Foo Fighters Drummer Lands Iggy Pop Role In New CBGB Film

Posted 6/5/12 1:47 pm EST by in Foo-Fighters, Movies

Iggy Pop Movie

By Zachary Swickey

Few venues have the legendary status of the now-defunct CBGB – the NYC club where a who’s who of rock and punk superstars got their start throughout the '70s and '80s.

An upcoming film will document the iconic venue’s story and some intriguing actor choices have been revealed. Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is set to play Stooges’ frontman Iggy Pop (he does have the bod for it), Johnny Galecki from “The Big Bang Theory” will play music manager Terry Ork and actress Mickey Sumner will delve into the role of Patti Smith.

The film, dubbed simply “CBGB,” will focus on the punk rock music scene for which the club was the epicenter. Bands from the Ramones to the Talking Heads to Blondie all got their start and shaped their sound at the legendary venue. The club was forcibly closed in 2007 with owner Hilly Kristal, who will be played in the film by Alan Rickman, unfortunately passing away just a year later.

Malin Ackerman, Joel David Moore and "Harry Potter" star Rupert Grint have also snagged roles in the ensemble drama. Director Randall Miller – best known for the star-studded 2008 indie hit "Bottle Shock" – co-wrote the effort with Jody Savin.

Production is expected to begin on June 25 in Savannah, Georgia, before heading to New York.

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Want To Mortify Adele? Just Write A Song About Her

Posted 6/5/12 12:35 pm EST by in Adele

Adele

By Meredith Goldberg-Morse

Adele’s typical post-breakup catharsis seems to take on a unique form—rather than weeping into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s while watching "The Notebook," the eight-time Grammy winner consistently converts her heartbreak into multi-platinum records detailing the pain caused by her exes. The 21 singer acknowledges, however, that she’d be "mortified" if the tables were turned. So much so that she just might "f**king s**t" herself. (That's pretty mortified, yes?)

As part of her "Adele Live in London with Matt Lauer" special airing tonight, Adele admits to having regrets about how open she was about her personal life on her first two albums. When asked whether she’d like to take anything back, she confessed, "I do wish I’d kept a lot of things to myself, but I never knew the album was going to be so big."

Considering how she would feel if the situation were reversed and an ex-boyfriend wrote songs about her, Adele also points out a crucial difference: "I’ve never given any names ever, but everyone’s going to know this song’s about me. No one actually knows who my songs are about." Still, the singer intends to "be more wary" about exposing her past relationships going forward, recognizing that her fame "shouldn’t affect people who … it’s got nothing to do with."

But fear not—this change in attitude doesn’t mark the end of the soul-baring singles we’ve come to expect from Adele. "In interviews when I’m explaining my songs, I shouldn’t be so direct about who they’re about," the singer explained, though she concedes that "the songs…can still be really really direct."

So despite her new perspective, potential suitors be warned—you could still end up the hated subject of an Adele song.

Check out a preview of the interview below. Read More...

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Watch President Obama's Cover Of Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe'

Posted 6/5/12 10:52 am EST by in Barack-Obama, Video

We know you love Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe," but you know what would make it even better? If Al Green-covering sensation President Barack Obama decided to cover the infectious hit.

Well, your wish has been granted … kind of.

Our buddies over at MTV Act partnered with BaracksDubs, aka Fadi Saleh, the 19-year old University of Tennessee at Knoxville student behind the presidential pop renditions of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," to let you guys vote on which song you'd like to see BaracksDubs give the Obama mashup treatment. You wisely chose Jepsen's parody favorite "Call Me Maybe," and viral video magic ensued.

While Saleh is of course hoping to entertain with his videos, he also hopes they will bring a little attention to the political process as the presidential election nears. "What my videos can do with the attention they've received is increase consciousness of the elections and remind people that they're approaching fast," he told MTV Act. "Sometimes, that's all people need – a little push to get them out and voting. If my videos are doing that, I must be doing something right."

Get the full scoop on Saleh and the clip over at MTV Act and check it out below!

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Pink Cancels Performance At Obama Fundraiser As Hospital Stay Continues

Posted 6/5/12 10:15 am EST by in Pink, Tweet Beat

Pink is having a rough week. The Grammy winner has been in the hospital, suffering from what she first announced was the stomach flu, though a recent tweet suggests she is now having problems with her gall bladder.

The hospital stay has sadly put a damper on the singer's plans to perform at a fundraising event for President Barack Obama and it forced her throw a rather unconventional first birthday party for daughter Willow in her hospital room.

Pink was scheduled to appear at an Obama event in Los Angeles on Wednesday (June 6), but has been replaced by 'Glee' star Darren Criss. "I'm so bummed I can't perform for The President of the United States this Wed night," she tweeted. "Thanx @darrencriss for filling in for me!! #badtiming."

