Jessica Alba
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

"I love challenging authority," Jessica Alba told In Style for the magazine's June issue. "It probably wasn't easy being my parents," the actress said. "The second somebody says, 'No,' to me is the second I'm going to jump up and say, 'Yes!' " Alba also said she's happy to be taking on eclectic roles that don't typecast her as "some kind of little tart." "Because obviously, if you have a womanly figure, you're not allowed to have a brain or any idea of the world whatsoever," she said facetiously. "You just have to be hot and use your body to get ahead."...

Two former parties associated with Eminem have filed a lawsuit over digital royalty rates against the rapper's Aftermath/Interscope recording home, according to Billboard. Em2M and the Bass Brothers' FBT Productions, which originally signed the rapper to its Web Entertainment label in 1995, claim to have received an unfair split of royalties from Eminem's Internet downloads and ringtone sales under an agreement signed in 1998. The lawsuit, filed Monday in a Los Angeles federal court, states the invested parties should be receiving 50 percent of net receipts for recording services — including, in this case, electronic and digital services, they claim — used by Aftermath/Interscope versus the lower undisclosed amount they had been receiving. Representatives for Interscope did not respond to inquiries made by MTV News as of press time. ...

Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle, Sanjaya Malakar, Carrie Underwood, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and other familiar "American Idol" faces have donated to a charity auction being organized by former finalist Kimberley Locke and the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation. The "Kimberley Locke & Idol Friends" online charity auction, which started Monday, features clothing and accessories worn by the contestants and judges, with proceeds going to a handful of charity organizations. ... In related news, Taylor Hicks isn't about to let this week's soon-to-be-crowned "American Idol" sop up all the attention. Last year's winner will carry out a lengthy tour beginning June 1 in Bessemer, Alabama, and winding down October 13 in Millersville, Pennsylvania. He has also teed up a memoir, "Heart Full of Soul," to be released July 10. ... "Idol" fans have picked "This Is My Now" as their top choice for Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis to perform on Tuesday night's (May 22) show, and for this week's winner to record as his or her first single. Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody of Seattle won the songwriting competition, which drew more than 25,000 submissions and about a half-million votes. The songwriters earn an exclusive deal with 19 Entertainment. ...

On Tuesday, the jury in Phil Spector's murder trial was shown a videotape of the music producer's chauffeur saying he heard Spector claim, "I think I killed somebody," five hours after actress Lana Clarkson was shot inside Spector's home, The Associated Press reports. The tape, which was admitted into evidence over objections from the defense, showed that Adriano De Souza stuck to his account of the events. ... Eve has pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence when she crashed her car on April 26, TMZ.com reports. An attorney for the rapper entered the plea in a Los Angeles courtroom, but Eve was not present. ...

The Smashing Pumpkins performed for the first time in more than six years on Tuesday night, launching their world tour by playing for 2,200 fans at Paris' Grand Rex theater. Original members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin were joined by guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Ginger Reyes — confirming a previous Chicago Tribune report that suggested the obscure indie musicians would be joining the reunited band's fold — as well as Los Angeles jazz musician Lisa Harriton on keyboards. They performed classic songs as well as new material from their Zeitgeist album, due July 7. ...

Jon Heder and his wife Kristen have welcomed daughter Evan Jane Heder, their first child, according to People. The baby's date of birth has not been revealed. ... Do you like John Mayer's wisecracks? According to People, the singer/songwriter brought down the house by performing a raunchy stand-up routine at New York's Comedy Cellar over the weekend. A video of the gig, including Mayer's spoof of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" — has popped up on YouTube. ... Actor Tom Sizemore pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to five felony drug counts, including transportation and possession of crystal methamphetamine, AP reports. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted on all charges. Sizemore was arrested May 8 after police allegedly found two bags of the drug, as well as smoking pipes, in his car. ...

Deryck Whibley, cooking and MySpace — Avril Lavigne is way into the first two, she reveals in the June/July issue of CosmoGirl!, but not so much the third. In the magazine, due on newsstands Tuesday, the singer talks about finding love with the Sum 41 frontman ("I first kissed Deryck when I was 17, and I have been kissing him ever since"); compares herself to Martha Stewart ("I'm really good at cooking. Breakfast, soup, salads, vegetarian stuff ... my favorite food is Italian"); and says she's "so not a computer person" — and isn't really down with "the whole MySpace thing." "I'll change my pictures and sometimes I'll write a blog," she explained. "Some bands go on every day. I can't do that — it's confusing." ...

"American Idol" will skip the traditional remote broadcasts from the hometowns of finalists Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis on Wednesday's finale. The Arizona Republic reported that city officials in Glendale, Arizona, announced May 9 that portions of the show would be broadcast from a free viewing party with a celebrity host at Jobing.com Arena in Sparks' hometown. But Thursday, a city spokesperson said the show had canceled the segments from the contestants' hometowns. An "Idol" spokesperson issued a "no comment" to MTV News on the unexplained change of plans. ... Kanye West will perform July 13 as part of the Québec City Summer Festival, which runs from July 5-15. Billy Talent are also on the lineup, with additional artists expected to be announced in the coming weeks. ...

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will have its international premiere in Tokyo on June 28, Warner Bros. Entertainment announced Tuesday. Daniel Radcliffe is expected to attend the event. The fifth film in the J.K. Rowling franchise will premiere in London on July 3 and in Los Angeles on July 8. It opens in U.S. theaters July 13. ... Ciara will make her big-screen debut opposite another diva, Patti LaBelle, in an adaptation of the off-Broadway gospel musical "Mama, I Want to Sing!" Variety reports that the film will begin shooting next month in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is slated for release in February. The musical tells the story of a preacher's daughter who rises from the church choir to pop stardom. ...

Los Angelinos strapped for cash but hoping to see Prince perform, you're in luck: The artist is expected to add a seven-week stay at Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel on top of his "21 Nights in London" tour, according to the Los Angeles Times. Starting June 15, the hotel lobby will be shut down at 9 p.m., and at 11:30, Prince will play a two-hour set for a few hundred guests. His private chef will take over the hotel restaurant at 2 a.m., turning it into an after-hours jazz club that will be entertained by His Purpleness until 4 a.m. The same regiment will follow for the six ensuing Fridays, with special guests expected to join Prince on each occasion. ... Yellowcard will release Paper Walls, their third LP for Capitol, July 17. The Florida rockers' set will feature 13 cuts, including "Shrink the World," "Shadows and Regrets" and "You and Me and One Spotlight." ...

Dave Navarro will be on the judging panel for the 2007 Miss Universe pageant, airing live from Mexico City, Mexico, on Monday. Vanessa Minnillo and Mario Lopez are co-hosting the show. ... As I Lay Dying have set An Ocean Between Us as the title of their forthcoming LP, though a release date hasn't been confirmed. Most of the effort was tracked at singer Tim Lambesis' home studio, with Killswitch Engage's Adam Dutkiewicz producing along with the band. Look for the set to include "Separation," "Nothing Left" and "Within Destruction." The San Diego metalcore act has also announced the permanent addition of bassist Josh Gilbert to the fold. ...

311 will spend the next three months on the road as part of the Summer Unity Tour, which also features Matisyahu and the Rivalry on select dates. The trek kicks off June 21 in Tucson, Arizona, and wraps August 29 in Redmond, Washington. ... The Flaming Lips, Decemberists, Kings of Leon, Das EFX, Spoon and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are among the bands on the initial lineup for the two-day Monolith Music Festival, which will take over Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado, on September 14-15. Tickets for the event, which will host 50-plus bands on five stages, go on sale June 2. ... New York's seventh annual Siren Music Festival will feature sets from the New York Dolls, We Are Scientists, the Black Lips, Noisettes, Detroit Cobras, Matt & Kim, Dr. Dog, Lavender Diamond, Elvis Perkins and the Twilight Sad. The free, all-day, all-ages festival will take place July 21 at Brooklyn's Coney Island. ...

Sure, you could run out and grab yourself a sweet Spider-Man action figure, but in a cage match, Peter Parker wouldn't stand a chance against Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Don't believe us? Watch in November, when the bassist gets his very own action figure. The 6-inch figure will come with one of four random backgrounds and one of three random bass guitars. ... An attorney for the band Kittie has served American Youth Symphony, the producers of the upcoming television show "America's Hot Musician," a cease-and-desist order. The camp is seeking to bar the program from using clips from the band's video "All I Always Wanted" in the show's opening theme; former Kittie bassist Talena Atfield serves as one of the show's three judges. American Youth Symphony claim they were given permission to use the clips by Sheridan Square Entertainment, which owns the licensing rights to the video and has no plans to adhere to the cease-and-desist request. ...

