Ryan Cabrera

Ashlee Simpson And Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz Get Engagement Congrats From Family, Fans, Bandmates -- And An Ex!

11 Apr 2008 11:59:00 EDT

'I'm happy for myself, too. I'll probably get to wear a tux,' FOB's Patrick Stump says.
By James Montgomery

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson
Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images

Two days after Ashlee Simpson and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz shocked their fans by announcing their engagement via a blog post on FriendsOrEnemies.com, reactions are starting to come in from those who know the couple well ... and from those who think they do.

"All I can really say is I'm totally happy for them," FOB frontman Patrick Stump told MTV News in an e-mail. "And I'm happy for myself, too. I'll probably get to wear a tux."

"My sister is overflowing with joy," Ashlee's older sister, Jessica Simpson, said in a statement. "Pete is an incredible soul. They naturally bring out the best in each other. I couldn't be happier."

Ashlee's dad and manager, Joe, told UsMagazine.com that Wentz asked for his permission to propose to his daughter, and that "I told him that I would be honored to have him as part of my family."

Even Ryan Cabrera, Ash's former boyfriend, weighed in to the site, giving the newly engaged couple a resounding thumbs-up.

"I think they're really good together," he told the magazine. "I met [Wentz] a couple times, and he was really nice and intelligent, so I was like, 'Very cool, go for it!' "

Of course, fan reactions to the engagement were decidedly less glossy. On FriendsOrEnemies.com, comments ranged from elation ("FINALLY!!!!! i knew u guys would get married one day! I am happy for both of you!!!!!") to anger ("i hope assslee DIESS IN A F---ING HOLE"), with a few stops in crazytown thrown in for good measure ("I couldn't believe well i guess i didnt want to believe it its kinda weird i mean pete a husband w/ kids can u really picture that and w/ ashlee well maybe u guys will last CONGRATS now im gonna go stalk patrick ha he isnt married").

The reaction was similar on Wentz's personal blog, where the bassist celebrated his engagement by posting a piece of pop art featuring his dog Hemingway. (Uh, congrats?)

"I love the way she makes you smile, bright boy for wanting to keep someone like that around," one commenter wrote.

"Hey Pete, did you hear that? Little emo hearts just broke all over the world," another added. "Much happiness to you and the lady."

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Ryan Cabrera Reinvented: Troubadour Gets Real At Pennsylvania Show

29 Jan 2008 01:23:00 EST

Singer/songwriter touring country to hype new self-financed album.

Ralphie Aversa with Ryan Cabrera
Photo: ralphieaversa (from yourhere.mtv.com)

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Ryan Cabrera

Nelly, Panic Bassist, Cee-Lo And Kevin Smith Playing Poker Together? What Are The Odds?!

8 Sep 2007 08:29:00 EDT

'Hills' regular Brody Jenner, Josh Homme and Ryan Cabrera also got in on the pre-VMA tourney.
By Chris Harris, with additional reporting by Liz Hernandez

Nelly and MTV News' Liz Hernandez
Photo: MTV News

LAS VEGAS — What do Nelly, Kevin Smith, Joe Simpson, "The Hills" regular Brody Jenner and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme all have in common? Well, before Saturday afternoon (September 8), the answer would have been abso-friggin'-lutely nothing. But it turns out they actually all share a common love ... for the game of poker.

On this fine day in Las Vegas, little more than 24 hours before the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards were to take over the Palms Casino Resort (see "Nicole Scherzinger To Rock VMA Preshow — With Lil Wayne!"), the five celebs took part in Rolling Stone's celebrity-poker tournament — part of the mag's 40th anniversary celebration — which was held inside the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

But the list of would-be card sharks didn't end there. Panic! at the Disco bassist Jon Walker, Cee-Lo, System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, Three 6 Mafia's DJ Paul, Peter Bjorn and John leader Peter Morén, the Eagles of Death Metal's Brian "Big Hands" O'Connor, Biohazard's Evan Seinfeld and a long-locked, goatee-sportin' Ryan Cabrera were also involved in what was an unusual hodgepodge of personalities. Retired NBA great John "Spider" Salley and "Real World" alum Mike "The Miz" Mizanin rounded out the bizarre bunch. (Equally bizarre: Cee-Lo, Homme and others will join Foo Fighters at Sunday's VMAs for Led Zeppelin and Prince covers and much more.)

The action unfolded across 15 tables, with the celebs going up against an assortment of regular Joes who'd either bought into the game or won the chance to compete through a raffle that preceded play.

For much of the tourney, the Joint was dead quiet, except for the tinny echoes of chips clinking together as they bounced across the felt tables. Oh, and the calm was routinely interrupted by the booming ruminations of Mizanin, who attempted to psych out his competition by studying what he believed to be their tells: "That guy blinks a lot whenever he gets a good card, and this dude drinks a sip of water whenever he gets a card he likes," he said. At one point Homme, who was seated at the adjacent table, looked over with disdain at "The Miz" and seemed to be contemplating his next move — hit him or don't hit him.

He didn't hit him.

Comely cocktail waitresses in short-shorts and fishnets circled the tables, serving drinks and taking orders. Meanwhile, Nelly filled in MTV News on his poker strategy.

"Hopefully I'll just turn out to be average," said the rapper, who later admitted he's not the best when it comes to gambling. "I just don't want to embarrass myself, so we'll see what happens."

Homme is a Vegas regular and admits he doesn't always leave town on an even note.

"I lost a couple grand once, but I'm a big drinker, so I don't really remember," he explained. "But I make up for it in drinks — drinks and smiles and hugs. One time I won $8,000 — I stole it off an old couple as they were coming out the front of the Hard Rock, actually."

Like Nelly, Homme also revealed his strategy for the game: "I recommend that all the other players drink heavily, and I keep it pretty tight and sober. That's what I always recommend." But he added that he doesn't have any gambling rituals to keep his good luck up. "I'm not superstitious, although I do have to wear the same shoes all the time — so I guess I just lied," he said.

Joe Simpson, Ashlee and Jessica's papa, wasn't quite sure how he'd fare in the game but did have much to say about Sunday's VMAs, Justin Timberlake and Ms. Spears' big comeback (see "Exclusive: Inside Britney Spears' VMA Rehearsal" and "Britney Spears To Open 2007 MTV Video Music Awards: It's Official!").

"I think Justin Timberlake's going to come out a big winner," he said. "I don't know how you get better than that. I'm also excited to see what [Timbaland] puts together for the big show — Ashlee's making a record with Tim now. And I love Britney — I hope she tears it up and shows everybody she's still it, and I think she has every opportunity to do so."

Kevin Smith is also looking forward to this year's VMAs. "I just want to see if Britney will wear underwear this time," he said.

