Full video premieres Monday on mtvU and Tuesday on MTV Clubland. By Akshay Bhansali Wolfgang Gartner’s “Redline” Photo: Ultra Records ” ‘Redline,’ to me is the ultimate anthem,” electronic dance music producer Wolfgang Gartner told MTV News recently. “It’s all built around this really simple yet catchy melody, but it’s got all the turbo-fueled drops and peaks that are necessary to make a club smash.” With his latest single, the L.A.-based house producer certainly adds another smash to his catalog, which includes hit collabos with Ti
Actor’s lawyer vehemently denies all three claims that have been made so far. By Gil Kaufman John Travolta Photo: Getty Images After two anonymous male masseurs came forward with claims alleging that John Travolta assaulted and sexually harassed them during rub downs, another man has come forward with a similar story. The third alleged victim, the first to be publicly named, is Chilean cruise ship employee Fabian Zanzi, who, according to reports, says that Travolta accosted him in 2009 while he was working as a VIP liaison on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Zanzi told ABC.es that Travolta offered him $12,000 to have sex, but that he spurned the “Pulp Fiction” star’s advances. “He hugged me and asked me to do a massage,” Zanzi said. The cruise ship worker has reportedly filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Travolta, but no evidence of that suit had emerged at press time. The latest allegation capped a difficult week for the married star, who has long battled allegations that he is gay. The two anonymous masseurs filed a $2 million civil lawsuit against Travolta earlier in the week, which the actor’s lawyer tagged as “a complete fiction and fabrication.” Speaking on Travolta’s behalf, attorney Marty Singer said, “None of the events claimed in the suit ever occurred. The plaintiff, who refuses to give their name, knows that the suit is a baseless lie. It is for that reason that the plaintiff hasn’t been identified with a name even though it is required to do so.” Singer went on to say that Travolta, 58, was not in California on the date when the first claimant — who has since said he got the date wrong — said the “Hairspray” actor made sexual advances towards him during a massage. On Friday (May 11), Singer also denied the claims by Zanzi, accusing him of “hopping on the bandwagon” in search of “his 15 minutes of fame.” “This individual is simply hopping on the bandwagon to get his 15 minutes of fame by coming up with a story for the first time with something that supposedly happened over three years ago,” Singer told the New York Daily News . “Nobody has ever heard from this guy before. No lawyer has contacted us.” Radar Online reported that the Atlanta resort where the second John Doe accuser claims Travolta made sexual advances has been asked to preserve the surveillance tape taken during that time in the event that it becomes evidence in the lawsuit. Quoting an unidentified source close to the case, the gossip site reported, “The hotel has been notified by the masseur’s attorney to preserve the surveillance video of the time when Travolta stayed there … The surveillance video will be crucial evidence in the case because it shows Travolta going to the spa the next day after it is claimed the incident occurred, looking for the masseur, because he wanted to see him again, which is all detailed in the lawsuit. Travolta was told the masseur wasn’t available and he left. The masseur was extremely upset when he left Travolta’s room, which would have been captured on the camera in the hallway as well.” The 14-page suit filed by the first alleged victim last Friday in California’s U.S. District Court, charges Travolta with assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that among other salacious activities, Travolta exposed himself and groped the masseur despite protests during a massage performed in Los Angeles in January 2011.