The Recording Industry Association of America and multiple artists' groups are going to ask Congress to repeal the federal exemption that allows broadcast radio stations to circumvent paying royalties to labels and artists, the Los Angeles Times reports. If the exemption is lifted, that could mean hundreds of millions of dollars — annually — in new royalties. ... Bo Diddley, who suffered a stroke earlier this month, is being transferred from the intensive care unit to a regular room, his representative announced Monday. The guitarist, who is being treated at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, is awaiting clearance from his doctor to transfer to a hospital in Gainesville, Florida, closer to his home.

05.21.2007

Amy Lee spoke candidly about her recent marriage and the recent departure of two Evanescence members in a post on the band's message board over the weekend. Calling marriage "the most incredible thing to happen in my life so far," Lee explained that she returned from her honeymoon and "discovered the fact that I was unable to defend myself for a week [and] was taken advantage of quite a bit." Lee said guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray, who left the lineup earlier this month and were recently replaced by Dark New Day's Will Hunt and Troy McLawhorn, "both made it clear they were ready to move on." LeCompt and Gray "were very vocal about the fact that they didn't really care about Evanescence at all and just stayed around for the money," the post continued. "They were miserable. They are no longer playing with us because I love this band too much to see it driven into the ground." Lee also said that Gray didn't quit, as he's claimed; she contends he was fired after weeks of threatening to quit. ...

Avril Lavigne has remixed her hit song "Girlfriend" with none other than teen heroine Lil Mama of "Lip Gloss" fame. The remix keeps the same beat and lyrics, with Mama throwing on her raps. ...

Two more shows have been added to the American Idols Live Tour: additional dates at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, on August 25; and Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on August 29. ... As "American Idol" fans wait for one of the two finalists to fall, Paula Abdul took a spill of her own this weekend, according to E! Online. In an attempt to avoid stepping on one of her dogs, the judge fell and broke her nose. A representative told the news outlet that Abdul was not hospitalized and that the injury will not affect her appearance on the program this week. ...

Does Bobby Valentino want to be known as the new "Mac daddy" or what? The soulful crooner will play at seven Apple stores next month, in Atlanta (June 1), New York (June 8), Chicago (June 12), Dallas (June 21), Los Angeles (June 23) and San Francisco (June 27). The seventh performance will be held in Houston on June 16 or 20. ... Jim Jones just launched his online clothing store, Nostic Apparel. The line, which features Jones' rock-meets-rap style, was founded by his mother. ...

When tickets for the Smashing Pumpkins' nine-night residency at Asheville, North Carolina's Orange Peel went on sale Sunday, TicketWeb servers weren't able to handle the load, and the demand for tickets crashed the site, bringing sales to a halt. Tickets will now be sold via Ticketmaster instead, but Orange Peel spokeswoman Liz Whalen told Asheville's Citizen-Times on Monday morning (May 21) that the venue wasn't sure whether tickets would be available Monday or Tuesday — tickets were unavailable via Ticketmaster at press time. The band has also added three more dates to its residency at San Francisco's Fillmore. ...

The Killers have announced new dates for two shows that had to be postponed last week due to frontman Brandon Flowers' bronchitis. The band's Thursday show at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado — which the guys cut short after only two songs — has been rescheduled for September 4. Their Seattle show — scheduled for this past Sunday — will now take place May 27. Tickets for the original shows will be honored at the makeup concerts. ... Franz Ferdinand are planning to play a gig in New York and a few small club shows in their native stomping grounds of Glasgow, Scotland, but dates and venue information has yet to be made available. According to frontman Alex Kapranos, the band continues work on its next LP and plans to debut some new material during the concerts. ...

Phil Spector's chauffeur wrongly implicated the music producer in the death of actress Lana Clarkson, Spector's defense argued in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, The Associated Press reports. Adriano De Souza — who previously testified that Spector said, "I think I killed somebody," after exiting his mansion with a gun in hand the morning of the shooting — originally told officers that Spector said, "I think I shot somebody," according to defense attorney Bradley Brunon. De Souza said he had heard Spector speak clearly but that he was also tired and frightened. ... Former Creed singer Scott Stapp was arrested at his Boca Raton, Florida, home on Sunday and was charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. A judge reduced the charge to a misdemeanor on Monday, AP reports, after the Palm Beach County sheriff's office determined that the bottle of Orangina that Stapp allegedly threw at his wife, Jaclyn Nesheiwat, was not a deadly weapon. Stapp was scheduled for supervised release Monday, and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. ...

Before Paris Hilton was sentenced to jail for violating her probation, she posed with on-again friend Nicole Richie for a Harper's Bazaar June cover story titled "Partners in Crime" that features the pair dressed in stripes — zebra, not prison — and posing as jewel thieves. "I think I get in more trouble just because of who I am," Hilton said in the Bazaar interview. "[Police] just pull me over to hit on me. It's really annoying. ... And the paparazzi, of course, take a picture. All the time. I have so many cops' business cards." Richie — who is in some hot water of her own, facing a DUI charge stemming from a December arrest that could land her in jail for 90 days thanks to a prior conviction — said she can't catch a break. "Every mistake I make, there's consequences," she explained. "I don't take anything lightly." The June issue of Bazaar hits newsstands Tuesday. ...

Bow Wowand Crime Mob performed Saturday at Utopia's Paradise Theater in the Bronx, New York, with 20 percent of the proceeds of the show benefiting the surviving family members of two African immigrant families that combined lost nine children and one adult in a tragic March 7 fire. A spokesperson for the families told local news channel NY1 that they will donate the funds back to the community. ...

A week after the attorneys general of eight states accused MySpace of dragging its feet in handing over information on registered sex offenders using the site, the company announced Monday that it would provide the AGs with the requested materials. According to a press release from MySpace, the popular social-networking site will hand over information on registered sex offenders that it has identified and deleted from the site using the Sentinel SAFE program, which it began using earlier this month. "We have zero tolerance for sexual predators on MySpace and took the initiative to create this first of its kind tool ourselves because nothing previously existed," MySpace Chief Security Officer Hemanshu Nigam said. "We look forward to working collaboratively with the attorneys general on all future efforts to make the Internet a safer place for teens." ... Sylvester Stallone won't be doing hard time Down Under. The "Rocky" actor dodged a bullet on Monday when a judge in New South Wales, Australia, fined the brawny 60-year-old $2,500 plus court costs for illegally bringing 48 vials of human-growth hormone to the country during a promotional trip in February, according to a Reuters report. Stallone explained to customs officials at the time that he was prescribed the drugs to give his body a boost and to look "good" during his current shoot of a "Rambo" sequel in Asia.

• 'Idol' Hometowns: Where It All Started

• In Focus: Jessica Alba

• Avril Lavigne
• Eminem
• Kanye West
• Matisyahu
• Bo Diddley

Tara Reid at the Sundance Film Festival on Monday
Photo: Scott Halleran/ Getty Images

PARK CITY, Utah — This year MTV is covering the Sundance Film Festival from every conceivable angle — including an ongoing diary of our news team's experiences at the fest.

January 22, 9:25 p.m.
Another night at Sundance, another buzzed-about flick gets its long-awaited debut. Tonight I'm seeing the first screening of "The Nines." Curious Sundance sidenote: numbers seem to be very much in vogue this year. In addition to this one, there's "The Ten" and "Chicago 10." And none of them is even a sequel! Anyway, tonight is all about "The Nines" and the crowd is buzzing at the Eccles Theatre. It's packed too. I even spot "Veronica Mars" herself, Kristen Bell, looking for a seat. I also spy "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" director Doug Liman running around the theater for no apparent reason.

11:15 p.m.
The film concludes and the arguments begin. This happens a lot at Sundance. Nearly every conversation begins with something along the lines of, "So, what's good?" Well, that or "Who have you seen?" In the back of a taxi leaving the theater, opinions are divergent on "The Nines," a head trip of a flick starring Ryan Reynolds. It's a drama, a comedy and sci-fi flick all in one, and I was mesmerized. MTV News writer Larry Carroll couldn't disagree more. He's ready to throttle the director.

January 23, 12:30 a.m.
I make a couple of brief stops in town at premiere parties for "The Nines" and "The Ten" (where Matisyahu has the crowd pumped) before hitting the hay. Frankly, sleep is more of a priority than party-hopping at this point.

9:35 a.m.
Here's another one of the many little ironies of Sundance: No one knows what's going on. How do I get tickets? No one knows. Does this pass get me in here? Maybe, you can try. Where is the interview happening? I think it might be down there. And finally, what's the hot film? Ask five people and you'll probably get six answers. This morning I learned about some of the first deals in place at the festival. The Sam Rockwell thriller "Joshua" went to Fox Searchlight. John Cusack's "Grace is Gone" went to the Weinsteins (they're also sharing the rights to a racy little flick called "Teeth"). In short, none of the films I've seen have been bought yet. And here I thought I'd been checking out the must-see flicks at the festival. Like I said, nobody knows what's going on.

