Rihanna at the BMI awards on Thursday
Photo: Walik Goshorn

NEW YORK — You know it's a going to be a good night when a big, thuggish-looking man with a scar going down half his face comes into the party singing Rihanna's chorus to "Run This Town."

Now imagine being at that same party and the DJ announces that Rihanna is actually in the building. Too crazy. Thursday night in New York City, if you weren't rehearsing for the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall, or part of Raekwon's CD-release show at S.O.B.'s, then you had to be at the M2 Ultra Lounge.

	Rihanna Keri Hilson, Big Boi, More At BMI Awards

Rihanna, Katy Perry, Devyne Stephens, DJ Clue, newcomers Jay Fresh Kicks and Jeremih, Keri Hilson, Bad Boy artist Janelle Monáe, Outkast's Big Boi, the legendary Bootsy Collins, Sammie, Goodie Mob members Cee-Lo and Big Gipp, producers Danja, Jim Jonsin and Bryan-Michael Cox, model Tyson Beckford and others attended the Hennessy Black-sponsored event that doubled as the BMI Awards afterparty.

DJ Mick Boogie spun, mixing Young Money's "Every Girl" with Gucci Mane-featuring cuts such as the "Obsessed" remix and "Make Tha Trap Say Aye."

Polow Da Don took over the mic in the DJ booth for a short time, letting Mario and famed songwriter Sean Garrett perform their club smash "Break Up." Mario started off rapping Gucci Mane's part: "Now baby girl had dumped me/ She no longer wants me/ I'm no longer hired, she said that I've been fired/ On to the next one, more fish in the sea/ Girls are like buses, miss one, next 15, one comin'."

The singer then held down his own part of the record, crooning, "Don't I make your earlobe freeze?/ Don't, when I dive, I dive deep?"

Garrett then got on the mic with his verse: "Baby, don't leave me till tomorrow/ Tonight we gon' get a lil' tipsy with a bottle."

When it came to the celebrities at the event, some mingled and some just danced in their own VIP section. Rihanna wore black shades and a black hood and seemed to really be enjoying the reggae. Meanwhile, you could see Keri Hilson walking around in the upstairs VIP, while Katy Perry made her way through the crowded dance floor downstairs.

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards air live this Sunday, September 13, at 9 p.m. ET, but New York is celebrating the VMAs all week long! Stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

• Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Big Boi, More At BMI Awards

• Rihanna
• Katy Perry
• OutKast
• Cee-Lo
• Keri Hilson

Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge at the VMA afterparty on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Everyone seems to have an opinion about the VMAs, and celebrities who were honored at, appeared in, and attended the show are certainly no exception. After Sunday night's awards, MTV News caught up with everyone from Best New Artist winners Tokio Hotel and Cee-Lo to the girls from "The Hills" and the show's house band members, Travis Barker and DJ AM.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who talked with MTV News late last month about what a Britney VMA appearance might do for her career, declared the show "ladies' night."

"I'd have to say it was all about the girls," he said. "Divas galore! Britney Spears looked great!"

However, it wasn't ladies' night in the Best New Artist category, where Tokio Hotel took the prize from the likes of alpha females like Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry. One of the night's leading ladies, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger (whose group won the Best Dancing in a Video award), gave it up for the German boys.

"We are so proud of them!" she said. "They are our labelmates and we've watched them kind of grow up, and tonight they represented. They killed it tonight." [Note: The group did not perform at the VMAs but were very enthusiastic about winning their award.]

Tokio Hotel's Bill Kaulitz said yet again that the group did not expect to walk away from the VMAs as winners. "I have no words!" he gushed after the show. "We are so surprised and excited. We never expected it!"

Celebs also weighed in on whose performance best rocked the show. "Hills" star Lauren Conrad said, "Actually, [my favorite performance] was Kid Rock," who performed his hit "All Summer Long." "It was amazing. He vocally sounded amazing. His performance was so great."

Meanwhile "Hills" co-star Audrina Patridge said, "I'm a huge Lil Wayne fan. Also, I was in love with Rihanna's performance. It was so good. She's perfect!"

Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo gave it up for his hip-hop brethren. "I guess [my favorite performance] was watching Kanye perform a new song I've never heard before. It was great," he said. "T.I., my man, watching him do his thing and get back on top. My man Lil Wayne doing his thing. It was all wonderful."

(Head here for more on post-VMA parties, what you didn't see behind the scenes, the hottest arrivals and a full VMA fashion report!)

Of course, the night belonged to Britney Spears, who took home three Moonmen, including Video of the Year. Brett Ratner, who directed VMA-nominated videos for Miley Cyrus and Mariah Carey, said, "It was so cool to see Britney. Even though my girls Miley and Mariah didn't win an award, I came to support.

"You know this is Britney's year," he continued. "She came back in a big way. She looked beautiful. She was on it. She looked hot. She was smart, down-to-earth and real. She didn't try too hard."

He concluded by saying, "Hopefully, she'll have me direct one of her videos."

"It was a pleasant surprise to see Britney do her thing," Cee-Lo added. "You can't count anyone out."

Travis Barker, who with DJ AM was the show's house band, gave Brit her props as well. "She makes banging music still and she looks amazing," he said. "Hopefully it's the beginning of her comeback."

During the show, Barker and DJ AM rocked it with everyone from the Ting Tings to Katy Perry, but they were especially geeked to play with LL Cool J on his 1987 classic "Going Back to Cali."

"It was really a big deal, but really, really, really fun," Barker gushed. "Performing with LL Cool J — are you kidding me? Growing up, if I ever thought I'd be playing with LL Cool J I would trip."

"It was beyond an honor," DJ AM said of playing the VMAs. "I've been watching since the first one. When they asked me I had to pee my pants! It was a lot of fun. Standing next to LL Cool J freaked me out, 'cause I'm a huge fan and have been for years."

Ratner also weighed in on host Russell Brand, whose controversial remarks swiped at everyone from President Bush to the Jonas Brothers. "He did his thing," Ratner said. "I was worried for him. English humor is different than American humor.

"I met him on the day he arrived in America," Ratner recalled. "Courtney Love brought him to my house and she was like, 'He is so funny,' but he was really shy and wasn't doing anything."

Perez Hilton, on the other hand, echoed the words of his sort-of namesake Paris Hilton and said Brand shouldn't have gone after the Jonas Brothers.

"I think those Jonas Brothers are good kids," he said, "and we shouldn't be making fun of them for promoting good values."

It's a wrap! Now that the 2008 VMAs have come and gone, check out all the winners, the most surprising moments, the best red-carpet fashions and more at VMA.MTV.com.

• VMA 2008: Most Talked-About Moments
• VMA 2008: The Performances
• VMA 2008: The Genius Of Russell Brand

• The 2008 VMAs' Biggest Arrivals
• VMA 2008: Full Fashion Recap

• Britney Spears
• Kanye West
• Travis Barker
• Cee-Lo
• Kid Rock

Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse
Photo: MTV News

Gnarls Barkley have had a tough week.

On Monday, there was the news that the video for "Run," the first single from their upcoming album, The Odd Couple, (which premieres on "TRL" Thursday), contained strobe effects that could trigger epileptic seizures, forcing them to re-edit the clip at the last minute. And then, late Tuesday night — presumably while cuts were being made to the "Run" video — Couple went ahead and leaked to the Net more than a month before it was due in stores.

On Wednesday (March 5), many media outlets erroneously reported that MTV had banned the video. According to an MTV spokesperson, MTV's international channel, MTV U.K., initially rejected the video but has accepted a revised version. Additionally, the clip was already scheduled to premiere on MTV's "TRL" on Thursday and is set to go into rotation on Monday.

Clearly, the recent developments and misrepresented reports have taken the Barkley camp by surprise, but they're also taking them in stride. After all, this is the sort of drama that comes with releasing a hotly anticipated album, which Couple most certainly is. And, to be honest, they're just flattered people are paying attention. After all, they never really intended to get to this point in the first place.

"I don't think we ever said [Gnarls] was going to be a one-off thing, but we also didn't think about what would happen next," producer/mastermind Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton told MTV News. "We got back together to make this album, but also because we were really excited to see what the other person was going to do this time. We kind of always go back and forth, trying to challenge each other with music and lyrics ... and we were just excited to see what would happen again."

And what happened was Couple, an album that — as you probably know by now — ditches a majority of the hip-hop/R&B influences that made their debut, St. Elsewhere, a bona fide smash. Instead, it explores moodier, more crackling '60s pop and soul and skittering, shifty electronica. In short, it's an album that showcases both the old and new. Case in point, "Run."

"The music for 'Run' I did years ago. It was one of the first group of songs I put together to try to convince Cee-Lo to work with me, so ... it was the sound of what would be Gnarls Barkley," Danger Mouse said. "And [he] had it for years, and then revisited it, I guess, more recently. It was always something I hoped would get used in some kind of way. But I don't think that if we would've done it years ago, it would've sounded like this. It probably would've been something completely different."

