Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo performed at Wales show, but Jennifer Hudson dropped out at last minute. By Gil Kaufman Prince Jackson, Blanket Jackson and Paris Jackson at the “Michael Forever” concert in Cardiff on Saturday Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images “Michael Forever,” the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday featured sets from Christina Aguilera , Jamie Foxx, Cee Lo Green and Ne-Yo, with a special surprise appearance from the late King of Pop’s three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II (a.k.a. Blanket). Paris, Prince and Blanket introduced the video tribute to MJ from one of the night’s biggest stars, Beyonc
Queen B is reportedly set to release her latest 4 video this week, just a week after she dropped ‘Countdown.’ By Jocelyn Vena Beyonce in the “Love on Top” music video teaser Photo: Columbia Just days after she released her video for “Countdown,” are you feeling like you already need a new Beyonc
Welsh was found unresponsive in a Chicago hotel room on Saturday. By Gil Kaufman Mikey Welsh in 2001 Photo: John Shearer/WireImage One-time bassist for Weezer Mikey Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel room on Saturday. Forty-year-old Welsh played in the group between 1998 and 2001, leaving more than a decade ago after suffering a nervous breakdown. According to the Chicago Tribune, Welsh was found unresponsive on the floor of his room at the Raffaello Hotel on Saturday after failing to check out on time. A cleaning crew tried to open the door to his room and was unable to get in, at which point they found his body lying unresponsive near the door. He was pronounced dead a short time later, and while the cause of death was not announced pending further toxicology results, authorities suspect a drug overdose. Police said prescription drugs were found in the room, along with a plastic baggie containing white powder believed to be heroin. Welsh was the band’s second bassist, replacing original member Matt Sharp, playing on the band’s “Green” album, which featured the hits “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun.” After leaving the group, he focused on a second career as a visual artist, and recently wrote on his Twitter page that he was looking forward to seeing Weezer in Chicago at the Riotfest on Sunday night. “Today is a hard day for Weezer and all Weezer friends, fans, and family,” the band’s webmaster, Karl Koch, wrote on Sunday. “While everyone is still in shock over yesterday’s tragic loss of Mikey Welsh, we know damn well he would never have wanted to stop the rock at today’s RIOTfest, the show he was planning on attending. On the contrary, the rock was what he loved, both in music and art. To play the show and play it well tonight is to honor him and his memory. We have a feeling he will be watching.” The band also posted a tribute to Welsh on the site , describing the bass player as “our beautiful, creative, hilarious and sweet friend,” who was “never one to shy away from the absurd, dangerous or strange.” On October 1, Welsh wrote excitedly about taking his first vacation in “quite a long time,” saying he was headed to Nashville to be photographed working on a large-scale painting with a friend and then to Chicago to see Weezer. “I’m excited to see the boys, hang out and have some fun,” he wrote. The man who replaced Welsh, Scott Shriner, tweeted his condolences, writing, “Really bummed about Mikey. Heart goes out to his family and friends. Such a talent … he made a special mark on the world with his art.” Share your wishes and condolences by leaving them on our Facebook page. Related Artists Weezer
Hugh Jackman flick’s ‘well-staged’ fighting sequences and father-son spats leave critics ‘pleasantly surprised.’ By Josh Wigler Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lilly in Real Steel Photo: DreamWorks Pictures Moviegoers have proven their affection for gigantic robots smashing the ever-loving sparkplugs out of each other in the heat of war — thanks for that, Michael Bay! — but machines beating each other into a tarry pulp purely for sport in the middle of a heartfelt family drama? That’s something the Autobots and Decepticons have yet to cover. But it seems that “Real Steel,” from “Night at the Museum” director Shawn Levy and “Wolverine” leading man Hugh Jackman, is more than meets the eye. Those who originally targeted Levy’s first foray into the action arena as nothing more than a big-screen Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots have seemingly been proven wrong, with critics praising “Real Steel” for its strong performances, moving story and, yes, the primal pleasure derived from watching two cybernetic gladiators tear each other to bits. Read on for a veritable scrap heap of “Real Steel” reviews: The Story “Taking place in a not-too-distant future that’s neither utopian nor dystopian, but kind of semi-topian, ‘Real Steel’ follows Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a former boxer who participates in the sport of robot fighting. (According to the ‘Steel’ timeline, human boxers will get out of the game soon because they can’t hit hard enough to make audiences happy — so enjoy those humans pounding on each other while you still can.) In a world where there’s no more human boxing, Charlie is a charmer/degenerate/bum lugging around a scrappy bot who fights at state fairs. He’s not at the level of ‘league fights’ — you know, the World Robot Boxing League, which is known, because it must be, as ‘the show.’ ” — Linda Holmes, NPR The Man and his Boy “As Charlie, Jackman is mostly surface gloss — he knows how to work a greasy tee and a bad attitude, glaring and growling at everyone. He softens slightly with [Evangeline] Lilly’s Bailey (so nice to see her bruised, buff beauty back since ‘Lost’ wrapped). But it is with [Dakota] Goyo that Jackman warms up. Their father-son spats, truly some of the film’s best sparring, is what gives it heart. Not ‘Rocky’ heart, or ‘Raging Bull’ heart, mind you, but ‘Real’ enough.” — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times The ‘Bot Bouts “The robot, despite its unyielding metallic expression and the glowing blue eyes, is surprisingly endearing, especially when he’s doing the pre-match two-step with Max. … As a ‘sparring’ robot meant only for practice fighting with other robots, he’s a long-shot contender in the ‘Rocky’ mold. But with ex-boxer Charlie’s moves — transmitted via voice command software — he’s suddenly got a shot at the title against the unbeaten Zeus. And, as in the original ‘Rocky’ mold … well, that would be too much of a spoiler. … Lovers of blood sport action (or perhaps crankcase oil in this case) are going to enjoy the well-staged fighting sequences, which are tension-filled and exciting and will have many writhing in their seats.” — Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star The Mechanic Message “As much as ‘Real Steel’ is an escapist pop confection, it forces you to consider the evolving relationship between humans and machines at a time when robots are replacing people in the workplace and in war. The movie doesn’t question our ever-deepening love affair with technology and foolish trust in it. As increasing numbers of people are kept mobile through spare parts, whether flesh, plastic or metal, we are ourselves becoming more droidlike every year. Behind it all is a collective fantasy of invulnerability, omnipotence and eternal life. ‘Real Steel’ at least acknowledges that machines require maintenance to be superhuman.” — Stephen Holden, New York Times The Verdict ” ‘Real Steel’ is a real movie. It has characters, it matters who they are, it makes sense of its action, it has a compelling plot. This is the sort of movie, I suspect, young viewers went to the ‘Transformers’ movies looking for. Readers have told me they loved and identified with their Transformers toys as children. [The robot] Atom must come close to representing their fantasies. Sometimes you go into a movie with low expectations and are pleasantly surprised.” — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times Check out everything we’ve got on “Real Steel.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Hugh Jackman MTV After Hours With Josh Horowitz
‘I learned a lot from him,’ German DJ/producer tells MTV News of working with Swedish House Mafia’s Axwell. By Akshay Bhansali Thomas Gold Photo: MTV News Berlin’s presiding electronic artist Thomas Gold is back in the States, having just completed final production on a highly anticipated piece of music. In April, MTV News first broke the news that Gold and Swedish House Mafia icon Axwell were exchanging ideas on a house music banger, which at the time was titled “Sing to Me.” The Swedes debuted the song during their takeover of Pete Tong’s BBC Essential Mix radio show last month. Fresh off his flight from Germany, Gold stopped by MTV’s offices Thursday to announce that he’d completed his new single, and its new title is “Sing2me.” Considering his provenance alone, Thomas Gold is a powerhouse producer whose star is on the rise. His own singles, “Agora” and “Marsch, Marsch,” were put out by Steve Angello’s Size Records and Toolroom Records. Those two songs, and his recent collabo with Dirty South, “Alive,” have become house hits. His remix game this year alone has been nothing short of stellar, with official remixes for Lady Gaga ‘s “Judas” and Adele ‘s “Set Fire to the Rain.” “I remember when I got the request for the Adele track,” Gold recalled.”I was like, ‘Oh my god. Oh my god,’ because I love the original, and should I really dare to do a remix of that? But I talked to my guys and said, ‘Hey I would love to do that.’ And at the end I got so much positive feedback. The ‘Judas’ mix as well. They are both highlights of my set, and I play them all the time.” For months now, EDM fans have been anxiously awaiting the release of “Sing2me,” a project that saw Gold exchanging ideas with Axwell (the two had success earlier this year with their remix of Hard Rock Sofa & St. Brothers’ “Blow Up”) this spring and summer. After exclusively sharing the final version of the song with MTV News, he explained that though it’s been a long journey, he’s happy with how far the song has come. “I just got the final mastering done a couple of days ago, and it’s finally finished!” Gold gushed. “It was my song and I sent the idea to [Axwell] months ago. So I’ve been really working a long time. Because I had a certain idea of how the track had to be at the end. The vibe I wanted to create. How it