MTV Newsroom › Kyle Anderson

Pantera Forge Some Steel: Wake-Up Video

Posted 3/14/11 8:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video

It is truly a shame that the first thing most casual music fans remember about Pantera is that their guitarist was murdered on stage in one of the most tragic events in rock history. While Dimebag Darrell's passing was indeed shocking and tragic, he should really be remembered for his revolutionary approach to guitar playing, which brought together the brutality of metal with the thump of Southern rock for a swampy, punishing brew that was as thrilling as it was loud. Dimebag's skills were never on display better than on Pantera's final studio album Reinventing the Steel, which was released on this day in 2000.

Four years had elapsed between Pantera's previous album (1996's The Great Southern Trendkill), a scattered collection of tracks that, while heavy, did not capitalize on the success of 1994's Far Beyond Driven (which is one of the hardest, loudest albums to ever top the Billboard album chart). The rift between singer Phil Anselmo and the rest of the band continued to grow in the years between The Great Southern Trendkill and Reinventing the Steel, beginning with Anselmo's trouble with heroin (he was hospitalized for an overdose in 1996). Though the band continued to tour and kept scoring Grammy nominations, Anselmo continued to drift away from Pantera in favor of side projects (like the black metal supergroup Eibon).

The band was clearly on its last legs, but they managed to pull together one last time for Reinventing the Steel, which featured some of Dimebag's most savage riffs and Anselmo's most guttural growling. The single "Revolution Is My Name" was a minor hit and one of the band's lasting anthems.


Tags ,

'The Celebrity Apprentice' Recap: Lisa Rinna Crumbles

Posted 3/14/11 7:30 am EST by in Television

This is the 14th season of "The Apprentice," which means that by now everybody who has ever had any sort of contact with the show should know a few simple rules. First, if you're the project manager and you lose, you're probably getting fired. Second, if you don't stand up for yourself when you're being attacked in the board room, you're probably getting fired. Third, if you're going up against a contestant who clearly makes for more interesting television than you do, you're probably getting fired. All that knowledge is out there, and yet Lisa Rinna still walked into a buzzsaw on Sunday night's (March 13) episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice." After her team lost, Rinna was put on the chopping block against Dionne Warwick and Star Jones in the boardroom, which was essentially a bloodbath that left Rinna dragging her carcass back into that elevator with the helpful attendant. (On a side note: Is that guy hired just for this show, or is that his actual job?)

So how did Rinna end up being the second star eliminated this season? The two teams were charged with creating a children's book, and Rinna ended up getting drafted into being project manager (perhaps Jones and the rest of the ladies of A.S.A.P. knew this task was doomed from the start). The female team seemed to fall apart almost immediately, as they could not decide what the topic of the book should be (Marlee Matlin wanted to do a story about deafness, but for some reason Warwick wasn't having it). They sort of circled the drain from there.

Meanwhile, all the men of Backbone had to do was not light a group of children on fire and they would win this one walking away. They chose Meat Loaf as their project manager, and though he seemed flustered for the bulk of the broadcast, there wasn't much drama outside of Jose Canseco's desperate attempts to rhyme in the children's book (he seemed vaguely put out that people didn't think of him as creative). Ultimately, putting Canseco in drag for a performance of the book was probably the thing that gave Backbone the victory at the end.

The best moment of the night came during the first boardroom, which saw A.S.A.P. break down in a tornado of cattiness. Somewhere along the way, Matlin's disagreement with Warwick came up, and Matlin mentioned that she respected Warwick because "people tell me she is a legend." Trump seemed vaguely outraged that Matlin didn't know for a fact that Warwick was "a legend," to which Matlin had to declare, "Well, I'm deaf." Welcome to "The Celebrity Apprentice," where logic sounds absurd.

Also, in case anybody forgot: Star Jones is a lawyer.

So Rinna received her walking papers, which means that the two teams are once again at even strength. Next week's show seems to revolve around camping equipment and Gary Busey as a project manager, which should make for some delightful madness.

