Metallica's Kirk Hammett
Photo: MTV News

For four consecutive albums, Metallica relied on the talents of producer Bob Rock, a man who has worked with the likes of the Cult and Mötley Crüe over the course of his nearly 30-year career. The guys came to trust Rock after he'd helmed their 1991 self-titled breakthrough, and they even recruited him for their three subsequent follow-ups: 1996's Load, 1997's Reload and 2003's St. Anger.

But in 2006, Metallica revealed that their 15-year relationship with Rock had dissolved and that they'd be searching for a new producer for their forthcoming ninth LP, Death Magnetic, which hits stores September 12. They found what they were looking for in Rick Rubin, one of the most important producers of the last 20 years, who has worked with artists as diverse as Slayer, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Diamond, Weezer, Rage Against the Machine and Jay-Z.

At the start of the studio sessions, frontman James Hetfield said Rubin challenged them to think back to 1985, when they wrote and recorded 1986's Master of Puppets. He wanted Metallica to return to that mind-set, to recall those elements, experiences and influences that drove them to what's widely acknowledged as their finest work.

"For us to accomplish that mission, we needed to shed a lot of extra baggage," Hetfield said. "We needed to focus a little more, we needed to make quicker decisions, we needed to be OK saying no to certain stuff, and we needed to weed through stuff quicker."

Rubin wanted to break the habits Metallica had developed under Rock's watch and wanted them to track Death Magnetic in a much different way.

"One of the coolest things was Rick actually suggested that we all stand up and rock out, like we would live," said bassist Robert Trujillo. "And we did, and it put a lot of life into the basic tracking of it all. It was almost to the point where, when I was retracking stuff, I was standing up, headbanging. I'd never done that in a recording situation before. He's a great song doctor, and he has great ears."

According to guitarist Kirk Hammett, Rubin's style was drastically different than Rock's, in that he was less hands-on. In fact, he was barely ever in the studio.

"The great thing about working with Rick is he's never around," he said. "I would say that's a very strong point, in that it leaves the four of us to take on the entire brunt of the work and the planning that goes into the songwriting process and the recording process. Of course, Rick was there for part of that process — when we recorded drums and vocals — but the fact that we were isolated in our studio, working on the songs ourselves, made a big difference, because it kept our sound pure. We got more Metallica that way than we had previously with Bob Rock.

"Bob would add a lot of his own musical input, and with that came a lot of his own influences and style and jurisdiction and idiosyncrasies," Hammett continued. "And it would eventually make it into our sound. But with Rick, because he wasn't there, it's almost 100 percent undiluted Metallica. He'd come in and say, 'That's good, that isn't, change that.' And we would have to figure that out for ourselves. This is the most pure we've sounded in a long time."

Hetfield agreed that while Rock was a solid producer, Rubin's style is dramatically different.

"Rick is not the kind of producer like a Bob Rock, who's there every moment, holding your hand, making you step up," he said. "[Rock] arranged everything, all the time, and wore many hats in the studio. Rick Rubin? No hat. Rick comes in and goes, 'Well, where's the songs? OK, that's good. That's not so good. More of this, less of that — see you in a few months. Goodbye.' And that's what we needed — that brutal honesty, to get through it, and it worked."

Metallica said it was Rubin's past efforts that attracted them to him as a producer, because they wanted a tighter, more in-your-face result. And that's what they got with Rick.

"The Slipknot that he did, the System of a Down records he did, and even the Johnny Cash stuff, where it's the essence of him, and you hear him, you hear what's going on — that's what I want, I want people to really hear Metallica," Hetfield explained. "So, in a way, it's [got] somewhat of an older sound. Songs and arrangement-wise, we've got a lot more diversity on the record — instrumentals, fast, shorter songs, epic, ballady moments. It's quite different from St. Anger, where if you're angry, this is your album, and if you're not, it might take some work."

So what was the hardest thing about working with Rubin on Death Magnetic?

"Letting go," Hetfield said. "Letting Rick produce. It's not luck — he's got something, he's not stupid. He knows what will be best for us, I believe that, and we had to trust that process. That was difficult, because Lars and I have been driving this band forever, and to back off a little bit, that was hard."

• Metallica Find Harmony, But Aren't Stumping For Peace

• Metallica
• Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin
Photo: Stephen Shugerman/ Getty Images

Rick Rubin never having won the Producer of the Year Grammy was the musical equivalent of Martin Scorsese never having won the best-director Oscar. And on Sunday, two weeks before Scorsese is expected to finally get his prize, Rubin was at last honored — and then honored again and again and again.

In the end, Rubin walked away (not literally — he did not attend) with five Grammys: for Producer of the Year; Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year for the Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way; Record of the Year for the Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice"; and Best Rock Album for Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium (see "Timberlake Rocks; Blige Weeps; Chicks, Chilis Clean Up At Grammys").

And, while we're counting, he was also a part of five other Grammy-winning projects: Song of the Year and Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice"; Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best Rock Song for Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dani California"; and Best Metal Performance for Slayer's "Eyes of the Insane."

"It feels so good to know our work touched listeners," Rubin said in a statement. "During the process, we are making our own favorite music. [These awards are] confirmation that what is true and real in the emotion of music is contagious."

The Grammys undoubtedly add an exclamation mark to a very successful 2006 for Rubin. But it's understandable that he called the year "not unusually special" in an interview with MTV News (see "Rick Rubin Calls His Year 'Not Unusually Special'; Grammy Nods Tell Another Story") — particularly if you look at what 2007 has in store for him.

As always, Rubin is working with a variety of artists and hoping to give new life to a couple of them along the way. Here's a rundown:

Linkin Park: "They really are reinventing themselves," Rubin said of the band, mixing now for a summer release. "It doesn't sound like rap-rock. There's very strong songwriting. I've heard guys in the band say that it transcends everything they've done before, like it puts them in a whole different light in their minds, and they really like that. It's very melodic. It's a progressive record."

Metallica: "I saw [the warts-and-all Metallica documentary 'Some Kind of Monster'], and it made me really nervous," Rubin said. "Then we started working, and it's the opposite direction of that. They're really productive, really communicative — it seems like they really like being in the room together. It's a great process. They say they're more excited than they have been in a long time about making music. We're going to start recording in March. I asked them not to reinvent themselves so much as to make a defining album, like the purest of what Metallica is. That's the aim, so we'll see what happens."

Weezer: "Rivers [Cuomo] just gave me some demos, the first round for this album," Rubin said. "I'm trying to get my head clear to really just dive in."

U2: "We've talked about doing some more, but they're on tour," said Rubin, who produced two tracks for the band's recent hits compilation, U218 Singles, including the Green Day collaboration "The Saints Are Coming." "Hopefully we'll get to do some more together."