1:30 p.m.
I've been itching for a comedy and I've finally found one. "Year of the Dog," which stars Molly Shannon as a canine-obsessed sad sack, is about to begin and I'm ready to smile after overindulging in tales of child abuse, alcoholism and suicide.

3:15 p.m.
"Year of the Dog" does the trick well enough. Shannon's winning smile carries the day in the quirky Mike White-directed flick. But this being Sundance, even though it's a comedy, it has its share of darkness.

4:52 p.m.
After taking care of a few odds and ends (viewing some tape for pieces we're cutting), I make a quick stop at an afternoon party in town for Picturehouse, the theatrical arm of HBO. I notice Rainn Wilson of "The Office" in deep conversation with Timothy Hutton. File that under things I wasn't expecting to see today.

5:37 p.m.
I just passed Tara Reid. Any festival that can debut flicks starring Tara and Anthony Hopkins in the same week gets my vote.

5:40 p.m.
Besides Robert Redford, the first thing that probably comes to anyone's mind when they think of Sundance is the swag. Yes, this is the place where everything from massages to cosmetics are thrown at anyone with even a small amount of notoriety. I've asked a ton of celebrities this week about the swag and just about everyone says they have no interest in it. Well someone is lying, because the swag doesn't walk off by itself. And I've finally met a guy who is stoked for free stuff: "Detroit Rock City" director Adam Rifkin gleefully tells me he's only been here a couple hours and he's already gotten free boots and an iPod. "I am all about the swag," he enthuses. "I love it!" We talk for a bit about his Slamdance caveman comedy, "Homo Erectus" (I'm not making this up), and then he moves on. On to the next party full of free stuff, I suppose.

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

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• All Up In Sundance '07
• MTV Rough Cut: Sundance Edition

• Mandy Moore, Justin Timberlake, Gwyneth Paltrow, More At Sundance 2007

• Matisyahu

Omarion's <I>21</I>
Photo: Sony Music

Well, Axl Rose didn't make good on his holiday promise: delivering Chinese Democracy before the end of the year. But a few artists — and by "few" we mean "not many" — are rushing in their efforts before last call ends in 2006. Omarion, Matisyahu, Switchfoot and the rest of the Forget-Me-Nots are hoping you haven't put your year-end top-10 lists in ink just yet.

But while those artists will be duking it out in the CD racks this week, expect another item to soak up a lot of the attention: Good Charlotte's "Fast Future Generation" DVD. The band is hoping consumers pick up the long-awaited flick when they make their post-Christmas returns Tuesday (December 26) — after all, fans have been waiting for the film since it premiered at Sundance way back in January.

While we won't know for another week who's going to be entering 2007 with a smile and who'll be mumbling "good riddance, 2006" under their breath, we do have some new year's resolutions to offer each of them:

Good Charlotte's "Fast Future Generation" DVD: No, this isn't their take on "Fast Food Nation" — it's a rockumentary immortalizing the band's 12-day tour through Japan in September 2005. Stitching together concert footage with the Madden brothers and the gang on the streets of Tokyo and beyond, the DVD was directed by Nylon magazine Editor in Chief Marvin Scott Jarrett. Featured songs include "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "The Anthem" and "Predictable," sung in Japanese.

New Year's Resolution: Get that Good Morning Revival LP out in March — with or without exclamation point.

Omarion's 21: The gist of the ex-B2K singer's new LP is that he's all grown up, but there's actually a second implication to the title: It's the highest number in blackjack, a game the classily dressed O appears ready to play on the album cover. Pre-release contests involved a phone call from O and autographed copies of the CD, but everyone will be able to enjoy production by Pharrell and Bryan-Michael Cox, as well as songs like "Made for TV," "Ice Box" and "What Are We Doing."

New Year's Resolution: Don't forget to bring copies of 21 on the road during the Scream Tour with Yung Joc and Ne-Yo.

Matisyahu's No Place to Be: If Israel is no place to be, then why are you releasing a CD/DVD package immortalizing your concert there? Why, Matis, why? Well, actually, the audio portion of the set encompasses four new studio recordings and three fresh remixes, while the 90-minute video has a show shot in Tel Aviv coupled with interviews and street performances the Hasidic MC staged in Jerusalem. The CD boasts a few production luminaries too: dance-hall kings Sly & Robbie, avant-garde master Bill Laswell and even a remix churned out by Texas' esteemed Swishahouse rap label.

New Year's Resolution: Maintain kitsch factor while not becoming a jam-band-festival mainstay and addressing the Israel/Palestine conflict without ticking too many people off. Now that's called walking a tightrope.

Switchfoot's Oh! Gravity: "Like a puppet on a monetary string/ Maybe we've been caught singing/ Red, white, blue and green/ But that ain't my American dream." That's not a bad stanza from singer/songwriter Jon Foreman, and one you'll hear on "American Dream," featured on his band's sixth LP. The San Diego quartet is hoping production by Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam), executive production by Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band) and songs like "Faust, Midas, and Myself" and "Burn Out Bright" do the trick.

New Year's Resolution: Stay spiritual but distance themselves from soft Christian artists like Matt Redman and Steven Curtis Chapman, who also have LPs dropping this week. This is another tightrope, albeit a slightly thicker one thanks to the success of acts like P.O.D.

Various artists' The Family Values Tour 2006: Feeling Korny? Look no further than the CD and DVD surrounding this year's umpteenth metal festival, which features them alongside loud-rocking partners Deftones, Flyleaf, Deadsy, 10 Years, Dir en Grey and Stone Sour. The CD features those much-discussed guest-vocal appearances paid by Deftones' Chino Moreno, Stone Sour's Corey Taylor and Army of Anyone's Robert Patrick during Korn's sets, while the DVD chips in dressing-room footage, bandmember chats and outtakes.

New Year's Resolution: Perform in an airborne jet. Get a street named after them. Record "Unplugged." Oh wait, they did all that this year. New resolution: Get some rest.

N.W.A's - The Best of N.W.A: The Strength of Street Knowledge: Seventeen classics by the trailblazing rappers are cobbled together to celebrate the group's 20th anniversary. But the real news here is the deluxe edition: It's hitched with a bonus DVD corralling unreleased interviews with Ice Cube and DJ Yella, not to mention a spicy unissued clip capturing Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Yella and MC Ren arguing in the studio. Videos and "street" versions of four tracks cap off the disc.

New Year's Resolution: Go spelunking for more unreleased songs to tack onto future collections and reissues.

Various artists' 15 Years on Death Row: Tangentially related to the above — both packages feature epistles by noted writer Soren Baker — this one culls 13 previously released tracks by Tupac, Snoop and Dr. Dre. The deluxe version of this release also has a DVD, but all 14 clips have already seen the light of day.

New Year's Resolution: See above.

Gang Starr's Mass Appeal: The Best of Gang Starr: Also featuring notes by Baker and also available in deluxe form with a DVD, this set pulls together two songs originally released on soundtracks, so there's at least something rare here. The DVD has 11 videos by the hip-hop duo.

New Year's Resolution: Sigh — see above again.

Incognito's Bees + Things + Flowers: Just when you thought there wasn't any lovin' left for acid jazz ... London's long-running jazz/soul/funk project sinks its teeth into songs by Earth, Wind & Fire, Roy Ayers and America this time around, chalking up three new songs and fresh versions of four vintage Incognito tracks while they're at it. A 16-piece string section ices the cake.

New Year's Resolution: Try not to be so incognito.