should sound in the club. I tried many things [to get] it to where it is. I’m really happy now. “Axwell has been so supportive,” he continued. “He really loved the track when I sent the rough demo to him. We exchanged files back and forth so he could do his little tweaks. He’s a very musical producer, and this is very interesting to me because his tracks are always banging and have so much energy, but they’re still very musical. So I learned a lot from him.” “Sing2me,” does not have a confirmed drop date, but it will be released on Axwell’s Axtone imprint. If you’re in the New York area, you can catch Thomas Gold performing at Pacha NYC Friday (October 7) night. Watch Thomas Gold exclusively previewing “Sing2me” and let us know your thoughts on the song in the comments below. Related Artists Adele Lady Gaga
Critics argue that script doesn’t match the talent level of the A-list cast in George Clooney’s political drama. By Kevin Sullivan Ryan Gosling in “Ides of March” Photo: Sony Pictures George Clooney returns to the director’s chair for the first time since 2008’s “Leather Heads” in one of the first big releases of Oscar season with “The Ides of March.” But then again, we might just be interested in Ryan Gosling’s third major role this year. Everything about “Ides of March,” from the critically lauded cast and director to the political story line seems to scream for awards season attention, but does it live up to high expectations? Critics can’t seem to agree, but the general consensus is that the script doesn’t meet the talent level of the cast, which is pretty fantastic all around. We’ve rounded up some of the reviews to give you a better idea of what to look for this weekend at the movie theater. The Story “Mr. Gosling’s consultant, Stephen Meyers, would seem to be a true believer. Speaking of his candidate, Gov. Mike Morris (Clooney), he tells a reporter, played by Marisa Tomei, ‘He’s the only one who’s going to make a difference in people’s lives.’ (At that point it’s hard to know if this is true, or if the movie thinks it’s true, since some of Morris’s positions — i.e. that we don’t need Arab oil any more — sound awfully fatuous.) And Steve’s boss, Paul Zara, the campaign manager played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, would seem to be cynicism incarnate. The problem is that the news the story brings may be perfectly accurate, but it isn’t particularly original, and it’s certainly not what we hunger for in these dispiriting, cynical times.” — Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal The Direction “Clooney has a keen eye for a good story. With this, his fourth turn as a director, he has chosen wisely. While perhaps not as nuanced as 2005’s ‘Good Night, and Good Luck,’ it’s more assured than 2008’s ‘Leatherheads’ and more accessible than 2002’s ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.’ It grows a little overheated but works particularly well as a morality tale about power and its tendency to corrupt absolutely.” — Cynthia Puig, USA Today The Screenplay “What is surprising, and disappointing, is that the plot borrows, not once but twice, from the hoariest tropes in the book of smug clich
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League’s Rook tells Mixtape Daily, ‘We’re gonna have a big presence on that album.’ By Rob Markman J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Laws Photo: MTV News Behind the Beats: J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League With each album, Rick Ross has grown — and not just physically. While his 2006 debut, Port of Miami, was filled with repetitive trap-rap anthems like “Hustlin’,” “White House” and “Where My Money,” the Bawse has expanded sonically with each release. Credit the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League with part of Ross’ musical elevation. Crafting four tracks on Rozay’s sophomore Trilla, including the Jay-Z-featuring “Maybach Music,” JL have gone on to land tracks on each of the Bawse’s following albums. Expect no different from the upcoming God Forgives, I Don’t. “We just talked to the homey, and we’re gonna have a big presence on that album,” the League’s Rook told Mixtape Daily while walking the black carpet at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards. With “Maybach Music,” the Grammy Award-winning production trio — consisting of Rook, Colione and Kenny Barto — gave Ross a well-orchestrated instrumental, complete with strings and operatic background vocals. It’s a formula they followed on the song’s 2009 sequel, “Maybach Music Part 2,” with Ross, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, as well on “Maybach Music Part 3” from Rozay’s Teflon Don LP. With Ross tracks like “Aston Martin Music,” “Rich Off Cocaine” and “Magnificent” already under their belt, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League have proven to be more musical than many of their rap contemporaries. For God Forgives, I Don’t, the Tampa, Florida, beatmakers look to help elevate Ross’ sound once again. “It’s funny because you think that [Ross] might’ve reached his peak,” Rook said. “People think that they might’ve figured his sound out, but when they hear the new album, they’re gonna be chasing that new sound.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists Rick Ross
