Before accepting the award, Depp joined the Black Keys onstage to perform ‘Gold on the Ceiling.’ By Terri Schwartz Johnny Depp Photo: Getty Images UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Talk about a grand entrance. Aerosmith rock gods Steven Tyler and Joe Perry walked onto the MTV Movie Awards stage to congratulate a “truly revolutionary artist,” an actor who has become a rock star in his own right. Johnny Depp was the recipient of the MTV Generation Award , joining the prestigious ranks of Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood and Godzilla. Depp joined the Black Keys on stage to perform a rousing rendition of “Gold on the Ceiling” before going on to accept his award. “I’ve got to thank MTV for this. This is quite an amazing honor, truly. It’s like the Get-Out-Of-The-Business Award, ‘All right, you’ve done too much.’ Clearly, based on the clips, there’s nothing wrong with me,” Depp said when he received his Golden Popcorn. “I just thank you very much. And it’s an honor to be presented by these two legends, Steve and Joe, and these up and coming legends, [The Black Keys], so thank you very much.” This has been a big year for Depp. “21 Jump Street” was nominated for six MTV Movie Awards, including one for Depp himself. In addition, he reunited on the big screen with Tim Burton to create their passion project, “Dark Shadows.” But the Generation Award is less about Depp’s last year and more about his legacy. From when we first saw him die brutally in “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to when he won us over as Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” we’ve known he was a star worthy of our attention. Next year will be big for the three-time Golden Popcorn winner as well. We’re excited to see him transform onscreen yet again, but this time as sidekick Tonto in Gore Verbinski’s take on “The Lone Ranger.” And there’s always the planned fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie and inevitable reunion with Burton to look forward to in the future. The 2012 MTV Movie Awards are officially under way! Stick with MTV News for minute-by-minute coverage, and don’t forget to go to MovieAwards.MTV.com to cast your vote for Best Movie! Related Videos 2012 Movie Awards: Most Talked-About Moments Behind The Scenes At The 2012 MTV Movie Awards Related Photos 2012 Movie Awards: Full Fashion Recap
I’d be lying if I said I truly understood the music video for The Black Keys’ “Gold on the Ceiling,” or that it didn’t just give me shades of the stomach-turning willies I’ve been getting from the words “face” and “eating” all week. So please, someone, watch the bizarre VHS-stylings of the latest Harmony Korine joint — an aesthetic cousin to his recent Trash Humpers , with a visual nod to the wheelchair banditry of Umshini Wam — and share in my amused discomfort. Because, yeah. Baby Twinz are my new nightmare. If I see anyone dressed like this on Halloween, I might instinctively punch them in the throat before fleeing in the other direction. You’ve been warned. [via The Playlist ]
‘There’s a kid battling one of the toughest diseases in the world, yet he’s courageous enough to talk about it in his music,’ Miller tells MTV News of Yung Ka. By Rob Markman Mac Miller Photo: MTV News At the open of his 2010 track “The Spins,” Mac Miller urges kids to follow their dreams, but the Pittsburgh MC does more than just give sound advice. Recently the Blue Slide Park rapper and his producer E. Dan linked up with aspiring MC Bobby Stewart, a.k.a. Yung Ka, to show him the ropes around the studio. Stewart, who is suffering from a form of cancer called T-cell lymphoma, first met Miller at Mac’s December 2011 homecoming concert in Pittsburgh after the rapper presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a check for $50,000. “It’s cool what I did, but the story here is him; the story is that there’s a kid that’s battling one of the gruesomest, toughest diseases in the world, yet he’s courageous enough to talk about it in his music,” Mac told MTV News when we caught up with him at the Bamboozle Music Festival in New Jersey on May 18. “This is someone who really talks about his sh– in his music, like all the stages of cancer, to the point where it’s uncomfortable for some to listen to because it’s that much real, it’s too real, it’s that painful.” Miller served as a mentor for the 18-year-old rapper, but he didn’t want to muddle the moment by guest-rapping on Ka’s personal track. “I just wanted to do what I could do to mentor him and help him put a song together and give him what I know,” he said. “I didn’t want to step in on the song because to be real, he did a whole song about cancer, and then what am I gonna come in with on the third verse?” The song hasn’t been released yet, but last week Pittsburgh’s WTAE Action News paid a visit to ID Labs , the studio where Mac, E. Dan and Ka recorded the track, and caught up with the up-and-coming MC. “To be with Mac is a blessing,” Ka said. “His lyrics are amazing. Hip-hop is my passion. To be able to be with Mac Miller … he is a Pittsburgh legend. Wiz Khalifa shout-out.” What’s your favorite Mac Miller track? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Back To The ‘Burgh With Mac Miller And Wiz Khalifa