Dan Wilson of Semisonic: "The album's done and hopefully will be out this summer," Rubin said. "It's mind-blowing. It's my favorite album. He's just great."

The (International) Noise Conspiracy: "I heard one set of demos that were really good, and I'm waiting for the next batch," the producer said.

Rubin's long-in-the-works compilation of peace songs: "It has not yet come to pass, but hopefully it will," Rubin said (see "Audioslave, Chili Peppers Play For Peace On Rick Rubin Compilation"). "It felt more meaningful to me at the beginning of the [Iraq] war, when it felt like there was a lot of pro-war sentiment. As it's changed, and more and more people are realizing [the war is] a bad idea, it feels like we're preaching to the converted now. At the time, we felt like we'd be leading the charge. At this point, it feels less pressing, which I think is a great thing."

For more on Rick Rubin, check out the feature "What's Up With That Bearded Guy in the '99 Problems' Video?"

The show's over but there's plenty of Grammy hotness here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest red-carpet and onstage action; join our reporters as they hit all the Grammy week parties; and let us know what you think about the performers, winners and losers. Plus see videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night right here.

• Rick Rubin: The Man Behind The Beard
• Grammys '07: Who Won, Who Sung?

• It's Showtime!: 2007 Grammy Awards Photos
• Red Carpet Spectacular: Photos From The 2007 Grammy Awards

• Rick Rubin
• Linkin Park
• Weezer
• Metallica
• Dixie Chicks

Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis
Photo: Sean Gardner/ Getty Images

With eight studio albums and two decades of experience under their belts, you'd think the Red Hot Chili Peppers would have mastered a method to the madness that is making records. In a way, they have.

They knew all along they wanted Rick Rubin to produce their most recent LP, Stadium Arcadium, having worked with him on 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, 1995's One Hot Minute, 1999's Californication, and 2002's By the Way.

"He really has earned his place as the producer of this band," said frontman Anthony Kiedis. "He has improved his game consistently. He just gets better and better. He's willing to work harder and harder. His intuition flourishes. We have been so willing to grow and change as a band, and he's also come along for that ride. He has the same love for music today that I think teenagers get when they're 17 and they fall in love with the wonderful world of music."

Still, as successful as they've been, the Chili Peppers aren't the kind of guys who consider themselves above experimentation. Hell, they still derive inspiration for their songs from some unusual outside sources. For instance, before there was "Dani California" -- the lead-off single from the Peppers' Grammy-nominated, funk-filled double-LP -- there was "Wu-Tang."

"The working title for 'Dani California' was always 'Wu-Tang,' " explained Rubin, who produced the Los Angeles-based band's ninth offering -- which is up for six Grammys, including nods for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album (see "Mary J. Blige, Chili Peppers Top Grammy Nominations List"). "I don't even know if it came from a particular song or a feel that [guitarist] John [Frusciante] and [bassist] Flea had about what Wu-Tang's first album sounded like, but I knew they were influenced by it."

According to engineer Andrew Scheps -- who has worked with Audioslave, the Mars Volta, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z -- the drum groove for "Dani" was based on the beats drummer Chad Smith loved from Wu-Tang's 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Interestingly, Smith collaborated with the Wu, as well as Audioslave/ Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, on a cover of "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F--- Wit," which appeared on the 2000 compilation Loud Rocks.

"I think they knew pretty early on that that was what they wanted to be the first single," Scheps said. From the beginning of what ended up being a yearlong recording process in Rubin's Los Angeles-area mansion (see "Peppers Say Return To Sex Scene Yielded Different Magik"), "they knew exactly where that song was going to go. So in a way, it was a surprise that it wasn't a big surprise that this was the first single. But it was that kind of hip-hop groove from the Wu-Tang songs that they wanted to write a rock song around, and that was the idea that got it started."

And "Dani California" -- which is nominated for the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song -- made quite an impression on the band's fans, as Stadium Arcadium became the Peppers' first album to debut at #1 on the Billboard album sales chart, scanning 442,000 copies during its first week in stores (see "Red Hot Chili Peppers Cruise To First Billboard #1 Debut").

But the recording of Arcadium, which was initially conceived as three individual albums the band hoped to release six months apart, was a rather unique experience for the band.

"They decided to work shorter hours," Rubin explained. "In the past, [the] writing mode would be a very exhaustive process and they would be in there for a long period of time and it'd be tiring. In this version, they worked less days a week but carried it on as long as it took. And they took a lot of breaks. So there was much more of a freshness -- there was never the drudgery of showing up on the 100th day and trying to [energize]. Just naturally, as an experiment, they decided to see what this felt like, and by cutting down their hours, they ended up being much, much, much more productive."

And with 38 songs to track, time was a valued commodity that was never wasted by the band. According to several people who worked on the LP, the Chili Peppers didn't bog down the process with repeated takes. The idea wasn't to make these songs as perfect as technology could make them, but to maintain the natural, raw feel of the band -- to make a record that sounded like it was tracked during the 1970s. Hence, the album was recorded in a single room, with all of the players present all at the same time, something the boys weren't accustomed to.

"Recording-wise, it went very quickly," Rubin added. "There was a very fluid momentum. Everyone always plays at the same time, but typically the instruments are really isolated from each other for control over the sounds later. John thought it would be an interesting concept for this album for all the instruments to be in the room at the same time, so all the instruments are bleeding into each other, and that was the first time we had done that."

"They're pros, and they're incredibly talented," said engineer Ryan Hewitt, who has worked with artists like Blink 182 and had a hand in By the Way. "They rehearse their stuff, they look at each other, they lock in, and they just go for it, and Rick really pushes for that. He wants a natural, organic feel, and so does the band. They don't play to a click track. Everything was done on tape. There's no ProTools involved. What you hear from the band is exactly what they played, when they played it. There's no trickery involved in the music on this record. It all came out of the fingers and hands of these guys."

Much like "Dani California," Hewitt said most of the tracks were captured in three takes. Later on is where the experimentation would come in. "On 'Dani,' at the end, it goes into that guitar solo," Hewitt said. "Well, John wanted to double-track it, so it was a bigger, thicker sound. So really, there are two guitars playing at that point. And he did that solo in one take. The solo you hear on the record is the solo he played in the room, with the band -- that was one take, done. And then he went in to double it. He listened to it a couple of times and played it exactly the same. Again, in maybe two takes. It was perfectly similar -- or as perfect as you can get."