"At the same time, the track kind of resembles emotion. It sounds like a bullet out of a barrel," Cee-Lo added. "And that's why it was the proper way to reintroduce ourselves. Like, 'We are Gnarls Barkley — better run for your life.' "

The duo also singled out a pair of tracks — "Open Book" and "Neighbors" — as favorites and prime examples of Gnarls' mixture of complex emotions and pop music.

"I love 'Open Book.' It's just jumping in with both feet, exposing your virtues and your vices, your vulnerabilities and strengths," Cee-Lo said. "And it's done in a very eloquent-yet-aggressive way. It's about being willing to bear the cross and take the sacrifice."

"I'm a big fan of 'Neighbors,' " Danger added. "It's really relatable, about how people think they see something, but you don't know what you have gone through to get it or lose it. And that doesn't necessarily mean material things, it's much more about people's outer appearance, and wanting to trade places with people, and the grass is always greener."

Totally (or something).

Before the whole seizure controversy started (a controversy that, incidentally, the duo claimed to have no knowledge about) the clip for "Run" was better known for the cameo made by Justin Timberlake, who plays the Jheri-curl-sporting host of "City Vibin'," a dance show Gnarls are performing on. The whole thing seems to have happened on a whim, but in a funny way, it all sort of fits with the duo's "old and new" ethos.

"Justin volunteered to be in the video. I think he had a relationship with the directors, and his name might have casually come up in conversation, and we've met on numerous occasions, and Justin's a real cool dude, and he did his thing," Cee-Lo laughed. "It's a [take-off on] those old retro dance shows, stuff like 'American Bandstand' and, us being from Atlanta, [a show like] 'Atlanta Jams.' And then there's the '80s garb and attitude and choreography. And when you contrast that up against the brand-new thing we're doing sonically, it all sort of works."

[This story was originally published at 3:29 p.m. ET on 03.05.08]

• Gnarls Barkley Are Back — And Odder Than Ever

• Gnarls Barkley
• Justin Timberlake
• Cee-Lo
• Danger Mouse

Mary J. Blige
Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Mary J. Blige has a love-hate relationship with her fans, she reveals in the new issue of Vibe, out Tuesday. They don't seem to like her when she's happy — but she doesn't want to be dark and depressed just to make them happy. "When I took the chance to show people I can be happy, I lost a million of my fans," she told the magazine. "I was like, 'I'm gonna have to lose y'all in order for us to live, because if I keep going down this dark hole, we're all gonna die together. I'm gonna slit my wrists or take some pills, and it's gonna be over." That's why Blige feels obliged, more than ever before, to write love songs that she dedicates to her husband. "That's my buddy, my best friend, my business partner," she said. "He's got my back like nobody's ever had my back. I feel like God used him to come and pull me together." Also getting Mary's back is Bill Cosby's wife, Camille, who helped inspire the themes on Blige's Growing Pains. "Bill Cosby called me like, 'My wife loves you! She says there's a song you need to write about love,' " Blige tells the magazine. "I finally called Bill back and said, 'We got the record.' He says, 'Mrs. Cosby will be so glad to hear that.' I damn near cried." ...

Wyclef Jean is being sued for copyright infringement by Blahz of New York rap squad Blahzay Blahzay, who is alleging that an unauthorized sample appears on the former Fugee's latest solo effort, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, according to XXL. The suit, which was filed last month, reportedly claims Wyclef used a sample from Blahzay Blahzay's hit song "Danger" on his tune "Welcome to the East" but didn't clear the sample or credit the group. Blahz did say in a statement, however, that he was contacted by Wyclef's people over use of the sample, XXL reports. ...

Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes and Rosario Dawson celebrated the 10th anniversary of V-Day, a worldwide effort to stop violence against women and girls, at a private luncheon on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. A two-day event commemorating the anniversary will reportedly be held in April at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. ... While we're talking Superdomes, TVGuide.com reports that Paula Abdul is in talks to perform live at the Super Bowl on February 3. She is reportedly rehearsing a music video for a duet with "American Idol" peer Randy Jackson, and the song is due to be the first single from Jackson's forthcoming solo LP, Music Club Vol. 1. According to TVGuide.com, footage from the Super Bowl performance will be folded into the video if Abdul does indeed perform at the football extravaganza. Tom Petty is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. ...

Daughtry are working on the follow-up to their self-titled LP — which was the biggest-selling disc on the Billboard 200 during the December 2006-November 2007 chart year. "Some songs are coming out a little heavier than the last record, and some songs are just way more beautiful," frontman Chris Daughtry told Gibson.com about the new material. ... Paris Hilton has been named Woman of the Year by college comedy magazine The Harvard Lampoon. Hilton will accept the award February 6 at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and speak to the student body. ...

Does Marilyn Manson reconciling with Twiggy Ramirez remind you of Robert Plant reuniting with Jimmy Page? Probably not, but the Antichrist Superstar recently told RollingStone.com that the Led Zeppelin comeback gig spurred him to make amends with Ramirez. "The turning point for me was when I went to see Led Zeppelin's reunion show, and I saw Jimmy Page and Robert Plant look at each other for a moment, and they probably said, 'Holy sh--, we wrote "Stairway to Heaven." ' ... I want to look at Twiggy and go, 'Holy sh--, we wrote "The Beautiful People." ' I called him, and I said, 'Let's go do this.' " How modest. ... Zooey Deschanel swung by NPR Southern California affiliate KCRW's "Open Road" recently, during which it was revealed that the actress is cobbling together an album with singer/songwriter M. Ward, with whom she has performed in concert in the past. According to ThePlaylist.com, the album — the name of which has yet to be revealed — will drop in March via Merge Records. ...

Gnarls Barkley frontman Cee-Lo made a guest turn recently on "The Boondocks" as Reverend Rollo Goodlove. Cee-Lo's character lends his support to Huey's hunger strike against BET and narrates the entire episode, which skewers several of the network's top execs. A preview of the show appears on YouTube with a note stating the original airdate was Monday, but the show hasn't aired yet. ... Jill Scott announced dates for her Real Thing tour on Friday (January 11). The recent NAACP nominee (Best Female Artist and Best Actress) will hit the stage on multiple nights in Oakland, California (February 7-8); Atlanta (February 22-23); and Baltimore (February 26-27), as well as play a four-night stand in Washington, D.C., beginning March 11. The run ends March 30 in Birmingham, Alabama. ...

Funnyman Patton Oswalt has been tapped to host this year's Plug Independent Music Awards, which will also feature performances by indie folkie José González and St. Vincent, the solo project by Polyphonic Spree guitarist Annie Clark. The ceremony will be held March 6 in New York. ... The Take Action Tour is getting even more charitable. Do Something, a nonprofit group that helps teens fight discrimination and homelessness, is partnering with the trek to offer three $500 grants to young people looking to make change in their neck of the woods. Go here for more info on the Take Action Grants. ... Fiery Furnaces got some sad news recently when Olga Sarantos, the grandmother of two of the indie-rock group's members, passed away, according to BrooklynVegan.com. Sarantos was heard telling tales of her youth on the band's 2005 disc, Rehearsing My Choir.

1.10.08

After a legal snafu that almost landed her back behind bars, former "American Idol" finalist Jessica Sierra is on her way to a rehab facility in California again. According to Florida Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi, the troubled singer — who was ordered to spend a year in the Pasadena Recovery Center as a result of her recent arrest on disorderly intoxication charges — had her emergency probation transfer order rejected by the California Department of Probation. That resulted in the awkward situation of Sierra, 22, being out of jail but unable to begin rehab. "She was supposed to get on a plane yesterday, but the probation department in California wouldn't accept her transfer on an expedited basis because they take up to 45 days to review requests, so we had the unfortunate situation of a pregnant addict on the streets," Bondi said. Luckily, Sierra was able to get back into court Thursday (January 10), and the judge in the case gave her permission to travel immediately with her dad to Los Angeles and get picked up by a representative from the Center, where she will be allowed to stay until the probation transfer is approved. ...

The fallout from Britney Spears' hospitalization continues, as a Maloof Productions spokesperson confirmed to MTV News that a reality show with former Spears associate Alli Sims is no longer "moving forward." Sims had hoped to do a reality show demonstrating what her daily life is like in Hollywood — including occasional appearances by her cousin, friend and former employer. A source close to the production said nothing had been taped yet, not even a pilot, and that Sims was only in the early stages of talks, with no deal yet struck with the Maloofs, who own the Sacramento Kings and Las Vegas' Palms Casino Resort, a frequent Spears haunt. But right now, the source said, "Britney needs to heal. She doesn't need another reality show." Spears last appeared in the reality program "Chaotic," which featured the early stages of her courtship with Kevin Federline. ...

Mischa Barton has spoken out about her recent arrest for DUI and drug possession. The English actress told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show Thursday morning, "Obviously, I am 100 percent responsible for my actions, and I am really disappointed in myself. I am not perfect, and I don't ever intend to do something that stupid again." The former "O.C." star, who was also arrested for driving without a valid license, added, "I usually try not to get behind the wheel." ... Despite protesting that the case was baseless, Avril Lavigne has reached a settlement with 1970s rock band the Rubinoos over claims that her hit "Girlfriend" plagiarized their 1979 single, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." The Canadian Press reports that a confidential settlement has been reached with the Rubinoos, who have agreed to drop their claims, but that the settlement does not necessarily indicate an admission of copyright infringement. ...

