Thursday, 23 December 2010
Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro And Jessica Alba Are Funny 'Little Fockers' In Three Clips From The Film
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
Related ArtistsMaggie Gyllenhaal Majandra Delfino Malia Jones Malin Akerman
DMX Sentenced To One Year In Jail
Rapper pleaded guilty in Phoenix to probation violation.
By Paul Cantor
DMX
Photo: Larry Busacca/ Getty Images
DMX is heading back to jail for a year. On Thursday morning (December 16), the rapper (born Earl Simmons) pleaded guilty in a Phoenix courtroom to a felony probation violation. He was arrested on November 18 for not checking in with his probation officer, failing to submit to drug testing and refusing to undergo treatment.
"I did make the effort that I could, and I appreciate any help you can give me," Simmons told Judge Christine Mulleneaux, according to the Phoenix New Times.
Judge Mulleneaux was not wholly sympathetic to X's pleas for leniency, saying he tested positive for cocaine five times during his probation. She said he likely had an undiagnosed mental condition that he needs to take care of, and until he does so, he'd continue on his path of substance abuse.
"Your criminal history goes back to 1988," she said. "It's going to continue if you don't take care of your mental health."
According to The Associated Press, DMX told Phoenix station KSAZ-TV that he had been kicked out of a drug treatment program because he had a drink at a Scottsdale club during a performance.
X had been on probation since July, having served four months of a six-month sentence handed down in March for failing a court-mandated drug test and testing positive for cocaine. Following his release in July, he began serving a 90-day sentence for a reckless driving charge in Los Angeles dating all the way back to 2002. In May of 2009, he was released from 90 days in a Phoenix jail on charges of drug possession, fraud and animal cruelty from 2008.
Related ArtistsKeri Hilson Says Chris Brown Is Back In 'Good Graces'
Her just-released No Boys Allowed features Brown, who completed a yearlong domestic violence course.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Jim Cantiello
Keri Hilson
Photo: MTV News
Keri Hilson's new album may be titled No Boys Allowed, but as she told MTV News recently, men are definitely allowed on the project.
A cursory glance of the track list reveals Rick Ross, Nelly, J.Cole, Kanye West and Timbaland as guest artists.
Also included on the set, on the steamy duet "One Night Stand," is Chris Brown.
Hilson has been a staunch supporter of the embattled singer: Brown appeared in the "Slow Dance" video from her previous LP, and the two shared a laugh over a lap dance the "Deuces" star gave Hilson in a promo clip for her album.
"People are already putting [Brown] back in their good graces 'cause they see his remorse," Hilson told MTV News. "And I know people are saying, 'Is he really a man? You have him on your album.' I mean, yeah. To me, a man is someone, you don't go backwards in life. You learn from your mistakes, and you don't do it again. You show remorse, and you move on. You move forward onto bigger and better things. That's a man trait."
Earlier this week, Brown completed a yearlong domestic violence course after pleading guilty to assaulting Rihanna, his girlfriend at the time.
Brown posted a picture of his certificate on his Twitter page and shared a sentiment with his fans regarding the process.
"I have enough self-respect and decency to be proud of accomplishing this DV class," Brown wrote. "Boyz run from their mistakes. Men learn from them!!! thx."
Related Videos Related ArtistsMary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
Related ArtistsExtreme Musicians Tell Child Where Babies Come From
China Chow Chloл Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
New Treatment Center Encourages Clients to Rock Out on Premesis
The studio, which is equipped [...]
Usher's 'OMG' Is MTV News' #1 Song Of 2010!
Club smash, featuring will.i.am, tops our list of the Top 25 Songs of the year.
By James Montgomery
Usher
Photo: Getty Images
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 has reached an end. We've already counted down the rest, and now it's time to get to the best: Usher's "OMG," the song that perfectly sums up the past 12 months of popular music — and makes you wanna move until you can't move no more.