Wait -- don't cash out on the VMAs just yet! From Britney's sultry comeback performance to the big winners, you saw it all -- well, almost everything! Get yourself even richer with our wall-to-wall show coverage, party reports, videos and loads more at www.VMA.MTV.com. For reports, photos, video and much, much more from previous VMAs, dive into the VMA archives.

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Movie File: Eddie Murphy, Ryan Cabrera, Frankie Muniz, 'Terry Tate: Office Linebacker' & More

18 May 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Murphy is back in drag; Hollywood gains Cabrera, loses Muniz; breakout commercial star gets own movie.
By Larry Carroll

Eddie Murphy
Photo: Bruno Vincent/ Getty Images

Fans of Eddie Murphy's "Nutty Professor" blockbusters will be happy to know the comedian is getting back in touch with his cross-dressing, multiple-personalities side in a new film called "Norbit," co-starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Marlon Wayans, Thandie Newton ("Crash"), Eddie Griffin and Terry Crews ("The Longest Yard"). "It's insane," laughed Crews. "Eddie [Murphy]'s playing a guy that's married to the worst woman in the world. And he's playing the guy and the girl, which is insane." The film has Murphy undergoing hours of makeup to portray both the sheepish title role and the overbearing wife infuriated by her husband's attraction to Newton's sexy character. "I don't think anyone's prepared for what they're about to see," warned Crews. "Rick Baker, six-time Academy Award winner, is doing all his makeup. ... I play [Norbit's wife's] brother, and we are the worst family in the world. We don't cut Eddie any slack. It's just a vicious, vicious movie in the way that we treat this guy." Directed by Brian Robbins ("The Shaggy Dog"), the film is expected in theaters next year. ...

Ryan Cabrera, Method-acting legend Harvey Keitel and sitcom superstar Frankie Muniz all in the same film? The trio have made plans to star in "My Sexiest Year," a coming-of-age comedy whose unlikely cast also includes Haylie Duff, Nick Zano (TV's "What I Like About You") and Amber Valletta ("Transporter 2"). Currently shooting in Miami Beach, Florida, the film follows a young man's life-defining romantic encounter with an international supermodel. As if the casting news isn't strange enough, Muniz said the film is his final role before he quits acting to follow his dream of becoming a professional race car driver. It will mark the big-screen acting debut, however, of "On the Way Down" singer Cabrera. No word yet on whether they'll expand the dimensions of theater screens to accommodate Cabrera's hair. ...


		Looking for the newest, hottest trailers? Check out "Casino Royale," "Lady in the Water," "Click," "Rock The Bells" and more, on Overdrive.

His brutal tackles have turned him into a Super Bowl sensation and an oft-forwarded Internet clip, and now Reebok's "Terry Tate: Office Linebacker" is making plans to bring his trash-talking act to the big screen. "It's more or less along the lines of a journey through a dream," revealed Lester Speight, the chisel-chested former-All-American-player-turned-character-actor. Currently in script form, the movie expands the gag of a workplace football player enforcing office etiquette in a whole new world of ass kicking delivered to various pop-culture icons. "We've got some commercial spoofs we want to go with — Jared the Subway guy, the Budweiser catfight girls. ... [Terry Tate] is going to be in New York, he's going to be all over the place, there'll be a love story and everything." The commercial star also plans to tackle some well-known celebrities, with Speight and the filmmakers offering Justin Timberlake a role in the film. "He's one of the antagonists in the script," the star grinned. "It's going to be a nice little story." ...

What would you get if you took "Speed" and combined it with "D.O.A."? Chances are, you haven't lost much sleep over the years pondering that question. But according to "Napoleon Dynamite" star Efren "Pedro" Ramirez, the answer is going to make one heckuva movie. "It's called 'Crank,' and it's with Jason Statham ('The Transporter') and Amy Smart ('Just Friends'), and it comes out in December," Ramirez said of the action thriller. "It's kind of like 'Speed' with Keanu Reeves, but instead of being on a boat or a bus, it's actually in somebody's body. He's got, like, a day to live to find the antidote, or he dies." Explained director Brian Taylor: "The character has to keep his adrenaline up and keep going, so he has to find new and interesting ways to keep his heart pumping as fast as he can. Efren is sort of his sidekick, his kind of underground friend who knows what's up. It's a wild little piece." Dwight Yoakum also stars in the flick. ...

The twin stars of MTV's "8th & Ocean," Sabrina and Kelly Aldridge, are making plans to strut their stuff on the big screen after signing on to "Deck the Halls," a Christmas comedy starring Matthew Broderick, Danny DeVito and Kristin Davis. Set in a small New England town, the soon-to-film flick will tell the story of two neighboring families who do battle over their Christmas decorations. Broderick and Davis will play one of the fighting factions, with Alia Shawkat (TV's "Arrested Development") as their daughter. The Aldridge twins will portray the unlikely offspring of a marriage between DeVito and equally pint-sized "R.V." star Kristin Chenoweth. The comedy will mark the big-screen debut of the reality show's backstabbing, breakout sisters, with John Whitesell ("Big Momma's House 2") set to direct. ...

"The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" is allowing fans to upload video of their own tricked-out rides for a shot at a cash prize and private screening of the film. If you think you've got the right rims, or just want to see what everyone else will be driving to the theater on June 16, check out LiveDigital.com/events/onlineshowoff. Visitors can submit their own clips and can vote on others that have been submitted. ...

Mexican beauty Ana Claudia Talancon, 26, is excited to have her first American film, "Fast Food Nation," debuting this week at the Cannes Film Festival. "I play Coco, a girl who becomes a meth addict and works extremely long hours in shifts at a slaughterhouse," she said of her role in the movie, based on a bestselling book. "Seeing life in the slaughterhouse was so shocking: how it all happens, how they process it all, how they hire the people and how unsecure it all is." The movie co-stars Greg Kinnear and Avril Lavigne, and director Richard Linklater ("Dazed and Confused") shot much of the film at actual fast-food locations.

Check out everything we've got on Eddie Murphy and Frankie Muniz.

Visit Movies on MTV.com for more from Hollywood, including news, reviews, interviews and more.

Want trailers? Visit Movies on MTV Overdrive for the newest, scariest and funniest coming attractions anywhere.

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Ryan Cabrera

Celebrity Stargazing

21 Apr 2006 02:05:21 EDT

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For The Record: Quick News On Lil' Kim, 50 Cent, Timbaland, Ryan Cabrera, Rivers Cuomo, 311, Hoobstank & More

15 Mar 2006 06:16:00 EST

Kim's 'Countdown' premiere draws nearly 2 million; 50, Timbaland play charity golf; Cabrera plans Wal-Mart gig.
By MTV News staff report

Lil' Kim
Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Nearly 2 million viewers tuned in last week to catch the premiere episode of "Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown," making it the most-watched series debut for BET. The six-episode show — which airs Thursday nights — captures Kim's final two weeks of freedom before entering prison to serve 12 months behind bars for perjury. ...