Who would you have fired on "The Celebrity Apprentice"? Let us know in the comments!

Tags , ,

Mike Starr, 'American Idol' And Foo Fighters: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 3/11/11 5:30 pm EST by in Deep Cuts

Another busy week in the MTV Newsroom has come to a close, though the news certainly won't be stopping just because there are a few days off. In fact, the world will almost certainly remain focused on the cataclysmic tsunami that has swept over the eastern coast of Japan (and the fallout that will come because of that disaster). So before you do your part in the recovery effort and reach out to those in need, be sure to catch up with everything you might have missed on the MTV Newsroom blog this week, including the saga of late former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr, the new Foo Fighters video and a whole lot of "American Idol" madness.

» The rock world mourned the passing of former Alice in Chains member and "Celebrity Rehab" participant Mike Starr, who passed away at the age of 44.

» The week opened with a return to one of the MTV Newsroom blog's favorite television shows, as "The Celebrity Apprentice" came back around for another round of psychosis.

» A number of high-profile albums hit the street this week, including R.E.M.'s latest album Collapse Into Now, which will feature one video for each song on the album.

» Lupe Fiasco also released his long-awaited third album this week, and even though Lupe himself felt lukewarm about it, the critics had a much more enthusiastic reaction.

» Charlie Sheen still dominated a certain segment of the news this week, as he was officially fired from "Two and a Half Men." That opens the door for a replacement, but who will that be?
Read More...

Tags , , , , , ,

Happy Birthday, Joel And Benji Madden!

Posted 3/11/11 2:30 pm EST by in Music

Not only is today the birthday of MTV Movies Blog editor Josh Wigler, but it's also the double-dip birthday of Joel and Benji Madden, the dynamic duo who make up the core of Good Charlotte. The twins turn 32 years old today.

The Madden brothers grew up in suburban Maryland under the last name Combs, but when their father left they both legally changed their surname to Madden (which was their mother's maiden name). The roots of Good Charlotte began when the brothers were still in high school, but their public life began with the release of their self-titled debut in 2000. Anchored by the single "Little Things," Good Charlotte became a minor hit in the Warped Tour universe.

But the band really found success with their second album The Young and the Hopeless, which landed in the fall of 2002. That album featured some of the band's best-known tunes, including "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous," "The Anthem," "Girls & Boys" and "Hold On" (the latter of which was accompanied by an amazing anti-suicide video that ranks as one of the most intense, underrated clip of the past 10 years). The Young and the Hopeless went on to sell over three million copies and turned Good Charlotte into headliners.

Since then, the group has experimented both within the confines of the band and outside on their own. The brothers launched their own clothing label and formed a production team called Dead Executives, and Joel became something of a tabloid regular after getting together and having children with Nicole Richie. Meanwhile, Benji Madden has provided support to a number of other bands and is also a member of a side project called Taintstick.

In honor of the Madden brothers' birthday, crank up their 2010 hit "Like It's Her Birthday," from the band's fifth album Cardiology.


Tags , , , ,

Foo Fighters' 'Rope' Video: The Key Scene

Posted 3/11/11 11:30 am EST by in Music

On Thursday night (March 10), MTV News rolled out to a Foo Fighters superfan's house in southern California to unveil the brand new video for "Rope," the first single from the band's forthcoming seventh album Wasting Light. The band rolled out the video and then talked to MTV News' James Montgomery on "MTV First" about the creation of the video as well as the recording process of the new album, the evolution of the band and the return of guitarist Pat Smear to the fold.

In fact, Montgomery even reminded the band about the notorious night when Smear left the group — which happened to go down in front of an audience of millions on the red carpet show that opened up the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. Foo Fighters opened with "Monkeywrench," then Smear took the microphone to pass the guitar-playing torch to Franz Stahl, a former bandmate of Grohl's from the seminal hardcore punk band Scream. It was a cool little flashback that elicited a fun response from Smear.

