Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke
Photo: MTV News

The buzz, now building to a roar, started last September, when a rush print of Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice Film Festival. Then, last Sunday, the movie's star, Mickey Rourke — who might well have taken the best-actor award in Venice, if the festival's rules hadn't precluded it — won a Golden Globe for his performance in the film. Next up: the Oscars — and "The Wrestler" is looking good.

Could there be an unlikelier movie than this one? Made with French money — and very little of it — and shot in definitively unglamorous New Jersey in the grimmest depths of winter, "The Wrestler" is a raw, bloody character study of a faded pro grappler at the end of his ring career. And Rourke was a star so faded himself that when he took on the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, potential financial backers were scared away in droves. But it's the autobiographical resonance the 52-year-old actor brings to the picture that makes it so spellbinding — and so heart-rending.

Rourke and Aronofsky stopped by the MTV newsroom recently — the director in one of the trim-cut suits he currently favors, the actor arrayed in leather and cigarettes. Their relationship seems grounded in affection and respect and non-stop volleys of splendidly obscene wisecracks. They sat, they talked, and we poked into subjects ranging from the development of the movie's script and the surprising improvisation of its now-famous deli scene to Bruce Springsteen's contribution of a free song to the film's soundtrack (quite a story) and Mickey-fan Axl Rose's lowball fee for the use of "Sweet Child O' Mine." There were also passing shout-outs to Brutus Beefcake and Greg the Hammer, of course, and ... well, see for yourself.

• MTV Rough Cut: 'The Wrestler'

• Bruce Springsteen
• Axl Rose

Sasha Fierce, Brit Brit and Weezy F. Baby wish you a Happy New Year!
Photo: Getty Images/MTV News

New Year's resolutions are meant to be broken. I think I've busted about 13 of them already, and 2009 is just seven days old (damn you, GamblersPalace.com!). Still, that doesn't stop everyone from making them — stars included.

So, in order to make you feel a little less upset about blowing off the gym this week (and every week for the remainder of the year), I dug through my MTV Rolodex and contacted some of the biggest names in music and popular culture to see what their resolutions were. Some of the responses I got seemed a little odd — I'm looking at you, Britney — while others were downright refreshing in their honesty. (Of course, all of them are completely fictional, but don't let that distract you.)

The point is, these stars are daring to dream big in 2009, regardless of how much it will hurt when they fail. So grab that fourth slice of leftover fruitcake. Polish off that bottle of champagne. Pledge to be guilt-free in 2009. Because after reading some of the resolutions below, there's no way you'll ever feel sorry for yourself again. Happy New Year, indeed.

Britney Spears
"In 2009, I plan to undergo another very public meltdown, and recover just in time to release a career-reinventing album that will feature contributions from Timbaland, Goldfrapp, Swedish duo the Knife and Robyn producers Teddybears, which will then make me a critics' darling. Either that, or Cheeto therapy."

Lil Wayne
"This year, I hope to be aware of my surroundings at least 50 percent of the time. Or at least conscious."

Aubrey O'Day
"I promise to pose for Playboy, give raunchy interviews about my sexual proclivities, release a solo album and generally become one of the biggest pop stars in the world."

The Remaining Members of Danity Kane
"We promise to deliver your pizza within 30 minutes, or it's free."

Kanye West
"In 2009, I will release an entire album on which I Auto-Tune my already Auto-Tuned vocals, thereby completely negating the presence of vocals altogether. So basically I'm going to release an instrumental album that will be hated by some and hailed as brilliant by others."

T-Pain
"I will sue Kanye West for $900 bazillion if he does this."

Joe Jonas
"I plan on continuing to date girls way out of my league, eye-brow-wise, at least."

Bill Kaulitz
"In 2009, I will finally accomplish two of my biggest goals: blotting out the sun with my hair and morphing into Sonic the Hedgehog."

Pete Wentz
"I will attempt to remind people that I am still in a rock band by periodically releasing albums in between hosting TV shows, designing clothing, opening bars, appearing in tabloids and making babies."

Beyoncé
"I plan on finally listening to the tiny demons in my head."

Katy Perry
"In '09, I'm going to simultaneously offend every man, woman and child on the face of the Earth — regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation — when I release my new single, 'I Kissed Osama Bin Laden.' "

Axl Rose
"I will continue to believe that Chinese Democracy was not an unmitigated disaster but, rather, a massive success, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. This is the same technique George W. Bush uses to sleep at night."

Heidi Montag
"I will continue to be a terrible person."

Spencer Pratt
"Me too."

Mariah Carey
"I'm going to remain invisible for the next 12 months."

Ben Gibbard
"I will carry my title of 'The Luckiest Man Alive' into 2009 and will begin a lucrative career giving motivational speeches to doughy white guys around the world."

50 Cent
"I resolve to continue using beefs as thinly veiled attempts to promote product, star in films that no one sees and remain blissfully unaware that the game is slowly passing me by. Also, I will finally kill James Montgomery for all the sh-- he's written about me."

Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com.

• Bigger Than The Sound -- Now On Video!