For his part, Flea used a variety of bass amps during Arcadium's creation and tried to capture just the right sound for each respective song, often using different amps for each and every song he worked on. Smith tried recording overdubs in narrow hallways and different rooms in Rubin's mansion, to see if perhaps he could beef up the tom-toms, for instance. Frusciante relied heavily on his 40-year-old modular synthesizer to tweak his guitar parts at times.

"When you listen to 'Dani California,' the guitars are always changing, and there's all these effects going on, created with the modular synthesizer after he played them," Hewitt said. "So you have this endless palette to choose from to make those sounds, and John would never use the same sound twice. That was real exciting. At times, we would record the guitars at a different speed, so we'd change the speed of the tape so when he was listening to it, it was going really slow or really fast -- at least compared to its normal speed. Then, when you play it back, it's like this totally different sound. At the end of 'Wet Sand,' it sounds like there's a harpsichord when really it's three guitars playing the harmony to each other at twice the tape speed."

And Frusciante insisted that those slight imperfections be left in to give the LP more character. "He has an instinct to leave imperfections in a record," Hewitt said. "He's a huge fan of 1960s, 1970s music, where there's just stuff that's blatantly wrong on certain records. It's not perfect. John recognizes when to let go of things. There are other times when we'll sit there trying to fix one note forever until it is perfect. But there are some things that are, to me, really obvious -- Chad dropped a stick in one song, and that was left in. You can tell because he's playing kind of weird. He's trying to find his other stick, but it keeps going, and he's playing with one arm. It's things you don't notice when listening to the song because it was so good and the groove is so tight. If you listen to the guitar by itself, it might sound a little funny in one spot. But because the band is so tight, that kind of thing is not going to stick out, and it will add to the cool factor."

According to Scheps, Stadium Arcadium marks a new beginning for one of his favorite bands and will go down as one of the most important LPs of the band's career.

"To me, By the Way seemed to be the first record in whatever direction they were going, and Stadium is where they're starting to realize it," he said. "It's less grooves and more songs, and Anthony is just singing his ass off. ... And now he's a great singer. They were doing more of the same, but they were a lot more confident at it because they'd been doing it for a while, and they were just better at it. It seems as though this could be — and it's ridiculous, because they have been making records for so long — but this could be the beginning of the next set of records they make."

Get the story behind the other Album of the Year nominees:

• Justin Wanted To Channel Coldplay On FutureSex/LoveSounds
• Gnarls Barkley Didn't Expect Anyone Else To Like St. Elsewhere
• Dixie Chicks Had 'Nothing To Lose,' Took Long Way
• John Mayer Shifts From Pop Idol To Bluesman On Continuum

The show's over but there's plenty of Grammy hotness here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest red-carpet and onstage action; join our reporters as they hit all the Grammy week parties; and let us know what you think about the performers, winners and losers. Plus see videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night right here.

• Grammys Backstage: Get Cozy!
• Grammys Red Carpet: Fire-Starters
• MTV News RAW: Red Hot Chili Peppers

• The 49th Annual Grammy Nominees
• 49th Annual Grammy Awards Performers And Presenters
• Grammy Parties: Scarlett, Christina, Justin, Katharine And More

• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Wu-Tang Clan
• Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin
Photo: John Shearer /WireImage.com

If you could put a face to this year's eclectic crop of Grammy nominees, it would have an overgrown beard and black shades.

Rick Rubin not only produced, or had a hand in producing, three of the five Album of the Year contenders, but for the fifth time in his esteemed career, he earned a Producer of the Year nomination (see "Mary J. Blige, Chili Peppers Top Grammy Nominations List").

Between his work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dixie Chicks, Justin Timberlake, System of a Down, and U2 and Green Day, he's connected to more than 15 nominations, more than any other artist. Not bad for a year the low-key producer described as "not unusually special."

"I have to say, usually when I'm in the studio, it feels special," he clarified, calling from his Malibu, California, home. "In fact, I try to work on projects that feel special before we get in the studio whenever possible."

And "special" might be the only word that fits all of Rubin's varied projects. While his look is signature, his sound is certainly not, which is how he ends up overseeing rock, country, pop, hip-hop and metal albums — sometimes on the same day.

"I love having a variety, as far as styles go," he explained. "I feel like it keeps me fresh. I get to work a lot, but I never really get bogged down, because every time I go to the studio with a different style of artist, it forces me to start from square one and really tune in to what the artist is about. If all I did was make hip-hop records or metal records, I feel like it would run its course."

Rubin picks all of his projects, whether it's Mick Jagger, Shakira or Andrew "Dice" Clay, using the same simple guidelines. "I have to really like them as people first and foremost," he said. "Then I talk to them and hear their vision for the project, see what's going on in their life and see if it feels like a potential there for great work to come."

Once he does sign on, his priority is not production but rather pre-production and songwriting. "It's different for every artist, but I tend to believe overall in the quality of content over everything else," Rubin said. "So we spend a great deal of time working on material long before we ever think about going into a recording studio. It's about finding songs and writings songs and really exhausting that before thinking about things like performance and what the album's going to sound like."

Rubin doesn't follow a set songwriting formula; he just offers opinions based on his personal tastes, and as Justin Timberlake put it, "Rick Rubin doesn't ever do anything bad" (see "Don't Expect Justified 2: Timberlake Enlists Rick Rubin For New LP").

"The cool thing about Rick," the pop star said, "is when we first met, he said to me, 'Look, I don't influence you one way or the other. You do whatever it is that you do and I'll just come in and tell you what I think and move stuff in a direction that seems conducive to what you do.' And that's such a comforting thing because you know you're in good hands."

Although he's certainly made millions in the music industry (dating back to his massive successes with the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC and Public Enemy), Rubin basically ignores the business side of record-making.

"He's just so focused on the music, he doesn't care when the label wants it done, he doesn't care if there is a format that plays you or doesn't play you," Dixie Chicks frontwoman Natalie Maines said. "I think [the Chicks' Grammy-nominated Taking the Long Way] was really the first time that I ever made a record where I just loved the process, because there was no pressure, no stress, there was no rules. We used to have rules for ourselves just about being the Dixie Chicks ... she had to play something and she had to play something on the same song, and we all three had to sing on the choruses. And Rick just throws all of that out."

"So much of what we do is not premeditated," Rubin explained, also speaking on behalf of the artists he works with. "We really show up and try to do our very best and get it flowing, and then when it's flowing, we try to let it flow until it runs out and then we see what we got. It's not dictated by us."

Although he works with new artists every year, Rubin also reserves studio time for his close friends, whether it was the late Johnny Cash, Slayer or especially the Red Hot Chili Peppers (see "Peppers Say Return To Sex Scene Yielded Different Magik").

"I talk to Rick almost every day of my life," Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis said. "He really has earned his place as the producer of this band. He has improved his game consistently. He just gets better and better and he's willing to work harder and harder. His intuition flourishes."