As for "Rope," it's an intense performance clip that features the band (now a quintet, with the addition of Smear) playing inside a big white room. It was recorded on VHS, which means that the effects were kept at a minimum, leaving only the band's savage performance chops. In the clip's key scene, the room shifts from white to a multi-colored bonanza that puts the band members in deep shadow. If you have ever wondered what a rock star looks like, wonder no more.

What do you think of Foo Fighters' "Rope" video? Let us know in the comments!

Tags , ,

'Red Riding Hood' Howls Along With Shakira, Yeasayer And Daniel Merriweather

Posted 3/11/11 10:30 am EST by in Music

A new weekend is almost upon us, which means that there are a whole bunch of new titles hitting cinemas. A new adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel "Jane Eyre" has arrived, this time with direction by Cary Fukunaga ("Sin Nombre") and starring Mia Wasikowska (you know her better as Alice from Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"). If you need more explosions in your movies, there's "Battle: Los Angeles," an alien invasion flick that features an all out onslaught by some unfriendly beasties from space. There's a family option in the animated "Mars Needs Moms" (which features voice work from Seth Green and Joan Cusack). There are also smaller titles in "Certified Copy" (a lush drama that earned star Juliette Binoche an acting prize at Cannes), "Black Death" (a medieval horror mystery from the director of the cult hit "Severance") and "Making the Boys" (a documentary about the creation of "The Boys in the Band," a landmark play and movie for the gay rights movement).

But the big headlines of the weekend will belong to "Red Riding Hood," as it represents a big step forward for star Amanda Seyfried (who is about to elevate herself to the A list) and director Catherine Hardwicke (who is handling her first film since the first "Twilight" movie). Seyfried plays the titular girl who is hunted by a werewolf (who is in turn being hunted by Gary Oldman). It's a gorgeous, pulpy flick full of great twists that should satisfy a bunch of different entertainment urges.

In order to get yourself into the right mood for "Red Riding Hood," check out the playlist below. There are songs devoted to wolves, hoods and the color red, beginning with Daniel Merriweather's "Red."


Tags , , , ,

Collective Soul Experience A Breakdown: Wake-Up Video

Posted 3/11/11 9:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video

Back in 1993, a band from Georgia named after a concept invented by Ayn Rand scored a surprise local hit when an Atlanta radio station began repeatedly blasting a song called "Shine." The success of that song lead to a record deal for Collective Soul, who released their debut album Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid the following year. In one fell swoop, Collective Soul established themselves as major players on the alternative rock scene, and on this day in 1997 they continued their streak of success when they released their third album Disciplined Breakdown.

The creation of Disciplined Breakdown should have been something of a victory lap for the band, who had scored their greatest success with 1995's self-titled album (which contained the huge hits "December," "Gel" and "The World I Know"), but the album was created under quite a bit of duress. The band had split with their management and were going through a protracted legal battle when the time came for Disciplined Breakdown to be recorded. Since so much of the band's money was tied up with litigation, the sessions for the album were pretty spare, and the whole of Disciplined Breakdown was recorded in a cabin in the woods without any studio flair.

Of course, the results are some of Collective Soul's most raw and interesting tunes, as they were mostly written on the fly and express a real sense of tension without sacrificing the group's knack for beauty and melody. "Precious Declaration," the album's first single, captures those elements brilliantly, as it manages to deliver both a buzzsaw guitar attack and the lovely respite in the bridge.


Tags ,

'American Idol' Bids Farewell To Ashthon Jones

Posted 3/11/11 8:30 am EST by in Music

The first high-profile casualty of the 10th season of "American Idol" came down on Thursday night (March 10), as Ashton Jones hit the exit after collecting the least amount of votes from the public (who notched 30 million votes this week). Karen Rodriguez and Haley Reinhart both joined Jones in the bottom three, but in the end it was Jones who had to walk away. Since the show has decided to bring back the judges' save (which allows Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to rescue a singer if they think America voted incorrectly), Jones was given one last shot to save herself in the "sing for your life" segment. However, she could not make a convincing case for salvation.

