Rock Reality Show Recap: ‘Man Band’ Guys Prove They Have Trouble Holding Liquor or a Tune

Misson: Man Band tracks a reality show’s efforts to restore four former boy-banders to their chart-topping glory. RS’ Rock Reality Show Recaps track our efforts to be sympathetic to their cause. Here’s our second report: Thirty Mantastic Minutes in Five Sentences: We’re back at the House That Justin Timberlake Built, or the mansion of *NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick, where Bryan Abrams from Color Me Badd leads things off by auditioning for Celebrity Fit Club for five minutes. Abrams wants to lose weight because he feels that in order to succeed in the entertainment industry, you need to have the total package, which evidently doesn’t include talent. We learn where Abrams acquired those extra pounds: beer, and lots of it. During a party that features women who are Rock of Love reject-caliber, Abrams, who had been sober for two months, gets so drunk that he begins telling partygoers he’s both “big and pimpin’.” The next morning, a hungover Abrams blows off his workout program, further proving that he’s in desperate need of a twelve-step program. The Rockin’ Struggle: The Man Band has two tasks this week: Write songs that will impress their producer, Grammy-winner Bryan Michael Cox, and come up with a band name. With Max Martin not around, our quartet struggles to compose a simple chorus; instead, they opt to joke about the word “dictaphone.” The band name meeting goes only slightly better, with Plan B and After Life among the more fitting choices. The Funniest (And/Or Most Honest) Moment: Bryan Michael Cox admits the only reason he’s producing the group is because if he can make the Man Band a success, it would “validate” his career. The Rockin’ Finale: The band’s manager Katie McNeil tells the gang that she’s booked them a halftime slot at an Orlando Magic game in three days, even though they have neither a song nor a band name. It sets the stage for the inevitable reality-show humiliation payoff: Post-Shaq Magic fans would boo Elvis during

Published: 2007-08-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Reality Show Recaps

“Thriller” Celebrates Twenty-Fifth Birthday With Video, Podcasts, Radio

Twenty-five years and two months ago, Thriller was released. The world bought a lot of copies, it was on top of Billboard chart for thirty-seven consecutive weeks, Vincent Price threw down a verse on the title track, “the kid is not my son,” etc. With the album’s twenty-fifth anniversary special edition lining shelves wherever CDs are sold today, Michael Jackson aired a video of him (obviously reading from the cue cards in his hands) thanking fans the world over for Thriller’s resonating success, and implored people to keep the Thriller magic alive for the next generation. Over on iTunes, Jackson’s website has launched a podcast series where musicians recollect about Thriller’s influence, with Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels providing Episode 1. Meanwhile, in outer space, XM satellite radio will broadcast a channel dedicated entirely to Michael Jackson, dubbed “XM Thriller: The Music of Michael Jackson,” starting March 1st. We’ve got you covered on this site as well: Click here to watch contributing Christian Hoard’s review of Thriller 25 in this week’s New Music Report. Related Stories: New Music Report: “Michael Jackson: 25th Anniversary of Thriller” The “Thriller” Remixes: Kanye, Akon, Will.i.am and Fergie Try to Top the Chipmunks’ “Beat It” Michael Jackson Is “Smelly”: Ten Things We Learned From the “Ebony” Cover Story

Published: 2008-02-12 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Michael Jackson

Bono and the Edge Play Surprise Charity Gig, Quiet Riot Singer Found Dead, Rivers Cuomo Posts New Song

