- Artist: Led Zeppelin
- Label: Atlantic Recording Corp.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Ryan Kwanten Will Tap Into His 'Dark Sides' To Play Charles Manson
'True Blood' actor will star in 'The Family' movie.
By Amy Wilkinson
A charismatic cold-blooded killer is a far cry from the dim-witted yet endearing country bumpkin Ryan Kwanten portrays on the sexy HBO series "True Blood" — but the Australian actor is taking on the challenge.
Kwanten has signed on to play Charles Manson, one of America's most notorious criminals, in the movie "The Family." Kwanten announced the news during a press conference for his Western, "Red Hill," TheWrap.com first reported.
Written and directed by "The Machinist" scribe Scott Kosar, "The Family" follows Manson during the late 1960s, when he instructed his acolytes to commit several murders, including, most famously, the slaying of actress Sharon Tate in 1969. Manson has spent nearly four decades in prison.
When MTV News spoke with Kwanten this week, he admitted the role will be a massive undertaking. "It's going to be quite a challenge," he said. "[Manson] is undoubtedly a huge iconic figure and not necessarily for the best of deeds."
Though Kwanten is no stranger to bloodstained killing sprees — he is on "True Blood," after all — the actor said this latest role will require a bit of soul searching.
"It's going to be tapping into sort of dark sides of myself and obviously trying to find out as much as you can and then using what's going to be beneficial in making the film," he explained.
The movie will begin production in 2011 during Kwanten's next "True Blood" hiatus.
"The Family" won't be the first movie to immortalize — or demonize — Manson and his followers. In 1976, CBS aired a two-part television movie called "Helter Skelter," based on a book of the same name by prosecuting attorney Vincent Buliosi and Curt Gentry. A second TV movie based on the book was made in 2004, and the 2003 film "The Manson Family" also details the group's horrible misdeeds.
Can Ryan Kwanten pull off the role of Charles Manson? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Alanis Morissette Takes Her Baby Bump To Beverly Hills
Ke$ha's Cannibal Track List: No Drake, Plenty Of Dirty Puns
'Animal' remix and eight new songs feature production by Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh.
By James Montgomery
Ke$ha
Photo: Jemal Countess/ Getty Images
On November 22, Ke$ha will return with Cannibal, the mini-LP/ maxi-EP "companion" piece to her platinum-plus debut disc, Animal.
Much like Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster, Cannibal will be sold both as a standalone album and as part of a deluxe reissue of Animal. According to a press release from Ke$ha's label, RCA, there are eight new songs on the album (including smash first single "We R Who We R") — produced by the likes of Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh — and a new remix.
Earlier this week, a rumored track list for Cannibal began making the rounds, featuring songs like "Rumblin'," "Glitter and Glamour" and "Strong," a supposed team-up with Drake. It sounded rather promising, but, unfortunately, it was also untrue.
On Thursday (October 28), RCA sent MTV News the actual track listing for Cannibal, and while it doesn't feature any cameos by Drake (or anyone else), there is a song called — ahem — "C U Next Tuesday," which promises to be a rather interesting listen.
Other tracks include "Sleazy," "Blow," "The Harold Song" (perhaps a spiritual sequel of sorts to the Animal track "Stephen"?) and the pun-a-riffic "Grow a Pear."
In an interview earlier this month with Entertainment Weekly, Ke$ha said she aimed to create "[a] youthful and irreverent movement of the kids" with Cannibal, and describes the music on the disc as good, positive and "fun as sh--." And judging by the song titles alone, we're inclined to believe her.
The track list for Ke$ha's Cannibal, according to RCA Records:
» 1. "Cannibal"
» 2. "We R Who We R"
» 3. "Sleazy"
» 4. "Blow"
» 5. "The Harold Song"
» 6. "Crazy Beautiful Life"
» 7. "Grow a Pear"
» 8. "C U Next Tuesday"
» 9. "Animal (Billboard remix)"
Will you be picking up Cannibal? Tell us in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsOzzy Osbourne, Yusuf Islam Duel At Jon Stewart Rally
The O'Jays also hit the stage at Stewart and Stephen Colbert's 'Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Ozzy Osbourne and Yusuf Islam at the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear"
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Thousands of fans crowded the National Mall in Washington DC Saturday (October 30) for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear," and the two politician-skewering funnymen trotted out a slew of legends to entertain the crowd.