50 Cent, G-Unit, Mike Jones, Nick Cannon, RZA, Mobb Deep, Tony Yayo, DJ AM, Gabrielle Union, Jeremy Piven, Trina, Raekwon, Sleepy Brown and Timbaland are among the hip-hop elite slated to tee off for charity in a celebrity-golf tournament taking place in Arizona March 20-21. The event is part of the three-day Scion Release Invitational, a celebration to kick off the launch of Scion's new Release sportswear collection. All of the proceeds from the game will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of America. ... Wal-Mart's about to open its 2,000th Supercenter, and it'll celebrate the momentous occasion with a free concert featuring Ryan Cabrera. He'll perform March 18 in the parking lot of said store — located in Beaumont, California. The show is open to the public and starts at 4 p.m. ...

Rivers Cuomo is engaged to Kyoko Ito, whom he met when he performed solo at the Middle East club in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1997. The Weezer singer's spokesperson told Boston magazine the two will wed in the summer after Cuomo graduates from Harvard. ... A week after performing a five-hour, 66-song set in Memphis, Tennessee, for 311 Day (March 11), Nick Hexum is taking on another marathon. The 311 singer is running in the Los Angeles Marathon XXI on Sunday for his pro-environmental cause, Liberal Hexum. ...

Journalist, author, poet and activist Kevin Powell — whom you'll remember from the first season of MTV's "The Real World" — is running for higher office. Powell's seeking a seat in Brooklyn, New York's 10th Congressional District. Powell, who's running on a platform that includes education reform, better access to health care, economic development, financial literacy and "job training instead of jail sentencing in poorer neighborhoods," said the events of 9/11, as well as the war in Iraq and the government's shortsighted response to Hurricane Katrina, encouraged the move. "I want to use my voice, in Washington, D.C., on a national stage, in a way that affirms our humanity, not denies it," he said. "It is time for new leadership, a new generation, to push us forward, and I want to be a part of that wave of fresh ideas, of new visions, for these times, for the 21st century." For more on Powell's campaign, check out KevinPowell2006.com. ...

Hoobastank's forthcoming Every Man for Himself will now hit stores May 16. The disc was originally slated for release April 18. The band's also booked a series of television appearances: "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" (May 12), "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (May 16), "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (May 18) and "Last Call With Carson Daly" (May 25). ... It's going to be a busy May for Mogwai, who've just lined up 20 North American dates to chase the band's appearance April 30 at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The first is set for May 2 in Salt Lake City, and dates run through May 27 in San Francisco. The Scottish indie-rockers' most recent record, Mr. Beast, came out earlier this month.

03.14.2006

A dark-haired Lindsay Lohan graces the April cover of Cosmopolitan, and within its pages the singer/actress gets personal about family problems, body-image issues and guys. Lohan talks about her first onscreen love scene — with Elijah Wood in the upcoming "Bobby" — and says she hopes she'll have time for a real boyfriend when she's done shooting "Chapter 27" in New York. (Successful candidates need to be confident, loyal and have a good sense of humor, "because I come with a lot of baggage.") The 19-year-old, who says sleeping around doesn't appeal to her, admits she's harboring her fair share of crushes. And in a multiple-choice questionnaire, she skips over Orlando Bloom, Jude Law and Brad Pitt to write in votes for favorite heartthrobs Johnny Depp and scruffy indie-rocker Devendra Banhart. ...

California authorities have granted Michael Jackson a 24-hour extension to settle an unpaid-wages dispute at his Neverland Valley Ranch. A spokesperson for the California Department of Industrial Relations said the singer's representatives have been in touch with the office and they are "trying to get the money together" to pay the more than $500,000 in fines Jackson was ordered to shell out by Tuesday (March 14). Authorities shut down Neverland March 9, alleging that Jackson failed to pay his employees and maintain workers'-compensation insurance. Jackson owes $69,000 for allowing his insurance policy to lapse two months ago, as well as $306,000 in back wages and $100,000 in fines. If he does not pay up by the end of Wednesday, department spokesperson Renee Bacchini said her office will file a civil action in court seeking the funds and the singer could face contempt charges. A spokesperson for Jackson did not return calls for comment. ...

Banking on the massive appeal of "American Idol," the TV Guide Channel is launching a live pre-show called "Idol Tonight" that will take viewers behind the scenes of each week's competition until this season's winner is announced in May. The one-hour show premieres Tuesday at 7 p.m. and will be hosted by former-"Idol"-finalist-turned-entertainment-correspondent Kimberly Caldwell. ... Yellowcard, Simple Plan and "X-Men" Iceman Shawn Ashmore are just some of the celebrity gamers who have customized Xbox 360 faceplates for charity. Starting Friday fans will be able to bid on the faceplates over at eBay.ca/XboxCelebrityFaces, with all proceeds going to the Children's Miracle Network of Canada. ... Sorry ladies: Jack Black is reportedly off the market. The Tenacious D frontman and "Nacho Libre" actor eloped with his girlfriend, musician Tanya Haden, according to People magazine. The pair met at a private high school in Santa Monica, California, but only began dating recently. "They love each other very much. We're thrilled," the bride's father, noted jazz saxophonist Charlie Haden, told the mag of his daughter's recent nuptials. Black's publicist would neither confirm nor deny the story. ...

The Dave Matthews Band will perform two nights at Boston's historic home of the Red Sox, Fenway Park, as part of their summer tour. Sheryl Crow will open up both gigs, scheduled for July 7 and 8. ... On Tuesday morning Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. set a trial date for one of the two owners of the Station — the Warwick, Rhode Island, nightclub where 100 people died in a 2003 blaze during a Great White concert. According to The Associated Press, Michael Derderian's case will begin July 31 in Rhode Island's Kent County. Derderian and his brother, Jeffrey, are facing 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter — two for each of the 100 lives lost in the fire, which was sparked when Great White's pyrotechnics ignited flammable soundproofing foam inside the venue. Jeffrey Derderian will be tried following the conclusion of his brother's trial. ... British rockers Hard-Fi are crashing the U.S. in style. To celebrate the Stateside release of their debut album, Stars of CCTV, the band will play a free show at Tower Records in Sherman Oaks, California, Tuesday at 7 p.m. for fans who buy the LP that same day. The gig marks the beginning of the quartet's North American headlining tour, which will include four more back-to-back in-store appearances in San Francisco, San Diego, Portland and Seattle. ...

Seventeen years after their last tour, the members of pioneering new-wave band the Cars — well, a couple of them anyway — are gearing up for a major U.S. summer tour with fellow new wavers Blondie. The New Cars, featuring original members Elliot Easton (guitar) and Greg Hawkes (keyboards), will be joined on the Road Rage Tour 2006 by singer/guitarist Todd Rundgren and his old Utopia bandmate, bassist Kasim Sulton, as well as former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince. Each online ticket purchase for the tour will come with a free download of a disc with five songs each from the New Cars and Blondie. The tour kicks off May 12 at the Grand Casino Tunica Event Center in Robinsonville, Mississippi, and is slated to wrap July 1 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. ...