U2’s Bono and the Edge performed a surprise set in London on Friday to benefit Mencap, a learning-disability charity. With only 200 people in the audience, the duo played a twenty-minute acoustic set that included the hits “Stay,” “Desire,” “Angel of Harlem” and “Wave of Sorrow,” which features on the band’s Joshua Tree reissue. Snow Patrol, Keane and other “surprise guests” will perform for the charity’s Little Noise sessions this week. A proposed 2008 Jackson Five reunion tour “will involve” Michael Jackson, according to older brother Jermaine, who told BBC6 Music, “He has to be, he is a Jackson. He was at the meetings. Michael will be involved.” The Jackson bros. are currently recording new material as they finalize tour plans. Rivers Cuomo has posted “Blast Off!,” from his upcoming Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, on his personal MySpace page. Cuomo previously told Rolling Stone that the song was a track off Weezer’s never-released space opera Songs From the Black Hole. Kevin DuBrow, lead singer of Quiet Riot, was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sunday. He was fifty-two years old, and the cause of death is currently unknown. Following the revelation that Jam Master Jay’s killer had a neck tattoo, it is now believed that the Run-DMC DJ may have actually known his murderer. According to JMJ’s friend Tony Rincon, Jay was armed the night of his murder, but likely didn’t immediately defend himself because he knew the shooter. [Photo: Yui Mok/AP Photos]

Published: 2007-11-27 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Afternoon News Roundup

Levon Helm Battles Back From Cancer and Tragedy, Returns With His First New Studio LP In Twenty-Five Years

The last ten years have not been easy for legendary Band drummer and vocalist Levon Helm. In 1998, he had surgery to remove throat cancer and underwent twenty-eight radiation sessions. His barn-turned-studio in Woodstock, New York, was obliterated in a fire and had to be rebuilt, and former bandmate Rick Danko passed away. In spite of all these roadblocks, Helm was inspired to record, and on October 30th he’ll release his first solo studio album in twenty-five years, Dirt Farmer. “The last few years have proven to me that we truly live in an age of miracles,” the singer writes in the album’s liner notes. Though cancer treatments compromised Helm’s voice, he slowly regained the ability to sing via late-night concert sessions held at his Woodstock studio with friends and family. These so-called Midnight Rambles were inspired by the Southern medicine shows Helm remembers from childhood in rural Arkansas, and featured guests like Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Nick Lowe and Warren Haynes. The Midnight Rambles influenced much of Dirt Farmer, and the album includes several traditional songs as well as Helm’s interpretation of tracks by Steve Earle and J.B. Lenoir, among others. Multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (who has played with Lyle Lovett, Solomon Burke and Bob Dylan) worked closely alongside Helm and his daughter Amy on the LP, and Helm plays drums, mandolin and acoustic guitar in addition to handling all the lead vocals. The album title is taken from the traditional folk song “The Poor Old Dirt Farmer,” which appears on the record, as Helm says it’s a track that truly resonates with him. “’The Poor Old Dirt Farmer’ is a song that my wood-carver/musician friend Michael Copus and I learned together when we worked with Jane Fonda on the Dan Petrie-directed film The Dollmaker down in the heart of the Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN,” Helm writes. “Growing up on a cotton farm in the Arkansas Delta, ‘Dirt Farmer&#

Published: 2007-09-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

The Phil Spector Trial At The Midway Point: Toilets, Guns And Controversy

Two months into the trial for Lana Clarkson’s 2003 murder, we’ve learned a lot about famed music producer Phil Spector. He likes strange wigs, living in a castle and pointing firearms at women. But does he also wash his hands in a toilet? That question popped into testimony on Thursday, as prosecutor Alan Jackson cross-examined the defense’s first witness, forensic pathologist Vincent DiMaio. While there is no evidence that Spector ever washed his hands after a gunshot wound killed Clarkson — her blood wasn’t found in the sink’s pipes — a bloody rag was found next to an open toilet bowl. This led the prosecution to theorize that Spector washed blood and gunshot residue off his hands using the john. DiMaio argued that humans are creatures of habit, and that normal people wash their hands in a sink, but it’s been established that toiler water is cleaner than drinking fountain water, so the prosecution’s claim may not be that far-fetched. This all sets the stage for the most important witness of the entire trial, forensic pathologist and Court TV star Dr. Henry Lee. Lee has already played a tumultuous role in this trial: He’s been accused of stealing valuable crime scene evidence, an allegation that sent former Spector lawyer Sara Caplan to jail for refusing to discuss Lee’s actions under oath (Lee denies taking the evidence). The prosecution already has a head start on damaging Lee’s credibility with their vocal motions in front of the jury to retrieve the stolen evidence. But Lee is a lovable star, the Dr. Phil of forensic science. Plus, one of Spector’s lawyers is married to Michael Baden, star of HBO’s Autopsy series. Bottom line: The amount of forensic evidence that points to suicide might be insurmountable for the prosecution to disprove reasonable doubt. This is what the defense is hoping for, as thus far, the prosecution has dominated the trial. Earlier in the trial, the prosecution was uncharacteristically allowed to question four women who all cla