About midway through the show, which already featured a nearly 40-minute set from John Legend and The Roots, Stewart announced the next performer, Yusuf Islam. The folk icon formerly known as Cat Stevens, hit the stage with an acoustic rendition of "Peace Train." However, instead of letting Yusuf placidly strum along, Colbert stormed the stage, ranting about the song's message of harmony. The satirical pundit then proclaimed, "My train is arriving at the stage now and the conductor has an important announcement to make!"
Colbert did a fine job of busting up the performance, and cleared the way for a surprise appearance from one of rock and roll's greatest show-stoppers: Ozzy Osbourne. Decked out in a black ensemble with his signature colored glasses, the Prince of Darkness screamed as he took the stage and led the band through the metal classic "Crazy Train."
However, before Osbourne could finish, Stewart snatched the mic and reprised the whole interrupting-the-rock-legend-thing, spewing protests like, "I will not get on that train! I am not comfortable on that train!" Stewart commanded Yusuf to start up again with "Peace Train," until Colbert jumped in, saying, "I'm gonna pull the emergency brake on this rainbow, moonbeam choo-choo!" Osbourne and Yusuf went back and forth, volleying metal and folk classics about trains, until both gave up the fight, embraced each other and left the stage.
But the audience wasn't left without a stellar performance from some music legends. Colbert and Stewart paced about, lamenting the lack of singers to belt train-related hits, until a line from the smooth chorus of the O'Jays "Love Train" wafted through the air.
"Is that the sound of Philadelphia?" Stewart wondered.
Colbert queried, "Was that the sweet Philly soul?"
It sure was. The legendary soul group then took the stage in slick white suits, busting easy throwback moves to their 1973 single to the delight of the crowd.
What did you think of the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear"? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSaturday, October 30, 2010
Beyoncé - Diva
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Melina
- Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
Rihanna Initially Against 'Love The Way You Lie (Part II)' With Eminem
Sequel to appear on Loud; piano version will be iTunes bonus.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Rihanna
Photo: Matt Harper/ MTV News
Fans seemed pumped to hear "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)," the follow-up to the smash Rihanna/Eminem collaboration. The track, which is Rihanna's answer to the original version, will appear on her forthcoming November release, Loud, but Rihanna admits she had some hesitation about trying to re-create the magic of that first song.
"When I first heard the idea about doing a part two, I was just completely against it," she revealed to MTV News. "I just felt like you couldn't beat the original. There's no way you can outdo that, so why compete with it?"
However, after trying out several versions of a sequel track to the 2010 song off Em's Recovery LP, she knew the magic from the first cut was still in the air.
"We heard a broken-down version that was stripped down, just piano ... that's going to be a bonus on iTunes," she said. "I fell in love with it. We recorded it, then we did another version to the stripped-down version with drums, then we did another version with drums and Eminem. And then that was the one that just felt really good.
"I love both: I love the broken-down version, as well as the new one with Eminem," she continued.
Without giving away too much, Em certainly doesn't hold back on his verse, rhyming about trading punches with the song's female protagonist and being obsessively in love with her. Rihanna admits it's a "crazy verse."
"Something is wrong with Eminem," she said, laughing. "He has so much in his mind that I almost feel lucky for him that he has music. ... Music is such a great release for him. He's one of my favorite artists."
Not only did the original track have everyone buzzing, but its video, which features Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan, also had everyone talking.
So, will there be a sequel to that as well? "Who knows?" she teased.
Are you excited for "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)"? Tell us in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsBeyoncé - If I Were A Boy
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia/Music World Music
- Director: Jake Nava
- Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
Mimi Is Sick And Tired!
"Right now I feel nauseous, I'm exhausted," said the singer.