OK Go frontman Damian Kulash was booked on resisting-arrest charges by police in Orlando, Florida, after ignoring an officer's orders to head inside the local House of Blues where the band was performing. Instead Kulash insisted on loitering outside with several of the group's fans. According to the band's Web site, Kulash was "locked up for about nine hours, during which time he ate corn flakes and made friends with a couple of guys." He was released Tuesday morning — which means OK Go's gig Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Florida, will go on as scheduled. ... Also in trouble is Less Than Jake frontman Chris Demakes, who was arrested last week while the Gainesville, Florida, ska band was filming a video in Los Angeles for the track "Overrated" — the first single off In With the Out Crowd, due May 23. According to a label spokesperson, the band was in the Topanga Plaza shopping mall, performing for people chowing down in the food court. Security guards asked the band to hit the bricks, and when that took a little too long Demakes was hauled off by police for trespassing.

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New Releases: Shakira, Chris Brown, Ryan Cabrera, Dave Matthews Band, INXS

28 Nov 2005 08:38:00 EST

Also due Tuesday are new releases by Diplomats, Darkness, Hot Chip and Master P.
By Kurt Orzeck

Shakira's Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
Photo: Sony

Shak' Attack: Is speaking English such a sin? You'd think so from the neobiblical artwork adorning Shakira's Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 — she's naked (but tastefully camouflaged by a strand of ivy) and holding an apple in Eve-like fashion. The belly-bending singer's joined by executive producer Rick Rubin, Carlos Santana and Argentinean singer/songwriter Gustavo Cerati on her first English-language album in four years, which resuscitates two tracks from Vol. 1 ("Something" and "The Day and the Time"), questions religion ("How Do You Do") and somehow manages to tackle politics by way of disco ("Timor").

Brownie, You're Doing a Heck of a Job: If you've been holding out for Chris Brown's much-hyped self-titled debut, you can slake your thirst this week, but be aware that there's a DualDisc dropping December 13 with all the fixins: video (for "Run It!"), interview, photos, and live and behind-the-scenes footage. Tracks on both versions include: "Ain't No Way (You Won't Love Me)," "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Poppin'."

Don't Blink: Did Ryan Cabrera's marketing team run out of steam after the September release of You Stand Watching? 'Parently so, as he's eking out a DVD this week that has gone virtually unmentioned. But rest assured, fans, "Live at the Wiltern LG" is here, and it's loaded with your faves: "Let's Take Our Time," "On the Way Down," "Last Night" and even a cover of Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al."

Switcheroo: What could INXS possibly mean by calling their new album Switch? Could it be the switch to new singer J.D. Fortune? The switch from reunited rock stars to reality-TV stars, then back once again, hopefully, to rock stars? The switch from Mercury Records to Epic? The switch from audio content to video content, as facilitated by the DualDisc version? We may never know. ("Rock Star: INXS - the DVD" also drops this week.)

Open Wide: Already have plenty of Dave Matthews Band live material, which now officially constitutes more than half their official catalog? Already have Dave Matthews Band live material from the scenic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado? Well, too bad: Weekend on the Rocks has two CDs and a DVD's worth of tuneage from four nights in September. But wait — there's more. No, seriously. On December 13, DMB release The Complete Weekend on the Rocks, an eight-CD-plus-DVD monstrosity that lives up to its name. It won't be copy protected, either, so fans of the typically bootleg-averse Matthews can go hog wild.

A Dark Day in Hell: Will the Darkness fall on deaf ears? That's the question glam fans have been asking since 2003's shamelessly clichéd Permission to Land was followed by rumors of equally clichéd in-fighting, drugs and breakup. It might not be a good sign that the Brits made their entire One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back available on MySpace prior to release, but they do have a Tenacious-D-worthy video for "One Way Ticket."

French Connection: Les gens behind Nous Non Plus — who actually met at the Rhode Island School of Design — manage to be both bilingual and erotic on their self-named record, which includes "Château," "Tant Pis Pour Toi" and the slightly less frou-frou "Lawnmower Boy." Another indie squad, London's Hot Chip, bring their Europe-released Coming on Strong Stateside and tack on three bonuses: "A-B-C," "Hittin Skittles" and "From Drummer to Driver." (Note: Coming on Strong still does contain "Crap Kraft Dinner" and "Down With Prince.")

Book It: Don't read too much into the title to Diplomats & Friends' "The Book of Hip Hop," which is actually a straight-up DVD featuring Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel. If you're looking for something of the literary variety, turn instead to Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer's multimedia "Drift" package. The DVD showcases the duo's poetry/ improv guitar/ film projection project that has been exhibited in various museums, while the accompanying 112-page volume has poetry by the Sonic Youth guitarist and lots more.

Song Title of the Week:

"Pharmacists of the Sun" (Winechuggers' Grand Rapids)

New Releases:

Chris Brown - Chris Brown (Jive)
Read: "Chris Brown Dancing His 'Run It!' Straight Up The Charts"
The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back (Atlantic)
The Greenhornes - Sewed Soles (V2)
Hot Chip - Coming on Strong (DFA/Astralwerks)
INXS - Switch (DualDisc same day; Epic)
Read: "INXS Insist Finding J.D. Was An 'Organic' Process, Think 'Angels Got Together' "
Master P - Living Legend: Certified D-Boy (Gutter)
Dave Matthews Band - Weekend on the Rocks (two CDs with DVD; RCA)
The Mob - The Mob (Frontiers)
Nous Non Plus - Nous Non Plus (Aeronaut)
Paradise Lost - Paradise Lost (Abacus)
Rancid Vat - Rancid Vat vs. the Rest of the World (Steel Cage)
The Samples - Rehearsing for Life (Apache)
Shakira - Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (Epic)
Three - Evocations (Arena Rock)
Robin Trower - Another Days Blues (V-12)
Winechuggers - Grand Rapids (Arena Rock)

Reissues and Archival Material:

Black Oak Arkansas - Live at Royal Albert Hall (DualDisc; S'More Entertainment)
Rick Danko - Cryin' Heart Blues (Other People's Music)
Garth Hudson - Our Lady Queen of the Angels (Other People's Music)
Chris Liebling and Speedy J - Collabs 3000: Metalism (enhanced; Mute)
Richard Manuel - Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway 1985 (Other People's Music)
Kylie Minogue - Showgirl (EMI)
Ennio Morricone - Crime and Dissonance (two CDs; Ipecac)
Motörhead - Deaf Forever: The Best of Motörhead (DualDisc; Silverline)
Pro-Pain - The Best of Pro-Pain (Candlelight)
Dee Dee Ramone - Zonked! (Other People's Music)