‘My Life’ video is only for the ‘most wildest and most vividest of imaginations,’ Joe Budden tells MTV News. By Rob Markman, with reporting by James Lacsina Joe Budden on the set of Slaugherhouse’s video for “My Life” Photo: MTV News Why shouldn’t Slaughterhouse enjoy all of their recent success? For years, Royce da 5’9″, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I have been putting in some serious work in hip-hop’s underground, not always receiving their just due. Now that they are a premiere act on Eminem’s Shady Records, rap’s most lyrical bunch will take time reflect on the ups and downs with Cee Lo Green in their video for “My Life.” “It’s just more of a rags-to-riches type of story that chronicles struggle, hardship, all of the hurdles that we’ve all jumped and some of the things that all of us have extreme gratitude for, if you listen to the lyrics of the songs,” an expertly groomed Joe Budden told MTV News of the video’s concept on Wednesday while shooting in L.A. On the energetic second single from the group’s upcoming Welcome to: Our House LP, the lyricists ponder their current wins in the face of all their previous losses. Cee Lo belts out a familiar hook over a Streetrunner and Sarom-produced track which lifts Italian band Corona’s 1993 dance hit “The Rhythm of the Night.” Though the newly released track has yet to make a dent in any of the Billboard song charts, it has all the makings of a hit record and has the potential to become a radio mainstay for the summer. It may be hard to picture the B-roll, with all of its green screen, but for the Syndrome-directed video for “My Life,” the planned visual effects will be key in telling the quartet’s story. “Unless you have the most wildest and most vividest of imaginations you probably won’t be able to get it, but he’s doin’ a lot of editing in post, he’s doin’ a lot of camera tricks,” Budden said of Syndrome’s aim. “He’s gonna make it all come together, he’s gonna make it all real sexy and we’re excited to work with him.” What do you think of Slaughterhouse and Cee Lo’s new single “My Life”? Let us know in the comments Related Artists Cee Lo Green Slaughterhouse
Britney will be ‘train wreck’ on ‘X Factor,’ new ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge adds at press conference. By James Montgomery Howard Stern Photo: MTV News Howard Stern held court at New York’s Friars Club on Thursday in a long-running press conference to promote his upcoming stint as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.” And in keeping with the spirit of the legendary roasts that take place at the venue, he didn’t shy away from taking some shots at his singing-competition contemporaries. Stern was asked by a reporter whether he would have signed up for the “Talent” gig if it meant serving on a panel with “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez and newly-announced “X Factor” judge Britney Spears — as opposed to the “Talent” tandem of Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne — and, well, let’s just say he answered rather directly. “No, I would not [have], because I think we have the best judging panel out there, out of all these shows. I think that the judges all offer constructive, precise criticism, and I really like it,” Stern said. “To sit there with J.Lo and Britney Spears and try to prop those two up, I’d be like a ventriloquist with two dummies; I’m not going to sit there and do that.” Stern didn’t stop there, either. When he was asked for his thoughts on “The X Factor” ‘s reported $15 million deal with Spears , the shock jock joked that he was in favor of it … for slightly dubious reasons, of course. “I think it’s a wonderful decision; Britney still thinks the world is flat. We’re going to tune in to see if she can sort of function through the thing. As far as any real criticism, I think [“X Factor” judges] Simon [Cowell] and L.A. Reid will be doing that,” he said. “I think Britney’s going to stand there and eat a lollipop and wear a sexy outfit; I don’t anticipate great opinions from her. I think she’s going to sit there like J.Lo. ‘Oh, you’re wonderful, you’re terrific. You think I could get a perfume endorsement out of this? You think I can perform on the show?’ I think that’s what it’s about, but I think it will be interesting. … I’ll tune in to see what kind of train wreck she is, absolutely.” Related Artists Jennifer Lopez Britney Spears
‘There’s a little chip on my shoulder,’ frontman Aaron Bruno tells MTV News of writing the follow-up to the band’s Megalithic Symphony. By James Montgomery AWOLNATION’s Aaron Bruno Photo: MTV News AWOLNATION’s Aaron Bruno already knows how he wants the follow-up to his band’s breakout (and epically titled) Megalithic Symphony album to sound. The key now is finding the time to actually write it. “I think the next record will be a little more raw, and a little more aggro, and a little stranger, but still have the nursery-rhyme feel of melody, because that’s the only way I know how to write,” he told MTV News. “I’m working on it now [while the band is on tour] and, really, it’s the only thing keeping me sane. Every day I wake up, and I’m so excited to first of all find a shower, and then have a coffee, and then do a couple of other things that I probably can’t mention, and then open up the computer and just see what happens. … It’s a nice break from the routine [of] playing the same old songs, meeting the same people, waking up at the same venues, same parking lots across the country.” Yes, such is life for AWOLNATION, who went from relative unknowns to rock-radio monsters based on a relentless tour schedule and the strength