If 2010 proved anything, it's that a DJ really can save your life ... or at least get you to #1 on the Hot 100. After years of staring at each other from across the room, hip-hop, pop and R&B all decided to finally get in bed with dance music, and the results weren't always pretty, but they were certainly successful. To date, only 17 songs have made it to the top spot of Billboard's singles chart in 2010, and nearly two-thirds of them — from Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" to Far East Movement's "Like a G6" — were, in some way, dance songs.
In that regard, no song better sums up 2010 pop music quite like Usher's "OMG," the dance song to end all dance songs. Sure, it may not have matched the swagger of Kanye West's "Power," the snarl of Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" or the inbox-clogging spread of Cee Lo's "F--- You," but it didn't have to. None of those songs went to #1, after all. "OMG" did. Twice.
Even among songs that managed to snag that top spot — Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," Katy Perry's "California Gurls," B.o.B and Bruno Mars' "Nothin' on You" — "OMG" stood out from the pack, mostly because of its pedigree. It's not a stretch to say that any of those tracks could've (and probably would've) been #1 in any other year; "OMG" could only have done it in 2010, because it was crafted to do nothing else. No other song this year was as of the moment, as singular and shiny and downright undeniable. There's a reason it was named on more ballots than any other song on our countdown and justly takes the title of MTV News' #1 Song of 2010.
And while all that is important, it's largely beside the point. "OMG" is the kind of song that truly defies deep inspection, because it's not exactly headphone music. Rather, it was made for the clubs, designed to envelop you on the dance floor and not let go until the final "oh-ohh-oh-ooh-oh." And in that regard, it succeeds in spades. It is a masterful melding of R&B, and Euro dance, all icy synths and handclaps, starbursts and stutters and sing-along chants. It ebbs and flows, stops and starts, pumps and preens. Simply put, you cannot listen to it without moving in some way. (MTV's Dee Caligiuri, who voted on our countdown, probably put it best one night when she declared: "There are so many dances you can do to it!") And if that's not the definition of a success, well, then I don't know what is.
A large portion of the credit for "OMG" has to go to will.i.am, who not only produced the track (I know!), but was smart enough to see this whole dance thing coming when he teamed up with producer David Guetta last year. Those songs — "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling" — were, of course, massive, but neither of them are as good as this. Given full control, Will goes off the deep end, cramming the song with every dance trick in the book — and probably some new ones he just invented on the spot. And Usher, whose career, truth be told, was sort of in need of a shot in the arm, is the beneficiary. He floats and gloats above the mix, suave and cocksure, knowing that he is exactly the right man at the right time. That time, of course, had to be 2010.
Because in a year when so many big-name acts embraced the DJ, he flat-out did it better than any of them. "OMG" represents the peak of the dance-pop era in which we live, a song as undeniable as it is of the moment. We can only speculate as to what next year will bring, but there's really no denying that, as 2010 comes to a close, Usher stands above all else, reinvigorated and ready for more. It's enough to make you say "Oh My God," really.
How does Usher's "OMG" rank among the year's best songs? Let us know in the comments!
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsBret Michaels: Engaged to Kristi Gibson!
After 16 years together, or at least sort of together (when he wasn't on Rock of Love or putting it to Tish Cyrus), Bret Michals and Kristi Gibson are engaged!
Bret proposed to Kristi - where else - on the finale of Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It on VH1. Gibson is the mother of his daughters Raine, 10, and Jorja, 5.
Down on one knee, the Poison frontman said, "Please say yes or the rejection will kill me right now." Fortunately for all of us, Gibson responded positively!
Bret Michaels and Kristi Gibson are engaged! Congratulations!
Gibson and their daughters stayed by Bret Michaels' side earlier this year when he suffered a terrifying brain hemorrhage and then a subsequent stroke.
"She's the one who put up with me all these years," Bret, who hinted this summer that he might finally put a ring on it, told Us Magazine of Kristi.
Immediately after Gibson accepted his proposal, he broke the happy news to the girls: "[I told them] 'I did it! We'll all be together forever! Family hug!'"
Aww. Follow the jump for a moving montage from Bret Michaels: Life as We Know It, set to the music of "Nothing to Lose," his duet with Miley Cyrus ...