Song Title of the Week:

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" from Matt Redman's Beautiful News

New Releases:

· Incognito - Bees + Things + Flowers (Narada Jazz) · Matisyahu - No Place to Be (with DVD of live material; Epic/Or/J-Dub) [Buy Now] · Omarion - 21 (Epic/ Sony Urban) [Buy Now] Read: "Boy To Man: Omarion Grows Up On The 'Personal' 21" · Matt Redman - Beautiful News (Sparrow) · Switchfoot - Oh! Gravity (Columbia) [Buy Now] Read: "Life, Death, Social Entropy? Switchfoot Get Weighty On Oh! Gravity" · Various artists - The Family Values Tour 2006 (Firm)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Steven Curtis Chapman - Now & Then (Sparrow) · Barbara Cook - Legends of Broadway (Sony Classics) · Earth, Wind & Fire - Beautiful Ballads (Columbia/Legacy) · Enigma - Love Sensuality Devotion: The Remix Collection (Virgin/ EMI Music Catalog Marketing) · Gang Starr - Mass Appeal: The Best of Gang Starr (deluxe edition with DVD also available; Capitol/ EMI Music Catalog Marketing) · John Hammond - Southern Fried (Water) · Julio Iglesias - Romantic Classics (Burgundy) · Gladys Knight - Beautiful Ballads (Columbia/Legacy) · Isley Brothers - Beautiful Ballads, Vol. 2 (T-Neck/Legacy) · Patti LaBelle - Beautiful Ballads (Epic/Legacy) · Angela Lansbury - Legends of Broadway (Sony Classics) · N.W.A - The Best of N.W.A: The Strength of Street Knowledge (deluxe version with DVD also available; Capitol/Priority) [Buy Now] · O'Jays - Beautiful Ballads (Epic/Legacy) · Bernadette Peters - Legends of Broadway (Sony Classics) · Chita Rivera - Legends of Broadway (Sony Classics) · Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble - The Real Deal Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Epic/ Sony Legacy) · Various artists - 15 Years on Death Row (two CDs; version with DVD also available; Death Row) · Various artists - Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky (Capitol)

Music DVDs:

· Good Charlotte - "Fast Future Generation" (Epic/Daylight) Read: "Good Charlotte's 'Future' And Jennifer Aniston's 'Friends' Get Sundance Started" · Guns N' Roses - "DVD Collector's Box" (MVD Video) · Various artists - "The Family Values Tour 2006" (Firm)

Coming Attractions:

January 2: · Carly Simon - Into White (Columbia) · Unwritten Law - The Hit List (Rocket Science) [Buy Now] · Various artists - L-Tunes: Music From and Inspired by "The L-Word" (Columbia)

January 9: · Green Day - 1,039/ Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (enhanced; Reprise) and Kerplunk (Reprise) [Buy Now] · Mario - Go! (J) [Buy Now] · Mos Def - Tru3 Magic (Geffen) [Buy Now]

January 16: · America - Here & Now (Burgundy) · The Smithereens - Meet the Smithereens! (Koch) · Various artists - "Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls" soundtrack (Atlantic)

• Good Charlotte
• Omarion
• Matisyahu
• Switchfoot
• N.W.A.

Michael Jackson at the 2006 World Music Awards on Wednesday
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Michael Jackson's big comeback performance at London's World Music Awards went kaput Wednesday (November 15), according to Reuters. Jackson, singing live for the first time since he was acquitted of child-molestation charges last year, reportedly struggled for high notes and experienced sound problems as he performed his charity single "We Are the World" — not "Thriller," as had been expected. Beyoncé had introduced Jackson by announcing, "Tonight we are celebrating 25 years of Thriller," but oddly, Chris Brown wound up singing the song instead. ...

Yes, it's true: The Clipse really will put out their Hell Hath No Fury LP before hell freezes over. The album leaked online Wednesday afternoon, and even though its official due date has been bumped many times, it's looking firm for a November 28 release. "Enjoy, people, we love you guys!" the Clipse's Pusha T said regarding the leak. "It was expected," Malice added. ...

Now that she's finished her "Chicago" run in London, Ashlee Simpson is going back to making music. When MTV News caught up with her on Tuesday, just before the musical's celeb-packed 10th anniversary performance on Broadway in New York, the singer revealed she has a big meeting with record executives next week to discuss her third album. "I'm going to go back and figure out what I'm going to do and start writing," she said. "I love musical theater, but it's different than the music I want to do on the album." As for what direction she'd like to take, that's still up in the air, but she does have one name on her wish list of possible collaborators. "Robert Smith from the Cure came to my last show in London, and I don't know if I was more excited about him or that it was the last show! To work with Robert Smith would be an honor." ...

Nicky Hilton, who aspires to join her family's business and start a hotel chain, filed suit against former business partner Eneliko Smith in Los Angeles on Tuesday. She claimed that he agreed in 2005 to help her set up a boutique hotel chain called Nicky O but that, after they parted, he misappropriated Hilton's name — without her permission — to apply for a Nicky O trademark for resort-lodging services. Hilton says her first Nicky O Hotel is scheduled to open early next year. ... Nelly Furtado fans who also dig Portuguese soap operas, you're in for a treat. The singer has a guest role on "Floribella," set to air later this month on SIC, a premium TV channel, Agence France Presse reports. She plays the daughter of immigrant parents in the episode. ... Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Taylor Hicks, Sarah McLachlan and Lionel Richie will perform current tracks and holiday favorites on NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" special, which will celebrate the lighting of the famed New York tree. The show airs November 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. ...

Matisyahu, O.A.R. and Blackalicious have hopped onboard the Langerado Music Festival, set for March 9-10 at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida. Trey Anastasio, Explosions in the Sky, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Disco Biscuits, Los Lobos and Widespread Panic have also been tapped for the gala, which is celebrating its fifth year. ... Kevin Smith has been cast in a new Showtime comedy pilot called "Manchild," based on the BBC series of the same name. Smith, who is slated to play a cynical divorcée in the show, said in his blog: "It should be an interesting exercise that, if the show works as well as the script, will turn into a sweet side gig for me. At the very least, I'll learn a thing or two about acting; at the most, I'll have something to do four months out of every year." ...

Clay Aiken will guest on a holiday-themed episode of the NBC soap "Days of Our Lives" December 22. The singer will perform "Everything I Have" from A Thousand Different Ways, as well as the Christmas classic "O Holy Night," which appeared on his album Merry Christmas With Love. ... Elvis Costello, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham and other luminaries will appear on the yet-untitled new LP by country legend Charlie Louvin. The self-titled album, due February 20, is Louvin's first in 10 years and also finds him hooking up with members of Bright Eyes and Superchunk, plus Elvis Presley session guitarist Pete Cummings. Louvin celebrates his 80th birthday July 7. ...

Jay-Z will grace the cover of GQ next month as one of three figures representing the magazine's 11th annual Man of the Year issue. The rapper/ record executive joins actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Ferrell among this year's honorees. Last year, Jay was named International Man of the Year at British GQ's Men of the Year Awards in London. ... George Clooney has scored a magazine-cover honor of his own, named the sexiest man alive by People, which issued its annual list Wednesday (November 15). "There's pressure to remain sexy," the actor joked. "That's why I do a lot of cosmetic work." Two-time winner Clooney, who first took the title in 1997, wasn't the only one worth salivating over this year — many musicians also ranked on the list, including Justin Timberlake, the man who returned sexy to its rightful place. Also making the grade: Diddy, named sexiest Renaissance rapper; the Killers, sexiest band; Ryan Cabrera, sexiest do-it-yourselfer; and Benji and Joel Madden, sexiest twins. Hilary Duff must be so proud. ...

We can all breathe easier now that Bono has his hoop earrings and Stetson cowboy hat back. A judge ruled that former stylist Lola Cashman illegally acquired the U2 singer's jewelry and hat — as well as a green sweatshirt and pair of black pants — after a 1987 show on the band's Joshua Tree tour, and that she must return them. According to BBC News, Cashman had insisted the items were a gift she received from Bono on the last night of the tour, when he was running around backstage in his underwear and she asked him for the hat. Cashman tried to sell some of the items at auction in 2002, prompting legal action from the band. ... The Wu-Tang Clan will perform Wednesday at New York's Canal Room to celebrate the birthday of late groupmate Ol' Dirty Bastard and preview his posthumous album. Method Man, Ghostface, GZA, RZA and Raekwon are all scheduled to appear at the tribute. ... DMX, Mario and DMC of Run-DMC are set to perform this weekend at New York's fifth annual Day of the Child celebration to encourage the mentoring of at-risk youth. The event will take place at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan and will also feature appearances by members of World Wrestling Entertainment. ...

Much-buzzed Brooklyn, New York-via-New Mexico indie wunderkind Beirut (a.k.a. 20-year-old Zach Condon) has been forced to cancel his world tour after being hospitalized in Paris due to what his reps are terming "extreme exhaustion." The announcement was made via a post on Beirut's Web site, which reads in part, "This is Beirut's first-ever tour, and while the band played some of the greatest shows of their lives, the attendant stress of organizing and traveling with full-blown 'orkestar' took its toll. ... The band hopes to reschedule some of the shows in the future." ... Alice Cooper has just inked a book deal to write a memoir about ... well, golf, for starters. "Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: My 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict" would explore the rocker's devotion to the game and how it helped him battle his demons, including an addiction to alcohol. He promises to be "completely candid about his career, his drinking, and his recovery" in the work, due to be published in May by Crown.

11.14.2006

Panic! at the Disco will help usher in 2007 as part of NBC's third annual "New Year's Eve With Carson Daly." The band will perform two songs from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out during the one-hour special, which will air December 31 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. ...

Young Jeezy held two listening sessions at New York's Sony Studios Monday night for his album The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102. Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid was among those in attendance. Among the tracks played was "3 in the Morning," produced by Timbaland, and "Dreamin," a collaboration with Keyshia Cole. ...