Here's one for the adults — T.I., the Shins and Daft Punk are among the artists participating in this year's installment of Playboy's Rock the Rabbit. The roster of musicians — which also includes Duran Duran, Iggy Pop and Hot Chip — will appear in the magazine's March issue and help create limited-edition T-shirt designs that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Rock the Vote. ... Jennifer Lopez's "Bordertown," which was widely panned by critics who caught early screenings of it, is headed straight to DVD. The film is about a reporter, played by Lopez, who investigates a series of murders of young female factory workers in Mexico. She also produced the movie, which will hit stores January 29. ... Jim Jones, Raekwon, Redman, Green Lantern and Papoose have piled onto Pete Rock's new LP, Billboard reports. The iTunes version of NY's Finest, which is due February 26, will reportedly also have a bonus track featuring Slum Village. Meanwhile, "914" — one of the B-side songs that will accompany the first single, "We Roll" (featuring Jones) — has featured guest spots by Styles P and Sheek Louch. ...

We don't normally report on hairstyles — except when the most famous black beehive in the world suddenly gets chopped and bleached. Pictures are circulating of Amy Winehouse's new 'do, which is a stark change from the style that helped make the soul singer famous. ... "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale is slated to make her feature-film debut in a comedy about a group of teens who defend their vacation home from an alien attack. The Hollywood Reporter reports that production on "They Came From Upstairs" will start next month in New Zealand, with a cast that also includes Robert Hoffman ("Step Up 2 the Streets"), Carter Jenkins ("Viva Laughlin") and Austin Butler ("Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide"). ...

On Thursday, MySpace announced the launch of its new MySpace Celebrity hub, which will feature pop-culture news, blogs, videos and events. Among the 300 celebrities who have profiles on the new hub are Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, "Juno" star Ellen Page, Ashton Kutcher, "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge and Hayden Panettiere. ... Radiohead are taking to the airwaves again, this time to fill in on BBC Radio 1 for host Zane Lowe while he's away on holiday, Pitchfork reports. The band, which webcast live studio performances earlier this year, will be on BBC Radio 1 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. U.K. time on January 17. ... Marilyn Manson and estranged bassist Twiggy Ramirez have made up. According to a statement from the group, Ramirez has rejoined Manson for the band's upcoming North American tour, following the split of bassist Tim Skold. ...

Unreleased tune-age from Feist, Bloc Party, Of Montreal, Deerhoof and Muse is scattered across a new charity release benefiting Energy Action Coalition, which helps support and strengthen the youth clean-energy movement in North America. The Green Owl Comp: A Benefit for the Energy Action Coalition, which consists of a CD and DVD, is due April 8. ... The Fader has an unlikely new executive editor in Chris Richards, who was previously a guitarist/singer for post-punk band Q and Not U. He previously covered music for The Washington Post. ... Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will release their next album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, on April 8, and have revealed the album's track list. The record will feature 11 songs, including "Night of the Lotus Eaters," "Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl)" and "Jesus of the Moon." ...

Some of late Godfather of Soul James Brown's personal possessions are being appraised for auction to help pay some of the state taxes owed by his estate. The Associated Press reports that attorneys would not say exactly what items are on the block, or how much the estate owes in taxes, but some reports said the rights to some of Brown's songs could be among the items up for bid.

• Mary J. Blige
• Jill Scott
• Cee-Lo

Radiohead's Thom Yorke
Photo: Jo Hale/ Getty Images

Radiohead have announced their tour plans for 2008, but if you're expecting a traditional itinerary ... well, then you really don't know Radiohead. The band has started sketching out cities and dates for next year on its Web site, but the info is only complete for three shows — and tickets are on sale for all of them: June 18 in Milan, Italy; June 20 at Germany's Hurricane Festival; and June 22 at the same country's Southside Festival. The band is also booked for Denmark's Roskilde festival and Belgium's Rock Werchter Festival, both of which will be held July 3-6. Paris; Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; London; Berlin and other major European cities are also on the menu. ...

Seems all that "Tattoo" talk has gone to Jordin Sparks' head. The "American Idol" victor — whose new self-titled debut isn't doing so hot in record stores these days — told the San Francisco Chronicle that she decided to get a tattoo of her own after shooting the video for her latest single, "Tattoo." Sparks first asked her mother — "I would feel really bad if I did it without telling her," she said — who replied that she would get a tattoo with her daughter after she turns 18 on December 22. The singer said the tattoo will feature her brother P.J.'s name "in a nice script." ... Ashley Tisdale's performance at the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting in New York on Wednesday apparently went off with a hitch — video circulating online seems to show the "High School Musical" star lip-syncing "Last Christmas" out of step with the pre-recorded tape. Could Ashley have something in common with another Ashlee? ...

Amy Winehouse's father is speaking out regarding the singer's recent cancellation of the remainder of her 2007 concert dates and public appearances, according to BBC News. Mitch Winehouse reportedly said his daughter is "sorry for fans," that her decision to rest is "is in her best interests" — and that "all options" were being taken into consideration over whether she would go to rehab, where she had reportedly been treated earlier this year. Amy Winehouse nixed the rest of her '07 tour plans on Tuesday, saying in a statement, "I can't give it my all onstage without my [husband] Blake [Fielder-Civil]." Her husband was arrested in the U.K. earlier this month and formally charged with one count of "attempting to pervert the court of justice," or the U.S. equivalent of obstruction of justice, in connection with an alleged $400,000 plot to fix a trial. ...

Deerhunter, the Black Lips, Mastodon and more are featured in "We Fun: Atlanta, Ga.: Inside/Out," a new documentary that is acting as the companion piece to "Athens, Ga.: Inside/Out," which came out in 1987. The flick's MySpace page has much more info, including ways to help donate to the production. ... Rare silk-screened, autographed gig posters relating to the Arcade Fire, Spoon and Superchunk are being featured in Merge Records' new eBay auction benefiting Oxfam America and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. The revered indie label, which calls Chapel Hill home, is also putting up M. Ward, Destroyer and Robert Pollard posters — the Arcade Fire one is already going for $531. ...

Expect to find Lil Wayne, Cee-Lo, Bilal, Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius and Q-Tip on the upcoming album by Solange Knowles. Solange & the Hadley Street Dreams, due in 2008, will also feature, more bizarrely, a sample from long-running down-tempo duo Boards of Canada. ... The Warner Music Group posted a big loss on Wednesday (November 29) — a 58 percent drop in its quarterly profit, according to Reuters. Sales from digital music were up 25 percent during the quarter, but the decline in CD sales dwarfed that gain. U.S. album sales are down 14 percent this year. ... Moby tracks might not be as prized these days as they were back in 1999, but the musician is giving some of them away for free all the same on a new portion of his Web site. He's giving away music to be used by indie and nonprofit filmmakers, film students and people — so long as it's used in a non-commercial or non-profit film, video or short. ...

Critics' albums-of-the-year lists are popping up left and right, but what about the King of Horror's two cents? Stephen King — who is a member of Rock Bottom Remainders, the literary all-star squad that also features Matt Groening and others — rolls out his own list in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, which streets December 7. Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade is his favorite album of the year, with Wilco's Sky Blue Sky and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band's It's Not Big It's Large following behind. Rounding out his list are Ozzy Osbourne's Black Rain, John Fogerty's Revival and Southern Culture on the Skids' Countrypolitan Favorites. ...

Nick Bollea, Hulk Hogan's son, was driving around 100 mph when he crashed his car in late August, according to reported police records released Tuesday, but his attorney is denying the claim. "The scientific evidence doesn't support anything like that," Morris "Sandy" Weinberg told the St. Petersburg Times. The report also says Bollea — who was cited for operating a vehicle with a breath-alcohol level of .02 percent or higher, among other infractions — told police he didn't know what road he was traveling on or in which direction, and that he had been driving 30 or 40 mph. Earlier this month, Bollea was charged with reckless driving in the crash that critically injured his friend and passenger John Graziano, who suffered a broken skull and has been comatose since the accident. ...

Ex-Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle was arrested Tuesday for not properly registering as a sex offender — the second time he's been busted for not doing so — according to The Associated Press. The musician (real name: Thomas Delmer Pyle) — who in 1993 pleaded guilty to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than 12, among other charges — is being held on $50,000 bond at a jail in Florida after being arrested at one of three addresses he gave to police. On November 19, Pyle was arrested on the same charge after he didn't register a new permanent address. The address on Pyle's driver's license reportedly doesn't belong to him — the musician has a house in North Carolina but has told police he wants to register at an address in Florida. Pyle left Skynyrd in 1992 after playing with the band for 17 years. ...

Jennifer Love Hewitt got engaged to boyfriend Ross McCall, a Scottish actor, last week during a trip to Maui, according to UsMagazine.com. A date reportedly hasn't been announced yet for the "Ghost Whisperer" star's wedding.

