U.K. boy band wrapped their first-ever U.S. tour Wednesday night in L.A. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Getty Images The Wanted landed on U.S. shores last month for their first-ever tour here in America, and what ensued was Beatlemania-like fandom. On Wednesday night, the U.K. boy band wrapped up the trek in L.A., and fans (including the Beckham family) came out in full force when they took the stage at the El Rey. The five Brits couldn’t believe the enthusiasm felt by the crowd, tweeting that the excitement for them was “unbelievable.” Even though the tour is over, the interest in the guys has hardly waned. Their song “Glad You Came” (from their 2011 album Battleground ) will be featured on “Glee” this season and continues to climb the charts and gain radio play. The guys are prepared for all the attention: Touring with Justin Bieber has shown them what it’s like to become an international pop sensation. So what kind of advice has the Biebs given them? “I think he’s too humble for that, in that way. … He’s not someone that really gives advice, because I think he just appreciates what happens to him rather than thinks he’s God,” Max George told MTV News. “And so, I mean, we don’t really talk music. When we speak to him, it’s more we talk about football or basketball.” Bandmate Jay McGuiness added: “I think he knows that we know how to do what we want to do in the same way that we could never tell him how to do what he does, ’cause he does it a lot better than we ever could.” The Wanted will head back home to their native U.K. to kick off an arena tour that will run through March. They are also up for Best British Single at the Brit Awards this month for “Glad.” Have you been following the Wanted’s burgeoning career? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists The Wanted Justin Bieber
Belgium-born singer talks about the song’s growing success and stripping down for its very naked music video. By James Montgomery Gotye in his “Somebody That I Used to Know” music video Photo: Eleven You might not know who Gotye is, but you’ve definitely heard his song. It’s a tidy little ball of emotional wreckage called “Somebody That I Used to Know,” and it’s currently burning up both the Billboard Hot 100 and Modern Rock radio (and it’s becoming a go-to track for the CW’s stable of teensploitation programming). The thing you might not know is that the roots of the Belgium-born (Australia-raised) singer/songwriter’s signature hit actually stretch back more than a year … when he was struggling to finish his Making Mirrors album. Though now, as Gotye begins his U.S. press push, he’s more than happy to tell you the backstory. ” ‘Somebody That I Used to Know,’ like a lot of the record, was a bit of a struggle to finish,” he told MTV News. “It was written fairly quickly — I wrote it in November 2010 — but it took six months to find Kimbra [who features on the track] and really realize she was the right vocalist to make the female part come to life. There were constant hurdles.” Then again, that’s been a fairly common occurrence. Because the making of each of his studio albums has been a battle, though Gotye is quick to chalk that up to the way he chooses to work. And “Somebody” is a prime example of what happens when he pushes through his struggles. “Sometimes I’ll have sections that I’m not quite sure how they fit in the puzzle of a tune, they’ll get moved around; what I think was originally a verse ends up becoming the chorus, or what’s an intro gets dropped as a hook, things get shifted around a lot,” he explained. “That song was written in a very linear fashion; and then I hit this brick wall of not knowing where to go with this one person’s story, and that prompted me to add another perspective.” And then, as his legions of female (and male) fans around the world are surely aware of, there’s the matter of the “Somebody” video, which features Gotye and Kimbra sans clothing … but loaded down with body paint. And yes, making the clip certainly presented a rather unique set of challenges. “The shots I did by myself, I chopped up a pair of my underpants and had them sort of gaffer-taped strategically around certain areas. But at one stage it just became a bit absurd, because the gaffer tape would just keep coming off, and my friend James, who was actually filming behind the scenes on the video, he’s got some pretty incriminating footage,” Gotye laughed. “There was just a point where the cinematographer of the clip was a bit more vicariously embarrassed for me than I was, because the underpants would just fall open and I’d be like ‘Let’s just keep going, there’s nothing nobody hasn’t seen here before.’ “We shot it over two very full days … I quite clearly remember driving home at 9 a.m., after shooting all day, in a bathrobe, with bodypaint all over my face, and going through McDonald’s drive-thru,” he continued. “I ordered a coffee to make sure I didn’t crash on the way home. And the girl working there, she didn’t even bat an eyelid. I guess it’s a regular thing down in Hastings [Australia] McDonald’s.” What do you think of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” video? Leave your comment below!