The initial dates for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' upcoming North American run with Gnarls Barkley have been revealed. The trek will hit Oklahoma City (January 12); Dallas (January 13); St. Louis (January 15); Nashville (January 17); Cincinnati (January 20); Raleigh, North Carolina (January 22); Washington, D.C. (January 25); Charlottesville, Virginia (January 26); Tampa, Florida (January 28); Orlando, Florida (January 30); Sunrise, Florida (January 31); Rosemont, Illinois (February 27); Des Moines, Iowa (March 2); Champaign, Illinois (March 3); San Antonio (March 6); and Houston (March 7). In related news, the Flaming Lips and Gnarls Barkley will ring in the New Year together in Los Angeles, with a special concert scheduled for December 31 at the University of Southern California's Galen Center. ...

The Chili Peppers, T.I., Queens of the Stone Age, Lupe Fiasco and Secret Machines played secret clubs shows around the country Monday night to celebrate the launch of Microsoft's iPod competitor, the Zune. "Should we do a duet with Bill Gates?" Anthony Kiedis joked at the Chilis show at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California. Rick Rubin, Heath Ledger and David Blaine were among those who caught the 70-minute, hit-filled set. ...

Jay-Z, Jamie Foxx, Akon, Snoop Dogg, John Mayer, Lionel Richie and Barry Manilow will join Beyoncé and other previously announced performers at the American Music Awards on November 21. Airing live on ABC from Los Angeles, the show will also feature presenters Chris Brown, Ashlee Simpson, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Linkin Park, Nickelback, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Clay Aiken, Tommy Lee, Dave Grohl, Gavin Rossdale, Chamillionaire, JC Chasez, Ice Cube, Chingy, Sean Paul, Tyrese, Frankie J, JoJo, Jesse McCartney, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Cheetah Girls and castmembers from "High School Musical." ...

My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy, AFI, 30 Seconds to Mars, Incubus, (+44), Wolfmother, Papa Roach and Saosin will perform at the first night of KROQ's annual Almost Acoustic Christmas concert on December 9 in Universal City, California. The lineup for the second night will be announced Wednesday. ... "Jackass" heroes Steve-O and Preston Lacy will host the inaugural Arby's Action Sports Awards in Los Angeles on November 30. Xzibit, Wilmer Valderrama, John Cena, Tom Green, Jamie Kennedy and others are also expected to attend the ceremony, which will air December 10 on Fox. ... Gwen Stefani, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige and the Fray join Fergie, the Killers and Janet Jackson on the list of artists performing at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, set for December 4 in Las Vegas. Three 6 Mafia, Carmen Electra, Dave Navarro, Flavor Flav and "American Idol" veterans Carrie Underwood, Katharine McPhee and Chris Daughtry will also appear at the ceremony, which will air live on Fox. ...

Members of Christina Aguilera's Baby Jane Fan Club are getting another crack at some of the remaining limited-edition three-LP versions of the singer's Back to Basics album. The vinyl set, limited to 4,000 copies, is stamped with silver foil and has lyrics and more. ... Jennifer Lopez makes Harper's Bazaar's best-dressed list — and the cover of the magazine's December issue, which hits newsstands Monday. In an interview with Bazaar, Lopez shared her favorite looks of the moment, including hats and head wraps à la Audrey Hepburn and "clothes that are closed up to the neck with bows." Lopez, who says she's "not into 'sexy, sexy,' " also said she's not into events that show off her great sense of style. "That going-out-and-being-glam thing gets old fast. People keep saying to me, 'You're not out there anymore.' And I say, 'That's because I don't want to be.' " ...

If you're planning to catch one of the three exclusive one-week showings of "Dreamgirls" beginning December 15, you'll be in for more than just an early viewing of the Beyoncé-starring flick. The three theaters premiering the movie — New York's Ziegfeld, Arclight Hollywood at the Cinerama Dome and San Francisco's Metreon — will feature making-of displays, costume designs, exclusive merchandise and more. The film opens in wide release December 25. ... And while Beyoncé's big-screen star is on the rise, one actress is shooting down rumors that she's B's next co-star. Eva Longoria tells People magazine that reports of the two playing lovers in a film adaptation of Sarah Waters' novel "Tipping the Velvet" are not true. "Believe me, I would love to work with Beyoncé one day," Longoria said. "She's so talented. But this is definitely not something we are doing together." ...

O.A.R. and Gomez will hit the road together in January. The trek begins January 18 in Cincinnati and includes a January 27 show at Madison Square Garden in New York. ... Glassjaw will reunite December 31 to take part in this year's Stillborn Fest. The two-day event, to be held December 30-31 in New Haven, Connecticut, will be headlined on both nights by Hatebreed. Overcast, Suffocation, Full Blown Chaos and Subzero are also on the bill. ... Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park, Fort Minor) will display his artwork for two days only at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles. The collection will open to the public Sunday at 7 p.m., and Shinoda will be on hand for a signing session. A VIP-only event follows on Monday. Along with Shinoda's solo artwork, the collection will feature five collaborative efforts, including one with Linkin Park's Joe Hahn. ...

Following the five U.S. gigs that Staind have planned next month — their December 2-10 run will hit cities including Mobile, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi; and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — frontman Aaron Lewis is embarking on a run of solo shows. Lewis will go it alone for five nights at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun between December 27 and 31, and then heads to California for shows in Jackson (January 11); Temecula (January 13); Indio (January 20); and Verona (January 26) as well as a gig January 12 in Reno, Nevada. Staind's The Singles: 1996-2006 is out now. ... Hip-hop bling king Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo filed a lawsuit in New York against Scarface last week, the New York Post reported. In the suit, Arabo asserts the veteran Houston rhyme-spitter owes $37,000 in unpaid bills. The jeweler's filing didn't specify the merchandise or services provided to Face, but alleges that Arabo has repeatedly attempted to collect the debt to no avail. ... The mother of the boy at the center of Michael Jackson's 2005 child-molestation trial pleaded no contest Monday to welfare fraud and was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and repay more than $8,600 to Los Angeles County.

• Ashlee Simpson In The London Production Of "Chicago"

• Michael Jackson
• Ashlee Simpson
• Jay-Z
• Justin Timberlake
• Diddy

Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea and Anthony Kiedis at the 2006 KROQ-FM Weenie Roast.
Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images

IRVINE, California — A week after Daddy Yankee cured Cinco de Mayo hangovers with his headlining set at KIIS-FM's Wango Tango, L.A. rock station KROQ-FM also went south of the border, renaming its annual May festival Weenie Roast y Fiesta.

Saturday's capacity crowd at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre was treated to free sombreros and mustaches and greeted by a mariachi band, which was pretty much the extent of the event's Latin breadth.

Shakira sat this one out, leaving opening honors instead to Wolfmother, who played the side stage — or "Stage Dos," as it was billed. The Australian retro rockers ripped through tracks from their just-released debut as the sun beat down on an enthralled audience.

(Click here for photos from this year's Weenie Roast.)

Jam rock was also in the house, in the form of Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. He took the main stage in the afternoon, slowing things down a bit after Finland's H.I.M. As H.I.M.'s number-one fan, Bam Margera, held onto his prime side-stage vantage point, Marley mixed some crowd faves from Papa Marley's repertoire with his own hip-hop-flavored material.

The globetrotting didn't stop there, as Taking Back Sunday took the crowd back to their New York roots. Singer Adam Lazzara did his best Mick Jagger, narrowly missing his bandmates as he swung his mic in huge circles like a tetherball. The band closed its set with "A Decade Under the Influence," much to the delight of the fans in attendance.

Whatever questions were left in the air after Dashboard Confessional's existential set were quickly quashed by Rob Zombie. With what could have been the loudest performance of the day, Zombie left his mark by jumping into the pit, making his way through the seats and tearing through hits like "More Human Than Human" and a medley of covers that included "Sweet Home Alabama." He actually managed to get people to dance, although they were predominantly female.

Zombie's macho rock didn't set the stage too well for newcomers Angels & Airwaves, former Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge's new conceptual rock band. Much of the audience used the band's set as a beer-and-bathroom break, taking the energy with them.

Dave Grohl, who performed with the Foo Fighters at last year's Weenie Roast (see "Grohl's Nipple Squeezed, Audioslave Play With 'Fire' At Weenie Roast"), made a surprise return this year sans his band.

Perhaps previewing the long-discussed acoustic Foos tour (see "Foo Fighters Showcasing Their Softer Side On Upcoming Tour"), Grohl strummed through four of the band's best-known songs (including "Everlong" and "My Hero") with the help of about 15,000 backup singers.

While Grohl was the special guest onstage, backstage that honor went to "American Idol" castoff Chris Daughtry, who attracted a long line of photo-op-hungry VIPs.