Christopher Tierney: Spider-Man Fall Video! (Photos)
Britney Spears Producer Dr. Luke Calls Singer 'An Amazing Vehicle'
Album's co-executive producer expects new album out by early 2011.
By James Dinh
Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage
While "Glee" was spot-on in its tribute to Britney Spears in September, it's safe to say her fans are ready for the real deal. The pop princess, who has remained relatively low-key since wrapping up her Circus Tour, is currently working on her new album with a few familiar faces, including producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin.
"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke said last week at the Hollywood Reporter/ Billboard Film & TV Music Conference. "But most importantly, I want to make good music."
Luke said that he is anticipating that Britney's album will see an early 2011 release, and a source told THR it would hit stores before March 31.
In addition to Dr. Luke ("Circus") and Martin ("... Baby One More Time"), Darkchild and newcomer Billboard are also said to be working with Spears.
When asked if there were anything else he could reveal about the heavily guarded project, Luke wouldn't say much. "Just that I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music," he said. "And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."
With Luke and Martin helming the project, fans may expect to hear Spears sounding like the producers' frequent collaborators Katy Perry and Ke$ha. But there have also been indications that Brit will take a fresher approach. Last month, Spears' manager Adam Leber spoke to Entertainment Weekly about her next album, promising that it will introduce a "progressive" sound from the pop star.
''It'll be a departure from what you've heard,'' he added.
What producers would you like to see Britney team up with? Sound off below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsUsher Most Admires Justin Bieber's 'Excitement And Innocence'
Bieber's mentor tells MTV News the teen sensation has 'so much more in store for the future.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Usher and Justin Bieber at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
With so much accomplished in 2010, Justin Bieber has certainly set the bar high for 2011. But the teen singer is already gearing up for next year. Bieber will not only release his much-anticipated 3-D flick, "Never Say Never", but he has also teased that he'd like to release an album of all-new material sometime later next year.
His mentor, Usher, thinks that at this point, the sky's the limit.
"As far as music and entertainment, that's the beginning," Usher told MTV News at Sunday's AMAs, where Bieber performed and took home four awards.
"There's so much more in store for the future, or at least there's a ton of things we can do and will, and with the support of his fans who will continue to just grow and grow and grow."
At 16, Bieber has accomplished what few manage with many more years in the music business, but Usher said he wants to ensure that Bieber doesn't stop enjoying it all as his popularity continues to grow and his schedule gets busier.
Asked what he admires most about Justin, Usher said, "His excitement and innocence in it. And I don't mean that in a light way because I think that he's absolutely enjoying every moment of it, as any young man his age would, but in a different way because [of] the hard work that has gone in and led to the dream that has become a reality. And every time you have an opportunity do something incredible, I tell him to do his best and be conscious that what you're doing today should last forever and eternity."
What did you think of Justin's AMA performance on Sunday? Tell us in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsRonald Isley, Anita Baker Honored At Soul Train Awards
Rihanna, Eminem, Usher, B.o.B, Alicia Keys among winners at event celebrating 40th anniversary of classic music show.
By Joel Hanek and Gil Kaufman
Anita Baker at the 2010 Soul Train Awards
Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images
Only at the Soul Train Awards could you have a tribute to R&B icons such as Anita Baker and Ronald Isley alongside a segment in which rap legend Doug E. Fresh attempts to teach CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer how to do the Dougie.
It was that kind of night at the 2010 Soul Train Awards, as rookies, veterans and legends came together in Atlanta for the second annual event — which was taped November 10 and aired Sunday night on BET. The show, hosted once again by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, featured a night of performances from some of the biggest names in soul and R&B.
Host Howard told MTV News that the show is meant to be an extension of the long-running and legendary '70s TV series that brought soul, disco, R&B and rap stars into viewers' living rooms. "It reminds me of the advancement black people have made over the years because 'Soul Train' really was the beginning of that Black Power movement when we could actually see ourselves — and to have an awards show based upon that 'Soul Train' — it's headed somewhere," Howard said. "We have a black president now. The country seems to be more tolerant towards the diversity inside of it so it seems like the train is moving well down the tracks."