11.28.07

Lindsay Lohan was dealt a setback Wednesday (November 28) when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled her deposition in an ongoing lawsuit can be videotaped, according to TMZ.com. The site says Judge Michael Stern ruled that Raymundo Ortega, who is suing the starlet for $200,000 in damages stemming from an October 2005 car crash, can videotape Lohan's deposition as part of his lawsuit against her. Her lawyers had argued against the motion, saying such a videotape would sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Last month, Lohan countersued Ortega, who has accused her of negligence and drinking when she hit his parked van in West Hollywood, California. A trial date for both suits is set for April 7. Also in October, Britney Spears landed a courtroom win last month when a judge ruled that her pending deposition in her child-custody case will not be videotaped. ...

John Legend is one event-full dude. He appears on one of the covers of Black Enterprise's December issue, has a TV concert special on the way and is also booked to co-host the kickoff party at this year's Florida Entertainment Summit, which begins Thursday and ends Sunday. Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and others are also participating in the summit. ... The Killers have presented fans with a new Christmas charity single, the successor to last year's "A Great Big Sled." All proceeds from "Don't Shoot Me, Santa," which was made available Tuesday as a digital download, are going to Bono's (RED) campaign, as "Big Sled" proceeds did last year. They've shot a video for the track too. ...

"High School Musical" fans can breathe a little easier — Zac Efron will be back for the third flick, according to Us Weekly. Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale were reportedly confirmed for "High School Musical 3" earlier this month, and the magazine quotes director Kenny Ortega as saying, "All of the original cast will be back." But, he added, "I have a feeling this will be the end [for the current stars]. This franchise may move to another generation!" Hudgens also commented on the upcoming flick, saying, "It's their senior year, so there's going to be graduation — and prom!," according to the magazine. ...

Autographed materials and other swag items relating to Foo Fighters, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, the Killers, Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Slash, Bright Eyes, Beck, the Flaming Lips, Feist, the Arcade Fire, Marilyn Manson, the Rolling Stones and a fleet of other artists will be up for bidding at the 19th annual Rock for Kids Charity Auction, which will take place Friday in Chicago. Rock for Kids gives free music lessons to underprivileged kids in the Chicago area. ... And Incubus are hoping to inject their Make Yourself Foundation charity with an influx of cash via a new auction of their own. The band has put more than 50 items up for bid on eBay, including Brandon Boyd's 2006 Mini Cooper, a custom Xbox, sneakers, a pool cue and more. Incubus have so far raised more than $600,000 for their nonprofit this year. ...

Alicia Keys has been tapped to co-host "My Night at the Grammys," a two-hour special hyping the upcoming awards show. The CBS special will also feature Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Billie Joe Armstrong, Beyoncé, Bono, Ricky Martin and Usher sharing their Grammy memories, with Melissa Etheridge and Faith Hill also co-hosting. "My Night" will air at 8 p.m. on Friday, while the awards ceremony itself will take place February 10 at Los Angeles' Staples Center. ... Think you're the perfect match for Bow Wow or Omarion? The guys are launching a contest in which two winners will score a dinner date with them. To enter, contestants have to make a 30-second video of themselves explaining why they would be the perfect "Wifey" for either Bow or O, and submit it here. The winners will also get autographed copies of the two's December 11 album, Face Off, which they're celebrating with a day-of appearance at Circuit City on Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street in New York. The first 500 people to buy the album at the location will get a wristband allowing entry to the autograph signing. ...

Unreleased tracks by Nas, Rihanna, Fabolous, Method Man, Redman, Bobby Valentino and Ne-Yo are being compiled onto Def Jam Sessions Vol. 1, due December 18. The so-called "ultimate bonus track collection," as a press release dubs it, features leftover cuts from the artists' latest albums and includes Nas' "The N ..." and "Where Y'All At" (from the Hip Hop Is Dead sessions); Rihanna's "Haunted" and "Cry" (Good Girl Gone Bad); Fab's "I Shine, You Shine" and "Chirp Back" (From Nothin' to Somethin'); Meth's "OD" (4:21 ... the Day After); Red's "F--- Da Security" and "Let's Go" (Red Gone Wild: Thee Album); Valentino's "Wreck" and "Let's Go" (Special Occasion); and Ne-Yo's "That's What It Does" and "Spotlight" (Because of You). ... Free agent Joe Budden previewed selections from his forthcoming independent album/mixtape, Mood Muzik 3: It's About to Get Worse, on Tuesday night at New York night spot the Plumm. The recently liberated Def Jam artist was on hand, as were rappers Joell Ortiz and Benzino. The first two installments of the Mood Muzik series were more acerbic, but the sharp-tongued MC still delivers a few lyrical uppercuts on the new disc, such as on "Ventilation": "I'm looking in his casket like he had no face/ I was at a loss for words like 'Fiascogate.' " ...

It's been almost a year since Brandy was involved in a multi-car freeway crash that claimed the life of a woman, and since the singer hasn't been charged yet, she could wind up in the clear, according to TMZ.com. The window of opportunity for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office to file charges expires December 30, on the first anniversary of the accident — the site reports that the office is planning to wait until the last minute to make its decision. ... Yahoo and AOL might scrap their Internet radio services following a 38 percent increase in royalties to air music, according to Bloomberg.com. SoundExchange, which represents artists and labels, started collecting the mandated increased fees in July, after which Yahoo and AOL stopped directing users to their radio sites. Yahoo's Launchcast saw an 11 percent drop in the number of people using the service, while AOL Radio's audience took a 10 percent plunge. ...

Magnetic Fields, Mountain Goats, Blitzen Trapper and Cursive fans, make some noise ... the bands are anchoring the lineup for next year's Noise Pop festival. The 16th installment of San Francisco's indie-rock gala will happen February 26-March 2 and also feature Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan's Gutter Twins, whose Saturnalia debut is due in stores March 4. The Twins have also booked a Valentine's Day gig at New York's Bowery Ballroom. ... A Perfect Circle mastermind Billy Howerdel's new project, Ashes Divide, are targeting March for the release of their yet-untitled debut. He produced and engineered the effort in Los Angeles, playing all guitar, bass and keyboard parts. Drumming was handled by Josh Freese, another APC vet, and Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails, the Killers) engineered the disc. ... The Black Lips are hoping their 2007 hype carries over into next year: The Atlanta garage-rockers — or "flower punks," as they prefer to call themselves — are plotting a tour that will run from February 1 in Denver through March 22 in Atlanta. ...

Controversial hip-hop shock jock Troi "Star" Torain announced his return to the radio airwaves on Wednesday at a press conference held at Bryant Park Hotel in New York. Toran, who hosted top-rated morning shows at Hot 97 and Power 105 before unceremoniously departing from both stations amid clashes with management and disputes with a number of contemporaries — including Dame Dash and DJ Envy — will make his return as a part of the new independent station Pulse 87 (87.7). The Top 40 station will premiere in early January, followed by the debut of the new "Star & Buc Wild" show. ...

Natavia Lowery, the former personal assistant of ex-Ramones co-manager Linda Stein, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to Stein's murder. The Associated Press reported that Lowery, who initially denied knowing anything about the brutal slaying of Stein — who was found facedown in a pool of blood in her $3 million Fifth Avenue apartment on October 30 after her head and neck had been struck a half-dozen times — blamed a masked man at first, according to newly revealed court documents. But in a signed statement, Lowery claimed that Stein blew marijuana smoke in her face, brandished a cane and made derogatory remarks about black people. "I snatched the cane and hit her repeatedly with it," said Lowery, who is black. Her attorney said outside court that police coerced a false confession from his client by grilling her in an interrogation room for 12 hours and that the purported murder weapon has not been found. Police said surveillance tapes show Lowery leaving Stein's apartment shortly after the assault. ...

The Ozzy Osbourne pre-concert sting that was staged last month in Fargo, North Dakota — and resulted in dozens of arrests — is continuing to pay off for the police. According to North Dakota news site KXNet.com, Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney is selling T-shirts cops wore in the raid and using the money to raise money for the United Way. During the Halloween Eve sting, which was disguised as an Osbourne party, police wore "security" tees that featured a festive Halloween skull, and the image of a sheriff's-badge star could be seen in its right eye socket. "The T-shirt just became the image and look of what happened with that event, and people wanted one," Laney said, according to the site. "Initially we weren't going to do anything with it, but as I thought about it, I thought, 'Hey, what a way to give back to the community through something that happened — something positive.' So we'll give [every] penny raised to the United Way." ... In even more unusual Osbourne news, his wife, Sharon, made a macabre revelation on "Extra" on Monday — they have a suicide pact in place in the event that either she or her husband faces a terminal illness. "[When] you know you're going to die, we would want to choose the time where we want to leave," she said. "I would go with my old man, and he would come with me." But, Sharon added, "Not if it's in the next five years." She also addressed her feud with Courtney Love, saying that she can't address her allegations that the rocker hooked her son, Jack Osbourne, on drugs because the situation is "now in legal hands, so we can't talk about it, because it's gone to that stage."