As day turned to night and after an intense set from AFI, Matisyahu proved that a reggae rapper could rock a rock and roll crowd. Although it took some time for his band to get past some monitor issues, Matis finally found his groove. Between his b-boy dancing and climbing to the top of the Marshall amps — which reached so high that he bumped his head on the jumbo screen — Matis kept everyone on their feet, especially with a beat-boxing solo that would make Doug E. Fresh proud.

By the time Matis closed his set with "King Without a Crown," a very large, sombrero-wearing fan made his way onstage, dancing past the five security guards it eventually took to escort him off. Judging by Matis' big smile, it didn't faze the singer at all.

But the kings of the Roast proved to be hometown heroes the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who closed out the night. Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith warmed the crowd up for a couple of minutes, building the energy until frontman Anthony Kiedis burst onto the stage. The Peppers played their hits and sprinkled in some new songs off their upcoming Stadium Arcadium. Much of the crowd already knew the words to the single "Dani California" but not to two other new tracks, "Charlie" and "Tell Me Baby."

"I've seen a lot of good shows here over the years," Kiedis said, pointing to a fan 20 rows up. "I saw Jane's Addiction from that seat in 1990."

With that, of course, Kiedis gave the person who occupied that seat at the Weenie Roast his own story to tell.

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Red Hot Chili Peppers, Angels & Airwaves, More At 2006 KROQ Weenie Roast

• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Matisyahu
• Foo Fighters
• Wolfmother
• Rob Zombie

Ashlee Simpson on the cover of <I>Teen People</I>'s June/ July issue
Photo: Teen People

Ashlee Simpson has been scandal-free since November, and she tells Teen People for its June/ July "25 Hottest Under 25" cover story that the shift can be attributed to now-serious boyfriend Braxton Olita, the guitarist in her band. "He's the yin to my yang," Simpson told the magazine. "People call him my little Buddha. When he comes around, everything changes. ... I'm more peaceful and chilled out. I honestly couldn't be more content." Though she's "absolutely in love and in a committed relationship," Simpson says she's in no rush to speed up the pace, especially after what she's seen happen with her sister's much-publicized marriage and divorce. Instead, "We live day to day," she said. "Marriage is definitely not on my mind. There's a lot of growing up you do in your 20s, and I definitely want to wait until my late 20s or 30s or whenever the time is right." Ashlee's big sister Jessica Simpson also made the cut for Teen People's "25 Hottest Under 25" list, along with Amanda Bynes, Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Ciara, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, JoJo, Kristin Cavallari and Natasha Bedingfield. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline KROQ's annual Weenie Roast festival in Irvine, California. The May 13 event will also feature Matisyahu, AFI, Dashboard Confessional, Angels & Airwaves, Rob Zombie, She Wants Revenge, Panic! At the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, H.I.M., Wolfmother, Atreyu, Matchbook Romance, the Academy Is ... and Rock Kills Kid. ... Gap stores in four major cities are giving away tickets to a handful of summer concerts through a Rock Color instant-winner game-piece contest. Participating stores in New York and Chicago will have tickets to John Legend, Panic! At the Disco and Counting Crows with Goo Goo Dolls shows; ones in Los Angeles and San Francisco will offer shoppers a shot at those shows, plus Dave Matthews Band. ...

American V: A Hundred Highways, the final album Johnny Cash recorded before his death, is due July 4. Like the rest of the American series, it was produced by Rick Rubin; this album features the last song Cash ever wrote plus others written by Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams and more. ... My Morning Jacket will collaborate with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on June 21 and 22 at the Boston Symphony Hall. The band is otherwise touring this summer with Pearl Jam beginning May 9 in Toronto. ... The Blood Brothers have entered Robert Lang Studios in Seattle — where they recorded 2004's Crimes — with Fugazi guitarist Guy Picciotto (Blonde Redhead) and John Goodmanson (the Like, Bikini Kill), who'll co-produce the band's yet-untitled disc. While the LP isn't slated for release until this fall, the Brothers will issue an EP to tide them over. Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck will hit stores May 23 with a live version of the title track, an alternate version of "Crimes," a remix of "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers," a couple of British B-sides ("Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Metronomes") and the band's remix of the Gang of Four track "Anthrax." ...

Sonic Youth will kick off their summer tour beginning June 13 at the seminal New York rock club CBGB. The trek will span 22 dates, including festival appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, opening for Pearl Jam as well as straight-up SY headlining shows in support of their forthcoming album, Rather Ripped, due the same day their tour kicks off. Additional dates are expected shortly. ... Another prolific indie-rock band, the Fiery Furnaces, just released two full-length CDs within the span of seven months. Now the duo's male half, Matthew Friedberger, is releasing his solo debut, Winter Women/ Holy Ghost Language School, August 8. The double-disc was recorded over the course of three years and was co-produced by Bill Skibbe, who engineered, mixed and performed on the Fiery Furnaces' Bitter Tea. Friedberger wrote and performed the entire album, minus some drumming help from Tortoise's John McEntire, who plays on a few tracks. ...

"You Hear It First" veterans Danko Jones have a North American tour planned in support of their upcoming LP, Sleep Is the Enemy, due May 23. The road trip — which is currently scheduled to kick off in Montreal on May 5 and finish up in Buffalo, New York, May 28 — will hit cities including Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia, as well as New York's CBGB. ... You think your life is a mess? Just wait for the debut this fall of "The Carters," an E! Entertainment show chronicling the life of pop singers and brothers Nick and Aaron Carter as they work through family conflicts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Backstreet Boy, his kid brother and three sisters will be the subjects of an eight-part half-hour series in which they live together and try to figure out their futures. ...

Napster is launching a new service Monday (May 1) that allows users to stream any complete song in their library up to five times for free. "It's the first time we've gotten back to the original Napster roots," Laura Goldberg, Napster's Chief Operating Officer, said Friday. "We see it as an exciting way to introduce people to what a subscription service is like, with the unlimited access and listening to anything you want." ... The only thing we know for sure is that Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffered a concussion on the island of Fiji at some point in the past few days and is recovering in New Zealand. Though she's not denying it, the band's publicist wouldn't confirm that Richards, 62, suffered the injury after falling out of a coconut tree, as widely reported by the media. ... British glam rocker Gary Glitter will appeal his three-year jail sentence for molesting children in Vietnam on May 19, according to a Reuters report. The 61-year-old singer was sentenced on March 3 in the resort town of Vung Tau and was imprisoned there for sexually abusing two 11-year-old girls.

04.28.2006

Jessica Simpson loses her mind in an upcoming Keith Barry magic special, in which the magician and psychological illusionist performs stunts on Eve, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, Wilmer Valderrama, Elijah Wood and others. Barry drives while blindfolded, induces memory loss and takes control of Simpson's mind in a series of stunts on "Keith Barry: Extraordinary," which will air May 12 at 8 p.m. on CBS. ...

Nick Lachey, Sean Paul and Jagged Edge will provide "Style Stage NYC" — the self-proclaimed "largest shopping party in the U.S." — with some musical entertainment. The event will be held Friday and Saturday at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building at 125 and 135 W. 18th St. ...

Oprah Winfrey gathered a who's who of urban artists for what you might call "Oprahpalooza" over the course of one recent weekend. First, the talk-show host held a private luncheon at her Montecito, California, home, where music legends such as Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick were honored by Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Brandy, Natalie Cole, Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott. Winfrey also invited Usher, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and others for a white-tie ball the next night. And to cap the weekend, Winfrey held a gospel brunch the next morning with performances by LaBelle, Knight, Warwick and Chaka Khan. Winfrey's "Legends Ball" special airs May 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. ... Jewel is getting a facelift of sorts — by performing on an upcoming episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." In an episode called "Arena Family," the show renovates the home of a husband and wife in Somers, New York, who recently lost their only son. New York Yankee Jorge Posada donates an item for the house, while Jewel performs at a memorial. The episode airs May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. ...

Shakira is calling ahead for her upcoming tour, sending multimedia personal video invitations to each city she's hitting on her Oral Fixation jaunt. The messages, which will come through on Verizon Wireless phones, give users the option to buy barcode tickets that can be scanned to get them into the show. Shakira's also inviting fans to text which songs they want to hear on the tour, and a select few concertgoers will be picked to head backstage. The arena tour, which was announced Friday (April 28), kicks off August 9 in El Paso, Texas, at the Don Haskins Center, and wraps September 25 in McCallen, Texas, at the Dodge Arena. ... The singer lit up the stage in Hollywood, Florida, on Thursday night for the Latin Billboard Awards, scoring six awards and performing "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean. Shakira took Latin pop album of the year for Fijacion Oral Vol. 1, while her single "La Tortura" won four awards, including hot Latin song of the year. She was also presented with the Spirit of Hope Award, honoring her work through the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation, aiding children in Colombia. Daddy Yankee, who scored three awards at the ceremony, opened the show performing "Rompe" and took prizes for Latin album artist and top reggaetón album. He was also honored along with collaborators Baby Ranks, Tonny Tun Tun, Wisin y Yandel and Hector "The Father" for "Mayor Que Yo." ...