She continued, "So now I've let down my daughter and the President. wow. great week."

We don't think little Willow made out all that badly. Pink tweeted that her daughter "just got a Gucci dress and a custom rocking chair for her birthday, plus some Toms, so it ain't all bad. Lucky little girl. I think I got a bag of cheetos and a teddy bear for my 1st birthday."

Check out Willow's delicious-looking birthday cake below! Read More...

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Go Behind The Scenes Of Rihanna's New Vita Coco Campaign

Posted 6/4/12 3:26 pm EST by in Rihanna

Looking to shape up for the summer bathing suit season? Maybe take a cue from Rihanna and start sipping on some coconut water. The pop star and Vita Coco spokeswoman tells Us Weekly the electrolyte-heavy drink is the secret to her fab physique.

"I wasn't drinking enough water before, and I love coconut water," RiRi tells the mag. "It hydrates me just as much as regular water so it really started to affect my diet and the way my body was shaping up."

It's a sentiment the "Where Have You Been" singer echoes in a new behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot for her latest campaign for the brand, which was shot by famed photographer Terry Richardson.

So what's her favorite flavor? "Tropical Fruit Punch … [It] completely dilutes the taste of coconut water, if you're not really into it."

Check it out below!

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Fiona Apple Reveals New Idler Wheel Track ' Werewolf'

Posted 6/4/12 2:29 pm EST by in Music

Fiona Apple

By Zachary Swickey

Here in the MTV Newsroom, we are anxiously awaiting the June 19 release of Fiona Apple's fourth studio album, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do. New music from the set has slowly been trickling out ahead of the album's release and today we got a first listen to a new song, "Werewolf."

Apple discussed the making of the tune with Pitchfork and her trouble recreating a particular sound bite she wanted on the track. When she first recorded the track at her mother’s home in Harlem, a battle scene from a movie was playing in the background. She dug what she heard, but couldn’t use the source material.

"I liked it, but I couldn't use it from the movie. I spent literally the next year trying to recreate that sound,” she explained to Pitchfork. “I went to San Francisco for Halloween and I was hanging out in trolleys recording people screaming. I would walk past a bunch of drunk people and be like: 'Hey, scream!' But it would always sound wrong and stupid,” she continued.

She had all but given up hope, but on the first official day of recording the set she found her solution. “On the first morning we were planning to record, I had just gotten out of the shower and I heard all these kids screaming – there’s an elementary school across from my house in L.A. I was like, 'Oh s**t, that's it,’” she recounts.

She wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to fill the void of sound that she had been looking for. “I threw on whatever was right there – which I didn't realize at the time was a pair of pants that I was going to throw away because the ass was split – and I ran out, half-clothed, carrying my recording thing. I was standing there looking like a crazy person, watching these kids.”

After some slight sound editing in the studio, the sample gave Apple just what she was looking for. “They were jumping with balloons between their legs, trying to make them pop. In the actual song, we had to take out all the balloon pops because they sounded like gunshots. But it was so perfect," she said.

Listen to "Werewolf" over at Pitchfork. The aforementioned snippet happens the 2:10 mark of the track.

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The Kardashians Enjoy Making Elaborate Lip-Synch Videos While On Vacation

Posted 6/4/12 12:16 pm EST by in Television, Video

We have a theory about the Kardashians. It's not a new theory, to be sure, but there is new evidence to support it.

On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, the Kardashian klan decided to make an elaborate video of themselves lip-synching to Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize." We're not talking about a fun, single-take clip of them singing the song while chilling in their cabana. This vid is edited, features multiple takes and backdrops and some basic, slow-motion effects. They grind on a yacht, Bruce Jenner plays Kris Jenner's butt like bongos and they playfully toss faux money around. The whole thing doesn't agree with our stomach for a number of reasons (please feel free to list yours in the comments below), but mostly because it boggles our mind that this insanely rich family that lives their lives on television can't even manage to put the camera down while on vacation.

And here we are, yet again, watching the whole thing. We're not proud of ourselves right now either.
This isn't the family's first on-vacation lip-synch clip. As Buzzfeed points out, they've done this before – again and again. They've made these same clips during trips to Bora Bora, a ranch, while on the set of their Christmas card photo shoot and now in the DR. All of which begs the questions: Why can't they stop filming themselves? Even if they feel like making these videos, why do they release them to the public instead of keeping them for their personal enjoyment? Why do they think people care? (I suppose because we're writing about it right now, showing that we do – but this isn't a raving endorsement, you know?)

