Remembering Amy Winehouse's talent

Amy Winehouse's rise to fame and struggles with addiction escalated on similar trajectories; that combination might be one of the things she's remembered most for, but when it comes to purely professional successes, her first might well be considered her "Back to Black" album. The musical effort won her five Grammys. Below, the title track from the album. "I didn't go out looking to be famous," Winehouse told the Associated Press when "Back to Black" was released. "I'm just a musician." But between critical acclaim for "Back to Black" (as well as accolades in the U.K. for her freshman effort, "Frank") and her public battles with drugs and alcohol, the 27-year-old singer became incredibly famous. Among the songs she might be remembered...

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Posted in: amy winehouse,pop

Demi Lovato Sets Sept. 20 Album Release Date

One day after her ballad "Skyscraper" notched a Top 10 debut on the Hot 100, Demi Lovato announced a Sept. 20 release date for her third album on Thursday (July 21) during a live video chat on Cambio. "September 20! Exactly a month after my birthday!" Lovato exclaimed in the chat. When asked about a follow-up single, the teen star replied, "I've actually recorded about like 20-something songs, so we have to cut it down to fit the album, and then we'll choose the next single."   Lovato also hinted at an upcoming tour in support of the still-untitled album: "If I was to tour, I would announce it soon and maybe, possibly, I'm in the works of putting together a tour. Maybe. And maybe it'll be all around the world." ...

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Posted in: album,pop

SLIPKNOT EYE U.S. TOUR IN 2012

SLIPKNOT are eyeing a U.S. tour next year (12) after a series of comeback shows in Europe left them feeling more "positive" about the future of the band following the death of bassist PAUL GRAY. The rockers recently played dates in the U.K. and across mainland Europe as part of the Sonisphere travelling festival, marking their return to the stage following the tragedy last year (10). They had previously thrown the group's future into doubt by warning fans they might never record a new album - but frontman Corey Taylor has now confirmed they have held talks about a U.S. tour next year following their Sonisphere success. He tells Hard Drive Radio, "Definitely after this tour, I'm definitely much more positive than I was. Am I ready...

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Posted in: concert,metal,slipknot

Vedder, Flea & Cyrus Remember Nirvana’s Nevermind

Eddie Vedder, Flea, R.E.M’s Peter Buck and even Billy Ray Cyrus have paid tribute to Nirvana’s Nevermind as part of a Spin magazine special to mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of the iconic album’s release.Vedder reveals he can no longer listen to the 1991 album because it’s “too difficult”, while Flea recalls it came out on the same day as Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik – and took a lot of radio play away from his band. Buck remembers Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and his bandmates staying at his house in Athens, Georgia following a local gig a month after the album had become an instant cult hit, adding, “It’s hard to believe that in the year Nevermind was released, they weren’t the biggest band in the world… I had them stay at my...

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Posted in: album,Nirvana,rock

Archive immortalizes East German Punk rock scene

(Reuters) - A punk rock pioneer of former communist East Germany (GDR) has opened the world's first archive about the underground GDR youth culture which survived oppression and infiltration by the state's repressive regime. Michael Boehlke, who fronted a band called Planlos ('Aimless') told Reuters that choosing to be a punk rocker in affected every aspect of your life.To be a punk in the communist state meant an end to job prospects or further education. Interrogations, jail time, and pressure from the secret police to become an informant on the local punk scene characterized day-to-day life. "The police interrogated me every day," said Boehlke, adding that prison time was an ever-present possibility for everyone. And while the feared Stasi secret police never managed to infiltrate...

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Posted in: punk,underground

Indonesia’s Premier Rock Music Festival: Java Rockin’Land

 The Cranberries fronted by Dolores O’Riordan is among the headliners at this years Java Rockin’land concert in Jakarta, Indonesia. (EPA Photo)   Even though it’s only three years old, Java Rockin’Land is already being seen as the premier rock music festival in the country. While a few other rock festivals have tried to promote themselves using similar concepts, none match the stature that JRL has established in just two editions. The news of the festival’s lineup each year is always one of the most-anticipated musical events on the calendar. With 10 different stages showcasing a variety of musical styles, there is a wealth of bands and musicians, both local and foreign, for fans to watch every year. This year’s...

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Posted in: concert,Festival

Katy Perry leads MTV nominations

  US pop star Katy Perry leads the way at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with nine nominations. The singer's nods include video of the year for Firework, best pop video and best special effects. British singer Adele and Kanye West picked up seven nominations apiece. Other multiple nominees included Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars. The VMAs are scheduled to take place on 28 August in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live in the US. Perry, who married comedian Russell Brand last year, was also nominated for best female video, best collaboration, best art direction and best cinematography. "I have nine nominations. I thought that was a typo or something," the star told MTV. "That's...

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Posted in: katy perry,mtv,pop

30 Seconds to Mars Biography

Formed in 1998 by frontman Jared Leto and his older brother, 30 Seconds to Mars found success in the 2000s with a mix of post-grunge, screamo, and hard rock. The band gained a modest audience with its debut album, but it was the platinum-selling sophomore effort A Beautiful Lie that officially opened the flood gates in 2005, securing the band a frequent presence on MTV while paving the way for a number of successful tours. By placing all-access passes into 12 copies of the album, the bandmates also showed a savvy appreciation for marketing, which they revisited several years later by putting fans' photographs on the cover of their third album, This Is War. Initially known for his work as an actor (most notably on the '90s...