Interestingly, of all the projects Rubin's produced over the past couple of years, the one that stands out is Neil Diamond's critically acclaimed 12 Songs (see "How Jay-Z's Producer Brought Neil Diamond Back To The Future").

"It really touches a spot in me," the producer said. "He hit a sweet spot in his writing, and there's an intimacy and vulnerability to how it was recorded and a natural quality to it that really affects me when I hear it. We went in with no expectations and it turned into what it is. I'm really proud of it."

Oh, and as for those four previous Producer of the Year Grammy nominations — in 1994, '95, '99 and 2004 — he lost them all.

For more on Rick Rubin, check out the feature "What's Up With That Bearded Guy in the '99 Problems' Video?"

The show's over but there's plenty of Grammy hotness here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest red-carpet and onstage action; join our reporters as they hit all the Grammy week parties; and let us know what you think about the performers, winners and losers. Plus see videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night right here.

• Grammys Backstage: Get Cozy!
• Grammy Race: Can Mayer Sprint Past JT?
• Rick Rubin: The Man Behind The Beard
• Grammys Red Carpet: Fire-Starters

• Rick Rubin Retrospective Photos
• The 49th Annual Grammy Nominees
• Grammy Parties: Scarlett, Christina, Justin, Katharine And More
• Mike Shinoda, Pussycat Dolls, Roots, More At Grammy Style Studio
• 49th Annual Grammy Awards Performers And Presenters

• Rick Rubin
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Dixie Chicks
• Justin Timberlake
• System of a Down

Beyoncé and Alejandro Fernández
Photo: Sony/BMG

Beyoncé has joined forces with legendary Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández to record "Amor Gitano" ("Gypsy Love"), a duet they sing in Spanish. The flamenco-pop track, co-written by Beyoncé, debuts Monday on Telemundo's "El Zorro" telenovela. On the tune, B sings: "I'm your thief, I'm going to love you even if they tear my heart out."...

Chris Brown has joined the lineup for this year's Essence Music Festival, which returns to New Orleans July 5-7. Brown will perform July 6, the same night that Beyoncé is scheduled to take the stage. Mary J. Blige and Lionel Richie are also onboard for the three-day event. ...

Brown is also among the latest crop of performers added to Sunday night's telecast of the 49th annual Grammy Awards. The newly added performances include a tribute to classic R&B singers featuring Brown, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson; first-time Grammy performer Shakira in a duet with Wyclef Jean; and Rascal Flatts partnering with Carrie Underwood. Some new presenters have also been added, including the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, Natasha Bedingfield, Tony Bennett, Nicolas Cage, Seal, jazz legend Ornette Coleman, LeAnn Rimes, comedian Lewis Black and David Spade. The Grammys air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. MTV News' "All Up in the Grammys" preshow begins at 7:30 p.m. on on MTV. ...

Happy that you'll finally get to read the last "Harry Potter" book in July but sad the series is ending? Your mixed feelings about "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" are no match for J.K. Rowling's. In a post on her Web site, the author says she's "never felt such a mixture of extreme emotions in my life, never dreamed I could feel simultaneously heartbroken and euphoric." This, on top of her "incredible sense of achievement." But she takes consolation that she's not alone and that her fans are bound to continue "arguing and speculating" even after the book comes out. "One thing has stopped me [from] collapsing in a puddle of misery on the floor," she wrote. "While each of the previous Potter books has strong claims on my affections, 'Deathly Hallows' is my favorite, and that is the most wonderful way to finish the series." ...

Nickelodeon's 20th annual Kids Choice Awards have named their host: singer/actor/ reigning Best Burp champ Justin Timberlake will lead the festivities, which air live March 31 on Nickelodeon. "I'm revving up to have an even bigger blast than usual," Timberlake said in a statement, "and I'm thrilled and proud to be hosting the 20th anniversary show. ... While honoring kids' opinions, it taps into the kid in all of us." Timberlake is also up for this year's Favorite Male Singer prize, facing off with Chris Brown, Sean Paul and Jesse McCartney for the trophy. Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Ciara and Jessica Simpson vie for Favorite Female Singer honors, while Fall Out Boy, Black Eyed Peas, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nickelback compete in the Favorite Music Group category. Fans can begin voting for the prizes — which also honor favorites in movies, TV and books — beginning March 5 at Nick.com. ...

While Gnarls Barkley wait to see how they fare at Sunday night's Grammy Awards, the group is asking fans to put themselves in the running in a different kind of contest: a haiku competition. A.B. Vidal, "Chief Executive of St. Elsewhere," posted a challenge on the band's site last week asking for poets to step forward with a haiku to win an unnamed prize. "Your theme can be either Solitude or Pineapples. Or, if you can manage it, both." Vidal encourages fans to enter often, but warns, "I reserve the right to be as arbitrary as I like in my decision making." The contest closes Tuesday (February 6). ... A judge in Newport Beach, California, issued an arrest warrant for Daniel Baldwin on Tuesday, The Associated Press reports. The actor, who has been charged with illegally taking another person's car, did not show up to Orange County Superior Court for his scheduled arraignment. ...

Hit-making producer Rick Rubin, best known for founding Def Jam Records alongside Russell Simmons and working with a range of artists from Johnny Cash to Jay-Z, has been offered a position with Columbia Records as co-chairman of the label, according to The New York Times. The report stated Rubin is currently under contract with Warner Bros. Records, which hosts his American Recordings label, but sources close to the deal revealed it's possible that Rubin could get out of the last three years of the arrangement provided he still produced records for acts signed to Warner. ... Rubin's pals the Nine Inch Nails have set April 17 as the release date for their next LP, Year Zero, according to the band's Web site. The album is expected to feature 16 tracks, including "The Beginning of the End" and "Survivalism." ...

Arcade Fire have posted the lyrics for their second album, Neon Bible, in anticipation of the disc's March 6 release. The lyrics are accessible through NeonBible.com, a site that looks a little frightful at first glance — flashing bibles on the opening screen lead to creepy black-and-white imagery, and clicking on "lyrics" at the top of that page brings up a ghostly-looking girl reciting a poem. Clicking to the right of the girl's book calls forth the song lyrics. The words fall in line with the somber mood, with "Intervention" featuring the lyrics: "Singin' hallelujah with the fear in your heart/ Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home/ Hear the soldier groan, 'We'll go at it alone.' " "Antichrist Television Blues" tells the story of a "good Christian man" who wants to put his daughter — who "can sing like a bird in a cage" — on TV. While that track has led to speculation that the Fire are targeting Joe Simpson, the song does not name names. ... Arctic Monkeys have set an April 23 U.K. release date for their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare. The first single is called "Brianstorm."