of hit singles “Sail” and “Not Your Fault.” Since bursting onto the radar, Bruno has seemingly spent every waking minute on the road, and it doesn’t look like that will change much anytime soon (AWOL are currently touring until the end of July). So needless to say, he’s itching to break the cycle and get into the studio to begin work on the new album. And no, he’s not about to shy away from the expectations that come with following a hit album. “I got a little chip on my shoulder with the songwriting and I’ve got a lot to say about the world, so there’s a little bit of a fist on this new record that I’m excited about,” he said. “I’ve always been the underdog my whole life, and the guys in my band, we all came up in the same situation, so this success is totally new and foreign for us, so I want to maintain the hunger of being the underdog and never feel complacent with the success and always want to reach more ears. Not necessarily to make money, but because I feel the music’s important.” And while Bruno’s relishing the opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong, he’s also trying to stop and appreciate just how far his band has come. Of course, given his nature, that’s proving to be easier said than done. “All of this seems like a joke to me. It doesn’t seem real. I wake up every day and I have to remind myself … this is really happening, it’s OK to enjoy it,” he laughed. “But I’ve had a hard time doing that because I’m constantly focused on the next thing.” Are you looking forward to new music from AWOLNation? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists AWOLNATION
Baton Rouge rapper dodges a life sentence in 2009 murder case. By Nadeska Alexis Lil Boosie Photo: Asylum After a week of testimony and deliberation in a murder trial stemming from a 2009 case, jurors in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, found rapper Lil Boosie (born Torrence Hatch) not guilty of a first-degree murder charge on Friday (May 11). The rapper was facing life in prison if convicted. Boosie is currently serving an eight-year sentence for non-related drug charges, but WBRZ reported that the 29-year-old was able to beat seemingly insurmountable odds in a murder trial in which he was accused of ordering primary witness Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding to murder Terry Boyd. The 35-year-old was shot to death in his home in Baton Rouge in October 2009. On the third day of testimony in the Boosie trial , 19-year-old Louding took the stand and backtracked on his previous confession of being hired to kill Boyd. He claimed instead that he had never confessed to law enforcement about the murder, adding that he was with Hatch and getaway driver Adrienne Pitman at the rapper’s house on the night of the shooting. The prosecution came under fire for using Boosie’s violent lyrics to incriminate him in the case, even pointing to Louding’s tattoo of an AK-47, with the script “Yo Boosie Who’s Next?” as proof that the two had conspired. Meanwhile, the defense aimed to paint a picture of Boosie as an artist who let too many strangers into his inner circle without knowing their true intentions. On Wednesday morning, an IT specialist took the stand to testify about the contents of the Baton Rouge rapper’s computer . The expert pinpointed a photo of a tattoo parlor, which was related to the investigation, but no details were given on how his testimony might have affected the case. Throughout the trial, several officers were questioned, including one who revealed that Boosie was not considered a suspect until his name was brought up during Louding’s confession. While prosecutors argued that Louding’s admissions and cell phone records were proof that he committed the crime, Boosie’s defense attorneys countered that the confession was a lie, prompted by hours of interrogation. Stick with MTV News and RapFix.MTV.com as further details in the case emerge. Related Artists Lil Boosie
‘We’ve been overlooked or been the underdogs and really haven’t gotten that just due,’ multiplatinum producer tells Mixtape Daily. By Rob Markman, with reporting by FLX Drumma Boy Photo: MTV News Behind the Beats: Drumma Boy Drumma Boy has already put on for everyone else, now the multi-platinum rap producer is just trying to put on for his hometown. The Memphis, Tennessee, beatmaker has delivered hits to Young Jeezy, Rick Ross , T.I. and Waka Flocka Flame, just to name a few. But on his latest mixtape, Welcome to My City 2, Drumma marches to the beat of his own drum — literally. ” Welcome to My City, first and foremost, is the unification process of Memphis. It’s like bringing the city together,” said Drumma, who raps as well as produces on the tape. The tape’s stand-out single, “Where I Come From,” features reggae star Junior Reid, and on it Drumma Boy aims to inspire those in his town to be the best they can be. “Only way we gonna get seen is if we keep on winnin’/ Only way we gonna get heard is if we keep on singin’,” he raps. It’s not that Memphis doesn’t have its share of stars. In the early 1990s, 8Ball and MJG put the Southern city on rap’s map, leading the way for Three 6 Mafia to have their infamous run. Now Yo Gotti, Don Trip , Zed Zilla and, of course, Drumma look to further cement the city’s legacy. “We’re really just showing and emphasizing the city of Memphis, showcasing the talent that’s in the city,” Drumma explained to Mixtape Daily of his mission. “Because a lot of the opportunities we’ve had, we’ve been overlooked or been the underdogs and really haven’t gotten that just due.” The time is now. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Meek Mill And Drumma Boy Related Artists Drumma Boy