Published: 2007-07-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, The Phil Spector Trial

Michael Jackson Is “Smelly”: Ten Things We Learned From the “Ebony” Cover Story

To mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Thriller, Michael Jackson sat down with Ebony for what the magazine is calling his first print interview in a decade (Rolling Stone is told the special Thriller re-release will be coming out early next year, not in December, the month that would mark the album’s true birthday). We scoured the profile for fascinating nuggets and uncovered MJ’s new favorite artists and the story of Off the Wall: Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg call Jackson “Smelly” in honor of the word MJ — who doesn’t swear much — substitutes for profanity. As he approaches age fifty, Jackson assumes he won’t still be entertaining at eighty: “Not the way James Brown did, or Jackie Wilson did, where they just … killed themselves. … I wish [Brown] could have slowed down and been more relaxed and enjoyed his hard work.” Jackson says MTV has told him they wouldn’t exist without him, even though the network initially refused to air his videos due to his race. Jackson’s recording career began after The Wiz because that’s where he first met Jones. Jackson says he rang up Jones after it wrapped: “I’m a shy person, ESPECIALLY then, I used to not even look at people when they were talking to me, I’m not joking — and I said ‘I’m ready to do an album. Do you think … could you recommend anybody who would be interested in producing it with me or working with me?’ ” Jackson recalls. “[Jones] paused and said, ‘Why don’t you let ME do it?’” The result? Off the Wall. Jackson has studied composition since he was a child and notes “It was Tchaikovsky that influenced me the most.” He says the Nutcracker Suite composer inspired him to sculpt a pop album where every song is a hit — an album that eventually became Thriller. Jackson directs and edits everything himself: “I have five, no six cameras,” he

Published: 2007-11-08 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

'Idol' Shocker! Michael Johns Gone

The Aussie lad doesn't muster enough votes to carry on. One night after "American Idol" raised over $22 million dollars for charity on "Idol Gives Back," viewers received a shock as MICHAEL JOHNS got eliminated from the competition on Thursday night's results show. "I'm definitely surprised," Michael said. And he was far from the only one in googly-eyed disbelief! "I am such a big fan of your's," PAULA ABDUL exhaled, adding: "It's time to move on with your career." RANDY JACKSON seconded that, saying, "You gotta keep on rockin'." But SIMON COWELL -- who accused Michael of doing "an impersonation of a rock star" after his Tuesday performance of AEROSMITH's "Dream On" -- told the Aussie on Thursday night: "You have to learn your lesson [about song choice] in this."

Published: 2008-04-11 Provider: Entertainment Tonight

'Idol' Shocker! Michael Johns Eliminated

The Aussie lad doesn't muster enough votes to carry on. One night after "American Idol" raised over $22 million for charity on "Idol Gives Back," viewers received a shock as MICHAEL JOHNS got eliminated from the competition on Thursday night's results show. "I'm definitely surprised," Michael said. And he was far from the only one in googly-eyed disbelief! "I am such a big fan of yours," PAULA ABDUL exhaled, adding: "It's time to move on with your career." RANDY JACKSON seconded that, saying, "You gotta keep on rockin'." But SIMON COWELL -- who accused Michael of doing "an impersonation of a rock star" after his Tuesday performance of AEROSMITH's "Dream On" -- told the Aussie on Thursday night: "You have to learn your lesson [about song choice] in this."