• Radiohead
• Amy Winehouse
• Lil Wayne
• Cee-Lo
• Ozzy Osbourne

Mariah Carey
Photo: Mariah Carey/Getty Images

Mariah Carey got a win in court last week when a federal judge decided that a copyright-infringement case against her had no merit. Singer Rachele Chafir had sued Carey in April 2006, claiming that Carey's hit "It's Like That" was copied from her song "Sexy" and lifted key pieces, including the music, for the chorus. Chafir, who copyrighted the song in 2004, claimed Carey had access to "Sexy" since it was available on a Web site, but U.S. District Court Judge Kimba Wood decided that wasn't proof Carey or her collaborators had gone to the Web site or lifted the material, which wasn't "strikingly similar" enough to be considered infringement. With "no genuine issues of material fact," Wood closed the case. "It was the right decision," Carey's lawyer Ilene Farkas told MTV News. "The record was clear in this case." Meanwhile, Carey is moving on with her yet-untitled follow-up to The Emancipation of Mimi, which her record label confirmed is now due December 4. ...

Going, going ... to Cooperstown. And with an asterisk on it. Baseball star Barry Bonds' record-breaking home-run ball, which was purchased two weeks ago in an online auction by hip-hop fashion mogul Marc Ecko, will be heading to the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum after all. Ecko bought the ball and launched a Web site giving fans the chance to vote on the ball's final destination: outer space or to Cooperstown, with or without an asterisk signifying Bonds' alleged steroid use in helping him become the all-time home-run king. The announcement was made Wednesday morning (September 26) on the "Today" show after a week of voting. According to Vote756.com, over 10 million votes were cast, of which 47 percent chose to send the tagged ball to the famed baseball museum. ...

The twisted saga of the investigation into the unsolved 1997 murder of the Notorious B.I.G. took another turn this week when Waymond Anderson, an inmate serving life for murder, recanted testimony in which he had implicated the Los Angeles Police Department in the rapper's murder. The Los Angeles Times reports that Anderson said in a recent deposition that he lied about LAPD involvement as part of a "scam" cooked up with two other convicts to get a big monetary settlement from the city of Los Angeles. Most shockingly, Anderson accused the rapper's family — which has filed a wrongful-death suit seeking damages from the city — and its lawyer of taking part in the scheme and offering to pay him a percentage of the settlement for false testimony against the LAPD. In the August 20 testimony, Anderson said he had never met the officers he implicated, despite earlier statements in which he described conversations with the two disgraced ex-LAPD cops. A lawyer for Biggie's family, Perry Sanders, called Anderson's allegations "100 percent, demonstrably false," adding yet another twist to the already-knotted-up story by saying that Anderson appeared to be changing his story at the behest of Chuck Philips, a Times reporter who has written extensively about the murder investigation and has questioned the theory of LAPD involvement. Phillips and the Times dismissed the allegations. ...

In other Biggie news, the recently released documentary "The Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life" follows the rapper's life from his early days to his death with interviews from many of the behind-the-scenes music-industry figures and friends who watched the rapper rise from a street-corner hustler to one of the biggest rap stars in the world. The film also features several minutes of previously unreleased footage shot by a bystander of the scene on the night Biggie was gunned down. The fan's video — which director Peter Spirer ("Beef," "Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel") said has been reviewed by authorities — doesn't capture the moment Biggie's car was shot at, but it does have audio of the shots and shaky footage of the chaotic aftermath. ...

Embattled football player Michael Vick is facing stricter release conditions after testing positive for marijuana earlier this month, The Associated Press reports. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson imposed the new conditions, which include restricting Vick to his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. with electronic monitoring and making him submit to random drug tests. He was ordered to continue participating in substance-abuse and mental-health counseling. Vick was put under pretrial release supervision in July, and the restrictions included refraining from the use of narcotic drugs or other controlled substances. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who pleaded guilty in August to federal dogfighting charges, is awaiting sentencing December 10 — and Vick's violation of the conditions of his release could be taken into consideration by the judge. He faces up to five years in prison for the federal charges, and has been indicted on additional state charges in Virginia as well. ...

A second woman has filed a lawsuit against Lil Wayne over a melee that broke out during one of his shows at Morgan State University in Baltimore in October. According to an AP story, Carlisa Dixon said she was impaled on a metal pole after the crowd surged to snatch up money that was being tossed from the stage. Dixon is seeking $1 million from Wayne's record label and touring companies, and another $1 million from the university, claiming she underwent surgery for a puncture wound as a result of the crowd surge. A lawsuit was filed in August by another woman who claimed she was trampled in the same money-throwing incident. A spokesperson for Wayne could not be reached for comment at press time. ...

A man died at a Smashing Pumpkins concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Monday night in what police think may have been a crowd-surfing or moshing accident. The Canadian Press reports that Vancouver police say the man was unconscious when he was dragged out of the crowd at the Pacific National Exhibition Forum during the show and worked on by first-aid personnel on site before being transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police have ruled out foul play. ... The Voodoo Music Experience is shifting locations, but just slightly. The fest, to take place October 26-28, has a new site in New Orleans City Park to accommodate ongoing restoration and improvement of the park. The shift brings the fest closer to Tad Gormley Stadium, where Voodoo was first held in 1999. ...

Do you march to Nelly's beat? The rapper is cobbling together a marching band for his performance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards on October 13. Auditions will be held Sunday starting at 11 a.m. in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans and St. Louis, and Nelly is looking for girls who can play drums, tri-toms, bass drum, tuba or trumpet. Prospective players need to know how to perform his song "Grillz" and move to the beat of the song while playing their instruments. Final auditions will be held October 8 in Atlanta, and those who can't make the auditions in person can post a one-minute video clip on Nelly's drum-line-audition site. ... If you've been doubting Swizz Beatz's fashion sense, think again — Gap has tapped the hugely popular producer for its spring ad campaign. ...

VH1 Rock Docs picked up its first Emmy win on Monday as "DMC: My Adoption Journey" earned the award for News & Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming. The program, which revolves around the Run-DMC member's search for his birth mother, premiered in February 2006 and will re-air on VH1 on Saturday at 10 p.m. ... Have you already imported Babyface's Playlist into your own playlist? Then mark you calendar — the singer is putting together a tour in support of his recently released LP. Babyface will play a gig in the Philippines on October 13, followed by a stretch in Japan; after that he'll hit Oakland, California, on November 23, and Sparks, Nevada, the following day. ...

During a recent visit to "The Howard Stern Show," Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx spoke out about drummer Tommy Lee and his apparent departure from the band. He told Stern that Lee quit, and Sixx blamed the current legal problems the band is having with one of its former managers for the turmoil. Sixx said that, since Lee isn't the Crüe's frontman or chief songwriter, the band should be fine without him. He added that he harbors no ill will toward Lee. ... Snow Patrol keyboardist Tom Simpson was expected to appear in court in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday to answer to drug-possession charges filed against him this summer. While the charges weren't dropped, the prosecution doesn't intend on taking "further action," meaning the charges will either have to be re-raised again or dropped altogether. ...

Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard's side project Brad are getting back together for a one-night-only show on October 17 at New York's Webster Hall. The benefit event will also feature Billy Bragg and be hosted by Tim Robbins. It is being held to support Woody and Marjorie Guthrie, and the 40th anniversary of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, which was founded by Marjorie. ... Puddle of Mudd aren't ones for Southern hospitality, apparently. Frontman Wesley Scantlin has been banned from Memphis' Graceland after hopping in the pool in Elvis Presley's mansion during a tour on Monday. ...

The Eagles will perform on an awards show for the first time when they take the stage at the Country Music Awards, which will air November 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Carrie Underwood is also slated to perform. ... The Rolling Stones' recent tour didn't just carry the band to the top of Forbes' list of biggest-earning music acts — it landed them in the Guinness World Records, according to Reuters. The classic-rockers' A Bigger Bang tour took $437 million dollars to give them a new record, for the world's most successful music tour. ...

Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God will be teaming up for a late-fall co-headlining tour, which is set to kick off November 28 in Lowell, Massachusetts, with dates booked through December 17 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. DevilDriver and Soilwork will open on all dates. ... Chris Cornell has added another round of dates to his North American tour, which began in the spring. He has booked another 28 gigs, meaning the trek will continue through November 23, when he's expected to perform at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. ...

A photo from Elton John's collection has been pulled from a British gallery where it was to be displayed over concerns by police that it might be child pornography. The photo — which was taken by award-winning American photographer Nan Goldin — shows two young girls, one with her legs spread apart, and was to be displayed at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in northern England before it was seized by police, according to London's Times Online. John released a statement, explaining, "The photograph entitled 'Klara and Edda belly-dancing' (1998) is one of 149 images comprising the 'Thanksgiving' installation by renowned U.S. photographer Nan Goldin ... The photograph exists as part of the installation as a whole and has been widely published and exhibited throughout the world [and] has been offered for sale at Sotheby's New York in 2002 and 2004, and has previously been exhibited in Houston, London, Madrid [Spain], New York, Portugal, Warsaw [Poland] and Zürich [Switzerland] without any objections of which we are aware."