02.05.2007

Jessica Simpson was "hurt" by ex-husband Nick Lachey's early dating after their marriage dissolved, she told Elle magazine for its March issue, due to hit newsstands February 13. "Two or three weeks later? Yeah, I'd say it kind of hurt me," she said. ...

After weeks of Internet leaks, the dates for the Honda Civic Tour — headlined by Fall Out Boy and featuring (+44), Cobra Starship, the Academy Is ... and, uh, Paul Wall — have finally been confirmed. The trek kicks off April 18 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and runs until mid-June, with a pair of homecoming gigs in FOB's Chicago hometown on the 10th and 11th. Fans who purchase the band's Infinity on High album when it hits stores Tuesday will receive an access code for a special ticket presale. The general presale begins February 17. For more info, check out HondaCivicTour.com ...

Kim Mathers, now twice-divorced from Eminem, appeared on ABC's magazine show "20/20" Friday to discuss her tumultuous relationship with the multiplatinum superstar. In a segment titled "Lovers' Revenge," Mathers described her second marriage to Eminem as "rushed," claimed the rapper's fame destroyed their marriage and revealed that their relationship ended for good over an argument she had with his younger brother. Mathers also discussed her affairs, her failed suicide attempt and Em's role as a father and husband. Through his representatives, Eminem declined to comment for the segment. ...

Jennifer Lopez is getting a human-rights award — and it's not for the performance she gave (with hubby Marc Anthony) at a Super Bowl party in Miami over the weekend. The Associated Press reports that the singer/actress will receive the Artists for Amnesty award for her work producing and starring in "Bordertown," a soon-to-be-released film about the murder of hundreds of women in a Mexican town. J. Lo will be presented with the award February 14 at the Berlin Film Festival, where the movie is debuting. There's some good news for J. Lo fans too: The wait for her Spanish-language album just got a bit shorter. The release of Como Ama Una Mujer has been moved up one week to March 27. ...

No Doubt's Tom Dumont joined former You Hear It First artist Matt Costa onstage at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, Saturday night. Dumont provided backup vocals during "Miss Magnolia," a new Costa tune that closed his opening set for G. Love and Special Sauce. Look for it to surface on Costa's new Dumont-produced album, which the singer/songwriter will record later this year. The No Doubt guitarist told MTV News that the band's new material could be out by 2008. "[Guitarist] Tony [Kanal] and [drummer] Adrian [Young] and I have been writing music for the next No Doubt album, to be ready when we resume to record with [singer] Gwen [Stefani]," Dumont said. In the meantime, Dumont has also been keeping busy producing New York indie band ModRocket and scoring an in-the-works animated short for the Disney Channel. ...

Bam Margera married Missy Rothstein, a childhood friend, on Saturday, AP reports. Iggy Pop performed at the festivities, and Tony Hawk and former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha were in attendance. The wedding was filmed for Margera's MTV reality show "Bam's Unholy Union." ... LL Cool J will host the 38th NAACP Image Awards, which will air live March 2 on Fox. Bono will be presented with a special award for his humanitarian efforts, while Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia are among the nominees in the running for NAACP prizes honoring entertainers. ...

A federal judge issued a temporary injunction against ParisExposed.com, the Web site that's been offering its subscribers access to personal pictures, videos, diaries and other documents Paris Hilton had in storage, AP reports. The site purchased the contents at auction after Hilton failed to pay her storage fees. Hilton sued the operators of the site last week, charging that its very existence exploited her private personal belongings for commercial gain. The injunction, issued Friday, bars the site from posting Hilton's Social Security number, health records and other personal information. ... Turner Broadcasting Systems and marketing company Interference Inc. have agreed to pay $2 million in compensation for the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" promotional campaign that set off a terrorism scare in Boston last week. AP reports that $1 million of the settlement will be used to reimburse local agencies that responded to the electronic signs mistaken for bombs, while the remaining $1 million will be used to fund homeland-security programs. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said the agreement will resolve any potential civil or criminal claims against the companies. ...

The long-running dispute between computer maker Apple Inc. and the Beatles' record company, Apple Corps, was resolved Monday (February 5), potentially paving the way for the Beatles' music to finally be offered for download on iTunes. In a joint press release, the longtime rivals announced that they've entered into a new agreement about the use of the name "Apple" and apple logos that replaces their 1991 agreement — and allows Apple Inc. to own all the trademarks related to "Apple." The computer company will license certain, unspecified, trademarks back to Apple Corps for their use. The settlement also quashed the ongoing trademark lawsuit between the companies. "We love the Beatles," Apple CEO Steve Jobs commented, "and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks. It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner, and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future." Though the agreement did not bring any word on the holy grail of music downloads — the Beatles on iTunes — Apple Corps manager Neil Aspinall did say that "the years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful co-operation with them." ...

When rumors first surfaced last year that Brody Dalle's punk band the Distillers had called it quits, the singer wouldn't confirm the split. But now it's official. Dalle and guitarist Tony Bradley have moved on with a new band, Spinnerette. No explanation has been offered for the Distillers' breakup. ... None More Black have decided to go on an indefinite hiatus. The band issued its sophomore LP, This Is Satire, last year. The group hasn't provided a reason for the split. ... P.O.D. have signed with INO Records/ Columbia Records, and are currently in pre-production for their forthcoming album, which is expected out late this summer. ... Godsmack bassist Robbie Merrill and his wife, Heather, welcomed the couple's first child, Nianni Chay Merrill, on January 18. ...

Joe Hunter of legendary Motown session musicians the Funk Brothers was found dead in his Detroit apartment late last week, AP reports. The cause of death is not yet known, although the pianist was a diabetic. Hunter earned three Grammys and was featured in the 2002 documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." He was 79. ... Noted singer/actress Barbara McNair — who starred alongside Elvis Presley in "Change of Habit" and Sidney Poitier in "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs" — has also passed away, AP reports. She died at age 72 on Sunday after a battle with throat cancer.

• MTV News RAW: Shakira
• MTV News RAW: Justin Timberlake

• 49th Annual Grammy Awards Performers And Presenters
• The 49th Annual Grammy Nominees

• Beyoncé
• Chris Brown
• Shakira
• Wyclef Jean
• Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake
Photo: MTV News

LAS VEGAS — Justin Timberlake has already recorded "really dope" collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Will.I.Am and Nelly Furtado for his second solo album, and now he's contemplating whether to do more.

"I feel that I'm in kind of a good place with the small cast that I have right now, because they're heavy hitters, definitely," he said recently. "But I'll have to see which direction it goes. If it makes sense, then I'll do it, but if not, I don't want to push it."