The awards show marked the 40th anniversary of the classic music showcase hosted by Don Cornelius, and celebrated the careers of Baker and Isley, while handing out trophies to such contemporary stars as B.o.B (Song of the Year for "Nothing on You"), Melanie Fiona (Best New Artist), Eminem and Rihanna (Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "Love the Way You Lie"), Usher (Album of the Year for Raymond vs. Raymond) and Alicia Keys (Record of the Year for "Unthinkable [I'm Ready]" and Best Female R&B Soul Artist).
Though top winners such as Trey Songz, Usher, Ciara, Eminem and Rihanna were not in the house, Blitzer graciously agreed to accept Slim Shady's award for him, joking, "Who better to accept this award on behalf of Eminem ... I know he's thrilled."
Weaving through a series of skits involving magic tricks and jovial bickering by the hosts, the performance-heavy program delivered on talent. R. Kelly opened by teasing the crowd with his classic "Bump n' Grind," then diving into his new single "When a Woman Loves" — transforming the song from a slow jam into an all-out '50s rock-and-roll epic. Ne-Yo kept the show moving with a showcase of his singles from this year, including "Champagne Life" and "One in a Million."
The tribute to Baker featured an all-star cast, with artists like Chrisette Michele, Goapele, Lalah Hathaway, Dionne Farris, Kem, Tamia, Faith Evans and El DeBarge covering a medley of the singer's greatest hits. Baker told the crowd that the biggest honor of the night for her was that real musicians were performing live with an actual band. "It's amazing because you've got children behind you singing 'Rapture' — it's lovely," she said, adding, "Let's do it again!"
Ronald Isley, co-founder and lead singer of the Isley Brothers, also received a special homage that featured Jeffrey Osborne, Freddy Jackson, DeBarge, Tank, Eric Benet, Bilal and Peabo Bryson. Isley also came out to perform his own medley of hits and was joined onstage by Chanté Moore and R. Kelly for a rendition of "Contagious," their 2002 single that featured the Isleys. In addition, Cee Lo Green closed the show with a duet on the Isleys' classic 1959 hit, "Shout."
Among the event's other highlights was Cee Lo's performance of his smash "Forget You," which took place on a golden stage that resembled a cross between Kanye's Egyptian fusion and an OK Go video, and found the singer gliding down conveyor belts while belting his number.
Erykah Badu delivered a stripped-down version of her 2010 breakout "Window Seat" that featured the singer perched on the floor over a web of lights while appearing to orchestrate the vibrations of light flickers with her hands.
Soul singer Eric Benet performed "Sometimes a Cry" — a song that Lil Wayne cited as one of his favorites while in prison — bringing down the house with a soaring falsetto that bested his studio rendition of the track.
The evening's other performers included Bruno Mars, who sang his new hit "Grenade," and Jazmine Sullivan, who did a medley of "10 Seconds" and "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)."
Did you watch the 2010 Soul Train Awards? Tell us about your favorite highlights in the comments.
Related ArtistsShania Twain, Frederic Thiebaud Engaged -- And Other Happy Endings
The country music star joins Jessica Simpson and other celebs who've found love after very public breakups.
By Kara Warner
Shania Twain
Photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage
After going through an emotional and very public split from her husband of 14 years in 2008, country star Shania Twain has found a happy ending to her heartache, in the most serendipitous of circumstances. On Monday (December 20), People reported that Twain is engaged to Swiss executive Frédéric Thiébaud — the ex-husband of the woman with whom Twain's ex, Robert "Mutt" Lange, allegedly had an affair in 2008.
"Her happiness certainly shone through," Twain's friend Stéphane Lagonico told the magazine recently of the happy couple, who have reportedly been engaged for two months. "They are a great addition to each other's lives."
Twain and Thiébaud's fairy-tale-esque, lemonade-from-lemons story reminded us of a few other formerly unhappy souls who have also found love again this year.
The biggest well-wishes go out to Jessica Simpson and fiancée Eric Johnson, a free agent NFL player who popped the question last month. After her very public split from ex-husband Nick Lachey five years ago, Simpson had a string of other high profile relationships with Tony Romo and John Mayer.