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Posted in: 30 Seconds to Mars Biography,Biography,rock,Thirty Seconds To Mars

Red Hot Chili Peppers return with new single 'The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie'

The last time the Red Hot Chili Peppers released a debut single from a forthcoming album, Barack Obama was still a freshman senator, Rebecca Black was only nine years old, and the music world was irrationally obsessed with Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day.” Today Obama is president, Black is a pop star, and people remember Susan Powter better than they remember Daniel. And in the middle of it all, the Red Hot Chili Peppers remain steadfast. Sure, they have a new guitarist (longtime collaborator Josh Klinghoffer, replacing the once-again-departed John Frusciante), but if their new single “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” (the first track from their end-of-summer album I’m With You) is any indication, things are still cool in...

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Posted in: album,new song,punk,Red Hot Chili Peppers,rock

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony to divorce

Singers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are getting a divorce, PEOPLE Magazine reports. "This was a very difficult decision," the couple told the magazine. "It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time." The couple also said they have reached "amicable conclusions on all matters." They wed in 2004 and have 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme. Story: 35 million reasons why J.Lo might not return to 'Idol'   Lopez was a judge on "American Idol" last season, but has not yet announced if she will return to the show. In addition to her musical career, she has starred in films including "The Wedding Planner," "Maid in Manhattan," and "The Back-up Plan." In April, the pair announced...

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Posted in: album,jennifer lopez,marc anthony,pop

Blink-182 release their first new song in eight years, 'Up All Night'

The last time Blink-182 released new material, people loved Harry Potter movies and talking about Britney Spears. Yes, in some ways, the world hasn’t changed a whole lot since 2003. And Blink sound similarly unaltered on their new track, the thunderous, midtempo rocker “Up All Night.” “Up All Night” is the lead single from the trio’s forthcoming, currently untitled studio CD. Back in February, drummer Travis Barker told EW that the album sounded like “where you would think Blink would be right now if you left off with our last album with us, and you follow[ed] each of our careers, and you know what we’ve done [since].” ew.com...

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Posted in: blink 182,new song

Chris Brown's 'Today' performance draws biggest crowd of all Summer Concert Series' concerts

Al Roker tried to take a quick head count, but there were just too many fans out at New York City’s Rockefeller Center this morning for Chris Brown to track. Roker and fellow Today show anchor Matt Lauer estimated that 18-20,000 folks made their way to the show’s midtown NY stage to see the young star, besting any other performer’s audience attendance for their Summer Concert Series (including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Bruno Mars). Today screamed the news on Twitter, writing “The crowd for Chris Brown concert is now the biggest @todayshow crowd ever!” The love Brown got was so great that authorities were forced to shut down an additional two blocks to accommodate those who wanted to catch a glimpse of his set, which included “Yeah...

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Posted in: chris brown,concert,hiphop,RnB

Timberlake tries to bring 'sexy back' to Myspace

(CNN)  You thought bringing sexy back was hard? Try Myspace. Pop-star, actor and occasional reason to watch "Saturday Night Live" Justin Timberlake will apparently play a "major role" in guiding the floundering social-media site after its sale this week. News Corporation, in effect, admitted defeat on Wednesday, selling the site for $35 million after paying a reported $580 million for it in 2005.  The buyer was Specific Media. And the first name in Specific Media's press release was Timberlake's. "There's a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect," Timberlake says in the release....

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Posted in: album,justin timberlake

Rihanna topples Lady Gaga for Facebook Queen title

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) - Sorry, Lady Gaga, but Rihanna has just passed you by. At least on the Facebook charts. The "Rude Boy" singer has overtaken the "Judas" chanteuse to become the most popular female star on the social media site, according to Famecount.com. As of this writing, Barbados-born singer Rihanna has amassed 40,622,133 "likes" for her Facebook page, edging out Gaga, who lags with 40,580,102 "likes." The good news for Lady Gaga? She still easily beats Rihanna on the Twitter front, with 11,653,916 followers versus Rihanna's 6,116,687. And according to Famecount's aggregated rankings, Gaga is still tops among celebrities when her combined Facebook likes, Twitter followers and YouTube views are taken into...

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Posted in: album,facebook,lady gaga,rihanna,twitter

Hot: Beyonce's dad denies he stole money from her

Beyonce's father has accused her concert promoter of lying to his daughter over claims he stole from her.  In court papers filed in Texas, Mathew Knowles, who used to be the singer's manager, asks a US judge to make Live Nation back up their claims.  He alleges that the company provided false information to Beyonce and her lawyer, accusing him of defrauding her.  However he insists that his relationship with Beyonce is still "extremely amicable". He said: "We absolutely have not taken any money from Beyonce, and all dollars will be accounted for." "In no way have we stolen money. Again, this is about the people who have made these claims - they...