09.25.07

While her fellow Black Eyed Pea Will.I.Am is hyping his new project, Songs About Girls, Fergie isn't slowing down with her own solo affair, last year's The Dutchess. The singer just shot a clip for the song "Clumsy" with directors Marc Webb (Diddy, the Pussycat Dolls) and Rich Lee (Chamillionaire, Dashboard Confessional). The surreal, humorous clip features Fergie falling head over heels — get it? — for love in various scenarios. ...

A House panel cast a congressional light on hip-hop lyrics on Tuesday (September 25), with David Banner and Master P giving sharply different views. The Associated Press reports that the latter rapper (real name: Percy Miller) told the Energy and Commerce subcommittee that he is determined to create clean lyrics. "I want to apologize to all the women out there. I was honestly wrong," he said of his prior material. Banner (real name: Levell Crump), on the other hand, defended his profane lyrics, saying, "Change the situation in my neighborhood, and maybe I'll get better." But while P and Banner didn't see eye to eye in terms of who is responsible for derogatory language in hip-hop, they agreed that the government shouldn't censor lyrics. "If by some stroke of the pen hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities. Drugs, violence, sexism and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed," Banner said. According to AP, the hearing was similar to the 1985 event in which late rocker Frank Zappa made a feisty appearance also railing against censorship. ...

Like the sound of the "Rocawear Arena" instead of the "Continental Airlines Arena"? Yeah, so does Jay-Z. The ambitious hip-hop mogul is bidding for the arena's naming rights, according to New Jersey's Star-Ledger. Although he is the co-owner of the New Jersey Nets and his Rocawar is a sponsor of the NBA team — which currently plays at Continental — sportswear maker Southpole has made the highest bid so far, $2 million. But there's a catch: The reason the name is up for grabs is because Continental is backing out of its deal with the arena, and both the Nets and hockey team the New Jersey Devils are planning to move to other venues. ...

Life isn't getting any easier for Britney Spears. Kim Robard-Rifkin, the reported woman whose car the singer hit in August — for which she was charged with two misdemeanors on Friday — has spoken out to CelebTV.com. "I was not surprised with the criminal charges — this is what happens when somebody hits your car and runs — especially when it is all caught on video," she said in a statement. Spears' former bodyguard Tony Barretto also spoke out on Monday, telling "Today" show host Matt Lauer that he had witnessed her using drugs on two occasions. While Barretto did not specify which drugs he supposedly saw her taking, he said both incidents occurred at a nightclub in Los Angeles, one at the table she was sitting at and the other in a private restroom. When Lauer asked him about a third incident in which he alleges to have seen her strung out in a Los Angeles hotel room, Barretto replied, "I did." ...

Sarah Silverman was surprised by the reaction that met her controversial VMA monologue, in which she flung derogatory insults at Britney Spears, among others, she told Us Weekly. Regarding one of her saltiest remarks — that Spears' kids "are the most adorable mistakes you will ever see" — Silverman replied, "The joke that everyone was upset about ... was the most innocuous joke. It never occurred to me that [it] would be deemed hurtful or over the line." She also told the magazine for its new issue, which streets Friday, "I don't want to get into feuds with girls half my age. I'm in it to be funny and not for the drama. It's embarrassing." ...

Look, up in the sky, it's a new Gnarls Barkley album! And as Cee-Lo recently told MTV News of the follow-up to St. Elsewhere, "It sounds otherwordly. ... It sounds like an original, if I do say so myself. The theme is progression and how there's a first time for everything. You just have to go for it." Beyond that, though, Cee-Lo didn't want to give up too much. Asked about collaborators, he demurred: "Danger Mouse is my special guest. He's my counterpart in the enigma of Gnarls Barkley." No duh — we meant, anyone else? "Let me continue to surprise you," Cee-Lo smiled. For those who caught Cee-Lo's take on Prince's "Darling Nikki" with the Foo Fighters at the VMAs, he wants fans to know that his performance at the show was supposed to be a surprise appearance with Amy Winehouse, "believe it or not." But since she had to bail from the show, he's saving that collaboration for a future appearance. ...

The Sex Pistols — who just tacked two more gigs onto their upcoming November reunion in London, according to BBC News — have another trick up their collective sleeve: A newly recorded rendition of their punk staple, "Anarchy in the U.K." The band entered the studio for the first time in 30 years to record the track, which will surface on "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock." ... As I Lay Dying clearly have more than a few gasps left — the metal band edged out Switchfoot, Jason Mraz and others to win the San Diego Music Award for Artist of the Year. AILD nabbed the same honor in 2005. ... Canadian singer/songwriter Patrick Watson and his band have pulled off an arguably more impressive feat: The Montreal quartet have nudged by Arcade Fire and Feist to land the Polaris Music Prize for Best Album. ...

Despite the recent head injuries sustained by guitarist Brent Hinds, Mastodon have booked a gig, opening for the Queens of the Stone Age on October 29 in Los Angeles. The band is also scheduled to appear at the Vegoose festival on October 27 in Las Vegas, where Hinds was jumped following Mastodon's performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Police claim Hinds was attacked outside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on September 10 during an encounter with System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and his friend William Hudson. According to police, Hudson assaulted Hinds, and Odadjian witnessed the incident. ... While at the VMAs, Mastodon told MTV News that they wrote their best song ever — even though it's not quite finished yet — while on the way to the big show. "It's pretty much the best record we've yet to write," guitarist Bill Kelliher said before singing a couple of the riffs with Hinds. "That's how it goes — du-duh-du-duh na-nah-nah. We wrote it in the car on the way over here, at least the intro of it. Part one. We're at the really beginning stages. It's going to be awesome, though. Everything we do is amazing." ...

The Game entered his expected not-guilty plea on Tuesday to three felony counts stemming from a pickup basketball game in Los Angeles in February. The rapper (real name: Jayceon Taylor) is free on $50,000 bail and has a pretrial hearing set for October 30. ... Jack Bauer might not be such a hero after all: Kiefer Sutherland was arrested early Tuesday morning for drunken driving in Hollywood, Reuters reports. The actor was pulled over after making an illegal U-turn and blew more than the .08 legal limit upon taking a breathalyzer test. He posted $25,000 bail at a Hollywood police station and is due in court on October 16. ...

The Phil Spector murder trial is in the hands of the jury now, but that hasn't stopped more bizarre developments from emerging in the case. According to AP, over the weekend, a threatening post appeared on a MySpace page possibly belonging to the music producer's wife, Rachelle. "I love Phil Spector!!! The Evil Judge Should Die!!!! Xoxo Chelle," read the post, a police spokesperson told the news outlet. The page, which features an image of Rachelle wearing a "Team Spector" tee, was referred to a sheriff's department unit that investigates such threats. The post has since been removed. ...

Amazon's new digital-music store is up and running, with songs going for 89 to 99 cents and albums selling for around $6-$10. The songs, which don't have copyright protections, can be burned onto CDs and copied to multiple computers. Record-label giants Universal and EMI, in addition to a flood of indie labels, are selling their songs through the site. ... A former trustee in James Brown's estate might have misappropriated up to $7 million of the late music legend's money, special administrators told a South Carolina judge on Monday. State Circuit Judge Jack Early told David Cannon, the former co-executor of Brown's will, to pay $400,000 and produce additional documents. Early also said Brown's family could pursue the claims. ...

The Cult will headline the fall installment of the Jägermeister Music Tour, which is set to launch October 17 in Pala, California, and run through mid-December, with the full list of dates coming soon. Rounding out the bill will be Vietnam, the Cliks and Action Action. ... Former L7 leader Donita Sparks is going out on her own with her debut solo effort, Transmiticate, due January 22. The effort, which will feature her new backing band, the Stellar Moments, shifts away from the grunge and metal sounds that defined L7 and tinkers with more pop and dance elements. ...

Fans of Los Angeles ska act Hepcat are mourning the passing of bassist Dave Fuentes, 36. While details are scarce, the band did issue a statement, saying, "We are sad to announce that our brother, beloved bandmate and amazing friend, David Fuentes, is no longer with us. He will be missed by everyone but especially everyone in the Hepcat family." He leaves a wife, Yohanna, and two sons, Andrew, 7, and Darren, 3. A memorial fund has been established to help his family. ... A special-effects technician working on the set of the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" was killed when a truck carrying a camera platform rammed into a tree on Monday in London, AP reports. Filming was not taking place at the time of the accident, which is under investigation.

• Mariah Carey
• Notorious B.I.G.
• Lil Wayne
• The Smashing Pumpkins
• Killswitch Engage

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz at the <i>Rolling Stone</i> party on Saturday
Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz had more than a VMA win to smile about Sunday night. As the band's Belvedere Suite party in the Fantasy Tower at the Palms Casino Resort got underway in the wee hours, Ashlee Simpson gave Pete a little treat — and it wasn't from the table of free breakfast goodies. Though they were roped off in the small V.I.P. section of the party (which Perez Hilton crashed around 3 a.m.), the couple weren't exactly hidden from view when they gave new meaning to displays of public affection. We tried not to stare, but it's not often you see near-expert lap dances from non-pros. It was actually somewhat instructional, and so expertly done that it made us wonder — did Ashlee take lessons? Somehow, Pete managed to DJ for awhile after that. Also caught in the act at the party: Cee-Lo mooning people (he dove into the Palms pool with all his clothes on later), and Mario Lopez apparently in an argument with a girl who stormed out. ...