DVDs:

Black Oak Arkansas - "Live at Royal Albert Hall" (S'More Entertainment)
Ryan Cabrera - "Live at the Wiltern LG" (Atlantic)
Caribou - "Marino: The Videos" (Caroline)
Diplomats & Friends - "The Book of Hip Hop" (Image Entertainment)
INXS - "Rock Star: INXS - the DVD" (Epic)
Rainbow - "Legends of Rock: The Ultimate Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer - "Drift" (with a book; Plexifilm)
Todd Rundgren - "Liars Live" (Sanctuary)

Coming Attractions:

December 6:

Eminem - Curtain Call: The Hits (Aftermath)
Read: "Slim Shady's Phattest, Brightest Compiled For Eminem Hits LP"
Korn - See You on the Other Side (Virgin)
Read: "Korn On New LP: 'Sadness,' 'Anger,' 'Darkness' ... 'Kind Of Perverted' "
Lindsay Lohan - A Little More Personal (Raw) (Casablanca)
Read: "Lindsay Lohan Album Preview: It Really Is More Personal"

December 13:

Beck - Guerolito (remix album; Interscope)
Bo Bice - Real Thing (DualDisc; RCA)
Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor - Special Edition (Warner Bros.)

December 20:

Notorious B.I.G. - Duets (Bad Boy)
Read: "Biggie Duets LP Features Eminem, Snoop, Tupac, Nas, Ludacris"
Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough (Geffen)
Read: "Mary J. Blige's Breakthrough Is Coming Out This Year After All"
Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable (DualDisc same day; J)
Read: "Jamie Foxx Has 'Too Many Drinks,' Samples Charles On New LP"

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For The Record: Quick News On Talan Torriero And Kimberly Stewart, Hilary Duff, Green Day, Madonna & More

28 Nov 2005 05:20:00 EST

Talan and Kimberly call off engagement; Ryan Cabrera ready to play; Madonna chases the King.
By MTV News staff report

Talan Torriero and Kimberly Stewart
Photo: Getty Images/Michael Buckner

Just a week and a half after announcing their engagement, Kimberly Stewart and "Laguna Beach" star Talan Torriero are calling it off. "It was just too soon to enter into a lifelong commitment," their reps said in a joint statement. Torriero's rep also clarified that while the couple aren't heading for the altar anytime soon, they haven't broken up. ... Meanwhile, Kimberly's dad, Rod Stewart, and his fiancee, Penny Lancaster, welcomed a baby boy into the world early Sunday morning in London. The singer said in a statement that both Penny and the baby are "gorgeous, healthy, and doing well." ...

Hilary Duff will perform three songs and host the Hollywood party segments of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," which will air for the 34th consecutive year on December 31. Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will host from Times Square in New York. ... A second round of nominees for the People's Choice Awards have been announced, for such categories as Favorite Movie, Favorite Movie Comedy, Favorite Movie Drama, Favorite Family Movie, and Favorite Tour (a toss-up between Green Day, Paul McCartney and U2). Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Queen Latifah are up for Favorite Smile; Jennifer Garner, Faith Hill and Nicole Kidman compete for Favorite Hair; and Jennifer Aniston is up against Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon for Favorite Look. The event airs live on CBS from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on January 10 at 9 p.m. ...

Madonna is on her way to besting the King for the most top-10 hits of any artist in the rock era. The Material Girl scored her 36th top-10 hit (the same number as Elvis Presley as her latest single, "Hung Up," climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart to #7 last week. The pop superstar already holds the record for the most top-40 hits — 45 and counting — by a solo female artist. ... Ryan Cabrera will go head-to-head with gamers for the latest Xbox Live Game With Fame event on Tuesday. The singer will be challenging fans to the racing game "Forza Motorsport" for one hour starting at 5 p.m. ET. "I may not win every game, but I'll sure give them a run for their money!" Cabrera said in a statement. If you're up to the test, just track down gamertag rcabreragwf. ...

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has agreed to a clemency hearing on December 8 for reformed gang leader Tookie Williams, according to The Associated Press. Schwarzenegger is set to meet with Williams' lawyers and Los Angeles prosecutors in a private hearing to discuss possibly stopping the Crips founder's execution on December 13. Williams was charged with the murder of four people stemming from two robberies in 1979 and has been sitting on death row for the last 24 years. He has always denied his involvement in the killings and has spent the majority of his time behind bars preaching to kids about the dangers of gang life. Among the many high-profile supporters pleading to the governor to spare Williams' life is Snoop Dogg, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Jamie Foxx, who portrayed Williams in the 2004 TV biopic "Redemption." ...

Pat Morita, best known for playing the beloved martial-arts sensei Mr. Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" films, died on Thursday at the age of 73. According to a statement by his wife, Morita died of heart failure at a Las Vegas hospital. His manager, however, claims it was kidney failure that took his life, according to The Associated Press. Morita, who also played diner owner Arnold on the 1970s sitcom "Happy Days," is survived by his wife and three daughters. ... Vietnamese authorities officially charged British glam rocker Gary Glitter with child molestation on Saturday. The singer, born Paul Gadd, faces up to 12 years in a Vietnamese jail if convicted. According to a Reuters report, he will be held for up to three months before his trial, though authorities are considering granting bail because of the harsh conditions of Hanoi's detention center. Glitter has denied the allegations that he molested 10 girls, some as young as 12, and has said he was merely teaching them English. ...

Snow Patrol have written 30 songs and are headed into a British studio to begin work on the follow-up to their breakthrough 2004 album, Final Straw, according to a post by frontman Gary Lightbody on SnowPatrol.net. Working again with producer Garrett Lee, Snow Patrol "tinkered, steered, and unceremoniously bludgeoned" the 30 songs over a few weeks in a Glasgow, Scotland, rehearsal space, and now they appear ready to be committed to tape. ... The Secret Machines are putting the finishing touches on their second album, Ten Silver Drops. The LP is set for a mid-March release and will be preceded by the single "Alone, Jealous and Stoned." ...

E! Entertainment will air the fourth season of "The Simple Life" after FOX declined to renew the series. Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, who are now feuding, will take turns running the same household, with the family deciding who did better, said a spokesperson for E!, which also acquired the rights to rerun the first three seasons. The format will allow for the stars not to have to come into contact with each other.

11.23.2005

50 Cent and Kanye West are the only ones selected to be GQ's "Men of the Year" who have no false modesty about it — both of the hip-hop stars justify their big egos in the mag's pages. But they also have more on their minds than just themselves. Like George W. Bush, for one. 50 thinks the president is "incredible ... a gangsta." "I wanna meet George Bush, just shake his hand and tell him how much of me I see in him," 50 told GQ. If the rapper's felony conviction didn't prevent him from voting, 50 said he would have voted for Bush. Meanwhile, Kanye basically called Bush a racist on national television, and has since rethought his strategy for speaking out. "When NBC edited it out on the West Coast, that was a wakeup call," West told the magazine. "It let people know how censored we still are. This is supposed to be America, but you can't get your opinion out. There's all kinds of things I want to say, but I need to pace myself, to make sure my opportunities to say these things aren't taken away too abruptly." Kanye says after giving us entertainment, his next goal is to give us "inspiration." 50's next goal? He wants to market a condom. ...