Stephen Dillane, Carice van Houten and other actors make their ‘Thrones’ debut in a series of new stills from season two. By Josh Wigler Carice van Houten and Stephen Dillane in “Game of Thrones” Photo: Helen Sloan/ HBO Winter is fast approaching Westeros, and if you can see through the downpour of snow, you’ll notice a few new, not-so-friendly faces in the mix. Yes, several of your favorite characters will be back in action when “Game of Thrones” season two premieres April 1, but Jon, Tyrion, Dany and the rest will have their work cut out for them when new friends and foes join the battle for the Iron Throne. To get you acquainted with some of these newcomers, HBO has released a slew of photos from the upcoming second season of the epic fantasy series, based on the “Song of Ice and Fire” novels from visionary writer George R.R. Martin. From men who would be kings to their trusted and true servants, here are five new “Thrones” characters about to enter the game: Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon “The Iron Throne is mine by rights.” Get ready to hear that refrain early and often in season two as Stannis Baratheon enters the scene. Currently lording over the remote island of Dragonstone, Stannis believes himself the one true ruler of Westeros following the death of his brother Robert and the revelation that his nephew Joffrey is the product of Cersei and Jaime Lannister’s incest. Stannis will stop at nothing to claim what he feels he’s rightfully owed, including resorting to the use of forbidden magic. Speaking of which … Carice van Houten as Melisandre The red priestess from the foreign lands of Asshai comes to serve Stannis in his time of need, believing him to be Azhor Azhai Reborn, an old hero of ancient prophecy destined for great and powerful things. Her beliefs are questioned by many, but her power can be denied by none. Melisandre’s magic is a deadly spectacle that must be seen to be believed, and season two will convince some skeptics just how serious her sorcery is — often at a lethal price. Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth The Onion Knight is another of Stannis’ most trusted advisers. Davos is a smuggler-turned-knight after proving his loyalty to the bold Baratheon warrior; the fingers of his left hand were long ago shortened by a joint on Stannis’ command, a final punishment for his smuggling past. The severed remains are held in a pouch around Davos’ neck he describes as his “luck,” though his luck may well be running out. Davos does not take kindly to Melisandre’s newfound influence over Stannis — but like many others, he’ll soon realize that the red priestess has more than enough bite to back up her bark. Patrick Malahide as Balon Greyjoy Stannis Baratheon is not the only one competing for the crown of Westeros: There’s also Balon Greyjoy, lord of the Iron Islands, to consider. The seafaring warrior is no stranger to fighting for the Iron Throne, having been put down in a rebellion many years earlier. But Balon sees new possibilities in another attempt to claim rule over Westeros — possibilities that may be helped or hindered by the return of his estranged son Theon, best friend and closest confidant to King in the North Robb Stark. Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth Serving a different king entirely is Brienne of Tarth, a fierce warrior woman often ridiculed by men for her masculine features and seemingly futile attempt to become a knight. But she’s respected by the man who matters most to her: Renly Baratheon, brother of Stannis and another of the men vying for supremacy in Westeros. As part of Renly’s elite guard, Brienne will stop at nothing to protect her king and further his agenda. But fate might have other plans in store for her … What do you think of the new “Thrones” characters? Tell us in the comments!