Coincidentally enough, congrats also go out to Romo and his new fiancée, TV reporter and former beauty pageant queen Candice Crawford, who became engaged December 16; and Lachey and Vanessa Minillo. Lachey proposed on November 4, just a week before Johnson and Simpson's engagement.
Last but not least, congrats to Dean Sheremet, who endured a very public split from wife LeAnn Rimes in 2009. Speculation surrounding the breakup focused on an alleged affair between Rimes and her co-star Eddie Cibrian, who have been dating since their respective splits. The happy news is that Sheremet has also found love again via photographer Sarah Silver, and they got engaged in November. There's hope for celebrity romance yet!
Related ArtistsMonday, 20 December 2010
Beyoncé - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Exclusive Access Goes 1 On 1 With Kevin Hart
Justin Timberlake Wants To Be An 'Actor,' Not A 'Movie Star'
Fans 'look at me like I'm ungrateful for my music career because I want to do film,' JT says.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Timberlake
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images
Justin Timberlake keeps finding box-office success with roles in animated flicks like "Yogi Bear." And with so much buzz around his film "The Social Network," in which he plays Napster founder Sean Parker, you might think that Timberlake has left the world of music behind for Hollywood. But JT knows that you want him to put out more music.
"They're looking at me like, 'Why aren't you staying with one path?' " he told the Los Angeles Times, referring to his fans' response to his shift in careers. "They look at me like I'm ungrateful for my music career because I want to do film."
Timberlake explains that he always wanted to act, even before selling millions and millions of albums with 'NSYNC, and he admits that his fans were just as riled up when he left the boy band to embark on his hugely successful and now revered solo career.
"I faced the same feelings when I went solo," he explained. "I had the same obstacles in music. I still do. But I feel like I should pose the question to everyone else: If you had this opportunity, what would you do with it? Entertaining is in my blood. I make no bones about the fact that I have always wanted to work in the forum of film. I take this seriously. I'll be 30 in January, and I'm saying to myself, 'If I'm going to do this, I need to do it now.' "
What it boils down to for Timberlake is that he doesn't just want to be famous at whatever he does — he wants to do it and see what happens regardless of the fan response. "I don't know what a pop 'career' is. I just wanted to be in music," Timberlake said. "I don't necessarily crave to be a movie star. I just want to be an actor. I don't look at it as a career — I just feel lucky. That's not to say I'm going to take every opportunity that comes up. But now I have more chance to plot out a path."
Timberlake says that when the time is right and he can make it work for him again, he'll go back to recording music. "I want to conceptualize something a little bit more," he said. "And it's probably because of the experience I'm having working with directors and screenwriters and getting to play cool characters. If that means I come up with, like, my version of 'Ziggy Stardust,' so be it. Who knows? What I've learned from acting in movies, I want to apply to music and see what happens."
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Britney Spears Inspired 'Country Strong' Lead, Director Says
'I was seeing what was happening in the media to Britney Spears,' filmmaker Shana Feste says of crafting upcoming flick.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Britney Spears
Photo: Fame Pictures
Gwyneth Paltrow may have honed her country-music skills for her role in the upcoming flick "Country Strong," but her troubled character was actually inspired by a pop sensation.
In the film, Paltrow plays embattled crooner Kelly Canter, who fights to resurrect her struggling career as a music superstar. Writer/director Shana Feste recently told the Los Angeles Times that Paltrow's onscreen drama was inspired by the very public meltdown of pop megastar Britney Spears.
"That's where this movie came from. I mean, I was seeing what was happening in the media to Britney Spears," Feste said.
The filmmaker also added that wrapping up the script coincided with the outsize media frenzy surrounding another superstar. "I finished the script when Michael Jackson passed away," she revealed.
Feste also lamented the dark side of celebrity-making, which entails ripping apart a once-beloved public figure at the first misstep. "I think it's tragic how we treat people who give us so much, and we love to see them knocked down to build them back up again, to knock them down again," she said. "It's a weird fascination."