We've always been under the impression that vacations were best spent enjoying the company of friends and family away from the bothers of your professional life. Sure, plenty of people take video of their trips and fill their cameras (and often later their Facebook feeds) with pictures from their travels. But they aren't professional personalities like the Kardashians. You'd think these people would desire a little time spent away from the cameras. And frankly, it comes across like they are rubbing people's noses in their riches, which isn't the best look.

Check out the "Hypnotize" clip and a few other Kardashian vacation videos below. We apologize for any elevations in your blood pressure. Read More...

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New Grammy Documentary To Focus On Awards' Handling Of Whitney Houston's Death

Posted 6/1/12 1:04 pm EST by in Grammys, whitney-houston

Whitney Houston

By Zachary Swickey

As most fans will recall, earlier this year we lost one of the most important female voices in the history of music. Whitney Houston's untimely passing occurred just 48 hours before the Grammys were to take place, and a new behind-the-scenes documentary will show how the institution dealt with the tragedy.

The film will premiere on June 11 at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood with Dave Grohl, LL Cool J and Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow scheduled to attend.

Dubbed "A Death in the Family: The Show Must Go On," the 26-minute documentary is the first film to go behind the curtains of Recording Academy's annual telecast, claims Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammy Awards.

The new documentary will focus on the 48 hours between late Friday afternoon when performances from Paul McCartney were being rearranged, through the news of Houston’s passing on Saturday, and will include the re-writes necessary for Sunday’s show to go forward following the news.

Interest in how the awards would address the tragedy and honor Houston resulted in the awards earning its second largest viewing audience ever, with 39.9 million people tuning in.

"There was greater interest than normal because of the circumstances, but an awful lot of people want to know about the process," Ehrlich told Billboard. "We never said, 'Let's look back.' It was incredible how much stuff we didn't have because there was little footage other than rehearsals. But we had some B-roll and we lucked out that film crew was following Paul McCartney,” he continued.

Included in the film are this year’s Grammy host, LL Cool J, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, co-producer Terry Lickona, director Louis J. Horvitz, talent producer Chantel Sausedo, Portnow, and Enrlich. They will also all appear together for Q&A session following the screening. David Wild, a Grammy Awards writer, will moderate the session.

Other interviews found in the film include Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Joe Walsh. Expect "A Death in the Family: The Show Must Go On" to be posted on Grammy.com and they are generating plans to have it screened regularly at the Grammy Museum.

"Maybe we've learned something in this process," states Ehrlich. "Maybe we ought to think about doing this every year. We didn't even think about this one until the middle of March."

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The Real Star Of Madonna's 'MDNA Tour': Her Son Rocco Ritchie

Posted 6/1/12 12:01 pm EST by in Madonna, tour

Getty Images

If you've ever seen Madonna's 2004 documentary "I'm Going to Tell You A Secret," you know her young son Rocco Ritchie is a bit of a ham, and now, all these years later, Rocco looks to be following in his mama's footsteps as an entertainer and even joined her on stage as a backup dancer at the launch of her MDNA world tour last night at Tel Aviv, Israel's Ramat Gan Stadium.

The 11-year-old is clearly comfortable in front of a crowd – Madonna performed in front of sold out crowd of more than 35,000 screaming fans. Like his pop star mother, he seems comfortable with costume changes too, sporting three different looks during the show, including flowing, priest-like robes, a sparkling blue tank and headphones and an all-black number.

And while he may have gotten his looks from his father – he's practically a mini-me of film director papa Guy Ritchie – he gets his moves from mom, and wowed the crowd with a dance routine, something he also did last year at the after party for Madonna's Macy's clothing line launch.

Getty Images

Rocco isn't the first of Madonna's brood to take the stage with mom. Lourdes performed as a dancer at a concert on the Pop Queen's "Sticky & Sweet" tour in 2009 and appears briefly in her "Celebration" music video.

Check out one more image, after the jump! Read More...

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Go Behind The Scenes Of Madonna's 'MDNA Tour'

Posted 6/1/12 10:35 am EST by in Madonna, tour

Madonna

Madonna's "MDNA Tour" kicked off last night (May 31) at in front of tens of thousands of fans at a sold out show at Tel Aviv, Israel's Ramat Gan Stadium, and the buzz is that the elaborate spectacle may be among her best tours ever.

Reviews are rave, and while we couldn't travel halfway around the world to be there, the footage that has found its way online reveals a visual feast and one of the most amazing stages we've ever seen.

But check it out for yourself – Live Nation has posted footage that goes behind the scenes of the tour, showcasing how the massive show came together, including interviews with dancers and crew, and footage from the show itself. It also includes interviews with fans at the performance.

The footage really is a spectacular look at how a massive tour like this comes together. Check it out below. Read More...

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