The Keys and Solveig join previously announced performers Fun. and Wiz Khalifa at the big show, airing live on June 3. By James Montgomery Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach Photo: Getty Images The Black Keys and DJ Martin Solveig have been added to the list of performers at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards , joining previously announced acts Fun. and Wiz Khalifa on the big show. The Keys will be performing their hit “Gold on the Ceiling” — they premiered the video for the song on MTV back in February — while Solveig will serve as the house DJ, remixing themes from some of the most iconic films of all time, including “Star Wars,” “Jaws” and “Pulp Fiction.” The 2012 MTV Movie Awards will air live on Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. Comedian Russell Brand will serve as host for the show, and from the sound of things, he’s, uh, very excited by the opportunity. “The MTV Movie Awards incorporates two of my favorite things: movies and awards,” Brand said. “If somehow group sex could be involved, it would be the greatest night of my life.” We’ll see what we can do, dude. The 2012 MTV Movie Awards will bring together the biggest names in entertainment for what’s sure to be an irreverent night. Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone and Chris Hemsworth are among the stars who will be on hand to present Golden Popcorn statuettes. “The Hunger Games” and “Bridesmaids” are the most-nominated films . And as if all of that isn’t enough, we’ll also unveil exclusive footage from the summer’s most anticipated film, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET. Related Photos 2012 Movie Awards Presenters
Movie focuses on ancient evil unearthed from a glacier. By Gil Kaufman Dr. Dre Photo: Getty Images Rick Ross recently told MTV News that he had joined the likes of Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Nas as a contributor to the top secret project. “We making some things happen, man — we just gonna see where the pieces fall,” Ross said. “But we most definitely putting in major work. Related Artists Dr. Dre
‘There’s much worse bands than Nickelback. Maybe,’ drummer Patrick Carney said. By Gil Kaufman Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys Photo: Jakubaszek/ Getty Images The MTV Canada, they apologized to the Alberta-bred rockers … kind of. “I didn’t mean to single them out actually,” explained a laughing Carney. “It just came out. There’s much worse bands than Nickelback … maybe … That was the worst apology.” “That was terrible, man,” singer Dan Auerbach told his pal about his quarter-hearted mea culpa. Asked if perhaps they were just music snobs, Carney said no, but Auerbach admitted that perhaps he was. “I think I am probably, a little bit … I bet I am,” he said. “I don’t like bad music, but look, I’ve got a lot of friends and not one of them has a Nickelback record,” added Carney. “I’m not a small minority.” What was that he said about the worst apology ever? It got better, though. Without naming names this time, Carney elaborated that, “there are certain bands that make me embarrassed to be …” to which Auerbach chimed in, “human?” “On Earth,” Carney clarified. “Like, they make me actually want to take a spaceship away. I want to get that far away from them.” Carney realized his “apology” might not wash, so when the interviewer asked whether it might get awkward if the Keys run into Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger at an industry awards show or other official function, he said, “he’d probably punch us in the face. I wouldn’t talk to him.” Related Videos MTV First: The Black Keys’ ‘Gold On The Ceiling’ Related Artists The Black Keys
‘I don’t have anyone to bounce off of, you understand?’ Jay told MTV News a year after Notorious B.I.G.’s fatal shooting. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Nina Diaz Notorious B.I.G. Photo: Bad Boy The Notorious B.I.G.’s death hit the entire hip-hop community hard. Family, friends and fans mourned when Biggie died March 9, 1997. His children lost a father, his mother lost a son and the rap world lost one of the all-time greats. Big’s friends and collaborators were affected too. In a 1998 interview with MTV News, Jay-Z talked about how Biggie’s tragic death weighed on him and ultimately changed the course of his sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. “A lot of different songs were influenced by what was happening. ‘City Is Mine,’ the first verse, you could just hear it. I think two hooks on there came from songs that he had previously recorded,” Jay said of the LP that he dropped eight months after his friend passed away. Vol. 1 ‘s “City Is Mine” served as a letter to the deceased. On the song’s first verse, Jay raps, “What the deal, playboy? Just rest your soul.” From there, Jay vows that “a world with amnesia” wouldn’t forget Biggie’s name, and then he proceeded to take Big’s reins as the rap king of New York. Though there were some bright moments on Jay’s first Def Jam release, songs like the Kraftwerk-sampling “(Always Be My) Sunshine” were few and far between. Jay’s experience in the studio was different from when he crafted his 1996 debut, when he had B.I.G. to help push his artistic boundaries. “The album to me — this album wasn’t fun to me like Reasonable Doubt, because it was like, it seemed really slow to me, and I didn’t set out to do that, just looking back now and listening to it now,” he said somberly in the 1998 interview. Big wasn’t physically in the studio; Jay revealed that the only song the Brooklyn Don got to hear and give feedback on from Vol. 1 was the dark and brooding “Streets Is Watching.” Still, Big was well-represented on the album. Aside from “City Is Mine,” Big got a special shout-out on “Friend or Foe ’98,” when Hov famously offered to throw some ice up to heaven for “the nicest MC.” Jay also recycled Biggie’s rhymes on the hooks to “Face Off” and “Real N—az.” The Sauce Money-assisted “Face Off” borrowed its chorus from Biggie’s intro ad libs on his 1997 album cut “Nasty Boy,” and “Real N—az” got its hook from a freestyle B.I.G. did over a string of Dr. Dre instrumentals before he passed. Then there was the melancholy “Lucky Me,” on which Jay briefly speculated on his own death and questioned if fame was all that it was cracked up to be. “There’s a lot of emotions on the album, and that was definitely influenced by what was goin’ on and what had happened,” Jay-Z said. On Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” Lil’ Kim spoke on the Notorious One’s relationship with Jigga . “He and Jay-Z just had this adorable friendship — it was the cutest,” she said. “They were so competitive with each other, but it was such a friendly competitiveness, and I loved it, because that’s how it’s supposed to be when you like somebody.” When B.I.G. passed, that friendly competition was lost. “I don’t have anyone to bounce off of, you understand? We bounced off each other like, ‘Oh that was crazy; I gotta make something crazier.’ When you don’t have that, you don’t have that gauge,” Jay said. “It’s just hard to adjust; you have to find other ways to motivate yourself.” Hov seems to have adjusted just fine. When Biggie died in 1997, Jay only had one album under his belt and was on his way to releasing his second. Now, 15 years later, Jay has built a career that is unmatched with 11 solo albums and a number of collaborative releases with R. Kelly, Linkin Park and Kanye West. But back in 1998, Jay could only use one word to describe Big’s legacy: “Unparalleled. There’ll never be another person to come along to fill that void.” Join MTV News as we celebrate the Notorious B.I.G’s life on the 15th anniversary of his death. From now through March 25, we will be rolling out exclusive and commemorative content from Biggie’s closest friends, collaborators and biggest fans. To join the conversation on Twitter, hit @MTVRapFix using the hashtag #biggie15.
Evanescence and the Black Keys also grab #1 seeds in MMM 2012. Vote for your favorites now! By James Montgomery Photo: MTV News It’s back! MTV’s third annual Musical March Madness tips off today (March 12), pitting the 64 bands that matter most against each other in a bracket-battle to the death (OK, no one actually dies, but we’re rolling here). And like in previous years, your votes determine who advances on — and who will ultimately hoist the big gold trophy when the tournament ends April 3. Can Green Day repeat as MMM champs? Will perennial powerhouses My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds to Mars and Paramore finally make it to the top of the mountain? Or will 2012 bring us another unheralded winner, a la Coheed and Cambria in 2010 ? All of these questions — and more — will be answered in the coming weeks, as the drama and majesty that is Musical March Madness plays out before our very eyes. But enough hyperbole — let’s get to the action! Voting in all first-round matchups is now live in our interactive bracket, and runs until midnight ET Sunday. You can help your favorite band advance by downloading one of our MMM badges below (they look smashing on any social profile), or by spreading the word via Twitter, using the hashtag #MMM . Who will reign supreme? Well, it’s up to you. But let’s take a look at the 64 bands that will compete for the 2012 MMM title! The #1 Seeds The Black Keys: Riding high