MTV News "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello welcomed "Jersey Shore" cast member Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola, Popdust's Maura Johnston and "Idol" castoff Rachel Zevita for a conversation about Jones' elimination, the return of the judges' save and the horrors of those "sing for your life" segments (among a host of other topics) during Thursday night's "Idol Party Live."

Next week, each member of the Top 12 will sing a song from the year he or she was born, and the performers on next Thursday night's (March 17) results show include the Black Eyed Peas and last season's champ Lee DeWyze. Who will be the next to be sent home? Who will become the new front-runner? What will become of Casey Abrams? And will Thia Megia have the stones to sing Adina Howard's "Freak Like Me," one of the biggest songs of 1995 (the year she was born)? Join us next week when we do this all over again.

Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Tags , ,

Former Hole Drummer Patty Schemel Gets The Rock Doc Treatment In 'Hit So Hard'

Posted 3/10/11 1:30 pm EST by in Music

Anybody who listened to Hole during their peak knows that the band was dominated by frontwoman Courtney Love. Her personality was so outsized and her voice so big and distinct that there was little room for anybody else in the band to really shine. But Hole were an incredibly efficient rock machine, and a lot of that was because of the savage precision of drummer Patty Schemel. Drummers tend to get short shrift in any band (save for iconic singularities like Keith Moon, John Bonham or Neil Peart), so it's about time that one of the more talented members of the time-keeping fraternity gets the attention she deserves.

That attention comes in the form of "Hit So Hard: The Life and Near Death of Patty Schemel," a documentary about Schemel's life and career behind the kit. The film, which borrows its title from a song from Hole's 1998 album Celebrity Skin, is the brainchild of director P. David Ebersole and features interviews with many of Schemel's great contemporaries, including former Veruca Salt frontwoman Nina Gordon, former Luscious Jackson drummer Kate Schellenbach, Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum (who also provided the score for the film) and Hole bandmates Love, Eric Erlandson and Melissa Auf Der Maur.

In this exclusive clip that premiered on the MTV Movies Blog, some of Schemel's best friends and bandmates zero in on one of the drummer's greatest unsung traits: her winning sense of humor.


Tags , ,

The National's 'Conversation 16' Video: The Key Scene

Posted 3/10/11 12:30 pm EST by in Music

In 2010, Brooklyn (by way of Cincinnati, Ohio) indie rock masterminds the National unleashed one of the best albums of the year in High Violet. The group's fifth album overall, High Violet took the themes first established on their previous releases (especially 2005's Alligator and 2007's Boxer) and cranked them up to 11, indulging in all the orchestral constructions, tension-busting crescendos and profound sadness the band has made its specialty. High Violet is a gorgeous, thrilling release, but also a profound bummer.

It's refreshing to know that the five men of the National do have something of a sense of humor, even if their music doesn't always suggest as such. In the just-released new video for the song "Conversation 16" (one of the more anthemic tracks from High Violet), the group tapped comic Kristen Schaal (of "The Daily Show" and "Flight of the Conchords" fame) to play a wacky, lonely President of the United States. She is isolated and lonely even though she is constantly surrounded by Secret Service agents — one of whom, played by "Mad Men" star John Slattery, secretly pines for her and fantasizes about taking her away from her humdrum life as the leader of the free world.

Though that premise sounds like a downer, the video plays fast and loose with it (which is appropriate, considering the deceptively cheeky tune contains the chorus "I was afraid I'd eat your brains/ Because I'm evil"). Schaal gets seduced by a Russian political figure, which frustrates Slattery (he has to watch as she packs her official President of the United States thong). There is also a great fantasy sequence where Slattery gleefully jumps in front of an assassin's bullet for Schaal, much to her delight. And in the clip's key scene, Schaal presides over the pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey, an actual presidential tradition that is extremely silly.

The National are nominated for a Performing Woodie at the 2011 Woodie Awards, where they will compete against fellow concert titans Girl Talk, Matt & Kim, Mumford & Sons and Robyn.

Tags ,

78910111213141516
SPONSORS
AD:
©2013 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.