With a little one on the way, Gwen Stefani is planning to expand her L.A.M.B. line to include baby tennis shoes. "Little gold ones, you wouldn't believe it. They're so cute," the singer told Women's Wear Daily. She's also widening her footwear line for adults to include boots and stilettos, as well as adding other accessories, such as a watch line. "I want to do lingerie and makeup at some point," she said. "I want to do everything, eventually." ... While the tabloids love to link Jessica Simpson and Adam Levine, Victoria's Secret thinks the Maroon 5 frontman and Shakira would make a better match, according to their "What Is Sexy" list — the two singers won sexiest male and female musicians, respectively. But Simpson wasn't entirely shut out. Her "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " clip still gets mileage, nabbing sexiest video. Meanwhile, the sexiest real couple honors went to Seal and Heidi Klum.

An exclusive Beck remix is available as part of a comic manga series. "Go It Alone," remixed by Superthriller, is a free download in the fourth volume of "Mongolian Chop Squad," to be released in June. But once the page goes live at the end of May, the download will be available at www.tokyopop.com/beckvsbeck. ... The Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick filed suit Thursday in New York against Sony BMG alleging that they were being shortchanged by the Sony Music division on profits from digital downloads. According to the Los Angeles Times, the suit by the two classic rock acts seeks class-action status and contends that Sony currently counts downloads sales as "physical phonorecords," with the standard 20 percent deduction for packaging even though the downloads are electronic. It also claims that Sony Music deducts 15 percent for a standard "breakage" fee, as it would with CDs or cassettes. The suit alleges that bands should be getting 30 cents per download from Sony Music versus the 4.5 cents they get now. ...

Apparently you shouldn't mess with Hoboken, New Jersey, indie rockers Yo La Tengo. Their 12th album, due September 12, is called I Am Not Afraid of You, and I Will Beat Your Ass according to a spokesperson for Matador Records. The 15-track LP includes the songs "Pass the Hatchet," "Black Flowers" and "The Story of Yo La Tango" (You read that right — it's "Tango"). Having done movie-soundtrack work for the films "Junebug" and "Old Joy" recently, the group has also written music for "Shortbus," John Cameron Mitchell's directorial follow-up to "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." ... Montreal rockers the Dears have completed work on their third record, the self-deprecatingly titled Gang of Losers. Tentatively due August 29, the 12-track record has been described by the band as a more stripped-down and raw affair than its past expansive orchestral work. Tracks include "The Ballad of Humankindness," "Find Our Way to Freedom" and "Death or Life We Want You." The track "Fear Made the World Go 'Round" can currently be heard on the group's MySpace page.

• Ashlee Simpson
• Nick Carter
• Aaron Carter
• The Rolling Stones
• Keith Richards

Kanye West performs at Coachella on Saturday
Photo: Karl Walter/Getty Images

INDIO, California — Approximately 100 hours of music was performed at Coachella over the weekend (12 hours times five stages times two days minus set changes), yet the desert festival's 2006 edition will likely be remembered for two 30-minute flashes.

(Check out photos from Coachella.)

That's because, whether it's technically accurate to say so or not, this was the year Coachella went commercial, with pop superstars Kanye West and Madonna invited to the hipster kids' party. (Dozens of commercially successful bands, from Rage Against the Machine in 1999 to Coldplay in 2005, have played Coachella, but this was different, hence the "Madonna Killed Coachella" T-shirts seen around.)

And with Kanye and Madonna came a beautiful oddness tailor-made for a festival that prides itself on eclecticism. (Icelandic weirdos Sigur Rós followed Kanye, for example, while metal weirdos Coheed & Cambria started seconds after Madonna finished in the next tent over.) Unfortunately, it also brought along a few elements typical of a commercial concert: Both were about 20 minutes late, a Coachella rarity, and both were also rather sassy, although it played out well during their respective shows.

Kanye, seemingly frustrated by his late start, picked up his set list and crossed off songs, although it might have been his best move as he left nothing but hit singles, from "Touch the Sky" to "Jesus Walks." In introducing "Gold Digger," he boasted, "The Grammys got it wrong: This was the Song of the Year."

And later in the song, the rapper, sporting a Miles Davis T-shirt, encouraged a sing-along by joking, "White people, this is your only chance to say n---a, so you better take advantage of it."

While Kanye hit the main stage on Saturday, Madonna took the Sahara tent, so the question going into her highly anticipated 8 p.m. show (by far the biggest crowd the "dance" tent has ever seen) was whether it would be a hits set or something for the ravers.

Madonna went the latter route, opening with the same performance of "Hung Up" she did at the Grammys (giant disco ball and all), followed by two more tracks from 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor: "Get Together" and "I Love New York." Perhaps it was the song choices or the volume, which seemed about half as loud as Paul Oakenfold's set just before, but the crowd started dispersing early, even though no act was on the main stage.

Maybe Madonna noticed or maybe she was just being herself, but the sass came out in comments like, "Do not throw water on my stage, mother------s" and "Does my ass look nice?"

Madonna, who danced seductively, played guitar on a few tracks and added the line "Just go to Texas and suck George Bush's d---" into "I Love New York," got some energy going with "Ray of Light," and earned her loudest cheers of the night when she asked: "Do you want to hear an old song?" (After which she asked, "Should I take my pants off?" and proceeded to do so.) The feather boa she donned indicated it might be "Material Girl," but she instead went with her very first single, "Everybody."

As the track came to an end, a curtain closed on Madonna and her dancers, leaving the crowd collectively wondering, "Is that it?"

	Madonna, Kanye, Depeche Mode, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolfmother, More at Coachella

It was, for Madonna at least. So it's a good thing there was another 99 hours of music. And here are a few highlights:

• Kanye and Madonna were all the talk, but the festival's headliners were actually Depeche Mode and Tool, and both seemingly left their massive audiences thrilled. Depeche front-ended their set with newer, slower material, but those who stuck around were treated to hits like "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence." Tool, on the other hand, came out fighting with "Stinkfist" (and frontman Maynard Keenan saying, "Hello, hippies") and plowed through their best-known material, with a few new tracks included. Unlike past years, where some headliners have struggled with filling the giant venue sonically, both Depeche and Tool were near pitch-perfect.
• Several acts came out of lengthy hiatuses for Coachella (Tool, Massive Attack, etc.), but the most welcomed back were Daft Punk, who played for a near-Madonna-size crowd at the Sahara tent to close out Saturday. Dressed as robots and perched in a booth high above the stage, the DJs spun an electrifying techno mix (with frequent snippets of their smash "Around the World") that made it almost impossible not to dance.
• Every Coachella features a breakthrough afternoon tent performance (last year it was Bloc Party, who graduated to the Outdoor Theater this year) and the new breakout was clearly Wolfmother. The Australian vintage rockers ripped through their Led Zeppelin-esque tracks with fervor while afroed frontman Andrew Stockdale worked the crowd with his rock poses.
• With the temperature soaring near triple digits on Sunday afternoon, Matisyahu took the main stage and delivered a spiritual, reggae-fied show fit for the occasion. "It's divine intervention that I'm here in the desert today," the Hasidic rapper said. "This is the time in the Jewish calendar when the Jews traveled the desert for 49 days." Matis also rocked the mic with some serious beatboxing and achieved the Coachella sing-along moment when he closed with "King Without a Crown" (sorry, Kanye), which recalled a similar vibe to Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley singing his dad's "Exodus" and "Could You Be Loved" the night before.
• If you don't count their secret club show Friday in Los Angeles, Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse debuted their Gnarls Barkley project Sunday, despite what the former said from the stage. "Gnarls Barkley couldn't be here, so we're going to play their songs," he joked. "We're called Mean Old Lion and the Hearts." The joke was a reference to their stage attire, which was inspired by "The Wizard of Oz" with the band as witches, singers as Dorothy and Scarecrow, and Cee-Lo as the Lion. Gnarls could have come out dressed as James Blunt, though, as it was their funked-out soul tunes that turned the crowd, well, "Crazy."
• A few special guests hit Coachella stages, from Cocteau Twins singer Liz Fraser joining Massive Attack on "Teardrop" to No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont joining laid-back rocker Matt Costa, to some girl in the crowd grinding with Common. The weirder, slightly familiar faces were in the audience, though, including Josh Groban, "American Idol" finalist Lisa Tucker, "Project Runway" finalist Santino Rice, Danny DeVito (enjoying Daft Punk), Nicky Hilton, Nicole Richie and Linkin Park's Brad Delson.
• Once again, the U.K. served Coachella a smorgasbord of sweet stuff, including the unique grime sounds of firecracker Lady Sovereign, the sexy saxophone rock of the Zutons, the dance-rock perfection of Franz Ferdinand and the feel-good jingles of the Go! Team. Non-exported highlights included New York's Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Stellastarr*, Montreal's Wolf Parade and Kentucky's My Morning Jacket.
• Despite the mid-afternoon heat, mainstage standouts the Walkmen still donned their trademark suits, with singer Hamilton Leithauser in a khaki getup. "It was either this or black corduroy," he said backstage. "This is all I packed."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Kanye West
• Madonna
• Depeche Mode
• Tool
• Wolfmother

E-40
Photo: Jason Campbell

After seemingly coming from out of nowhere just over two months ago, "High School Musical" has emerged as the surprise hit of 2006. The soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie debuted at #143 on Billboard's albums chart after selling 5,000 copies. The following week, it skyrocketed to the #58 spot, selling close to 13,000 copies — but the climb didn't end there.