Paltrow has said that work on the project was challenging, due to both the physical and creative demands of the role.
"It was brutal," she told MTV News in September. "It was a brutal shoot. I mean, I wasn't naked, naked, but I was semi-naked, in various stages of undress. [My character] has a drug and alcohol problem, so she's struggling a lot. It was a lot of fun for me, as an artist."
Check out everything we've got on "Country Strong."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Alleged Ashton Kutcher Infidelity Sweater: For Sale!
You've really gotta admire Brittney Jones.
In September, the 21-year old claimed she had an affair with Ashton Kutcher. Such an accusation landed her on the cover of a couple tabloids, but the news never got much traction in the mainstream media.
From there, Jones tried to up the infidelity ante, saying Kutcher and Demi Moore had an open marriage; releasing a few racy photos of herself; and then, naturally, getting embroiled in a sex tape "scandal."
None of it caught on, but Brittney isn't finished yet! She's now taken the hilarious step of putting a sweater "that was given to me after spending the night with Ashton" on eBay. The initial asking price? $500. Anyone who bids on it might need more mental help than Brittney Jones...
Farrell Takes 'The Way Back' to Dubai
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Sir Paul Rocks the 100 Club
Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That's News To Him
'I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be,' singer says.
By Chris Harris
Chris Cornell
Photo: MTV News
Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he's been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.
Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn't take part in the tour.
"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," Cornell told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour."
Cornell's denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. "They did it for fun," Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show "Todd N Tyler Radio Empire." "I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert."
Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London's O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.
According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, " 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].' "
"And he can sing the sh-- out of Zeppelin," Snider added. "They're going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in."
In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. "We are trying out a couple of singers," he said. "We want to do it. It's sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there."
But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren't interested in finding a Plant clone. "It's got to be right," he said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard."
Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn't see it that way.
"It makes me happy that there's this perception that I have a group of fans that I'm now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be," he said. "But I've been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I'd done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren't necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.
"It feels like I've done this so many times that when it's presented to me as being a departure, I feel that's a misconception," he added. "I feel like that's my theme at this point."
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Kim and Khloe Kardashian's Extended African Adventure
Not letting their travel woes ruin the mood, Kim and Khloe Kardashian were all smiles as they continued their stay in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday afternoon (December 18).
The E! reality beauties made the overseas trip to promote the Brutal Fruit drink - with both looking darling as they sipped on iced tea on the balcony of their mega posh hotel, the Ellerman House.
A short while later, Kim and Khloe made their way to the hotel's infinity pool to cool off by dipping their feet in the water while also checking out the views of the city.
As for their flight issues, the Kardashian gals were unable to catch a plane back to the States as planned - forcing them to stay in the locale an extra day.
At the current time, Kim and Khloe have since been able to begin the journey home - though they also were hit with snow-related delays in Paris, France.
Tweeting her frustrations throughout, Kim most recently voiced her joy upon reading to leave the City of Lights, as she wrote, "We are finally about to take off! What a journey its been! *fingers crossed*"
Saturday, 18 December 2010
'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' Pushes Back Its Broadway Opening One More Month
Usher - OMG
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Album: Raymond V. Raymond
'Tron Legacy' And Jeff Bridges: Behind Film's Most Challenging Effect
Visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba reveals how his team pulled off 61-year old Bridges' stunning 3-D reverse-aging.
By Eric Ditzian
Jeff Bridges in "Tron Legacy"
Photo: Disney
For the last few days, MTV News has been taking you inside some of the coolest aspects of "Tron Legacy," from the creative process behind Daft Punk's violins-meet-synthesizers soundtrack to the generation of the film's neon-pulsing motorcycles and warships. Now we're going to take you behind the creation of the film's single-most jaw-dropping visual effect: turning Jeff Bridges from 60-something Oscar-winner into the Bridges of 1984's "Against All Odds."
We caught up with visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba, the driving force behind the CG work on "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," for which technicians both aged Brad Pitt into an old man and turned back time to capture the actor's 20-something look. What they managed to accomplish was nothing short of astounding, and Barba won an Oscar for his efforts.