Published: 2008-04-11 Provider: Entertainment Tonight

'American Idol' Controversies Cresting As Season 7 Begins [American Idol]

newVideoPlayer("Today_American_Idol.flv", 475, 376);While American Idol is still a ratings powerhouse and one of the strongest franchises on television, there is no denying that the brand has taken more than its fair share of lumps since Jordin Sparks was crowned the winner of the show's sixth season. In addition to stillborn debuts from last season's two finalists (Blake Lewis and the aforementioned Miss Sparks), past winners like Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard were both recently unceremoniously dropped from their recording deals. So when confronted with waning ratings during this season's tiresome pre-series run of "Hey, Look At That Jackass" moments, it seems that Idol producers turned to a tride and true gimmick in order to get people talking about their show once again. They created a controversy.It's no secret that a large part of the appeal of American Idol is based on its proven track record of being able to catapault regular Joes (for example, a certain pear-shaped waitress from Texas) off of their couches and onto the top of the charts. However, when it came time to select the Final 24 this season, fearful producers decided that the amateur talent couldn't hack the load and, consequently, to stack the deck with a few ringers. We have already talked a bit about Carly Smithson (née Hennessy), but we just stumbled across some new details about her yesterday over at Vote For The Worst. Namely, they learned that Randy Jackson was working as the Senior VP of A&R when Smithson was signed to the label! While doing some research for this Today Show piece that ran this morning (starring none other than Defamer's version of Ole Blue Eyes), we also learned another juicy detail about one of the contestants. Kristy Lee Cook, heir (and hair) apparent to Carrie Underwood, was once signed to Arista Nashville by, get this, Britney Spears' production company! And also that another contestant, Michael Johns, once fronted a major label rock act called The Rising (while using

Published: 2008-02-19 Provider: Defamer Keywords: American Idol, Carly Hennessey, Carly Smithson, Gawker, idolator, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns

Kickin' It Old Skool

Jamie Kennedy busts back onto the big-screen with the nostalgia trip comedy Kickin' It Old Skool. In 1986, Justin Schumacher loved Transformers, Karate Kid, Run DMC and Garbage Pail Kids. But nothing excited him more than break dancing. He excelled at it and, along with his pals, he formed the dance group Funky Fresh Boyz, where he performed under the name "Rocket Shoe." Justin longs for Jen, but must fend off the advances of his break dancing rival Kip. During a grade school talent show where the Funky Fresh Boyz engage Kip's posse in a "dance battle," Justin plummets off the stage while doing a super cool coffee grind (a head spin and a freeze). He spends the next 20 years in a coma. Awaking two decades later, Justin (Kennedy) is a boy trapped in a man's body. He may have reached puberty physically, but not emotionally or mentally (although he may be slightly brain-damaged from years of being comatose). He still loves all his childhood favorites such as Atari, Knight Rider, and, of course, break dancing. Justin is reunited with Jen (Maria Menounos), but she is now engaged to none other than Kip (Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum, who bears a resemblance to a young Chevy Chase here). As he tries to adjust to life as an adult in the 21st century, Justin learns how badly in debt his parents are from footing his hospital bills for 20 years. In order to prevent them from losing their home, Justin rallies his old crew -- Darnell "Prince Def Rock" Jackson (Miguel A. N??ez Jr.), Aki "Chilly Chill" Terasaki (Bobby Lee) and Hector "Popcorn" Jimenez (Aris Alvarado) -- in order to win the $100,000 dance off (and one-year contract) sponsored by D-Zone Videos. Unfortunately, mortal enemy Kip is hosting the dance contest and, even worse, the Funky Fresh Boyz are no longer funky, fresh or boys. They are out of shape thirtysomethings and now pretty stale at break dancing. Not willing to give up on winning the contest -- or Jen -- Justin and the Boyz begin training for their make or b

Published: 2007-04-27 Provider: IGN Keywords: Kickin' It Old Skool reviews, review