For the past five weeks, the "High School Musical" phenomenon has made its home in the top 10, while big-name artists sit back and watch as tracks from the children's TV movie crush high-charting hopes. Four weeks ago, "High School Musical" hit #1 after selling 101,000 copies (see "What Is 'High School Musical' And How Did It Get To #1?"). Since then, the disc has hovered in the #2 and #3 spots. According to the latest SoundScan figures, the soundtrack will return to #1 on next week's Billboard chart after logging 142,000-plus scans last week. Total sales of the disc are currently at 811,000.

Not bad for a bunch of unknown teen actors in a film that fuses "Romeo and Juliet" with "Grease," shot on a $5 million budget.

While hip-hop legend E-40 made a strong play for Billboard brilliance with his latest, My Ghetto Report Card, the "Ambassador of the Bay" fell short of a #1 finish. Instead, the disc, which features contributions from Mike Jones, Juelz Santana, UGK and Too Short, debuts at #3 with sales of more than 94,000 — right behind Back to Bedlam, British crooner James Blunt's debut album, which hangs tight at #2 with 126,000 scans. Jay-Z find Ne-Yo climbs one spot to #4 with In My Own Words, which picked up close to 77,000 sales during its third week in stores. The previous chart's first place finisher, Juvenile's Reality Check, slips four to #5 after selling close to 75,000 units.

Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts racked up sales of more than 64,000 to earn a #6 spot. Matisyahu's Youth claims #7 with week-two scans of 58,000. The Legend of Johnny Cash comes in at #8 with 56,000 sales; the retrospective collection has sold nearly 1.5 million copies since its release in October.

A second helping of Fall Out Boy's From Under the Cork Tree, which has sold more than 2 million copies since its release, helped boost sales of the disc by 122 percent. The album was reissued last week with demo and bonus tracks along with a couple of remixes, and it leaps ahead 33 chart positions to #9 on sales nearing 52,000. Rounding out the top 10 for a second week is Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film "Curious George" from Jack Johnson and Friends, which picked up an additional 50,000 scans, pushing total sales past the half-million mark.

It was a sluggish week overall for debuts, with precious few outings actually breaching the top 200. Morph the Cat, the third solo outing from Donald Fagen — who, along with Walter Becker, are the masterminds behind Steely Dan — opens at #26 with 32,000 sales. The soundtrack to "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," featuring live performances from Mos Def, Big Daddy Kane and Erykah Badu, bows at #44 with sales of 21,000 and change. Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani's latest, Super Colossal, debuts at #86, selling nearly 12,000 copies, and Black Sabbath's Greatest Hits 1970-1978 — which hit stores the morning after the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — comes in at #96 with sales of 11,000 plus.

Willie Nelson's You Don't Know Me debuts at #114 with over 9,000 units sold, and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice, Vol. 2, a compilation boasting contributions from Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Simple Plan and Ryan Cabrera, checks in at #125 with close to 9,000 in sales. NOFX's Never Trust a Hippy finishes at #186 with 5,000 scans.

Following his appearance last week on "American Idol," sales of Stevie Wonder's A Time to Love surged 89 percent, making it one of this week's biggest gainers. The record, which sold more than 5,000 copies, occupies the #183 slot, returning to the chart after being away for three weeks.

• E-40
• James Blunt
• Ne-Yo
• Matisyahu
• Carrie Underwood

• Matisyahu

Juvenile
Photo: Jason Campbell

Veteran New Orleans rapper Juvenile has been working his hip-hop game for well over a decade, and in all that time he hasn't known what it's like to top Billboard's albums chart. He'd come close once — 2001's Project English racked up more than 213,000 week-one sales to open at #2 — but it's his latest LP, Reality Check, that finally did the trick.

Juve's chart-topping campaign came dangerously close to collapse thanks not to a musician, but to Oprah. According to the latest SoundScan figures, Reality Check — which features collaborations with Ludacris, Mike Jones, Fat Joe, Bun B, Paul Wall and a host of others — sold more than 174,000 copies during its initial week of release, which was enough to secure Billboard's high seat. But had just 14,000 more viewers tuned in to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on March 8, things could've ended differently.

British crooner James Blunt was Oprah's guest that afternoon, and performed the infectious first single from his Back to Bedlam LP, "You're Beautiful." The booking helped score a 142 percent boon to album sales, with Blunt's disc moving more than 161,000 units and climbing seven spots to #2, the highest spot the album has reached since it landed on U.S. shores 23 weeks ago. Blunt didn't pull off the upset, but there had to have been moments last week when Juvenile needed a little extra antiperspirant.

The soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical" continues to give chart newcomers trouble, dropping just one spot with more than 138,000 copies sold in its ninth week of retail availability. The singing teens robbed Hasidic dancehall rapper Matisyahu of a top-three debut. The reggae artist's Youth lands at #4 with an opening-week showing of close to 119,000 scans. His 2005 album, Live at Stubb's, drops six to #36 with 25,000-plus units disappearing from store shelves. More than 483,000 copies of the disc have been sold since its release last April.

Billboard's previous champ, Ne-Yo, slips to #5 with sales of his debut offering, In My Own Words, coming in at more than 113,000. Right behind Yo is Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's third solo outing (and first in more than 20 years), On an Island. The album is the third and last newbie to make the top 10, after earning sales of nearly 96,000.

Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts climbs one spot to #7 with 74,000 scans, followed by two heaping helpings of Johnny Cash: the retrospective collection The Legend of Johnny Cash, which finishes at #8 with 70,000 copies sold, and the soundtrack to the Cash biopic "Walk the Line," which sold more than 63,000 units to climb two to #9. Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film "Curious George" from Jack Johnson and Friends rounds out the top 10, finishing with sales nearing 60,000.

The latest from ex-Geto Boy Scarface, My Homies Part 2, bows at #12 with close to 58,000 in week-one sales, leading several Billboard debuts of note, including Van Morrison's newest, Pay the Devil, which claims the #26 spot with just under 32,000 copies sold. Noteworthy in its absence is Lil Wayne's Tha Carter II: Chopped & Screwed. The disc failed to crack the top 200, with sales coming in at just over 2,000. Tha Carter II opened at #2 with 238,000 copies sold when it was released in December.

The self-titled, inaugural offering from the Little Willies, the rock-imbued side project of Norah Jones and folk singer Richard Julian, pops up at #48 with 20,000 in sales, while Neko Case's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood checks in at #54 with close to 18,000 copies sold. Mogwai's Mr. Beast claims the #128 slot with 8,000 scans, and Goldfrapp's Supernature follows at #138, having sold more than 7,000 copies. The latest from Public Enemy, Rebirth of a Nation, opens at #180 with close to 6,000 units scanned, bagged, and carried out of record stores.

Watch Matisyahu and Gideon Yago shop for Hasidic hats and search for truth in a Jewish deli in New York's Crown Heights district on "MTV News RAW: Matisyahu," only on Overdrive.

• Juvenile
• Matisyahu
• David Gilmour
• Scarface
• James Blunt

Woodie Awards 2005 Red Carpet

• Death Cab For Cutie
• Muse
• Matisyahu
• OK Go
• Saul Williams

Woodie Awards 2005 Performances

• Matisyahu
• Saul Williams
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Little Brother
• The Go! Team

Radiohead, Common, Matisyahu, More At The 2006 Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival

• Radiohead
• Matisyahu
• Beck
• Common
• Ben Folds

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Angels & Airwaves, More At 2006 KROQ Weenie Roast

• Angels & Airwaves
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Wolfmother
• Matisyahu
• Atreyu

MTV.com Exclusive Photos: Coachella 2006

• Kanye West
• The Zutons
• Cat Power
• Franz Ferdinand
• Matisyahu

MTV.com Exclusive: Matisyahu Photos 8.15.2005

• Matisyahu