(Click here for photos of 50 Cent and Kanye West in GQ's "Men of the Year" issue.)

Canada's immigration minister, Joe Volpe, has reportedly been asked by Parliament member Dan McTeague to bar 50 Cent (born Curtis Jackson) from coming to Canada for an upcoming tour. According to The Canadian Press, McTeague said, "I don't think people in Toronto or any urban center need or want to hear Mr. Jackson's message right now." 50, who filmed parts of his recently released "Get Rich or Die Tryin' " in Toronto, is slated to begin his tour on December 3 in Vancouver, British Columbia. In making his request, McTeague noted that there was a shooting in Toronto the last time 50 played there in 2003. A spokesperson for 50 could not be reached for comment at press time. ...

On Tuesday, prosecutors took one final stab at persuading Judge Edward Korman to admit evidence about the May 2000 shooting of 50 Cent into the federal money-laundering trial of the Inc.'s Christopher and Irv Gotti. But Korman wouldn't budge, killing the prosecution's hopes to introduce text-messaged transmissions and other documentation the government claims illustrates the strong bond between the record executives and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff — the convicted drug pusher whose cash the Gottis stand accused of laundering. Defense lawyer Gerald Shargel accused the government of trying to connect the Gottis to "an ambiance and aroma of gangsters" as well as "violent acts" to distract jurors. Later, the prosecution called a handful of FBI and IRS agents who were involved in the January 2003 search of the Inc.'s offices; Irv nodded off at one point during the proceedings. One of the documents seized from Christopher's office, which itemized the label's overhead budget, showed McGriff was on the payroll, as were two of the dealer's underlings — both of whom federal witness Jon Ragin had testified the day before helped carry out the attempt on 50's life. In addition, agents found a shopping bag filled with $35,000 in cash inside a safe in Christopher's office. The prosecution is expected to rest on Monday. ...

Beyoncé shot a video on Tuesday for "Check on It," the next single from Destiny's Child's #1's. Hype Williams directed the clip and fellow Houstonians Slim Thug and Bun B co-star. ... Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes haven't set a wedding date yet, but they may not be married before Holmes pops out her little Cruiser. They announced she was pregnant in October after first acknowledging the romance in April, but they're thinking of getting married "next summer or early fall," Cruise told Barbara Walters for her upcoming special "The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005." The special airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. on ABC. ...

"Boss'n Up," the musical drama starring Snoop Dogg and inspired by R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, is due December 6 on DVD. The movie, the first release from Snoopadelic Films, co-stars Lil Jon. ... Zack de la Rocha made his second public appearance in as many months on Tuesday in a benefit to save a community farm in South Los Angeles from demolition. Ozomatli and Quetzal also performed. ...

If Busta Rhymes looked a little funny sitting in a barber chair recently in New York, it was for good reason — he's not used to getting a full-blown haircut. Obviously Busta has gotten his hairline edged up over the past 16 years, but since coming into the music industry, his long dreads have been as much a part of his persona as have his growls, colorful outfits and unorthodox rhyme flows. But Busta has chosen to shed his locks, and actually cut most of his hair off. "I started growing these sh--s in December '89. I was 17. I signed my [record] deal and said I ain't combing my hair no more. I don't have to," he said. Busta isn't totally bald, though — he's rocking a dark Caesar hairstyle. You'll get to see Busta and his new 'do in his video for "Touch It" in just a couple of weeks. "My head isn't ugly, is it?" he asked with a smile after his cut. ...

(Click here for photos of Busta Rhymes getting his hair cut.)

Mariah Carey's getting in the holiday spirit a little early — she recorded a new version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" for a re-release of the classic TV special by the same name. Previous versions of the 1934 song were recorded by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Bruce Springsteen. Carey's take is being released as a CD single with the collector's edition of the DVD. ...

The surviving members of Alice in Chains will perform with Heart on February 17 at the Trump Taj Mahal Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The concert will be taped as part of a new episode of VH1 Classic's "Decades Rock Live!" series. Look for the show to air in the spring. Tickets go on sale Monday through Heart's online fan club. ... Velvet Revolver will perform at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, for the venue's "Rockin' F'n New Year's Eve" show. Tickets are priced at $100, and go on sale Saturday at noon via Ticketmaster. The show will feature an open bar for the first hour and a half, a champagne toast at midnight (for those of drinking age) and a continental breakfast. ...

Another day, another lawsuit for Michael Jackson. This time a former adviser to the pop star has filed a $64 million suit alleging breach of contract and fraud, according to a Reuters report. Dieter Wiesner filed a civil suit against Jackson on Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming he paid Jackson millions of dollars for the rights to merchandise his name and likeness even though the rights were not Jackson's to sell because he'd already sold them to someone else earlier. That person ended up suing Wiesner, who, between settling the suit and lending Jackson more money to secure the rights, claims he ended up spending $9 million. After all that, the rights ended up being useless when Jackson allegedly refused to cooperate and actually interfered with Wiesner's merchandising efforts. ... On Tuesday, the Warner Music Group became the second major label to settle with New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in his ongoing payola probe. The home to Green Day and My Chemical Romance agreed to pay $5 million in fines as a result of the investigation, which alleged that Warner illegally gave radio-station employees trips, laptop computers and tickets to the Super Bowl and other major events in exchange for airplay of songs by its artists. In July, Sony BMG agreed to pay $10 million in a similar case. ...

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Still-Single Ryan Cabrera Looks Back At Ex In 'Photo'

9 Nov 2005 07:16:00 EST

Somber track tells the story of a love lost and snapshot found.
By Brandee J. Tecson

Ryan Cabrera
Photo: Getty Images

It isn't easy getting over a breakup, especially when there are so many reminders of the once-blissful partnership thrown in your face.

Just ask Ryan Cabrera. The 23-year-old singer/songwriter, whose on-again off-again romance with Ashlee Simpson was played out for all to see on her MTV reality show, delves into breakups — and what happens when reminders of a relationship surface — with "Photo," the somber second single from You Stand Watching.

Cabrera penned the thoughtful track last year after he came across a picture of an old flame that reignited some past emotions. And while the singer admits that all his songs stem from personal experiences, don't automatically assume that they're all about his famous ex (see "Ryan Cabrera's Love-Song LP Isn't All About Ashlee").