• Britney Spears
• Lil Wayne
• Danity Kane
• Kanye West
• T-Pain

Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic.com

You might not see him on the late-night talk shows or the covers of major magazines or hear him sitting in with the morning-zoo show in your hometown, but that doesn't mean Guns N' Roses leader Axl Rose isn't reaching out to fans.

The typically reclusive singer — who is the only remaining original member of GN'R — has done little to no promotion for his band's 13-years-in-the-making Chinese Democracy album, but over the past few days, he's been a staple on the message boards of several GN'R forums. On Sunday, he penned a 4,300-word open letter to fans in which he tried to clear up many of what he called the misconceptions and outright lies about his band and the album, which, despite the hype, has been quickly sliding down the charts after a worse-than-expected opening bow.

The sudden chattiness began Friday, when Rose popped into the "MyGNRForum" and mixed it up with fans. Some took him to task for being a hermit, even as he explained why he's often late for his shows (apparently he's a lifelong night owl) and wished the best for troubled former GN'R drummer and "Celebrity Rehab" castmember Steven Adler. He also mentioned that a video for the song "Better" was slated for release any day now.

Rose then hit the boards again Saturday, talking about an in-process autobiography/ legal record of the original band's breakup and the possibility that he would reunite with the original GN'R lineup for a charity concert, as long as the cause was right.

But it was his expansive letter on Sunday that really got Guns boards buzzing. After vehemently denying that he tried to pull a fast one by securing the Guns name for himself, explaining that it was a legal maneuver to protect the band and himself from the group's then-manager, Rose asked, "Why keep the name" considering all the other original members are gone?

"I'm literally the last man standing. Not bragging, not proud," he wrote. "It's been a f---ing nightmare, but I didn't leave Guns and I didn't drive others out. ... I earned the right to protect my efforts and to be able to take advantage of our contract I'd worked hard for where Slash's exact words were that he didn't care."

Rose wrote that he understood some fans favor a particular lineup of the band, but even with all new players onboard, he was adamant that Chinese Democracy is not a solo album. "A solo record would be completely different than this and probably much more instrumental," he explained. "I made a Guns record with the right people who were the only people who really wanted to help me try, were qualified and capable while enduring the public abuse for years. The songs were chosen by everyone involved. ... There's been a lot of pressure to go with using my name (all external), but that never felt right to me for this band, and the parameters in regard to this music have lots more to do with the mind set of Guns than something else.

"As far as a new name ... this is who I am, not whatever else someone else thinks of. I don't see myself as solely Guns, but I do see myself as the only one from the past making the effort to take it forward whether anyone approves or not and giving beyond what many would."

In fact, Rose wrote, retaining the name helped him keep pushing forward with the album, regardless of what anyone else thought or the reportedly astronomical $13 million-plus budget. And despite years of recording, an army of players and producers and what has been described as endless tinkering, Rose said the state of perfection he was looking for literally didn't happen until the "last round of mastering and swapping out a version of a track at the pressing plant that had gotten inadvertently changed at the last minute. Also, the name was what the industry wanted as well and the burden of keeping it was something to endure in order to make the record."

Rose frequently came back to what sounds like a wide array of legal battles that he suggested constantly delayed the album's release. But in the end, he said, he's made peace with the fact that some people will never think of the current lineup as the "real" GN'R. In fact, he admitted that even he refers to the current band as "Guns" and the classic Use Your Illusion roster as "Old Guns."

"They are amazingly supportive and do their best to keep me in up spirits and focused, which I had less and less of in Guns way before 'Sweet Child' caught on," he said of the current lineup. "If that were to change, then that may be something to look at. I hope for us to grow more together as we continue, so who knows. If I hadn't secured the rights, I don't know where I'd be, and I'd probably call what would then be the current lineup 'Those motherf---ers!!'

"The name is something I take great pride in, as I feel anyone who's been a part of it should, the same as other bands or teams etc.," he continued. "The burden when it is such is a nightmare but not as much or as hopeless as I'd imagine without it could have been. ... Having the name kicks your ass every night, as it's not some side project or something u can f--- off in. You don't deliver u get your ass handed to u. So it makes us work much harder than I feel we would outside of it and it hasn't been too ugly yet."

As for why the original band broke up, Rose portrayed his role as "goin' down with the ship," in the sense that he knew it was over before the band toured in support of their final original studio album, the two-part Use Your Illusion. But he held on until the end, he wrote, when the other members "felt for whatever reasons they either couldn't or wouldn't give what Guns required." He also disputed long-simmering claims that part of the reason the group fell apart was because he changed up the band's hard-rock style. At one point he claimed that Slash "hated a good portion" of the songs on the band's landmark 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, and that things between the onetime good friends began deteriorating not long after GN'R started touring in support of the debut.

"The music changed after Slash and I parted so the direction was where I took Guns not where I had intended or tried to go previously," he said. "It had a lot to do with not finding or knowing a more blues-based player that I found inspiring and I was really knocked down and beat up. ... I wasn't doing what was written so often about chasing fads, etc."