But she's gonna get a break because she will stop working in a few months.
"I guess after New Year's," added Carey, [...]
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 ArtistsFriday, October 29, 2010
Beyoncé - Diva
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Melina
- Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
'Unstoppable' Stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pine Share Tales Of Heroism
At the red-carpet premiere, the actors recall their bravest feats while filming Tony Scott's thriller.
By Kara Warner
Meagan Tandy and Chris Pine at the "Unstoppable" premiere
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Tony Scott's upcoming thriller "Unstoppable" tells the true story of two railway workers who selflessly and heroically set out to stop a runaway train loaded with explosive chemicals from crashing into a small town. Given the inspiring feats of the film's protagonists and real-life heroes, when MTV News caught up with Scott and stars Denzel Washington and Chris Pine at the movie's premiere, we asked them to share their own heroic feats. What we expected were tales of bravery, action, possibly even romance; what we got was a little of that, plus a surprising encounter with some menacing breakfast food.
"Getting on the top of that train, that was very heroic on my part," said Washington, who performed many of his own stunts in the film, including a dazzling, dangerous run atop the train cars. "I did not want to do that."
"My most heroic effort? Making movies," director Scott offered. "There's nothing as scary as shooting a major movie. It's scary — creatively scary — because you're scared of creative failure, so I wake up, bolt upright every morning at 2:30, and that's what excites me. I'm lucky."
It's hard to argue with those efforts. But Chris Pine's sordid tale might be the juiciest. Literally.
"I once saved a breakfast burrito from crashing and disintegrating. On myself," Pine boldly revealed. "I got a stain on my pants. I couldn't wear the pants anymore. The definition of selfless," he joked.
"Suffice it to say, I've not done anything in my life that even approaches what the two gentlemen whom Denzel and I portray in this film did."
Check out everything we've got on "Unstoppable."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Rihanna Initially Against 'Love The Way You Lie (Part II)' With Eminem
Sequel to appear on Loud; piano version will be iTunes bonus.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Rihanna
Photo: Matt Harper/ MTV News
Fans seemed pumped to hear "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)," the follow-up to the smash Rihanna/Eminem collaboration. The track, which is Rihanna's answer to the original version, will appear on her forthcoming November release, Loud, but Rihanna admits she had some hesitation about trying to re-create the magic of that first song.
"When I first heard the idea about doing a part two, I was just completely against it," she revealed to MTV News. "I just felt like you couldn't beat the original. There's no way you can outdo that, so why compete with it?"
However, after trying out several versions of a sequel track to the 2010 song off Em's Recovery LP, she knew the magic from the first cut was still in the air.
"We heard a broken-down version that was stripped down, just piano ... that's going to be a bonus on iTunes," she said. "I fell in love with it. We recorded it, then we did another version to the stripped-down version with drums, then we did another version with drums and Eminem. And then that was the one that just felt really good.
"I love both: I love the broken-down version, as well as the new one with Eminem," she continued.
Without giving away too much, Em certainly doesn't hold back on his verse, rhyming about trading punches with the song's female protagonist and being obsessively in love with her. Rihanna admits it's a "crazy verse."
"Something is wrong with Eminem," she said, laughing. "He has so much in his mind that I almost feel lucky for him that he has music. ... Music is such a great release for him. He's one of my favorite artists."
Not only did the original track have everyone buzzing, but its video, which features Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan, also had everyone talking.
So, will there be a sequel to that as well? "Who knows?" she teased.
Are you excited for "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)"? Tell us in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsMichael Jackson - Gone Too Soon
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Director: Bill Dicicco
- Album: Dangerous
Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon Officially Confirm Their Pregnancy
Beyoncé - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Britney Spears 'Glee' Episode Takes On '... Baby One More Time'
Lea Michele dons Brit's naughty schoolgirl look for a faithful cover of the 1998 hit.
By Aly Semigran
Lea Michele performs "... Baby One More Time" on "Glee" on Tuesday
Photo: FOX
It was the song that launched the career of one of the most beloved, albeit troubled, pop stars of the past decade. Its iconic video spawned a modern-day "Lolita" and earned the title of #1 first favorite video on "TRL." So, of course, Britney Spears' 1998 smash "... Baby One More Time" was an obvious choice for Tuesday night's episode of "Glee."