But what Barba and director Joseph Kosinski set out to create for "Tron Legacy" was something far different — and far more challenging. "It's the hardest thing that's ever been done in visual effects," Barba explained.
See, the film stars two different versions of Bridges' character Kevin Flynn. One is the Flynn who's been trapped inside a computer-generated world for 20 years and who looks exactly like a 60-something Bridges. The other is Clu, a digital manifestation who does not age and thus still looks about 35 years old. To create Clu, Barba's team essentially had to wrap a CG mask around Bridges' face, making him look young again.
What made that task harder than the one in "Benjamin Button" was that, for "Tron," Barba had to do everything in 3-D. "What scared us with Jeff was that we're at the beginning of this technology," he said. "People were very happy with the way Benjamin came across. But there's leeway because we've never seen Brad Pitt as an old man. This was 10 times harder. We all know what Jeff Bridges looks like at 35. Right off the bat, we were setting ourselves up for other people's expectations."
To begin, the filmmakers brought in makeup-effects master Rick Baker ("Men in Black") to build a likeness of a young Bridges' head that would serve as a basis for their CG work. But that likeness soon had to be thrown away, after filmmakers decided they wanted an even younger version of the actor. There was no time to build another head, so Barba's team had to re-sculpt everything in the computer. Then in came Bridges himself.
"We had to derive the face from Jeff's performance, so we built this four-camera, head-mounted system that Jeff would wear on set with the other actors," Barba said. "We'd take the data from those four cameras and triangulate each point and get a floating, 3-D point cloud of his face. We ran that through sophisticated software we wrote and it rebuilt his performance on the younger visage."
Yet that was just the beginning. The effects team also had to mirror the particular movements of Bridges' face — muscles, skin, expressions and the like — so that the CG face would approach a photo-realistic representation rather than dipping into the much-dreaded "uncanny valley" in which CG creations fail to look appropriately human.
Early viewers have been split over the success of Clu: Some have applauded the work, while others have argued the character has not escaped that digital valley. The filmmakers knew exactly what they were getting themselves into when they started out, and Barba remains ecstatic over what they were able to accomplish.
"We knew Clu would be a much, much more difficult challenge then Benjamin," he said. "But hey, someone's got to take those chances and those risks and go for it. We thought this was a great project to do that."
Are you going to check out "Tron Legacy"? Tell us in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Tron Legacy."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Justin Bieber, Usher Top American Music Awards Winners List
Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna also nab trophies.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Justin Bieber wins Breakthrough Artist, Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist and Artist Of The Year Award during the 2010 American Music Award
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
The 2010 American Music Awards dished out hardware to many of pop, R&B and country music's biggest names. Like most high-profile awards shows, there were showstopping performances, off-the-runway fashion and emotional moments. Unlike most trophy fests, the AMA winners aren't determined by the inner circle of music-industry professionals, but rather the fans who plunk down cash for hit records.
This year, fans handed over pyramids to the artists who also cranked out many of the biggest hits. Justin Bieber made off with the most AMA booty, nabbing four trophies. Taylor Swift, Rihanna, the Black Eyed Peas, Eminem and Bieber's mentor Usher also snagged AMA loot.
Check out the list of AMA winners below:
Pop or Rock Music
Favorite Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Favorite Female Artist
Lady Gaga
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Favorite Album
Justin Bieber, My World 2.0
Country Music
Favorite Male Artist
Brad Paisley
Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Lady Antebellum
Favorite Album
Carrie Underwood, Play On
Rap/ Hip-Hop Music
Favorite Male Artist
Eminem
Favorite Album
Eminem, Recovery
Soul/ Rhythm & Blues Music
Favorite Male Artist
Usher
Favorite Female Artist
Rihanna
Favorite Album
Usher, Raymond v. Raymond
Soundtracks
Favorite Album
Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers
Alternative Rock Music
Favorite Artist
Muse
Adult Contemporary Music
Favorite Artist
Michael Bublé
Latin Music
Favorite Artist
Shakira
Contemporary Inspirational
Favorite Artist
MercyMe
Artist of the Year
Justin Bieber
T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist
Justin Bieber
Friday, 17 December 2010
Les News, 121710
'Tron Legacy': The Reviews Are In!