Kickin' It Old Skool

Jamie Kennedy busts back onto the big-screen with the nostalgia trip comedy Kickin' It Old Skool. In 1986, Justin Schumacher loved Transformers, Karate Kid, Run DMC and Garbage Pail Kids. But nothing excited him more than break dancing. He excelled at it and, along with his pals, he formed the dance group Funky Fresh Boyz, where he performed under the name "Rocket Shoe." Justin longs for Jen, but must fend off the advances of his break dancing rival Kip. During a grade school talent show where the Funky Fresh Boyz engage Kip's posse in a "dance battle," Justin plummets off the stage while doing a super cool coffee grind (a head spin and a freeze). He spends the next 20 years in a coma. Awaking two decades later, Justin (Kennedy) is a boy trapped in a man's body. He may have reached puberty physically, but not emotionally or mentally (although he may be slightly brain-damaged from years of being comatose). He still loves all his childhood favorites such as Atari, Knight Rider, and, of course, break dancing. Justin is reunited with Jen (Maria Menounos), but she is now engaged to none other than Kip (Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum, who bears a resemblance to a young Chevy Chase here). As he tries to adjust to life as an adult in the 21st century, Justin learns how badly in debt his parents are from footing his hospital bills for 20 years. In order to prevent them from losing their home, Justin rallies his old crew -- Darnell "Prince Def Rock" Jackson (Miguel A. N??ez Jr.), Aki "Chilly Chill" Terasaki (Bobby Lee) and Hector "Popcorn" Jimenez (Aris Alvarado) -- in order to win the $100,000 dance off (and one-year contract) sponsored by D-Zone Videos. Unfortunately, mortal enemy Kip is hosting the dance contest and, even worse, the Funky Fresh Boyz are no longer funky, fresh or boys. They are out of shape thirtysomethings and now pretty stale at break dancing. Not willing to give up on winning the contest -- or Jen -- Justin and the Boyz begin training for their make or b

Published: 2007-04-27 Provider: IGN Keywords: Kickin' It Old Skool reviews, review

Kickin' It Old Skool

Jamie Kennedy busts back onto the big-screen with the nostalgia trip comedy Kickin' It Old Skool. In 1986, Justin Schumacher loved Transformers, Karate Kid, Run DMC and Garbage Pail Kids. But nothing excited him more than break dancing. He excelled at it and, along with his pals, he formed the dance group Funky Fresh Boyz, where he performed under the name "Rocket Shoe." Justin longs for Jen, but must fend off the advances of his break dancing rival Kip. During a grade school talent show where the Funky Fresh Boyz engage Kip's posse in a "dance battle," Justin plummets off the stage while doing a super cool coffee grind (a head spin and a freeze). He spends the next 20 years in a coma. Awaking two decades later, Justin (Kennedy) is a boy trapped in a man's body. He may have reached puberty physically, but not emotionally or mentally (although he may be slightly brain-damaged from years of being comatose). He still loves all his childhood favorites such as Atari, Knight Rider, and, of course, break dancing. Justin is reunited with Jen (Maria Menounos), but she is now engaged to none other than Kip (Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum, who bears a resemblance to a young Chevy Chase here). As he tries to adjust to life as an adult in the 21st century, Justin learns how badly in debt his parents are from footing his hospital bills for 20 years. In order to prevent them from losing their home, Justin rallies his old crew -- Darnell "Prince Def Rock" Jackson (Miguel A. N??ez Jr.), Aki "Chilly Chill" Terasaki (Bobby Lee) and Hector "Popcorn" Jimenez (Aris Alvarado) -- in order to win the $100,000 dance off (and one-year contract) sponsored by D-Zone Videos. Unfortunately, mortal enemy Kip is hosting the dance contest and, even worse, the Funky Fresh Boyz are no longer funky, fresh or boys. They are out of shape thirtysomethings and now pretty stale at break dancing. Not willing to give up on winning the contest -- or Jen -- Justin and the Boyz begin training for their make or b

Published: 2007-04-27 Provider: IGN Keywords: Kickin' It Old Skool reviews, review