(Check out photos of Diddy, Britney, Ashlee, Pamela Anderson, Kanye, Ludacris and many more tearing up the VMA party scene in Vegas — right here!)

Minutes away at Tao, Jermaine Dupri, Nelly and Travis Barker hosted a party where famous friends such as Lil Wayne, Robin Thicke, MIMS, DJ Drama, Shar Jackson, Doug E. Fresh, Fonzworth Bentley, and the Clipse kept coming in all night.

"Hey DJ, I want you to play the song that's gonna move this building!" JD said into the mic. He had a VIP section with Nelly, and both superstars had their girlfriends — Janet Jackson and Ashanti, respectively — with them.

"I'm not even gonna tell you what to play," Dupri continued. "You play the hottest sh-- right now."

On cue: "I get money, I-I get money..." The turntablist dropped 50 Cent's "I Get Money" to a raucous reaction. "OK DJ!" Dupri said a few minutes later. "I want you to drop the second hottest record right now!"

On cue again: "La, la, la, wait till I get my money right" as the DJ dropped Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing."

Later, it was time for an impromptu concert. T.I., whose own VIP section was in back of Dupri's, got on the mic and performed "ASAP," Bring 'Em Out" and "Big Things Poppin'." Not to be outdone, the one-man walking party central himself, Jamie Foxx, got on the mic and did the chorus to "Gold Digger." Nelly also got on the mic in the VIP section, and rocked his new single "Wadsyaname." Alicia Keys and Doug E. Fresh took the mic as well. ...

Over at the Hard Rock Hotel's Body English (definitely one of the most poppin' spots all VMA weekend), birthday boy Swizz Beatz would have gladly accepted a rendition of "Happy Birthday" (the Stevie Wonder version) from his good friend Eve, but the former pitbull in a skirt did give Swizzy a little something extra at his party. Eve starred in her own mini-concert to get the festivities off to a running start. Akon, Alicia Keys, the Clipse (they were making the rounds last night, weren't they?), Pharrell Williams, Angie Stone and Taye Diggs were just some who came out to congratulate "The Monster" on another year. Swizz and friends didn't hold court in a VIP section -- they stayed on an elevated dance floor. Swizz himself got on the mic and rapped along with some of the records the DJs spun, such as "Money in the Bank" and "Top Down." Funny thing, though: At certain points in the party, people were literally jumping up and down, but it wasn't to one of his signature productions like "Get Me Bodied" or "Money, Cash, Hoes." He was hyping the crowd off of dance music, like Daft Punk's "One More Time."

"It's showtime! Push it up, push it up!" Swizz yelled as people bounced into the air. Some of Swizz's VIP friends in the balcony started throwing wads of dollar bills to the dancefloor. ...

Official VMA maestro Timbaland held court over at Jet in the Mirage, where he was joined by Keri Hilson and Yung Berg, who came through with a mini entourage. The multi-platinum producer took the mic and held court, telling the DJ which tracks to play — which were mostly his own! Of course, they were all bangin', from Justin's "SexyBack" to Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right," the atmosphere felt like the show finale all over again. ...

"It's showtime! It's rain time!" Swizz yelled on the mic. One reveler in the balcony got so excited, he lit up two sparklers like it was the Fourth of July and started waving them in the air. ...

Elsewhere, in a considerably less snooty, velvet rope-heavy setting, deep in the heart of so-called "Old Vegas," in a little dive called Beauty Bar with horrifying bathrooms and free cans of Miller Lite, Video of the Year nominees Justice and Kanye West's DJ A-Trak threw an amazingly spare soiree that was short on passed hors d'ouevres (and by "short on," we mean nonexistent,) but long on sweaty grinding and fist-pumping electro. Taking the tiny stage just after 1:30 a.m., flanked by a posse that included artist So Me (who created the animation for the nominated "D.A.N.C.E." clip) and just about everyone associated with the Ed Banger record label, the dynamic duo of Justice threw "D.A.N.C.E." onto the turntables and began to systematically chop it up and break it down to its most funky elements, much to the enjoyment of blissed-out guests like Mark Ronson and the guys from Peter Bjorn and John, not to mention every single hipster in the house. Flipping expertly between pounding house and cheekier exercises in grimey bass, their set was gleefully lo-fi — just two turntables and the occasional graphic projected onto the brick walls — yet perfectly matched with the dingy couches and spare strands of Christmas lights that accounted for all of the B-Bar's decoration. They also managed to rock as hard as anything else we saw this week.

And when they wrapped things up with a remix of "D.A.N.C.E." -- one that managed to work in portions of 50 Cent's banging "I Get Money" -- that was followed by a pretty-much-verbatim rendition of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind," it was a little bit surreal and a whole lot of fun. You know, how Vegas is supposed to be. ...

So are the VMAs hot or what?! But there's much more Vegas riches to share: For a wealth of updates and info on performers, presenters and voting, check out www.VMA.MTV.com. For reports, photos, video and much, much more from previous VMAs, dive into the VMA archives.

• VMAs 2007: The Vegas Honeymoon
• VMA Parties Heat Up Vegas!

• Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene
• Adrian Grenier, Nelly, Shia LaBeouf, Britney And More Stars Spotted In Vegas

• Ashlee Simpson
• Fall Out Boy
• Cee-Lo
• Clipse
• Akon

Justin Timberlake performs in the Palms' Hardwood Suite on Sunday
Photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImage.com

LAS VEGAS — "Welcome to our party, motherf---ers."

That's how Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz kicked off his band's sweaty soiree in the Palms' Celebrity Suite, and as far as opening statements go, it probably wasn't the most eloquent ... but it was one of the most succinct.

Because that's pretty much exactly what went down up on the 26th floor, in a two-room suite that only got hotter as it got more and more packed with FOB's friends and special guests. And I mean "hotter" not in a celebrified way, but in degrees Fahrenheit, because if Fall Out Boy's party resembled anything, it was a steamy, shirt-drenching VFW Hall gig from their past (only with passed hors d'oeuvres.)

FOB kicked things off with a blaring version of the song that put them on the map, "Sugar, We're Goin Down," with Wentz and guitarist Joe Trohman spinning wildly around the postage-stamp-size stage. That was followed with a cover of Akon's "Don't Matter," and their current single, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs," which was a thumping, sweaty ripper that ended with the band smashing its instruments and Wentz crowd-surfing.

While Wentz was being passed around the room (and just before stagehands began picking up the pieces of FOB's smashed axes), crooner (and former LV resident) Ne-Yo entered the suite and pulled himself up a seat atop the suite's bar to catch the action. Meanwhile, as Fall Out began a cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," Dirty, the band's omnipresent sidekick, grabbed a rather shocked-looking Brendon Urie and swung the Panic! at the Disco frontman around like a rag doll, all while members of Gym Class Heroes and Cobra Starship looked on bemusedly. (Panic later had an even more unexpected moment: They took the stage to perform, only to have their set stopped after one song by a pair of exotic dancers who were dressed as police officers, frisked the guys and whisked them offstage.

Of course, it wouldn't be a FOB party if all the band's usual associates — GCH, Cobra, Panic, Wentz's girlfriend Ashlee Simpson (who previewed her new LP the night before), the Academy Is ... frontman William Beckett, new Decaydance signees the Cab, members of the Pack, rapper Tyga, etc. — weren't in attendance. And while their collective presence wasn't much of a surprise, it was a couple of unannounced guest that really stole the show.

Like Video of the Year winner Rihanna, who positively killed a version of her song "Shut Up and Drive," with FOB as her backing band. Decked out in a black leather dress, the Bejan sensation displayed a set of pipes that rivaled Joan Jett, and backed it up with the headbanging and fist-pumping to boot. Or Lil Wayne, who joined GCH's Travis McCoy, Tyga and Urie onstage to spit fire on a remix of Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race." (Wentz would later tell MTV News that he just freestyled the verse on the spot.) And, later in the night, Ne-Yo leapt down from his perch on the bar to sing the hook on Gym Class' "Clothes Off!"

And as if the cramped quarters and unreal collaborations weren't enough to make things even hotter, both Fall Out and Gym Class Heroes won Moonmen — for Best Group and Best New Artist, respectively — a pair of upsets that sent the room into a tizzy. The moment was a pretty good indicator of just how far Fall Out Boy have come since those VFW days: Even when they play a sweaty throwback set, it's in a suite atop a swanky Vegas casino. And they get to take home a shiny Moonman.

Down the hall, the Foo Fighters held court all evening in the Hot Pink Suite, where the air was muggy and the smell was a stomach-churning combination of cigarettes, beer and body odor. (When you try to pack 100 people into a space that could comfortably accommodate 25 tops, what do you expect?) The rockers, led by frontman Dave Grohl, kicked things off with one of their most-beloved works, "Everlong," and then launched into "Best of You."