Young Money MC opens up about a dark period in the past, plus big plans for the future in November Cosmo. By James Dinh Nicki Minaj Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage Nicki Minaj has soared to the top of the charts and collaborated with pop icons . With all of that success, it’s hard to imagine that the Young Money MC once felt completely down on life. In the November issue of Cosmopolitan, the Harajuku Barbie opens up about a range of topics, including a particularly dark period when the MC actually considered taking her own life. “I kept having doors slammed on my face,” Minaj recalled of her pre-fame struggles. “I felt like nothing was working. I had moved out on my own, and here I was thinking I’d have to go home. It was one dead end after another. At one point, I was, like, ‘What would happen if I just didn’t wake up?’ That’s how I felt. Like maybe I should just take my life?” Having gotten past those low points, the MC tells the magazine that she has firm plans for a bright future. “I will have put out five albums and will have an Oscar and Grammys,” she predicted. “And I will be getting married and, a couple of years after that will have a bun in the oven. … My whole life is about being Nicki Minaj now. It’s a never-ending saga.” Fresh off the release of her collabo with Willow Smith, Minaj had some words of wisdom to share about the differences between her and another star: Lady Gaga. The Queens native said that while both embrace over-the-top fashion, for the MC, it’s not a 24/7 routine. “I think Gaga is freakin’ dope for that,” she said. “But I can’t be bothered. Give me my sweats. I like transforming from completely raggedy to ‘Ahhh, I’m ready.’ That transformation gives me a high.” Related Artists Nicki Minaj
Robert Pattinson is also signed on to star in the Western, which has a ‘beautiful script,’ Jackman tells MTV News. By Kara Warner Hugh Jackman Photo: MTV News Pretty much from the moment the movie “Unbound Captives” was announced, fans were signed on and ready to camp out for opening-day tickets. Why? Because it’s a Western with A-list actors. Robert Pattinson , Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz are attached to it. Set in the 1800s, the film revolves around a woman (Weisz) whose husband is killed and two children are kidnapped by Comanche warriors. She enlists the help of a frontiersman (Jackman) to help rescue her children (one of whom will be played by Pattinson) from the tribe. When MTV News caught up with Jackman recently to discuss his latest movie, “Real Steel,” we asked him for an update on “Captives.” “I was thinking about that this morning. I’m absolutely attached, it is one of the best scripts I’ve read in a long time,” Jackman admitted. “And as you know, Hollywood has a hard time with Westerns; it’s hard to get them made and this is a really beautiful, beautiful script. It’s written by Madeleine Stowe, who’s going to direct it as well, so I really hope that one gets made. I think that’s a really important movie.” Earlier this year, Pattinson told MTV News he was also still very interested in making the film, but wasn’t sure about when production might begin given that Stowe had committed to star in ABC’s new hit “Revenge.” Weisz has also expressed her continued interest in “Captives.” “It’s a great screenplay, and [Pattinson and Jackman] are both great actors,” she said. “I like to work with all kinds of talented people, whatever the age.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Hugh Jackman
Gaga will also release a package option, Born This Way: The Collection, that includes the DVD and the original and remix albums. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Getty Images For anyone who couldn’t make it to Madison Square Garden to catch Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour or didn’t catch the HBO special Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden , don’t fret. Mother Monster has your back. Lady Gaga ‘s Emmy Award-winning Monster Ball concert special will be released on DVD on November 21. The disc will include exclusive, previously unreleased footage. If that’s not enough for the Little Monsters out there, Born This Way the Remix album will also be available that same day. It’ll feature 14 songs remixed by a number of DJs and artists, including breakout indie band Foster the People, Michael Woods and the Weeknd. For those looking for more options, Gaga has plans to bundle those two items together with her original Born This Way album for the ultimate Gaga gift, Born This Way: The Collection. While fans eagerly await news of what Gaga’s next single off the chart-topping BTW will be, she’s certainly been keeping busy, including beginning work on a follow-up album . “I’m actually already working on my next album,” she said. “So I’ve been working on that. I’ve been planning the next tour, which keeps me very excited and busy because I have lots of new ideas, and I know exactly how I want it to look. I’m also planning my next music video. I have lots of things to do, but in truth, I feel like I’m the most alive when I’m onstage.” Related Videos MTV First: Lady Gaga Related Photos Photos From Lady Gaga’s ‘MTV First’ Special Related Artists Lady Gaga
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