Critics call Disney's reboot/sequel a 'catchy popcorn pleasure' that is 'destined to split audiences.'
By Eric Ditzian
Garrett Hedlund and Beau Garrett in "Tron Legacy"
Photo: Disney
It's been a good year for studios that waited three decades to update old-school flicks. In April, Warner Bros. gave 1981's "Clash of the Titans" a coat of CGI splendor and ended up with a film that grossed almost $500 million worldwide. Can Disney, which has resurrected 1982's computer-world-based adventure film "Tron" for a new generation, mirror the success of "Clash"?
At this point, at least, "Tron Legacy" is receiving far kinder reviews than "Clash." That doesn't mean, of course, that "Tron" can top the $61 million domestic opening of the latter. Disney's 3-D film is predicted to land somewhere in the $40-45 million range. Will it defy expectations? Will positive word of mouth spread? Is the movie worth a trip to the theater on opening weekend? Check out what the critics are saying about "Tron Legacy" and decide for yourself.
The Story
"Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the son of video game developer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), is left as the uninterested heir to his father's corporation after the elder Flynn's disappearance 20 years earlier. Following a mysterious signal, Sam finds himself pulled into the same computer world that has trapped his father. Reunited, the Flynns team with a Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a cyber warrior, to defeat Clu, a program left in charge of the Grid whose rise to power puts both the computer world — and our world — in danger." — Silas Lesnick, ComingSoon.net
The Comparison to the Original
"[T]his is one of the smartest ideas for a reboot in yonks. Where its fellow 1982 sci-fi releases, 'E.T.' and 'Blade Runner,' are still universally celebrated, 'Tron' 's visuals and ponderous tone have aged as badly as Manic Miner. The concept at the Disney film's core, however, remains beautifully simple: What if a man got sucked into a computer? That notion, revisited with today's turbo-boosted VFX technology, has now given Mickey Mouse a stonking tentpole. And make no mistake, 'Tron Legacy' — part sequel, part remake — is a proper event movie, complete with nattily digitized Cinderella's Castle at the start, a journey to a fully realized alien world and the best 3D since 'Avatar.' " — Nick de Semlyen, Empire
The Effects
"The FX in 'Tron Legacy' have an almost Einsteinian elegance: They infuse light with gravity. If one of the discs hits a combatant, he'll shatter into glassy fragments, and Sam, absorbing the physics of the game, must learn to treat his body almost as part of the surrounding architecture. He becomes a ruthless digital specter. As long as it's engaged in light-hurling bouts of force, or motorcycle chases through a landscape so ominously enveloping it looks like 'Blade Runner' after gentrification, 'Tron: Legacy' is a catchy popcorn pleasure." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The Dissenters
"This is one of those big-budget projects destined to split audiences (a good thing, always). Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who did the 'Halo' and 'Gears of War' commercials, 'Tron Legacy' comes to life when Sam, played by a too-cool-for-school Garrett Hedlund, learns the ways of the Lightcycles and the perilous joys of racing on 'ribbons of light.' Here, we get the sweep and simple excitement we need. Elsewhere, we get exposition more sluggish than the stuff we had to wade through in the second and third 'Matrix' movies, and a strained, opaque brand of intellectual-property mythology that might mean tons to ardent fans of the first 'Tron,' but less to others." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
The Final Word
" 'Tron: Legacy' is a surprising film for many reasons, not the least of which being that it contains more substance than is easily explored — if also to some extent, articulated — in just one viewing. And perhaps it might seem like a pre-emptive defense against logical or narrative shortcomings to make one of its central themes the idea that perfection, as we can imagine it, is ultimately unknowable. But it's a point that's well-taken, and if I have to endure the kind of imperfection that produces a film like 'Tron: Legacy,' which is interesting, inspiring and for better or worse, simply incomparable, then it's worth it." - Todd Gilchrist, Cinematical
Check out everything we've got on "Tron Legacy."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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