‘Benedict has got this intensity about him,’ actor tells MTV News about new ‘Trek’ villain. By Kara Warner Chris Pine Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage Given the overwhelming success of J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek,” much ado has been made over the sequel, which started production not too long ago. One of the more interesting stories to come out of the flurry of activity surrounding the new film is the casting of rising star Benedict Cumberbatch as the chief villain . The very busy actor could only express his excitement about the project when MTV News caught up with him at the Golden Globes, but co-star Chris Pine had a little bit more to offer about Cumberbatch’s contributions to the film thus far. “Benedict is fantastic. He’s just so good,” Pine told MTV about his scenes with the British actor at the premiere of “This Means War.” “He’s super talented, and we are more than grateful to have him onboard.” When asked about the tone of his scenes with the “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “War Horse” actor, Pine gushed about his co-star’s acting skills. “Benedict has got this intensity about him, and he’s obviously extremely intelligent and articulate. His vocal quality is something else. He obviously is, unlike many of us, like, an actually trained actor,” Pine added with a laugh. “He actually studied for it.” So what are we going to love about Cumberbatch’s performance? And will it be love/hate, since he’s playing a mysterious villain? “[You’ll love] everything. He’s really talented,” Pine said. “I think it’s all going to be love — a mad amount of love.” Another “Star Trek 2” actor, Alice Eve, was just as excited about Cumberbatch joining the team, having worked with him previously on “Starter for 10.” “I’m very excited to work with him again. He’s so very funny, Ben,” she said. “I don’t know if you remember his character in ‘Starter for 10,’ but he was so funny. Like King of the Geeks, but he did it so well, and I found a lot of that hard to get through because he was so funny. I like him very much.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Star Trek 2.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
‘For me, it’s Kanye and Jay-Z,’ the filmmaker tells MTV News of his picks for MTV’s ‘Hottest MCs in the Game.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Spike Lee Photo: MTV News Filmmaker Spike Lee is on fire. While out at the Sundance Film Festival in Park city, Utah, in January, Spike showed his latest film, “Red Hook Summer,” and then he and actors Toni Lysaith and Jules Brown discussed a different type of heat: MTV’s upcoming “Hottest MCs in the Game” roundtable debate. At first, Lee tried to dodge the question, deferring to the flick’s young castmembers. “You’re asking the wrong person,” he playfully told MTV News’ Josh Horowitz. Lysaith happily chimed in. The cheery actress who plays Chazz Morningstar quickly ran down a list of rap’s heaviest hitters for her “Hottest” picks. “I personally like Drake and Jay-Z and Kanye West; that’s just me,” she said. “Red Hook Summer” stars Jules Brown, who plays Flik Royale, a 13-year-old boy from Atlanta who moves into a Brooklyn housing project and struggles to adjust to his new surroundings. The new star fittingly looked at the new generation of rappers to top the “Hottest” list. “Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean and Curren$y,” he confidently nominated. Spike, on the other hand, went with some old favorites, two of the game’s most consistent hit makers: the Throne. “For me, it’s Kanye and Jay-Z,” he said, as if there was ever any doubt. Lee is such a fan that he even attended Hov and Yeezy’s final stop on their Watch the Throne Tour in December. “Last Night I Saw Final Show Of U.S. Leg of Watch The Throne Tour at Staples Center in LA.Jay and Kanye Killed It To Death,” he tweeted . Who should be crowned the “Hottest MC in the Game”? Leave your comment below! Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT to catch ” MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts ,” then watch “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT before capping the night off with ” Sucker Free Certified ” at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos Hottest MCs In The Game VII Is Coming Related Artists Jay-Z Kanye West
‘I trust Christopher Nolan implicitly,’ Hardy tells MTV News of his ‘Dark Knight Rises’ director. By Kara Warner Tom Hardy as Bane in “Dark Knight Rises” Photo: Warner Bros. Those of you following the seemingly never-ending Internet musings about “The Dark Knight Rises” are likely very well of the fact that the biggest story surrounding the film at this point in time is whether or not audiences will be able to understand the words Tom Hardy as villainous Bane is saying through his frightening mask. Ever since fans got an early glimpse at Hardy in the role via a sneak peek of the film’s six-minute opening sequence in December, there has been growing concern and a lot of pre-emptive freaking out over the fact that we’re not going to be able to understand anything Bane says. When MTV News caught up with Hardy at the U.S. premiere of his upcoming action/romantic comedy “This Means War,” we asked him how concerned he is about