Finally, after all the rancor, the dredging-up of old wounds that are clearly still fresh (including Axl's apparent ire about the use of "Welcome to the Jungle" on "Guitar Hero"), the last man standing thanks his fans and wishes them happy holidays — until the next time he decides to open up a vein and let it bleed.

• Axl Rose
• Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage

After years of inveterate delays, empty promises and false alarms, it looks like hell's first-ever snowball fight could go down this November. That's if the latest reports on Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy — an LP the band's sole original member, Axl Rose, has been working on for well over a decade with a handful of producers, racking up a production bill estimated at more than $13 million — are to be believed.

While there's been no official announcement yet (per usual), it seems we may finally be close to a genuine, authentic, set-in-stone release date for Rose's long-awaited magnum opus. But of course, Rose's manager, Andy Gould, won't confirm recent reports that the sixth GN'R album could be in stores before year's end. MTV News contacted Gould's office last week to inquire about the release date but were told he wouldn't be commenting. (The release date of Chinese Democracy has been prematurely expected so many times that we wrote a Newsroom blog post about all the false alarms back in July.)

Yet, according to Rolling Stone's Web site, Gould reportedly told 900 Best Buy employees — during some sort of mystery convention held last week in Dallas — that Chinese Democracy would hit the streets on November 25; Interscope last listed the album's release date as March 2007. Gould also declared that the record would be a Best Buy exclusive, and even previewed three of the album's tracks — this all according to a man who claims his nephew works for Best Buy and was present for the big reveal.

Several calls left with Best Buy's public-relations department were not returned as of press time, but this deal has been rumored for weeks, with several news outlets citing unnamed sources "close to the negotiations" who claimed the release of the disc was imminent. Meanwhile, other rumors have suggested Wal-Mart would be the album's exclusive retail carrier.

In what some believe is a strong sign we could be closer than ever before to hearing Chinese Democracy, one song from the oft-delayed record, "If the World," was chosen to accompany the closing credits of Leonardo DiCaprio's forthcoming film, "Body of Lies," which hits theaters nationwide October 10. A mastered version of the same song — which is a speedy, riff-heavy tune, reminiscent of "Night Train" and "Dead Horse" — leaked online earlier this year.

It's worth noting that, way back in 1991, GN'R's track "You Could Be Mine" was the second to surface from the band's perpetually postponed Use Your Illusion albums, and it also appeared on the soundtrack to "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." At the time, some hinted that the song's inclusion on the film's soundtrack helped encourage Axl and the boys to push forward the albums' release date. The first song released from those conceptual companion efforts was "Civil War," which appeared on a charity compilation in 1990.

The first recent sign that the release of Chinese Democracy could be nigh came this summer, when Harmonix and MTV Games announced that "Shackler's Revenge," a track from the album, would be making its worldwide debut on the forthcoming game "Rock Band 2." So, while questions of "if" and "when" continue to remain unanswered, the signs are there, giving fans new hope that Rose will soon deliver on his decade-long promise. But, as with everything in Guns N' Roses Land, nothing's official until Axl says so.

• Axl Rose
• Guns N' Roses

Lily Allen at the V Festival on Sunday
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Lily Allen had some choice dirty words for President Bush and U.S. immigration on Saturday during her performance at the V Festival in Stafford, England. "This next one is about people who are awkward on the train, U.S. immigration officials and George Bush in general," she said before the song "Everything's Just Wonderful." The outburst, in which she referred to Bush as a "f---ing c---," came just days after Allen was forced to scrap U.S. dates and an appearance at the Video Music Awards in light of the revocation of her working visa in the U.S. "I've been banned from America. That's nice. Oh well, that means I can't go back there. Good," Allen said, according to MTV UK. ...

Wanna hang in the recording studio with Timbaland? The winner of MTV's charity eBay auction will be flown to Las Vegas, stay at the Palms Casino Resort for three days (September 7-9) to check out the VMAs, and hit the Palms studio with the mega-producer as well. Other items up for bid include VMA gift bags, poker-table felt and other memorabilia. Head to the auction — all proceeds of which go to the Staying Alive Foundation, which helps young people fight AIDS and HIV — before it ends Monday (August 20). ...

Good news if you've been digging Talib Kweli's new collabo with Justin Timberlake, "The Nature" — the track will appear as a bonus on Kweli's Ear Drum, due Tuesday. ... "They gonna mix it with Biggie, it was all a dream!": Keyshia Cole's tour rolled through New York on Sunday, with the singer performing at the Nokia Theatre. As one of the highlights, she brought out Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim to perform their hit "Let It Go." Newcomer J. Holiday opened. ...

It's not exactly Lilith Fair, but Avril Lavigne, Fiona Apple and Sheryl Crow will anchor the first-ever Girlfrenzy, a daylong concert that will revolve around female artists and take place October 27 at Irvine, California's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Colbie Caillat, Antigone Rising and Sara Bareilles will also perform. ... The Friday premiere of "High School Musical 2" on the Disney Channel drew an estimated 17.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched basic-cable program in history. The first flick attracted 7.7. million in 2006, while the record was previously held by a "Monday Night Football" game that was watched by 16 million in 2006. ...