Drama wanted to recruit someone who was ‘keeping hip-hop culture moving forward’ for the remix to his hit single. By Nadeska Alexis, with reporting by Sway Calloway Future, Ludacris, DJ Drama and T.I. on the set of “We in This Bitch” music video Photo: MTV News DJ Drama recruited Atlanta’s finest for his single “We In This Bitch,” even gathering Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris and Future for the song’s video , which premiered earlier this week, but Drama still found one more way to guarantee the track’s sticking power. On Friday (May 11) he released the remixed version, “We in This Bitch 1.5” featuring Drake. During Meek Mill’s 25th birthday celebration in Philadelphia on Sunday, MTV News caught up with Drama, who teased the remix, and gave a few details on how the collaboration came about. “When you have a record, being a DJ we always like to do creative things, so I got a version 1.5, which is DJ Drama featuring Drake and Future,” he told Sway Calloway, going on to explain why he thought the YMCMB rapper was the best fit to remake the single. “When you have a record like that and [you want] to add onto it, there’s not a lot of things you could do,” he said. “[Drake] came with a monster verse, [and he’s] another young, fresh talent, somebody out here that I look at the same way I look at Meek, who’s really keeping hip-hop culture moving forward, so I felt it was only best.” Topping the original track was definitely no easy feat. Drama explained that he was very conscious of gathering Atlanta’s legends and one promising newcomer for the original. “It’s the first time that Tip, Jeezy and Luda have all been on one record together,” he said. “Plus, having Future on there, who’s got the streets on fire — 2 Chainz and Future are really holding the A down and really are a new generation. Of course, we all know Tip has been here for a long time doing his thing, and even the significance of what Jeezy, T.I. and Luda mean to the city and to my career, it’s a special moment for them, it’s a special record.” “We In This Bitch 1.5” finds Future on the first track with Drake since the YMCMB rapper appeared on Future’s hit single “Tony Montana.” There was some brief friction between the two, when Future took a jab at Drake for skipping out on filming the video with him. What do you think of “We In This Bitch 1.5”? Leave your comment below! Related Artists Drake DJ Drama
‘Dark Shadows’ star tells Robert Pattinson that ‘there’s room for two vampires on this block.’ By Jocelyn Vena Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson Photo: Warner Bros./ Summit In a recent interview with this big screen vampire, Johnny Depp opened up about any potential vampy face-offs with fellow heartthrob and big-screen bloodsucker Robert Pattinson. When asked if there’s any sort of blood feud with the “Twilight” star, Depp noted that it’s all cool between the two actors. “There’s room for two vampires on this block — as long as he remembers I am the Alpha Vampire,” he told UsMagazine.com at the London premiere of his campy vampire flick, “Dark Shadows,” which opens this weekend. Of course Edward Cullen and Barnabas Collins aren’t really cut from the same vampire DNA. Where Edward is brooding and sullen, Barnabas is on the other end of the spectrum, with his oddball charm and old-world demeanor. And their transitions to the modern world are quite different. While Edward had been living in the world over the course of his vampire life, Barnabas had been in a coffin for 200 years before emerging in the 1970s. When MTV News spoke to Depp about the film , he noted that exploring Barnabas’ evolution in the contemporary world was what drew him to the story. “Playing a kind of reluctant vampire, in a sense, the reluctant vampire who has been locked in a box for 200 years and his misfortune to be let out in an age when things are probably at their most surreal in terms of 1972,” Depp said. “It’s a very odd period. Things are changing radically; the sort of peace and love thing was over with, and we were rapidly approaching disco, so musically and aesthetically, that was the fun of it, to place this hyper-elegant figure from the late 18th century into one of the weirdest times of all time.” The film is the latest collaboration between Deep and director Tim Burton. It’s the big-screen adaptation of the 1960s soap opera of the same name. Who do you think is the Alpha Vampire: Edward Cullen or Barnabas Collins? Leave your pick below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Dark Shadows.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Dark Shadows’ Related Photos Dark Shadows
‘I’m glad that he did it — better late than never,’ ‘Jersey Shore’ star JWoww tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi Snooki Photo: MTV News President Obama made history earlier this week when he became the first president to support same-sex marriage . Moments after the announcement, reactions came pouring in from celebrities and other supporters of his decision expressing their overwhelming enthusiasm regarding the much-discussed topic. Two of those supporters include “Jersey Shore” stars Snooki and JWoww, who stopped by MTV News on Thursday and told us that they were thrilled with President Obama’s latest move, even though they feel it should have come earlier in his presidency. “I’m glad that he did it — better late than never,” JWoww said. “And he is the first president to come out and say it, and I am proud of him for doing it.” Snooki, who’s expecting her first child with fianc
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