audiences understanding his dialogue. “Not at all. I trust [director] Christopher Nolan implicitly. I’m not worried at all about people understanding him mumbling away,” Hardy said. “But I have seen some brilliant stuff online about [my mumbling] ‘Mmmm … Batman doesn’t beat up retards!,’ which I thought was very funny. I enjoyed that,” he said with a smile, referencing the veritable commotion his voice has made online via various analytical blog posts and the parody Twitter account @MuffledBane. So there you have it. Trust in Christopher Nolan, people: The Oscar nominated writer/director has said as much himself. “I think when people see the film, things will come into focus,” Nolan told Entertainment Weekly recently. “Bane is very complex and very interesting,” he said. “And when people see the finished film, people will be very entertained by him.” For his part, Hardy did admit that Bane’s mask is pretty tight, but seems to have enjoyed the villainous aspects of the character, without getting carried away by it. “I didn’t get into a dark place at all,” Hardy told Latino Review of his “brutal” and “heavy-handed” character. “A lot of dark characters are easy to have distance from. It’s something I feel comfortable with, I suppose.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Dark Knight Rises.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Photos On The Set Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
‘That record is a process of what was happening in Paris at that time,’ Watch the Throne A&R Bu Thiam tells MTV News. By Rob Markman Kanye West in the video for “Paris” Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records The best rap records are usually rooted in reality, but fans have come to expect their favorite MCs to use a bit of poetic license when delivering their rhymes. That’s not the case with Kanye West and Jay-Z , though: According to Def Jam VP of A&R Bu Thiam, the lyrics on the Throne’s “N—as in Paris” — the video for which was released Thursday (February 9) — are as real as they come. “What I realized in this process is that them dudes really rap about what they go through,” Thiam told MTV News back in August after Watch the Throne was released. “I’ve A&R’d other albums, and people, sometimes they rap about somebody else’s story or what they think is a story. But those guys, everything they rap about is what they’re actually going through.” Take “N—as in Paris,” for instance, which has music fans across the world shouting, “That sh– cray.” On the song’s hook Hov raps, “Ball so hard mother—-ers wanna fine me,” and while it sounds like an empty MC boast, the popular lyric is rooted in truth. Hov, who is a minority owner of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, was caught taking pictures with the University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball team during their NCAA tournament run last year. It all seemed like a harmless gesture, but contact between NBA personnel and potential NBA college prospects is prohibited. In April, the Nets were fined $50,000 for Hov’s actions. “When you hear it, you’re thinking it’s bragging, but no, it’s really true,” Thiam said of the Throne’s lyrics. “It’s crazy how they take the words and they make the songs and make it reality, and you’re thinking it’s just verses, but nah, it’s really reality for them dudes.” Beyond b-ball drama, the accomplished A&R who also helped string together Rihanna’s Talk That Talk said the entire “N—as in Paris” record is just a reflection of Jay and Kanye’s wild outing to France. “Going out, kicking it and just having fun. That record is a process of what was happening in Paris at that time,” he said. “It’s real life, I promise you, it is.” What’s your favorite lyric from the Throne’s “N—as in Paris”? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos The Throne’s ‘Paris’: A Closer Look Related Artists Jay-Z Kanye West
Coveted nomination follows #1 debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, and a string of well-received mixtapes. By Nadeska Alexis J. Cole Photo: C. Flanigan/FilmMagic It’s been a long road to release for J. Cole, who finally dropped his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, in September after putting out several mixtapes. Now, the Roc Nation signee is seeing his hard work pay off with a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2012 Grammy Awards . Cole World debuted at #1 in September and has sold more than 500,000 copies to date, making it an impressive freshman LP for a rapper. Make no mistake, though, Jermaine Cole’s success has been a long time in the making. After dropping his mixtape The Come Up in 2007, the North Carolina native polished his craft and released The Warm Up two years later, catching the ear of Jay-Z — specifically with the hit single “Lights Please” — and landing himself a record deal at Roc Nation. Even with Hov as his mentor, however, Jermaine continued to push things along with his own solo efforts. His debut album was hit with a series of delays and he made up for the wait by releasing his late 2010 mixtape Friday Night Lights. Between his tapes and a few free-floating singles he’d recorded over the years, Cole had enough material to warrant an opening spot on Rihanna’s Loud Tour in June. When