Gwen Stefani has stapled a seven-date West Coast leg onto her Sweet Escape tour. Sean Kingston will open for the singer when she hits Las Vegas (October 26); Tuscon, Arizona (October 29); San Diego (October 30); Stockton, California (November 1); Oakland, California (November 2); and Phoenix (November 8-9). ... Want to look just like Jessica Simpson? A recently launched e-commerce site, Seen On!, has more than 500 products associated with the actress. ...

We all know Kevin Federline the cocky rapper, but how about Kevin Federline the cocky rocker? That's the role Britney Spears' ex will play on the next season of "One Tree Hill" — he'll be the frontman of fictional band No Means Yes. ... Veronica Mars — er, Kristen Bell — is also doing the guest-appearance thing. She'll appear on a multi-episode arc on "Heroes" in October. ...

Dr. Dre is suing Death Row over the rights to his classic multiplatinum album, The Chronic. The producer/rapper (real name: Andre Young) filed a suit in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday in which he claims he created, produced and was the primary performer on the album's master recordings. In 1992 — before the album's November release — Dr. Dre gave Death Row a license to distribute the LP in trade for royalties. Four years later, he gave up his 50 percent ownership interest in the label, agreeing to give it the copyright as long as he continued receiving royalties. In 2000, Dre told Death Row he was overturning the agreement and wanted the copyright back after the label failed to pay him royalties. In the new lawsuit, he says he made good on his part of the original, and that the label and the Chapter 11 trustee involved with the label's bankruptcy case are violating his rights as the owner of the copyright by continuing to distribute The Chronic without his authorization. Dre wants the bankruptcy court to declare that the 1992 and '96 agreements have been rescinded, and force the label and trustee to pay restitution and restore the copyrights to him. Lastly, he's asking for a permanent injunction that would prevent Death Row from offering the copyrights for sale in the future without his written approval. ...

Method Man has agreed to visit 15 New York high schools to warn students about the dangers of drugs as part of a plea deal he reached earlier this year on a marijuana-possession charge. The Associated Press reported that the "How High" star (born Clifford Smith) is thrilled to give the talks, according to his lawyer, who added, "he's never been in trouble before. He's not a stereotypical rapper." Meth was arrested May 17 after toll-booth workers on the Brooklyn, New York, side of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel reported smelling marijuana smoke coming from his SUV. ...

A motley crew of opening acts will help Bon Jovi christen Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on October 25-November 10. My Chemical Romance (October 25-26), Big & Rich (October 28 and 30), Gretchen Wilson (November 1 and 3), Daughtry (November 4 and 7) and the All-American Rejects (November 9-10) will help the NJ native sons do the honors. ... Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose will make a guest appearance on the debut solo album from former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach. Angel Down will hit stores November 20 and feature Rose on two tracks: "(Love Is) a B---hslap" and a cover of Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle." ... The soundtrack to Rob Zombie's "Halloween" is set for release Tuesday and will feature 24 tracks, including Nazareth's "Love Hurts," Rush's "Tom Sawyer" and the Misfits' "Halloween II." ...

Pete Doherty was arrested on suspicion of drugs after being pulled over in a car with two other people in east London early Monday morning (August 20), following Babyshambles' Sunday performance at the V Festival. The three are in police custody at a London station. A magistrate warned Doherty earlier this month that he would face prison if he didn't prove that he was trying to stop using drugs. ... Emo rockers Piebald have called it quits. According to a statement from the band, the pop-punks will pack things up as soon as their current tour concludes September 7 in Englewood, Colorado. No reason was given for the breakup, but the statement claims, "This is a time of new beginnings, positive vibes and a congratulatory nod to the past. There has been talk of a few shows to give the band an official sendoff, but as of yet, those shows are not booked and unknown." ...

Police have charged some of the more than 80 people arrested during last week's Ozzfest stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, with "unruly behavior in the mosh pit." The individuals were charged with assault if they flailed their arms or legs in a way that police felt would hurt others. Meanwhile, in the wake of the arrests and two deaths that occurred at the venue during the show, the PNC Bank Arts Center has announced a total ban on alcohol outside the venue, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. The first show affected, a Velvet Revolver gig Friday night, found most patrons refraining from the typical hard-charging tailgating that usually goes on in the parking lot before shows at the venue, which has seen 500 arrests this season. ...

Uncle Kracker gave a statement to People magazine about being arrested on a second-degree forcible-sex-offense charge in North Carolina on Friday. "It's regrettable that someone would make this kind of allegation, not only because it's not the kind of thing I'd do, as the father of three girls, it's the kind of thing that I wouldn't stand for," the former Kid Rock DJ and solo singer said. "Anyone can say anything about anybody but it doesn't make it true or correct. This is one of those cases. I'm saddened that anyone might think I'm capable of this sort of thing." Kracker (born Matthew Shafer), was arrested early Friday morning after an alleged incident at a downtown Raleigh nightclub called the Ess Lounge; he was released later that day on $75,000 bond. Saturday night, Kracker took the stage in his hometown during a show by pal Kenny Chesney to duet on the tune "When the Sun Goes Down."

