!

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Hardcore Icons Bad Brains Will Finally Play D.C. Again On Election Night

Posted 9/3/08 11:38 am EST by in Election Night

Bad Brains' Paul D. HudsonOn November 4 — which will undoubtedly be a momentous, historic Election Day, no matter the outcome — hardcore legends Bad Brains will be revisiting their own history. The band will be performing in their hometown of Washington, D.C., where, in 1979, the band found themselves the subject of an “unofficial” ban by many of the city’s clubs and performance venues (a move that inspired their song “Banned in D.C.”).

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Diddy's Not Mad At L.A. Cops For Pulling A Gun On His Entourage

Posted 8/26/08 10:31 am EST by in Diddy

DiddyYou've got to hand it to Sean "Diddy" Combs. The man's in Los Angeles with his pals when sheriff's deputies stop them. One officer even pulls a gun. But does that faze Diddy? Not at all. In fact, the hip-hop mogul has nothing but nice things to say about the fuzz.

According to The Associated Press, a spokesperson for Diddy said the cops were completely professional and "very respectful." The spokesperson also disputed earlier reports that the gun was pointed at the rapper. Really, it was all a big misunderstanding, sort of like Diddy's brief beef with our own James Montgomery, which was so sweetly resolved on last week's "FNMTV."

On Saturday morning, sheriff's deputies stopped Diddy's seven-car convoy along Sunset Boulevard because one of the cars (not the one Diddy was in) had an expired registration. When several members of Diddy's entourage approached the car, the cops became "concerned," according to sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore, and one of them drew his weapon. But the situation didn't get out of hand. Ultimately, no citations were issued because the car was a rental, and Diddy and company were allowed to continue on their merry way.

Amazingly, Diddy hasn't turned this incident into a media war — perhaps because none of the sheriff's deputies made snarky comments about Donnie Klang.

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Amanda Bynes To Blame For Weekend Crash

Posted 8/25/08 10:39 am EST by in Uncategorized

Amanda BynesOver the weekend, "Hairspray" star Amanda Bynes, 22, was involved in a minor car accident in Los Angeles — her second smashup of 2008.

According to People.com, police claim no major injuries were sustained in the crash, which they've said was Bynes' bad.
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