Will.I.Am is also producing tracks for the album, along with Timbaland and Rick Rubin (see "Don't Expect Justified 2: Timberlake Enlists Rick Rubin For New LP"). In fact, after collaborating on back-to-back Peas tracks (the first being the smash "Where Is the Love?"), Timberlake and Will formed their own production team called the Jawbreakers. Along with tracks for each other, they've worked with Charlie Wilson and Macy Gray.

"Will does stuff on his own and I do stuff on my own, but it's obviously a pleasure when we get to work together, so why not?" Timberlake said. "It's like golf — it's something you can do 30 years from now. I was like, 'Who knows what's going to happen to us as artists, but let's keep doing stuff for everybody else too.' "

Will and Timberlake have finished at least four songs together (see "Timberlake Feeling Will.I.Am's Love All Over Again On New LP"), although it looks like Timbaland will be the biggest contributor, especially since the Neptunes are out due to their dispute with Jive Records over the Clipse (see "Sayonara, Señorita: Pharrell, Justin May Never Record Together Again"). Timbaland and Timberlake collaborated on four Justified tracks, including "Cry Me a River."

"Tim and I have a very interesting connection when it comes to music," Justin said. "We just kinda understand each other 'cause we're both Southern and we both kinda think the same way about life. I just worked with him for like 10 days and came out with like eight or nine songs with lyrics, melodies, vocals, everything! Now it's just a matter of going back and tweaking them and really fine-tuning them and putting the bells and whistles around the foundation."

Timberlake plans to keep recording through the spring and release the album in the summer. So far there's no title for the project.

"I don't even have titles for the songs yet," he said. "I come up with the title for the record when [Jive] gives me a deadline. And then I'll come up with something off the top of my head."

• Justin Timberlake
• Snoop Dogg
• Will.I.Am
• Nelly Furtado
• Timbaland

Justin Timberlake
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS — After taking a few years off to make a leap to the big screen, Justin Timberlake is returning to music in 2006 and he's got one of music's most respected producers at his side.

Along with frequent collaborators Timbaland and the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am, JT is working on his Justified follow-up with Rick Rubin, the mastermind behind some of metal and hip-hop's top projects of the past quarter century.

"Interestingly enough — this is funny how our community works — I saw Chris Rock out one night and he said, 'You know who you should work with? Rick Rubin. He never does anything bad,' " Timberlake said Wednesday. "I was like, 'You've got a point.' I never thought about it myself. ... And then I saw him at Coachella. I was standing in the middle of the crowd and I went up and approached him."

Timberlake then met with Rubin at his studio and played him some demos, including a ballad he thought the producer would be perfect for.

"He's a nice guy and cool and humble and obviously a genius, and I'm looking forward to hearing myself do something I've never done," the singer said. "He was like, 'I'm not going to influence you. I want you to do what you do.' And that's such a comforting thing as an artist."

Between his work with Timbaland, Will.I.Am and Rubin, Justin has finished more than a dozen tracks, but he plans to keep working through the spring, with his eye on a summer release date.

Timberlake kept a guitar and keyboard in his trailer while filming "Edison," "Black Snake Moan" and "Alpha Dog" and worked on fragments of songs. But for the most part, he took a well-needed hiatus.

"I just needed time from touring and promoting," he said. "I needed time to live. I was sucking myself dry of creativity. ... I needed the time away from myself too. I was sick of me. But I'm over that now. I'm ready to return to your TV 24 hours a day!

"All those songs on the first record were every great idea I ever had, so it was like two decades in the making," Timberlake added. "So doing that again the following year was a challenge I wasn't up for. I would rather take some time to work on it again."

It's a bit early for JT to say how the as-yet-untitled new record will sound, but he's sure it will be far different from Justified.

"It's going to be interesting to see what comes out of this record because everything I wrote on the last record, I wanted it concentrated to one thing: a pop R&B sound," he explained. "This one, it's more fly by the seat of your pants. ... It's less concentrated to one sound. It's more broad as far as the styles I wanted to mix in to my own type of thing."

Timberlake is also playing a lot of guitar and piano on the new music, which is a first.

"That's been a lot of fun to wrap my brain around because before, songwriting was writing a melody that was catchy and coming up with lyrics for it," he said.

As Timberlake's movies hit theaters throughout the year ("Alpha Dog" premieres at Sundance later this month), the singer is likely to get more acting offers. And although he's focused on music, he plans to keep making movies when possible. "Hopefully I'll find a way to manage the two, because it does become a stretch," he said. "I always wanted to get into film and then the right opportunities came up and I didn't want to poop on them. I got to work with directors I thought were cool and I had a blast."

Timberlake was in Sin City as part of Consumer Electronics Show, the annual massive technology conference. The singer joined Microsoft founder Bill Gates during his keynote address, specifically promoting Urge, MTV Networks' new online music distribution service, which will be integrated into Microsoft's new version of Windows Media Player.

Check out the feature "2006: A Look Ahead" for more on Timberlake's LP and the year's other anticipated releases.

• Justin Timberlake
• Rick Rubin

Neil Diamond
Photo: MTV News

He's sold millions of albums, serenaded crowds for four-plus decades and given the world classic sing-alongs like "Sweet Caroline," "Red, Red Wine," and "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon." But until last month, there was one thing Neil Diamond had never done: See one of his albums debut in the top 10.

With the release of 12 Songs, his first studio album in four years, it finally happened.

"It's been a long wait, but it's been worth it," Diamond gushed to MTV News backstage at "Jimmy Kimmel Live," shortly after learning the news.

Fittingly, 12 Songs is a return to the stripped-down, acoustic sound that jump-started Diamond's career back in the mid-'60s.

"The early albums were also very simple, basic, a few musicians, lots of handclapping," explained Diamond, who is a very youthful 64. "They were basic albums and the songs were pretty simple. And I think I've come full circle to that point again, after going through all kinds of conceptual albums and experimental songs, and to come back to the simplicity of these things, it's a good feeling."

Diamond can thank producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Tom Petty, Slipknot, Jay-Z's "99 Problems") for regaining that good feeling. After reaping huge success with his work on Johnny Cash's American Recordings series, Rubin wanted to give the same reinvention treatment to Diamond, who was more than happy to oblige.

"I knew a number of the artists that Rick has worked with over the years, and I like the artists," Diamond said. "And I thought this guy was pretty broad in his production abilities to be able to produce, you know, some heavy rock things or rap things and then go to Johnny Cash doing a very sparse album. And we got along very well. We met, and we had a lot of meetings about music and got to know each other, and I just followed his lead."