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Posted in: beyonce,hot news,pop

Star Spotting: Justin Bieber, Racecar Driver

Credit: Getty Images Justin Bieber somehow made his way onto the ESPYs red carpet yesterday (even though it's a sports award show) and he took the whole "sports" part of it pretty seriously. Arriving in what we think is like, some kind of racecar driving suit (we pretty much failed gym every semester so we're not exactly the best people to be talking about anything athletic), Biebs hammed it up for the camera, per the usual. Wait, why doesn't anybody talk about the fact that race car drivers ride around in what are essential snowsuits for grown-ups? Have you guys seen some of these uniforms?! We know it's probably because they're fire-retardant or something but come on, it makes Justin Bieber look like a Lego man. The injustice!...

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Posted in: album,hot news,justin bieber,pop

Watch A Sneak Peek Of 'Hurricane' From Thirty Seconds To Mars' 'MTV Unplugged' Performance

Credit: Picture Group/ MTV This past May, Thirty Seconds To Mars, MTV, and a few dozen very lucky members of the Echelon (and, not to mention, a gospel choir) came together in New York City for the band's much-anticipated "MTV Unplugged" performance, presented by Starburst. But this was far from just any regular concert, or even your average up-close-and-personal, stripped-down approach to a live performance. Ask any member of the Echelon, and they'll tell you; Thirty Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" performance was nothing short of a tent revival reckoning, with the audience -- sitting on a set dressed to resemble a church, candles and pews included -- singing along in perfect harmony, rapt by the band's almost-holy re-imaginings...

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Posted in: rock,Thirty Seconds To Mars

Hot: Lady Gaga's YouTube Account Suspended

 Lady Gaga has long been the Queen of YouTube. Her videos have racked up more than a billion views on the site and fans have flocked to it in droves to post their home-brewed takes on her outfits, fashion, music and videos.  But little monsters who were looking for their daily fix of Gaga on Thursday (July 14) were likely disappointed when they went to Mother Monster's YouTube account and found the following message, "This account has been suspended due to multiple or severe violations of YouTube's Copyright Policy." What gives?  According to Time Out Tokyo, Gaga's official YouTube account was suspended because she posted footage from her recent appearance on the Japanese show "SMAP x SMAP," on the Fuji TV network....

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Posted in: hot news,lady gaga,youtube

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl Says Drum Machines Are Bad for Rock 'n' Roll

In a recent interview with The Sun, Foo Fighters' mainman (and drummer extraordinaire) Dave Grohl was asked about the modern production techniques used by some bands, in particular the use of drum machines. Grohl -- a long-time drummer who has manned the skins for Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures, Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age, among others -- had plenty to say on the issue of using drum machines. "All that shit ruins music these days," he said. "Drum machines work for pop artists but when it comes to rock 'n' roll - don't fuck with the human element." Grohl added: "I had favorite...

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Posted in: album,dave grohl,foo fighter

Slipknot Sonisphere show to be made available around the world via satellite uploaded webcast

Slipknot has announced a special real-time Webcast of their Sonisphere performance at Knebworth via their website, Slipknot1.com to take place during their headline set at 9PM (GMT) on Sunday, July 10  The webcast has been made possible through internet technology and a satellite uplink, provided by BT, direct from Sonisphere. Set to be an epic and emotional occasion, this highly anticipated show will mark the band’s first appearance in the UK in over two years and their first British performance without founding member Paul Gray, who tragically passed away last year. The band said of the upcoming performance: “England has always been a special place for this band from the very beginning. We can’t think of a better way to culminate...

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Posted in: album,concert,slipknot,tour

Dave Grohl: 'Drum Machines P--- Me Off'

  Dave Grohl has hit out at bands who use drums machines and studio techniques which tighten performances, saying it robs drummers of their personality.  The Foo Fighters frontman, who of course drummed for Nirvana (and more recently Them Crooked Vultures) told The Sun how he's fed up of the trickery.  "All that sh-t ruins music these days", he said. "Drum machines work for pop artists but when it comes to rock 'n' roll - don't f--k with the human element."  He explained that this sort of production was the reason he insisted on recording "Wasting Light" in his garage, and that the art of drumming was better in the old days.  "I learnt to play the drums by listening to records", he said....

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Posted in: album,foo fighter,iTunes Festival,Nirvana

Discography Dream Theater

This ini the Official Album Release of Dream Theater  When Dream and Day Unite   Studio Album, released in 1989 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. A Fortune in Lies (5:13) 2. Status Seeker (4:18) 3. Ytse Jam (5:46) 4. The Killing Hand (8:42) 5. Light Fuse and Get Away (7:24) 6. Afterlife (5:27) 7. The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun (8:05) 8. Only a Matter of Time (6:36) Total Time 51:31  Images and Words    Studio Album, released in 1992 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Pull Me Under (8:14) 2. Another Day (4:23) 3. Take The Time (8:21) 4. Surrounded (5:30) 5. Metropolis - Pt. I "The Miracle And The Sleeper" (9:32) 6. Under A Glass Moon (7:03) 7. Wait For Sleep (2:31) 8. Learning To Live (11:30) Total Time:...

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Posted in: album,discography,dream theater,metal,music,new song