08.17.07

Lily Allen has been forced to postpone six West Coast tour dates, as well as her previously announced appearance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards on September 9, as her work visa has been revoked. Allen's publicist said in a press release that authorities revoked the visa earlier this month when Allen was entering the U.S., and that because the reinstatement process is taking longer than expected, she won't be able to launch her tour September 6 in San Diego. There's no word yet on when the concerts — which were set to take place in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Seattle, among other cities — might be rescheduled. "I am so disappointed that I won't be able to come to the States at this time," Allen said in the press release. "I was really looking forward to playing these shows and being part of the Video Music Awards. I want my fans to know that I'll be back as soon as I possibly can." ...

Yung Joc has partnered with Rockport to launch the "Roc With Joc" contest, a multi-city talent search for the next aspiring music mogul. The search kicked off Thursday in Detroit and will make stops in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Atlanta, where contestants can call into radio stations to list their various skills. The Bad Boy rapper will then bring the finalists to the album-release party for his August 28 LP, Hustlenomics, after which the winner will hit the road with Joc to put their talents to the test. ...

Jordin Sparks has signed to — what else? — 19 Recordings/ Jive Records, the label run by "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller. Her lead single "Tattoo" — produced by Stargate (Beyoncé and Ne-Yo) and co-written with Amanda Ghost (James Blunt's "Beautiful," Beyoncé and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar") — will hit radio August 27, while her yet-untitled debut is set to street in November. ... Paris Hilton had another encounter of sorts with police on Thursday when she launched her new clothing line at Kitson, a Los Angeles boutique. The store was mobbed — cops and city workers were called to manage the crowd, and a traffic lane had to be shut down. ...

Jamie Foxx will portray another musician on the big screen — but this time, it's probably not someone you've heard of. In "The Soloist," which is based on a 12-part Los Angeles Times series, the actor will play a homeless schizophrenic who dreamed about playing at Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall. "Atonement" director Joe Wright and "Ghost Rider" producer Gary Foster are also on board for the DreamWorks flick. ... A video clip of Jack White playing a kung-fu Elvis Presley in the upcoming flick "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" is making the rounds online. The comedy, co-written by Judd Apatow, will also star John C. Reilly and Jenna Fischer. ...

Nine Inch Nails have surreptitiously revealed on their Web site that a Year Zero remix album, Y34R Z3R0 R3M1X3D, is in the works. ... Beck has pumped out a new track, "Timebomb," his first new material since October's The Information. The song will be available exclusively on iTunes on Tuesday, then be made available to other digital outlets starting a week later. Interestingly, the single is not preceding an album — Beck doesn't have any LP plans at the moment. ... Flea joined Patti Smith onstage for a free outdoor concert at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday night. Playing to a massive crowd that virtually spilled over into the Pacific Ocean, the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist helped Smith burn through "Gloria," "Pissing in a River" and the show-closing "People Have the Power," as well as covers of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," Elvis Presley's "Love Me" and Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit." ...

After an investigation, what authorities originally thought was a sexual assault on a 15-year-old girl by a male college student during Tuesday's Dave Matthews Band concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York, has taken a bizarre turn. According to Albany TV station WNYT, the unidentified girl actually had consensual sexual contact with a 15-year-old male in the woods at the venue, and authorities said she was drunk at the time on alcohol provided by the mother of one of her friends. The woman, Lisa Vedder, reportedly bought a bottle of vodka on the way to the venue and provided it, in sports bottles, to her daughter and several friends. Vedder, 42, has been charged with three counts of unlawfully dealing with a child and could face additional charges of endangering the welfare of a child for providing the alcohol to her daughter. ...

Police are investigating the "suspicious" deaths of two men who attended Thursday's Ozzfest stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. According to New Jersey State Police Captain Al Della Fave, paramedics were summoned to the venue at 3:15 p.m. to treat Raymond Guarino, 26, of Forked River, who went into cardiac arrest. Guarino was resuscitated on site and then transported to nearby Bayshore Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:25 p.m. Police, who searched his vehicle and found small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, have received information that Guarino ingested both drugs, as well as alcohol, during the concert. An autopsy is being performed, but it could be up to six weeks before toxicology results come in. Police believe that another concertgoer — Patrick Norris, 24, of Coram, New York — who died at the same hospital at 10 p.m., had also ingested the same combination of drugs and suffered cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, police arrested 83 people during Ozzfest's Thursday stop. Fifty-nine were charged with underage drinking, while 30 others were booked on a variety of charges. ...

Kid Rock's onetime DJ Uncle Kracker was arrested Friday morning (August 17) in Raleigh, North Carolina, and charged with a second-degree forcible-sex offense, The Associated Press reports. According to police spokesman Jim Sughrue, a 26-year-old woman complained that a man had committed an unwanted sexual act against her at the Ess Lounge, a downtown nightclub. Kracker, 33, whose real name is Matthew Shafer, was arrested at a nearby hotel and is being held at the Wake County Jail on a $5 million bond. There are no additional details regarding the arrest, and Kracker is due to appear in court Friday afternoon. ...