While general-anesthesia-induced hallucinations had another Brittany (Heather Morris) tackling "Me Against the Music" and "I'm a Slave 4 U," star Lea Michele took on the timelessly catchy "...Baby One More Time." As Michele mimicked Spears' naughty schoolgirl look, the instantly recognizable opening notes pounded on the piano (though the "Glee" version had a slight change of key). With her throaty "Oh bay-buh, bay-buh," Michele effortlessly channeled the song (surprisingly enough, she sounded downright restrained) that made the former "Mickey Mouse Club" member a superstar.
It's fitting that "Glee" paid homage to the song that is but a few weeks away from celebrating its 12th anniversary. (Go on and take a moment to absorb that information.) "... Baby One More Time," the first single of Spears' debut album of the same name, was released in the United States in late October 1998.
Of course, it could have all sounded very different if writer Max Martin had followed through with his original plan to have R&B heavyweights TLC sing the track. The song was also originally titled "Hit Me Baby One More Time" but was changed due to concerns about it being misinterpreted.
In Spears' capable 16-year-old pigtails, the single went on to sell over 9 million copies, garnered Spears her first Grammy nomination (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, which she lost to Sarah McLachlan for "I Will Remember You") and reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The rest of the album featured other Spears hits, including "(You Drive Me) Crazy" and "Sometimes," but neither of those songs left quite the same impact.
Spears told Blender — which placed the track at the #9 spot on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" — that the song wasn't an easy undertaking for her at first (of course, neither was the immense fame that followed). Spears revealed, "I didn't do well at all the first day in the studio. I was just too nervous. So I went out that night and had some fun. The next day I was completely relaxed and nailed it. You gotta be relaxed singing '... Baby One More Time.' "
Spears looked more than at ease during awards show appearances that followed, namely the 1999 VMAs, in which the leather-clad pop princess took the stage alongside her tourmates 'NSYNC for a "... Baby One More Time"/ "Tearin' Up My Heart" showstopper.
Of course, long before the folks at "Glee" took "... Baby One More Time" out for a spin, countless other musicians had already had at it. From punk rock (Simple Plan) to acoustic (Travis), Spears' song has been refashioned (albeit, sometimes ironically) in many genres. Take, for instance, Bowling for Soup's cover of the ditty, which wound up on Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies. And even Jamie Lee Curtis and Chad Michael Murray took a crack at it in the 2003 film "Freaky Friday."
What did you think of the "Glee" covers of Britney's songs? Share your reviews in the comments.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsThursday, October 28, 2010
Rebecca Gayheart Is Out With Baby Billie
I think this is the first time I've seen Billie! Adorable! Don't you want to pinch those cheeks? Rebecca Gayheart was spotted out with the baby yesterday afternoon. They went to a private residence.
Can you make out Billie's personalized booties (click through the pictures below for a better look)? Too cute :) It looks like Rebecca is focused on being a full-time mom while Eric Dane is still busy with 'Grey's Anatomy.' As you other stay-at-home moms know, getting out is so important!
I hope they had a good time :)
Photos by FAME
Xtina's Message To Her Ex?And The World
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
What do U think of Christina's message? Do U agree?
[Image via Pacific Coast News Online.]
Beyoncé - Ego
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson, Sheryl Murakami
- Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition]
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Rebecca Gayheart Is Out With Baby Billie
I think this is the first time I've seen Billie! Adorable! Don't you want to pinch those cheeks? Rebecca Gayheart was spotted out with the baby yesterday afternoon. They went to a private residence.
Can you make out Billie's personalized booties (click through the pictures below for a better look)? Too cute :) It looks like Rebecca is focused on being a full-time mom while Eric Dane is still busy with 'Grey's Anatomy.' As you other stay-at-home moms know, getting out is so important!
I hope they had a good time :)
Photos by FAME