That lead led Diamond down memory lane — something the singer wasn't prepared for at first.

"We went through a lot of records together," Diamond recalled. "I wanted to get into some early rock and roll classics that I thought were wonderful, and he had a whole list of songs of mine that he was hoping to re-listen to, to see what I did years ago. And I didn't really understand why he was taking me on this nostalgic trip, but there was a method to his madness and he wanted to really put me in touch with whatever spark ignited those early songs. And it was good, because it helped me a lot."

Rubin went so far as convincing Diamond to pick up a six-string again, something he hadn't done on one of his albums in more than 30 years.

"On my very early records, 'Cherry, Cherry' or 'Kentucky Woman,' I played guitar, and I stopped playing so much on the recordings because I felt there were a lot better guitar players out there," Diamond said. "Occasionally I would play, but on this album Rick was very insistent that I play and sing at the same time. He felt it lent spontaneity and unselfconsciousness to the performance. And I think he was right — it was kind of a breakthrough for me."

While 12 Songs has already gained wide critical praise and is introducing Diamond to an even broader audience, it doesn't mean, however, that he's going to abandon his notorious sequined stage outfits or the sing-alongs.

"Never!" Diamond said. "The audience sings on their own volition and there are certain songs that they really want to join in on. But it never becomes old. When something ceases to excite you, you take it out. Fortunately, I have enough songs that people know, that I could replace it with something."

For a full-length feature on Rick Rubin, see "What's Up With That Bearded Guy In The '99 Problems' Video?".

• Neil Diamond
• Rick Rubin

Weezer (file)
Photo: Sean Murphy/Geffen

There's one thing you should know about Weezer's upcoming album, Make Believe, due May 10 — mainly that until very recently it wasn't even finished.

Sure, the disc has been recorded, mixed and mastered, but it wasn't until Wednesday that the band confirmed it had finally settled on a track listing. That being said, doing a song-by-song preview of the album would be pretty difficult, since Geffen Records only let MTV News hear five tracks (including the just-released first single, "Beverly Hills").

Judging by what we heard, though, it's a pretty safe bet that the record will be a welcome addition to the collections of every scrawny Weez-head on the planet ... and a few of their older, construction-working brothers, too.

For every instance of frontman Rivers Cuomo's lyrical self-loathing (and boy, there are a whole lot of 'em) there are at least twice as many moments of crunchy power chords, shouted choruses and truly fret-burning guitar solos.

It's as if Weezer and producer Rick Rubin (and yes, after much rigamarole, he is listed as the album's producer) dug up the masters from the Pinkerton sessions and thought, "You know, all this bare-bones emoting sounds pretty good ... now only if we could get Steve Vai to wail over the top of it."

Take, for example "We Are All on Drugs," on which Cuomo combines the sing-songy pseudo-rapping he perfected on Pinkerton's "El Scorcho" with some truly Def Leppard-esque guitar work and a huge chorus that would make even the biggest '80s enthusiast go "Whoa!"

That the tune has been bandied about as Make Believe's second single seems like a no-brainer, because the whole thing smacks of radio rock, from the way Cuomo raps (at one point rhyming "friends" with "Mercedes Benz") to the way he jerks the chorus into the spotlight, with a guttural "Give it to me now!"

On the flipside is the ballad "Freak Me Out," which sounds a lot like another track on Pinkerton: the tender album-closer "Butterfly." Of course, here it's all bolstered with studio sheen, as Cuomo's tender mentions of "All these problems on my mind" and "city streets at night" float overtop some genuinely pretty headboard notes and a bluesy harmonica line.

Similar in spirit, if not in structure, is "This Is Such a Pity," on which Rubin adds enough new-wave synth squirts and squiggles to disguise the fact that this song is really an unabashed guitar ballad (including a solo that recalls Europe's "The Final Countdown"). It's also likely the first tune in history where Cuomo addresses his many detractors, wailing, "You think I'm a fascist pig!"

Probably the most "Weezer" of the tracks previewed is "Peace," a down-tempo number that combines acoustic jangle with electric snarl. There's lots of familiar "Whoa-oh-oh-ohs" married with the band's near-patented stop-start rhythms and cascading guitar solos. But above the din, Cuomo's voice reaches never-before-achieved heights, nearly cracking as he belts out lines like "I need to find some peace."

Perhaps the only things missing from Make Believe (or at least the songs we heard) are some genuinely groundbreaking moments. It's no secret the Blue Album and Pinkerton were chock-full of jaw-dropping, genre-defining nuggets, and even more recent records like the Green Album and Maladroit had songs like "Hash Pipe" and "Keep Fishin'," which were unexpected curveballs. These preview tunes tended to keep within the basic Weez formula: crunchy chord, shouted chorus, Cuomo guitar solo, repeat.

But who knows. Maybe one, two or all of the rest of the Make Believe tracks will contain those moments that pop your eardrums, make you jump up and down and scream, "Woah-ooh-ohh-ohh!" You'll just have to wait until May 10 to find out.

• Weezer
• Rick Rubin

Backstreet Boys (file)
Photo: Getty Images/Jimin Lai

The Backstreet Boys — who launched their comeback tour last week — have stressed that they never really broke up in the first place, just merely took a break. That point is also being made in the title for their forthcoming album, which they've just decided to call Never Gone, also the name of one of the songs on the LP, due in June. ...

Mariah Carey will shut down the streets of New York's Times Square on April 12 to celebrate the release of her new album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The singer will perform five songs for ABC's "Good Morning America," according to Reuters. Her set will include the singles "We Belong Together" and "It's Like That." ... No Doubt are giving up their guitars — for a good cause. The band is donating two signed guitars for charity auctions, the first of which takes place Wednesday (March 30) in Venice Beach, California, at a benefit for the Surfers Healing Foundation. Sugar Ray are slated to play the event. The second chance to win a No Doubt guitar comes courtesy of Rock the Cure for breast-cancer research. That auction will take place by invitation only on May 3 at the Los Angeles Hard Rock, but online bidding open to the general public starts April 24 at www.juliensauctions.com. ...

Master P and his brother Silkk the Shocker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of carrying loaded, unregistered weapons, The Associated Press reports. The two were arrested January 27 at UCLA after being stopped by campus police for not having a license plate on their car. Police said they found two guns in the vehicle. Both are currently free on bail. ... Russell Simmons, the Reverend Run, Nicole Wray, and Jim Jones and Juelz Santana of the Diplomats will visit Perth Amboy High School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on Tuesday for the official launch of the state's Be Powerful, Be Heard youth-voter initiative. The group will introduce a spoken-word contest about the importance of voting; the winner will be announced at the New Jersey Hip-Hop Summit in September. ... Trina announced on Wednesday that she is launching a perfume called the Diamond Princess this summer, which is also when her long-delayed Glamorous Life LP should drop as well. ...