"It's amazing what one picture can say and the feelings that it can bring back to you," he explained. "It was cool to see that photo and feel like I was in that relationship again just through that one little piece of paper. And the song kind of asks the question, 'Will we ever have one more shot at the relationship, and will we ever get to take another one?' "

Cabrera wants to incorporate that contemplative theme into the video for "Photo" that is slated to be shot later this month. There's no word yet on who will helm the clip, but fans can expect a lot of flashbacks and some location filming.

"I think we might actually go shoot it in Mexico and give it a gritty 'Traffic'-esque vibe," he said, referencing Steven Soderbergh's 2000 drug-themed drama. "I want it to be a really romantic story about these two people who are no longer together, but keep missing each other, and then they each find a picture that brings back all of these memories."

Right now, Cabrera is headlining a cross-country trek through the beginning of December with Boston pop quintet Click Five in tow. The singer, who has spent the bulk of the last two years touring the globe, says he rarely gets homesick.

"I know that later on in my life I'll have my time to be at home, but right now I love being on the road and playing shows every night," he explained. "It's my favorite thing in the world."

His loved ones, on the other hand, may have a harder time seeing the singer leave for such an extended period of time. Many of his family and friends hit up shows along the way to support Cabrera, but don't expect to see a girlfriend waiting in the wings.

Cabrera says he hasn't had a serious relationship since his romance with Simpson ended last year, despite what you may have read in the tabloids. (In other words, no, he's not dating Paris Hilton's buddy Kimberley Stewart.)

"It's sad that you just can't be friends with anybody anymore," he said. "If I hang out with someone, it'll be all over the press the next day and everyone's asking, 'Are you dating this person?' and 'Are you dating this person?' I'm like, 'What, you think I date everyone?' " Cabrera joked. "Unfortunately, people believe it, but you just have to learn to laugh at it. You know the truth anyway."

The singer, who says he finds it hard to maintain a relationship while on the road, added that he would be willing to make the effort if he believed he found the right woman.

"You never know who you're going to meet. I could be single today and have a girlfriend in two weeks!" Cabrera laughed. "I mean, I don't think I am ... but I'm not opposed to it."

Ryan Cabrera tour dates, according to his record label:

11/9 - Pittston, PA @ The Staircase
11/10 - Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
11/11 - Syracuse, NY @ Landmark Theatre
11/14 - Boston, MA @ Avalon Ballroom
11/15 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
11/19 - Nashville, TN @ Rcktwn
11/20 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
11/21 - Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theater
11/25 - Tampa, FL @ Tampa Theater
11/26 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
12/3 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa

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Ryan Cabrera

For The Record: Quick News On Paris Hilton, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani, Buju Banton, Ryan Cabrera, Usher & More

3 Oct 2005 05:11:00 EDT

Paris calls off engagement to Paris; release date set for 50 Cent movie soundtrack.
By MTV News staff report

Paris Hilton
Photo: Getty Images

Paris has called off her engagement to Paris. After months of touting how she was looking forward to settling down and thinking about having a baby, Paris Hilton has dumped Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis, saying that she's "just not ready for marriage." "I'm still young and have a very active career that I'm not prepared to give up," she said in a statement. Part of that career still involves Latsis, she said, because they will be business partners and have "movies in the works." "I love Paris," she said. "He is my best friend and it will be that way forever." ...

50 Cent says he's the hardest-working man alive — and really, who's going to argue with that? Not when he's got both a new movie and a new soundtrack coming out. On November 9, "Get Rich or Die Tryin' " hits theaters, and the day before that he'll be dropping the soundtrack, which features all new music from his entire G-Unit roster, including Mase, Mobb Deep, M.O.P. and 50 himself. "I created the music for the soundtrack while I was actually filming the movie," 50 Cent said. "I had a studio trailer with me and would record every day between takes." 50 executive-produced the album, with Dr. Dre, Sha Money XL and Hi-Tek also producing. The first single will be "Window Shopper." ... Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" has made digital-music history. The song has surpassed the 1-million mark in download sales, making it the first commercial digital download to do so. "It's always an honor to be recognized for your music," Stefani said, "and this is really the coolest. ... It really is bananas." ...

A judge has ordered Grammy-winning reggae star Buju Banton to go to trial on October 19 in connection with his alleged role in attacking a group of gay men in Jamaica last year. The 31-year-old dancehall singer is accused along with Horace Hill of beating six gay men in June 2004 at a home in the Red Hills Road area of Kingston, according to an Associated Press report. Both men have pleaded not guilty. For years Banton has been criticized by gay-rights advocates for his 1992 song "Boom Bye Bye," which has lyrics about shooting gay people. He was forced to cancel tour dates in the U.S. and Europe last year after protests. ... Usher, Mary J. Blige and Duran Duran helped Andre Agassi raise more than $10 million for his charitable foundation Saturday night, when they played at the Grand Slam for Children at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. Celine Dion, Earth, Wind & Fire, Robin Williams and George Lopez were among the announced performers, while Barbra Streisand was a surprise guest. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation assists at-risk youth in Las Vegas via schools, scholarship funds, summer camps and youth organizations. ...

Ryan Cabrera is heading out on the road again, this time with the Click Five (who toured with his ex Ashlee Simpson earlier this year) in tow. Cabrera's six-week trek kicks off October 18 in Anaheim, California, and runs through November 26 in Orlando, Florida. Meanwhile, Cabrera's new game show, "Score," where he teaches contestants how to write songs to score dates, debuts October 10 at 4:30 p.m. on MTV. ... David Banner and G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid are both creating new and exclusive ringtones for UrbanWorld Wireless. "I'm bringing that Dirty South flavor in full force to this ringtone space," Banner said. ... Britney Spears is auctioning off furniture, clothing, jewelry and other items to raise money for the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund. The items, including a jewel-encrusted bra, a Roberto Cavalli gown and a hand-carved wooden chandelier, went on the auction block Saturday at www.eBay.com/BritneySpears. ...

The body of Glenn Rambo, the former frontman for sludgy Louisiana grindcore outfit Soilent Green, was found Saturday afternoon in Violet, Louisiana. Rambo, a founding member of the band, was discovered inside his mother's home; she, too, was found dead. According to a Relapse Records spokesperson, Rambo and his mother were trapped inside the house by Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged through the area. ... Dropkick Murphys frontman Al Barr was hospitalized on Friday with what the band's Web site described as "severe stomach pains." No further information was available on his condition, but emergency surgery was performed. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Barr's illness has forced the band to postpone its Japanese tour. ...

The Dead Kennedys have pulled off the bill for Waking the Dead, a concert scheduled for October 29 at Los Angeles' Grand Olympic Auditorium. The band's been replaced in the lineup by Fear. Suicidal Tendencies, the Germs, Marky Ramone and Flipper are also expected to perform at the show. ... INXS will perform with their new frontman, J.D. Fortune, at the grand opening of the new Virgin Megastore in Hollywood. Gang of Four and Dredg will also play the late-afternoon rooftop show on October 17, while Virgin chairman Richard Branson will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Meanwhile, INXS are releasing a live concert — featuring their original singer, Michael Hutchence — as a digital download starting Tuesday. "INXS: Live at Barker Hangar" was recorded in May 1993. ...