thanks to back-to-back breakout albums and a sold-out U.S. arena tour, the Keys nab the top seed in the always-competitive Midwest region. Will playing close to their spiritual home of Akron, Ohio, be enough to guide the dynamic duo all the way to the Final Four? They’ll have their work cut out for them, but with their bruising inside-out game and rebound-grabbing prowess (Carney’s height advantage makes him a beast on the boards), they’re poised for a deep tournament run. The Foo Fighters: They grabbed a #1 last year, based on the power and prowl of their Wasting Light album, but were upset in the second round by Disturbed. Now they’re back, with an armload of Grammys and a desire for revenge. Can the Foos run the table in the very dangerous West region? We wouldn’t bet against them, especially given the veteran leadership of floor general Dave Grohl, the man who makes it all happen. He’s like Tyshawn Taylor, only with facial hair. Mumford & Sons: Newcomers to the MMM tourney, Mumford grab the #1 seed in the erudite East region, thanks to the continued success of their Sigh No More album (2011’s best-selling rock album, btw). Sure, they might not be battle-tested, but their combination of speed and strength — and bluegrass leanings — remind us a lot of the Kentucky Wildcats, which could mean they’re bound for greatness this year. As an added bonus, a MMM championship would make for the first time the name “Country Winston Marshall” has ever been engraved on a trophy of any sort. Evanescence: They roared back from a lengthy hiatus with a chart-topping album and a worldwide tour, both of which earn them the top spot in the South region. They’ve shaken off the rust and appear primed for MMM dominance — especially since their global fanbase will be able to vote. Amy Lee is always a threat from behind the arch, but the band’s true strength might lie in man-mountain Terry Balsamo, who can take anybody to the hole. The rare band to combine power and finesse, Evanescence might very well be the team to beat in 2012. Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket! Midwest The meaty Midwest gets a bracket brimming with meat-and-potatoes rock, topped by the aforementioned Black Keys and bolstered by the likes of #6 Kid Rock, #8 Nickelback, #11 Chevelle and #14 Five Finger Death Punch. The pride of Wisconsin, Bon Iver, is in as the #2, though he faces a tough opening-round opponent in 15th-seeded Sum 41, who shocked the world with their run to the Elite 8 last year. And speaking of previous tourneys, My Chemical Romance — the only band to make the Final Four twice — are in as the #5, and based on their past successes, they might be the team to beat. Also, the Metallica/Guns N’ Roses first-round tilt is sure to be one for the ages. Here’s a look at the opening matchups: (Click the artist name to download their official MMM badge.) (1) Black Keys vs. (16) AWOLNATION (2) Bon Iver vs. (15) Sum 41 (3) Pearl Jam vs. (14) Five Finger Death Punch (4) U2 vs. (13) Modest Mouse (5) My Chemical Romance vs. (12) Death Cab For Cutie (6) Kid Rock vs. (11) Chevelle (7) Metallica vs. (10) Guns N’ Roses (8) Nickelback vs. (9) Rise Against! West For the third year running, the West is most definitely the best — bracket, that is. The Foos sit atop a positively loaded field, with established acts like last year’s champs, Green Day, #2 Red Hot Chili Peppers, #3 Blink-182 and #4 Maroon 5, and a host of hotly tipped newcomers, including #6 Foster the People, #8 Best Coast and #13 Lana Del Rey. Plus Van Halen and No Doubt. We wouldn’t discount 15th-seeded Panic! at the Disco (Elite 8 the two previous years) or tourney-tested Adam Lambert, either. If you’re looking for a dark-horse pick, our money’s on Skrillex, who might not technically rock, but used to front From First to Last, and based on his thunderous live sets, definitely knows how to move folks. The first-round matchups are: (Click the artist name to download their official MMM badge.) (1) Foo Fighters vs. (16) James Durbin (2) Red Hot Chili Peppers vs. (15) Panic! at the Disco (3) Blink-182 vs. (14) Korn (4) Maroon 5 vs. (13) Lana Del Rey (5) Green Day vs. (12) the Decemberists (6) Foster the People vs. (11) Adam Lambert (7) Van Halen vs. (10) No Doubt (8) Best Coast vs. (9) Skrillex East Once again home to both beard-scratchers and fist-pumpers, the East is truly up for grabs. Like we said, Mumford are MMM virgins, and #2 Coldplay have made the tourney twice before, but never got past the second round. The same can be said for perennial MMM underachievers Arcade Fire, who nab a #5 seed, but seem destined for a first-round exit at the hands of tourney powerhouse Tokio Hotel. Also wading into the chaos are #3 Florence and the Machine, #4 Muse and #8 Radiohead, who will battle #9 Bruce Springsteen in the first round. This one might come down to an Elite 8 showdown between Tokio and 2010 champs