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler admonished Phil Spector's defense attorneys on Thursday, saying they made a "deliberate and egregious" violation of discovery rules pertaining to forensics expert Dr. Michael Baden's testimony. Without the jury present, Fidler said he would give an instruction to jurors at the end of the case to make sure they knew what happened.

• Lily Allen
• Method Man
• My Chemical Romance
• Big & Rich
• Daughtry

Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie performs at the VMAs
Photo: John Shearer/WireImage.com

NEW YORK — The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards show was most certainly a lot of things. Predictable was not one of them.

There were plenty of "Did you see that?!"s and "I can't believe they said that!"s, from Beyoncé's manic performance of "Ring the Alarm" to Pink's jabs at Paris Hilton and President Bush. But the most common exclamation may well have been "I can't believe they won!"

Although the big names definitely represented, a host of underdogs stole the show — none more than Panic! at the Disco, who shocked pretty much everyone when their "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" took home the Moonman for Video of the Year.

And in true underdog fashion, the band was upstaged by a gate-crasher before its acceptance speech. "He stole our thunder," frontman Brendon Urie joked. "But thank you very, very much. This is amazing."

And Panic weren't the only flabbergasted ones. Chamillionaire seemed genuinely amazed when his clip for "Ridin' " was named Best Rap Video, AFI were nervous and gracious as they accepted the award for Best Rock Video, and the All-American Rejects (who sold more than a million copies of their Move Along album so stealthily that the CIA should take notes) were as wide-eyed and pumped as a bunch of pre-teens when they were announced as the winners of the Best Group Video award.

"We just won a Moonman!" lead singer Tyson Ritter screamed. "I am getting so trashed tonight!"

We believe you, man! All in all, 15 different artists took home awards — only Gnarls Barkley and James Blunt won more than one. And the two most nominated names, Shakira and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, managed wins only in technical categories ("Hips Don't Lie" won for Best Choreography and "Dani California" for Best Art Direction).

Kelly Clarkson bested Shakira for Best Female Video, the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps" won Best Hip-Hop Video, and Pink took home the Moonman for Best Pop Video (and promptly dissed Paris Hilton with a mock-airheaded, gum-smacking acceptance speech). Meanwhile, Madonna, Kanye West and Christina Aguilera were left award-less, amplifying the loose, anything-can-happen vibe that percolated throughout the night.

It was a vibe cultivated right out of the gate by host Jack Black — who, despite donning a gold lamé suit, still exuded a scrappy charm — and house band the Raconteurs, who snarled their way through duets with New York legend Lou Reed, Jim Jarmusch and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons.

And it spilled into the night's other performers: Justin Timberlake kicked things off with a pumping, pimping take on "SexyBack," Beyoncé stripped and stalked during a wild "Ring the Alarm," and T.I. delivered a raw, rugged version of his hit "What You Know" — capped with him standing center stage, hoodie pulled tight over his head, fist held aloft.

During the "Red Carpet on the Rock" preshow, My Chemical Romance debuted "Welcome to the Black Parade," the first single from their forthcoming Black Parade album, with an over-the-top, ultra-goth performance from Rockefeller Center's Top of the Rock observation deck — some 70 stories up. And Fergie got the night off to a rollicking start by vamping through a rendition of "London Bridge," complete with a Cadillac-drawn carriage and breakdancers dressed as Buckingham Palace guards.

Of course, there were some genuinely high-gloss moments, too. Christina Aguilera belted out a soulful version of her new single "Hurt," boosted by stabs of strings and bathed in a sea of smoke. Shakira shook her way through a belly-dance-enhanced "Hips Don't Lie." Panic served up a drama-club-heavy performance of "I Write Sins." A big-ticket presentation of the Video Vanguard Award to director Hype Williams came complete with performances by Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott.

Axl Rose — looking, well, unbuttoned — introduced the evening's final performance (complete with a vintage GN'R scream) by the Killers, who dressed like high-fashion desperadoes and emoted like MySpace kids through "When You Were Young."

But none of the aforementioned acts could upstage unheralded OK Go, whose performance — re-enacting their tremendous, treadmill-enhanced clip for "Here It Goes Again" — was unquestionably a VMA first.

Clearly nervous (and who wouldn't be?), the group nonetheless delivered a perfect rendition of the video atop monogrammed treadmills, complete with lip-syncing, goofy smirks and sorta-tailored suits. And the crowd responded with an enthusiastic standing ovation.

"We were holding on for dear life!" frontman Damian Kulash laughed backstage (see "Pharrell Shows Off Dirty Mouth, Al Gore Chills With 'Jackass' Crew: VMAs Backstage") .

It was a throwback to the vaguely amateurish, who-knows-what'll-happen-next VMAs of old, an ultra-refreshing alternative to the pyro-powered performances that dot today's award-show landscape. And though it happened early in the telecast, it pretty much summed up the 2006 VMAs.

Because if we are to take anything from a wildly unpredictable night, perhaps it's that all you need to be successful is a nice suit, a smile — and a treadmill.