Pixies leader Frank Black will release his first solo album in nearly a decade, Honeycomb, on July 19. The rootsy album was recorded in four days in April 2004, just days before Black hit the road with the Pixies for their reunion tour. Among the legendary session players on the disc are guitarists Steve Cropper (Booker T. and the M.G.s), Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris) and Reggie Young (Elvis Presley), as well as drummer Anton Fig (Bob Dylan) and keyboardist Spooner Oldham (Aretha Franklin). Among the songs on the disc are "Atom in my Heart," "Another Velvet Nightmare" and "Find Your Saint," as well as a cover of the soul classic "Dark End of the Street." ... Meanwhile, the Pixies will return to the stage this summer, but only for a few weeks. The band is freeing up time for Kim Deal to make another Breeders album. ...

Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor recently sold the gothic New Orleans mansion he's lived in for the past decade. According to The Associated Press, Reznor unloaded the 4,900-square-foot, four-bedroom home for $1.8 million. Reznor moved to Los Angeles last year, leaving behind the home, which has an outdoor pool with sound system and what's been described as "gothic/Victorian decor" with a "medieval edge." ... Rick Rubin, the producer who revived Johnny Cash's career with the American Recordings series, is working with Neil Diamond on the singer's first album in five years. Rubin worked with Cash on a cover of Diamond's "Solitary Man." ...

Jermaine Dupri will be presented the Golden Note Award at the 22nd annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Pop Music Awards on May 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. P. Diddy, Elton John and Stevie Wonder are among the past recipients of the award. Neil Young is also being honored at the gala. ... Irish singer and controversy magnet Sinéad O'Connor is in the studio working on her next project — a reggae album. And she's even recording the new effort in the genre's home of Kingston, Jamaica, for added authenticity. According to an Associated Press report, O'Connor's album will be rife with covers of irie protest songs — Bob Marley's "War," Peter Tosh's "Downpressor Man" and Burning Spear's "Marcus Garvey," among others. ...

03.29.2005

Attorney Johnnie Cochran, who rose to fame defending O.J. Simpson, died Tuesday (March 29) from a brain tumor, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 67. Though he built his career fighting police misconduct, Cochran eventually became one of the most sought-after celebrity lawyers, helping P. Diddy fight charges stemming from a 1999 nightclub shooting, defending Snoop Dogg against murder charges in 1995 and representing Tupac Shakur in a 1993 sexual-assault case. ...

Usher is keeping it on, er, in wax. Visitors to New York's Madame Tussaud's have already been able to audition for a virtually snarky Simon Cowell and hear Beyoncé's wax figure encouraging them to shake their jelly as her backup dancer. Now Usher fans will be singing "Yeah!" at an interactive exhibit focused on the abs-master, whose likeness — dressed in an immaculate white shirt, jacket, baseball cap and signature "U" chain — invites guests into the exhibit, which looks like a music studio. As visitors pass through the multi-colored light beams, the sound system reacts by triggering different clips from the singer's songs. ...

When erudite, experimental rockers Radiohead want to debut new material, they make sure to do it in the most erudite, experimental way possible. Witness the events that transpired at this weekend's Ether festival at London's Royal Festival Hall, where Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood performed brand new compositions with the experimental London Sinfonietta orchestra. According to London's The Guardian, Yorke added vocals to the new tune "Arpeggi," and the full orchestra also performed two songs written by Greenwood: "Smear" and "Piano for Children." The Radiohead B-side "Where Bluebirds Fly" was also performed. ... Believe it or not, there actually will be an HFStival this year, despite there not actually being a WHFS anymore. In January, the long-running Washington, D.C., rock station changed formats, leaving the future of the HFStival — a summertime tradition for more than a decade — up in the air. But less than a month later, WHFS' sister station Live 105.7 began broadcasting WHFS on nights and weekends, and now it looks like it'll also be presenting the festival this year, scheduled for May 14 at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. Confirmed acts include Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Good Charlotte, Sum 41 and Interpol. Tickets go on sale Saturday through Ticketmaster. ...

Courtney Love wrapped work in 2000 on the drama "Julie Johnson," which was a hit at Sundance in 2001, but it took this long for the film to find a home — it's now slated to premiere on June 1 on the gay network Here! (available via DIRECTV and DISH Network, and on cable in major markets). In the flick, Love plays Claire, who becomes more than friends with Lili Taylor. Taylor portrays the titular character, a desperate New Jersey housewife on a quest to revamp her life ("The OC" 's Mischa Barton plays Taylor's daughter Lisa). (Click for "Julie Johnson" photos.) Liz Phair contributed four songs to the soundtrack. ... Bronson Pinchot, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth from "The Apprentice" and Pepa from rap duo Salt-N-Pepa are about to become roomies — they're among the new castmembers for the next installment of VH1's "The Surreal Life." These housemates for the fifth season will share quarters in a Hollywood mansion with former supermodel and "America's Next Top Model" judge Janice Dickinson, baseball slugger Jose Canseco, U.K. model Caprice and motocross madman (and sometime Pink boy toy) Carey Hart. The new season starts September 4. ...

Former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus will be hitting six cities over 30 days starting June 5 in Philadelphia as part of what could barely be called a tour in support of his latest record, Face the Truth. Malkmus will hit New York on June 7, Cleveland on June 9, Detroit on June 10, Minneapolis on June 12, Los Angeles on June 14, and then take the next 20 days off before performing at New York's Battery Park with Yo La Tengo on July 4. ... Iconic British mope rockers the Smiths will serve as the subject of an academic symposium to be held at Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. on April 8 and 9, according to the BBC. The seminar, called "Why Pamper Life's Complexities," will consider the band's cultural, social, political and musical impact, as well as the influence of frontman Morrissey's lyrics on gender, sexuality, race, nationality and the imagination of class. ...

New Order will be playing four U.S. gigs in late April and early May, just prior to returning to Europe for a string of festival appearances, according to the band's Web site. On April 29, they'll perform in Oakland, California, with the Chemical Brothers before taking the Coachella stage on May 1 in Indio, California. On May 3, the band stops in Chicago for a performance, then heads to New York for a show May 5. ... Paul Westerberg is releasing his first solo-career retrospective, Besterberg: The Best of Paul Westerberg, out May 17. The former Replacements frontman is including 20 songs from his solo albums, tracks from movies, unreleased tunes, outtakes and B-sides. The liner notes will include a track-by-track commentary. ...

• Backstreet Boys
• Mariah Carey
• No Doubt
• Trina
• The Pixies