that wrapped, Cole kicked off his Any Given Sunday series in the summer of 2011, which found him releasing new tracks or EPs weekly, leading right into the debut of his first studio album. That persistent grind resulted in noteworthy album sales and a Grammy nomination, which Jay-Z said is well-deserved . “I think it’s great for him, because I’m sure it’s a dream of his. We grew up seeing Michael Jackson, and I’m sure he grew up seeing whatever moment stuck in his mind, so I know it’s great for him to do that,” Hov told MTV News. “I think he’s already won Best New Artist, to me. His journey is what I’m really excited about.” Tune into the Grammys on Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET to see if Cole takes home the award for Best New Artist. His competitors in the category are Nicki Minaj, Skrillex, Bon Iver and the Band Perry. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don’t miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn’t end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off! Related Videos A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Artists J. Cole
Lady Gaga and Adele also up for two major pop trophies at Sunday’s show. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry in her video for “Firework” Photo: EMI The pop stars nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards couldn’t be more different from one another, both visually and sonically. In the two biggest pop categories, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance, every spectrum of pop is represented: from soulful to candy-colored and everything in between. As the Grammy Awards approach, MTV News will break down the contenders in both categories. So, here we go. Best Pop Vocal Album Adele’s 21 has six nominations under its belt at this year’s show, including the biggie, Album of the Year. Since its release nearly a year ago, Adele’s heartbreak opus reigned on radio, the charts and the collective hearts of the lovelorn everywhere. It boasts production from Ryan Tedder, Paul Epworth and Rick Rubin, and tracks the singer’s heartbreak after a split from a former beau. Cee Lo Green gave the world a big “F— You” with his The Lady Killer , which dropped in November 2010, and the album has sustained its momentum thanks to that one track (and Cee Lo’s “The Voice” gig). The album got some songwriting and production help from fellow nominee, Bruno Mars, and in addition to this nod, its track “Fool for You” is also up for some gold. Lady Gaga’s love-yourself album, Born This Way, is a metal-disco composition about romance, New York City and couture. With production from RedOne, Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow, the album was released last May, and while the sound looked to the future, it also paid homage to her past when she enlisted the late Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and Brian May of Queen. Bruno Mars crooned his way to the top of the charts with his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Displaying his love for melodies and lyrics about love and loss, Mars’ experiment in mixing doo-wop and new millennium production value managed to make him a household name and a big-time nominee. Album of the Year-nominated Loud was Rihanna’s return to form. After a dark turn on Rated R, Ri was feeling sunnier, saucier and sassier on the 2010 album that featured production from Stargate and Tricky Stewart and tracks like the fist-pumping “Only Girl (In The World)” and the reggae-influenced “Man Down.” Best Pop Solo Performance On “Someone Like You,” Adele’s big voice and knack for heartache was on full display. The second 21 single got a songwriting and production assist from Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson (the guy who gave us “Closing Time” in the ’90s) and follows Adele as she comes to terms with the loss of her former flame. Like Adele, Bruno Mars put his heart and soul on the line on the Doo-Wops & Hooligans uber-ballad, “Grenade.” The song, produced by the Mars-fronted the Smeezingtons, tracks a distraught man as he realizes the woman he loves doesn’t feel the same way about him. Lady Gaga had been teasing “You and I” for some time, but before the finished version appeared on Born This Way, no one could have guessed what May, Gaga and super producer Mutt Lange could have cooked up. What they released was a funky, smashing ode to reclaiming lost love. Katy Perry hadn’t touched on deeper issues on earlier singles, but when it came to her Teenage Dream feel-good anthem, “Firework,” she went there and it took on a life of its own. With Ester Dean and Stargate working with Perry on the song, it topped the charts and became the fourth in a record-breaking string of #1 hits off that album. Like Perry, Pink gave a voice to the disenfranchised on “F—in’ Perfect” (off her greatest hits collection that dropped in 2010). Working with Max Martin and Shellback on the track, she hit the top of the charts and empowered her fans thanks lyrics like, “You’re f—ing perfect to me.” Who do you think will “pop” at the Grammys this year? Leave your predictions below! Related Videos A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Photos 2012 Grammy Awards Pre-Parties 2012 Grammy Performers Related Artists Katy Perry Rihanna