The show might be over but the action isn't! Check out all the backstage, uncensored action right here.

Check out all the latest news and pictures from the big show, and reports from previous VMAs, at our VMA news archive.

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50 Cent with Bart Simpson
Photo: FOX

50 Cent will bring his game to Springfield when he guest stars on "The Simpsons." In an episode called "Pranksta Rap," Bart sneaks out of the house to attend a 50 concert and then fakes his own kidnapping to avoid being grounded. The episode airs February 13 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. ...

Though R. Kelly's lawyer wasn't feeling well enough during Friday's scheduled hearing in Chicago to proceed, the prosecution gave him a get-well gift of sorts when they finally handed over a crucial piece of evidence in the singer's upcoming child-pornography trial — their original copy of the alleged sex tape. The tape should have been handed over during discovery months ago, Kelly's attorney Ed Genson said on Wednesday (February 2). "I honest to God don't know why [it wasn't handed over earlier]," he said. "All I care about is that it's not my fault." Genson predicts that a lot of trial issues will be sorted out at the next hearing on February 18, such as possible sentencing parameters. ...

Though filming had supposedly wrapped long ago, Justin Timberlake shot a final few scenes for his upcoming film "Edison" late last week in Los Angeles. With co-star LL Cool J, the two actors pulled a "dead" body down a flight of stairs. There's no release date yet for the film, according to Timberlake's rep. ... Axl Rose is about to become an even richer man thanks to a multimillion-dollar publishing deal he recently signed with the Sanctuary Group. The deal covers Guns N' Roses' back catalog as well as any future material Rose might put out (think the long-awaited album Chinese Democracy), according to The Associated Press. A lawyer for Duff McKagan — who, along with fellow former GN'R member Slash sued Rose last year to determine who controls the rights to the old Guns songs — told the AP he was surprised by the deal, given that "neither Sanctuary nor Axl Rose have provided the remaining partners with a copy of that agreement." ...

Anna Kournikova's man, Enrique Iglesias, has started a new relationship — with Tommy Hilfiger. The singer has signed on to be the spokesperson for Hilfiger's new fragrance, True Star Men, the men's cologne counterpart to the women's perfume True Star Women, which was inspired by Beyoncé. The scent is set to hit stores worldwide in the fall. ... The lawsuits keep piling up for Courtney Love. The latest one — another for non-payment for services — was filed Thursday in New York federal court by the studio in France where she recorded much of her solo album, America's Sweetheart. Studio Miraval claims that the singer has not paid the balance of her bill from spring 2003, despite its "numerous attempts" to get her to do so. ...

Paula Abdul gets to dabble in the art world in her upcoming guest spot on "Less Than Perfect." In an episode called "Distractions," the "American Idol" judge plays Kathleen, the girlfriend of Will Butler (played by Eric Roberts) who owns a prominent New York art gallery displaying photographs taken by Owen Kronsky (Andy Dick). The episode airs Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC. ... Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis may be more well-known for their producing skills than their acting, but they're going to give it a go. The production duo share a guest spot as themselves on "Half & Half," airing February 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET on UPN. ...

Continuing his flirtation with country living, Uncle Kracker has signed on for a spring tour with Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson. The trek, Kracker's second outing with "Last Night, Again" duet partner Chesney, kicks off on March 9 in Houston and wraps on May 15 in Oklahoma City. Kracker will return to the studio after the tour to record his fourth album, due out in the fall. ... The second annual Kokua Festival in Oahu, Hawaii, will feature sets from Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, G. Love & Special Sauce and Ozomatli. All proceeds from the April 16 event will go to the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, a nonprofit funding environmental education programs in Hawaii. ...

Fountains of Wayne will play the Hollies on the March 20 episode of NBC's "American Dreams." The band will perform "Bus Stop" on the show's version of "American Bandstand." ... The String Cheese Incident are mounting a tour of ski towns called the Spring Ski Incidents. The outing, which will include afternoon shows at the bottom of ski hills, begins March 24 in Denver and hits Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Boise, Idaho; Park City, Utah; and other towns before wrapping April 9 in Vancouver, British Columbia. ... Ash are hitting the road with the Bravery, starting March 9 in Philadelphia, the day after Ash's new album, Meltdown, hits stores. Their 21-date trek will wind up April 13 in Toronto. ...

02.01.2005

In what comes as no surprise, Usher is among the top nominees for this year's Soul Train Awards. The singer scored four nominations, including Best R&B/Soul, Male for "Confessions Part II," Best R&B/Soul Album, Male for Confessions and best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut for "Yeah!" The video for "Yeah!" also earned Usher a nod for the Michael Jackson Award for best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video. Fellow ATL native and R&B ingénue Ciara also scored four nominations, including Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist, Best R&B/Soul, Female for "Goodies" and Best R&B/Soul Album, Female for Goodies. Other multiple nominees include Alicia Keys, Prince, Jill Scott and Beyoncé, who is nominated both as a solo artist and as part of Destiny's Child. The Soul Train Awards will be held February 28 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. ...