The Kaiser Chiefs didn't have to look far to find a director for their new video, "Modern Way" — lead singer Ricky Wilson took on the task. He got some help, though, from co-director Scott Lyon (Franz Ferdinand). "It's a gem, our favorite video so far," the band wrote on its Web site, noting that "Modern Way" will be the final single from Employment. The CD single will contain four new songs, which the Kaiser Chiefs recorded with producer Steve Harris. The band is also releasing a 90-minute DVD, due at the end of November, called "Enjoyment," and it's "loosely plotted" around the history of the bandmembers from childhood on. ...

Lawyers for CBGB and the New York punk club's landlord were back in New York City Civil Court Monday morning (October 3) to file another round of motions in what's shaping up to be a rather drawn-out legal battle. CBGB owner Hilly Kristal was served with an eviction notice at the beginning of last month, but hasn't budged — he continues not only to operate the hub of punk without a valid lease, but book more acts to perform there. The club's eviction has been stalled in court, and it appears Kristal won't be going anywhere for at least another month; both parties will return to court on November 7 for another hearing. But there were some developments Monday morning. The landlord's attorney filed a motion to withdraw "holdover" or eviction proceedings; instead, the landlord would like to bring an action of ejectment — a method by which a landlord can obtain possession of a property — in New York's Supreme Court. Kristal's attorney, Steven Sperber, moved to dismiss the holdover proceeding altogether, on the basis of a number of causes, including the fact that the building is not registered with the city as habitable space. Sperber also plans to respond to the landlord's petition to move the matter to the Supreme Court, but refused to discuss his strategy. ...

09.30.2005

Young Buck's court date in Los Angeles this week in connection with the melee at last fall's Vibe Awards was once again postponed, this time to October 25. The G-Unit rapper has already pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. ...

When Burt Bacharach, the famous composer whose credits include "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and "I Say a Little Prayer," announced last fall he was working with Dr. Dre, music fans might've assumed he was just getting senile in his old age (he's 77). Well, the music is now actually coming out. His new album, At This Time, due November 1, features three tracks with drum loops provided by Dre. Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and Chris Botti also appear on the album. ... Attention Bright Eyes fans in the St. Louis area: Your show will go on. Two weeks after he announced he was canceling a show at St. Louis club the Pageant because of the venue's association with Clear Channel Communications, Bright Eyes' main man Conor Oberst has found a new (non-corporate) home for the November 12 gig: the Jesse Auditorium on the campus of the University of Missouri - Columbia. The bad news? Tickets to the Pageant will not be honored (though refunds are available). Tickets for the new show go on sale through Ticketmaster starting Friday (September 30). ...

Here's some good news for any of the almost 57,000 Switchfoot fans who picked up a copy of the band's newest disc, Nothing Is Sound, at a Christian retail outlet and then, after buying the LP, wondered, "Gee, why can't I import these tracks to my iPod?" Turns out you threw money down on a defective album. According to a spokesperson for EMI CMG, which distributes Switchfoot's albums to Christian retail only, a manufacturing defect in the CDs' content-protection technology prevented fans from burning copies of the album or transferring the tracks to portable MP3 devices. Hence, the company's pulled all of the copies that were out there, and is recalling all of those copies that have been sold. Those who bought one of the defective copies (they've got the Sparro Records logo on them) and would like a fresh copy of the disc can return to the point of purchase for a new one. ... New Jersey rock act Thursday, who're currently composing material for the follow-up to 2003's War All the Time, want their fans to help them battle breast cancer — by designing a T-shirt, through the Shirts for a Cure Project. Proceeds from the sale of the winning tee will benefit breast-cancer organizations. It doesn't hurt that the winner will also get a boatload of autographed Thursday swag, too. Designs should be e-mailed to thursday@shirtsforacure.com before October 4. ...

Remember Jin? The onetime Ruff Ryders member declared "I Quit" a year ago, but now the Chinese-American MC is back with Emcee's Properganda (October 25), a 14-track album in which he asserts his love and respect for hip-hop history on songs like "Perspectives" and "Top 5 (Dead or Alive)." ... Alanis Morissette is putting out a greatest-hits album, and for her first single, she's planning to release the cover she did of Seal's "Crazy" for Gap's fall ad campaign, via a video she shot last week in Los Angeles with Meiert Avis. The Collection, due November 15, will include 19 songs, including tracks from her "MTV Unplugged" album and her contributions to soundtracks for "Dogma," "City of Angels" and "De-Lovely." "It was a torturous challenge to come up with the songs," she said. "Rather than seeing my songs as children, I view them as rooms in the big house that is my life. All of them are a snapshot of a period of time and a passage in my life." The Collection will also include behind-the-scenes footage, while a limited-edition two-disc set will feature an hour-long documentary. ...

A tribute album to late singer Elliott Smith, To Elliott From: Portland, is slated for release on February 7. Among the acts contributing covers to the set are the Decemberists, Helio Sequence, the Thermals, Crosstide and more. Elliott's former roommate, singer/songwriter Sean Croghan, covers the previously unreleased song "Hard Times." Ten percent of proceeds will go to the Elliott Smith Foundation's Free Arts for Abused Children program. ... Ozomatli, Blackalicious and Fishbone are among the acts that will perform at a Sublime tribute show on October 24 at the Music Box @ Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Members of Sublime and other special guests will also take the stage. All proceeds will go to MusiCares' Musicians Assistance Program and hurricane relief efforts. ...

As if MySpace wasn't mind-numbingly addictive enough, the masterminds behind the leading online gathering place have announced several new features geared toward its college crowd. Current students, as well as alumni, will now have the ability to rate their professors, list their courses, link up with classmates and proudly display their Greek affiliation on their user profiles. And for you naughty kids who like to jones on your professor, you can now rate them on a hotness scale. ... Reel Big Fish's Scott Klopfenstein has been hospitalized in New Zealand, where he'll remain for an indefinite period of time. Doctors there have been running tests on the multi-instrumentalist and singer, according to the band's manager. Signs of Klopfenstein's condition first emerged a few weeks back, in the form of partial paralysis and blurred vision. At this point, doctors have determined his illness could be one of two things: Guillain-Barré or Miller Fisher syndrome, both being rare, acquired nerve diseases characterized by abnormal muscle coordination, paralysis of the eye muscles, absence of the tendon reflexes, generalized muscle weakness and respiratory failure — all of which could be preceded by a viral illness. Reel Big Fish will continue to tour Australia and will play in Hawaii on October 10. ...

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