Coheed and Cambria — then again, we wouldn’t discount the power of Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters, who might help carry Semi Precious Weapons to victory. This region is anyone’s guess, really. The opening matchups are: (Click the artist name to download their official MMM badge.) (1) Mumford & Sons vs. (16) F–ked Up (2) Coldplay vs. (15) Arctic Monkeys (3) Florence and the Machine vs. (14) Refused (4) Muse vs. (13) Gym Class Heroes (5) Arcade Fire vs. (12) Tokio Hotel (6) Fun. vs. (11) Semi Precious Weapons (7) The Shins vs. (10) Coheed and Cambria (8) Radiohead vs. (9) Bruce Springsteen South There’s plenty of home-grown talent on display in the always-treacherous South, topped by Evanescence, #2 Paramore (last year’s MMM runners up) and the third-seeded Kings of Leon. For the second time in three years, My Morning Jacket and the Dave Matthews Band will go head-to-head in the opening round, in what’s sure to be a Birkenstock-burner. Fourth-seeded Jack White draws a tough opponent in #13 Shinedown, and we genuinely have no idea who wins the 7-10 Cage the Elephant/Ke$ha tilt. Also showing up in the South are powerhouses 30 Seconds to Mars and Linkin Park, both of whom are looking to finally make good on previous tournament promises. Will 2012 be their year? Here’s a breakdown of round one: (Click the artist name to download their official MMM badge.) (1) Evanescence vs. (16) Alabama Shakes (2) Paramore vs. (15) Gotye (3) Kings of Leon vs. (14) Phoenix (4) Jack White vs. (13) Shinedown (5) Linkin Park vs. (12) At The Drive In (6) 30 Seconds To Mars vs. (11) Sleigh Bells (7) Cage The Elephant vs. (10) Ke$ha (8) My Morning Jacket vs. (9) Dave Matthews Band MTV’s 2012 Musical March Madness Tournament is underway! Voting in the first round runs until midnight ET on Sunday, March 18, and winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act made the cut, it’ll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM or by downloading one of our custom badges — but get ready, it’s gonna be a war. Related Videos Get Ready For Musical March Madness! Related Photos MTV’s Musical March Madness 2012
MTV’s 2012 tournament tips off Monday, and the Keys are ready for action — thanks to Beastdrol. By James Montgomery The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach Photo: Ollie Millington/ Redferns MTV’s Musical March Madness tournament returns Monday, and for some bands, that day can’t come soon enough — after all, they’ve been training for months. Take, for example, the Black Keys , who enter the 2012 tourney riding high — back-to-back breakout albums and a sold-out arena tour have certainly strengthened their RPI — and may very well be the favorites to unseat Green Day as MMM champs . But don’t think for a second that they’re letting all that success go to their heads. The Keys know nothing is certain once the tournament tips off, which is why they’re counting on hard work (and performance-enhancing drugs) to put them over the top. “Well, you know, to win this tournament, we’ve got to review tape — we’ve been doing that every night, meeting up, using the chalkboard a lot. And a lot of calisthenics, that kind of stuff,” frontman Dan Auerbach explained. “We’ve also been juicing up a lot, trying to get yoked out, and I think that we’re at peak performance right now, and I think we’re ready for this.” “I’ve been taking something called Beastdrol , and my thighs have increased to near 100 percent muscle,” drummer Patrick Carney added. “Everything else is normal, though. We’ve been practicing for this day for a long time, and we’ve just got to stay focused.” And if that strategy sounds a bit shady, well, MMM history has proven that rule-breaking is not only par for the course, it’s practically encouraged. (Who among us can forget the “Cheat to Win” strategy made famous by 2010 champs Coheed and Cambria ?) But will all the Beastdrol in the world be enough to carry the Black Keys to victory? They’ll have to out-juice the 63 other bands gunning for the big gold trophy — a packed bracket featuring the biggest acts in rock, not to mention several upset-intent newcomers. So it’s a good thing Auerbach and Carney have a few more tricks up their sleeves. Like, for example, the formidable “wax on/ wax off” combo, as taught to them by their mentor/coach. “We just got to remember what our coach told us, Mr. Miyagi, and I think that we’re going to pull it out,” Auerbach said. “We’re the kind of band that wins in the fourth quarter, so that’s where we’re going to shine, I think.” MTV’s 2012 Musical March Madness Tournament begins Monday, March 12, when we’ll unveil the full field of 64 bands that will battle for this year’s championship. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act made the cut, it’ll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, it’s gonna be a war. Related Artists The Black Keys