Want to join TLC? The group is holding open-call auditions, starting Saturday in New York at the Hilton and continuing through the rest of the month in Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Miami. Camera-shy singers need not apply, as they're shooting the auditions for their upcoming reality show for UPN, "R U the Girl with T-Boz and Chilli." ... Seattle radio station 96.5 K-Rock has assembled a lineup of Seattle's finest (circa mid-1990s) for its "Tsunami Continued Care Relief Concert" on February 18. Topping the bill are the re-formed Alice in Chains — Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney and Mike Inez — who will perform together for the first time in more than eight years. There is no word yet on who will front the band, whose lead singer, Layne Staley, died in 2002 from a drug overdose. Also scheduled to perform are former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Sea-town booty enthusiast Sir Mix-A-Lot. Tickets for the event are $40, and go on sale February 10 on K-ROCK's Web site, www.965KRock.com . ...

Fans of Radio 4 got a big surprise last weekend when Beck and his band played a surprise set opening for the New York rockers at the Echo in Los Angeles. It was the second unannounced set the singer played at the club last month, and served as a warm-up for the touring that will follow the March release of his new LP, Guero. ... Ever wonder what inspires artists like Björk, Yo La Tengo, Tortoise and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore? Check out Thrill Jockey's "Looking for a Thrill: An Anthology of Inspiration" DVD (February 22), which collects personal stories from more than 100 musicians about the concerts, records and artists that have motivated them. Others interviewed for the movie — the proceeds from which benefit Greenpeace — include Mike Watt, Jon Spencer, Vic Chesnutt, Steve Albini, Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Ian MacKaye (Fugazi) and Carl Craig. ...

Despite being behind bars, C-Murder will release his new album, The Truest **** I Ever Said, on March 22 via Koch Records. The album features guest appearances from the late Soulja Slim, Akon and Capone, among others. C-Murder's first single, "Y'all Heard," features B.G. A video for the single, shot in prison and in New Orleans, will be available later this month. C-Murder is currently in jail on second-degree murder charges. ... Warren G, Talib Kweli and Fantasia are all upcoming guest stars on the UPN show "All of Us" (which airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET). Warren G plays a warrant officer on February 8, while Kweli and Fantasia both appear as themselves on the March 1 episode. ...

NBA players Alonzo Mourning and Carmelo Anthony will host "Zo & Melo's 8-Ball Challenge" on February 17 at Denver's Wynkoop Brewing Company. A host of celebrities and athletes including Ludacris, Fabolous, Philadelphia Eagles' Terrell Owens, New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter and members of the WWE are scheduled to be on hand to showcase their billiard skills and compete for an exotic all-expenses-paid vacation and NBA All-Star Game tickets. The event will be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, and will also include a silent auction featuring items from Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, and LeBron James as well as Anthony and Mourning. The net proceeds raised will benefit charities supported by Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. and the Carmelo Anthony Foundation Fund. ... While Courtney Love has been resolving some of her criminal matters, she's still facing legal problems of a financial sort. Saturday is the deadline for her to resolve non-payment of legal fees in one civil case, while another company is now also claiming non-payment, according to a complaint filed recently in Olympia, Washington. WMC Mortgage Corp. is seeking foreclosure on a 13-acre property which Love bought in 1997 for Kurt Cobain's family, which would mean that the home would be put up for bid at a public auction. Love owes about $318,000, and the company says she hasn't paid the bills in over a year. ...

Sharon Warren, who won rave reviews playing Ray Charles' mother in "Ray," spent a lot of time on the set talking music with Jamie Foxx, as she too is releasing an album. Warren, who has written for Lenny Kravitz, will debut in the spring with the single "There." ... Cher is threatening — or promising, depending on how you feel about her — that her current tour will be her last. Though she's intimated that about past tours, she's now saying that this trek, called the Farewell Never Can Say Goodbye Tour, will end April 30 at the Hollywood Bowl with her last live performance ever. ...

For the price of a T-shirt and a hat, Megadeth's Dave Mustaine will personally tear your demo tape to bits. Fans who purchase a shirt/hat combo from Mustaine's merchandising company, BandMerch.com, can enter a contest to have their demo critiqued by the singer. As if chiding and derision from a rock star weren't enough of a prize, the winner will also receive an ESP Dave Mustaine Guitar and Line 6 Guitarport. The deadline for the contest is February 11. ... Canadian rockers Hot Hot Heat will hit the road for a trek across the U.S. prior to the release of their major-label debut, Elevator, in early April. Beginning February 21 in Seattle, the band will hit 14 cities across the country, ending up in Dallas on March 15. ...

Ben Folds' second solo studio LP, Songs for Silverman, has been pushed back from February to April 26. Folds recorded his follow-up to Rockin' the Suburbs with bassist Jared Reynolds and drummer Lindsay Jamieson, making it his first album with a band since Ben Folds Five's final LP in 1999. Songs for Silverman includes the first single, "Landed," as well as a tribute to Elliott Smith called "Late." ...

• 50 Cent
• R. Kelly
• Justin Timberlake
• Axl Rose
• Enrique Iglesias