The crowd — which included the Bravery's Sam Endicott and "L.A. Ink" tattoo diva Kat Von D — packed into the room like a can of sardines, started jumping in unison and throwing the old devil horns during "The Pretender," the first single from the band's forthcoming sixth record, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.

The performance was something of a reunion for the Foos, what with ex-guitarist Pat Smear — who bolted back in 1997 — grabbing his ax to jam a few with the Fighters.

Next, Grohl summoned System of a Down mainman Serj Tankian for a cover of the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia." Tankian's crazed eyes raced back and forth as his soaring pipes punctuated the song's choruses.

The covers didn't end there, though: Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo joined the group for a rendition of Prince's "Darling Nikki," and then, after wiping the beads of sweat from his chromed dome — "It wasn't this hot in rehearsal, man ... it's a little toasty," Grohl noted — a cover of the Queens of the Stone Age's "I Wanna Make It Wit Chu." Well, maybe it would be wrong to call that last one a cover, given that QOTSA leader Josh Homme was performing along with the band.

Alas, Atlanta metal band Mastodon didn't get a chance to play Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" with Grohl and friends, but instead were joined by Homme for one of their own tracks, "Colony of Birchmen," giving Dave a much-needed break, after loads of vigorous headbanging.

But the breather didn't last long, as the sometimes-drummer — along with Foos guitarist Chris Shiflett — re-emerged with thrash-metal legend Lemmy Kilmister for a cover of his band Motörhead's "I'll Be Your Sister." Lemmy hung around for the next song in the set, "Shake Your Blood" by Grohl side project Probot, and the entire evening was capped off with amazingly mustached Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse "The Devil" Hughes joining his Foo pals for a toe-tapping version of EODM's "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)."

Meanwhile, down on the Fantasy Tower's third floor, Justin Timberlake was too busy adding to his collection of Moonmen to spend much time in the Palms' Hardwood Suite, where he and VMA maestro Timbaland held it down — and were joined by some very special, and unanticipated, guests.

In the Hardwood Suite, where it was much cooler in comparison to the Foos suite, it was models, models, everywhere — it basically looked liked the world's biggest go-see. It was where all the beautiful people had congregated, in hiked-up, skin-tight mini-skirts and designer suits. But much more than that, it was the two-leveled space that played host to collaborations between JT, T.I., Petey Pablo and 50 Cent.

With scantily clad dancers clinging to stripper poles poking out of four large platforms, Timberlake first invited T.I. out and beat-boxed over the rapper's "Big Things Poppin'." He was then whisked away, leaving Pablo there to perform his track "Freak-A-Leek" solo. But the audience didn't seem to mind; for much of the evening, the suite looked more like a packed dance club than a hotel room. Timberlake then performed "Chop Me Up," after which 50 Cent showed up — Fiddy, Timbaland and Justin teamed up for "Ayo Technology," which had the fans going nuts. The audience crowded around the three, singing along to 50's new track. (Fortunately the performance didn't end abruptly, like 50's poolside pre-VMA concert.)

50 didn't need any help with "In Da Club," which he belted out from the comfort of one of the stripper platforms. 50's eyes scanned the entire crowd throughout the song, and before exiting the room, he snuck in a quick plug for Curtis, his third record, out Tuesday. And for the remainder of the night, JT was nowhere to be found — leaving reported current flame Jessica Biel all by her lonesome.

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.

• 2007 VMAs In 60 Seconds — What A Rush!
• 2007 VMA: The Entire 2007 MTV Video Music Awards On-Demand
• 2007 VMA: Timbaland, Justin Timberlake And Guests Live From The Fantasy Suites
• 2007 VMA: Foo Fighters And Guests Live From The Fantasy Suites
• 2007 VMA: Kanye West Live From The Fantasy Suite

• Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene
• Adrian Grenier, Nelly, Shia LaBeouf, Britney And More Stars Spotted In Vegas

• Justin Timberlake
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• Cee-Lo
• Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins rehearse for the 2007 VMAs on Saturday
Photo: John Shearer/WireImage.com

LAS VEGAS — If you're wondering what tricks the Foo Fighters have up their collective sleeve for Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards performance, let's just say you'd be foolish to miss it. (Check out photos of the Foo Fighters rehearsing for Sunday's VMAs with Serj Tankian.)

During the band's two-plus-hour rehearsal Saturday night (September 8) inside the Palms Casino Resort's Hot Pink Suite, the band jammed vigorously with a veritable who's who of rock and roll: Gnarls Barkley mastermind Cee-Lo, Queens of the Stone Age mainman (and avid poker player) Josh Homme, System of a Down's Serj Tankian and the one, the only, the legendary Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, who arrived sporting tight black pants, black boots, a black leather jacket and a scowl.

The Dave Grohl-led rockers will also invite QOTSA multi-instrumentalist Troy Van Leeuwen, the Eagles of Death Metal's Brian "Big Hands" O'Connor and Jesse "The Devil" Hughes (who, according to Homme, is the proud owner of "the world's greatest mustache, second only to Tom Selleck"), and Atlanta metallers Mastodon, who'll join the band for an epic rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" (see "MTV VMA Race Is On: Justin Timberlake, Beyonce Lead Nominations").

Needless to say, the Foos set is going to be a tough one to top.

Tankian will also join the band Sunday night for a cover of the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia," while the gravelly throated Kilmister will handle lead vocals on two songs. That includes "Shake Your Blood" by Grohl side project Probot — Grohl will tackle drumming duties for that track, as he did on the studio version, which also featured Lemmy. They'll also perform a cover of Motörhead's "Overkill."

At one point during the relaxed and intimate rehearsal, Kilmister — whose four-string bass bears the words "Born to Lose, Out to Lunch" — taunted Foos guitarist Chris Shiflett for wearing earplugs. One couldn't help but feel like a fly on the wall in some basement where a group of old friends had gathered for a good-hearted jam session.

Grohl, who gnawed on the same piece of gum for the entire warm-up session, will stay behind the kit for a rendition of the Queens of the Stone Age's "I Wanna Make It Wit Chu." Grohl will of course be joined by Homme, Van Leeuwen, O'Connor and Cee-Lo, who is set to sing — but needs to learn the song's lyrics. The rapper had to refer to a lyrics sheet during the rehearsal but assured Homme he'd get them memorized before Sunday evening: "Don't worry, Joshua," Cee-Lo said with a wink and a smile.

Cee-Lo will inject some much-needed soul into one cover the Foos have become notorious for playing during their live shows: Prince's "Darling Nikki" (see "Foo Fighters 'Have No Idea' Why Prince Covered Their Song At Super Bowl"). After the boys ran through the song for the very first time, Cee-Lo — who had worked up a skull-covering sweat — and Grohl exchanged knowing grins. The cover was magic.

"That was sexy," Cee-Lo said to Grohl. And yes, it was certainly that.

(Cee-Lo's been a busy man in Vegas this weekend — in addition to jamming with the Foos, he's been meeting up with fans and trying his hand at poker.)

(Foo Fighters aren't the only ones who have been warming up for Sunday — check out Britney Spears rehearsing her big comeback, Kanye West testing out his intimate VMA suite and Nicole Scherzinger and Lil Wayne trying out their sexy preshow performance.)

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.

• VMAs 2007: The Vegas Honeymoon

• Foo Fighters And Serj Tankian Rehearse For The 2007 VMAs
• Adrian Grenier, Nelly, Shia LaBeouf, Britney And More Stars Spotted In Vegas
• Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

• Foo Fighters
• Serj Tankian
• Josh Homme
• Mastodon
• Cee-Lo

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.

• VMAs 2007: The Vegas Honeymoon

• Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

• Nelly
• Panic at the Disco
• Cee-Lo
• Ryan Cabrera

Stars Descend On The VH1 Hip Hop Honors Red Carpet

• Busta Rhymes
• Kid Rock
• Cypress Hill
• De La Soul
• Eve

Adrian Grenier, Nelly, Shia LaBeouf, Britney And More Stars Spotted In Vegas

• Jay-Z
• Beyoncé
• Britney Spears
• Boys Like Girls
• Common

Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

• Britney Spears
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• Timbaland
• Nick Cannon
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50, Kanye, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Eve, Adam Levine Set For 2007 MTV Video Music Awards

• Rihanna
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• Justin Timberlake
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Red Carpet Spectacular: Photos From The 2007 Grammy Awards

• Pussycat Dolls
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• Ministry
• Jamie Foxx
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2006 EMA Highlights

• Danger Mouse
• Cee-Lo
• The Killers
• Snoop Dogg
• Pharrell Williams

Paris Hilton, Avril Lavigne, Kate Bosworth, 50 Cent And More At Fashion Week

• Lil' Kim
• Foxy Brown
• Mos Def
• Cee-Lo
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Pharrell, Kanye, Snoop, Paris, Ciara, More At The Pharrell & Absolut Ruby Red Pre-VMA Bash

• Pharrell Williams
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• Cee-Lo
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Beyonce, Kanye, Paris Hilton, More Hit VMA Pre-Parties And After Bashes

• Jay-Z
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2006 VMAs: Coltrane Best-Dressed List

• Cee-Lo
• Paris Hilton
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