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Green Day’s “American Idiot” punk-rocks on Broadway

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood

Green Day's American Idiot Green Day’s punk rock “American Idiot” has been transformed into a Broadway musical and opened April 20 on Broadway to full packed audience.  The show is directed by Michael Mayer and stars John Gallagher Jr. in the lead as Johnny. On Thursday following the opening night, Green Day surprised the audience with an encore rock concert singing several songs including “American Idiot” and “Basket Case”. American Idiot, the musical, follows the story of a new generation of young Americans struggling to find meaning in a post-9/11 world.  The musical includes all the songs from the GRAMMY for Record Of The Year in 2005, American Idiot , as well as several songs from the band’s new release, 21st Century Breakdown . Green Day’s “American Idiot” punk-rocks on Broadway is a post from: Daily World Buzz Continue reading →

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Green Day Contest Winners Rave About Surprise Show

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Winners of MTV’s ‘American Idiot’ contest got big surprise at end of musical. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Nick Neofitidis Green Day perform on stage at “American Idiot” on Broadway on Thursday. Photo: MTV News On Thursday night, winners of MTV’s “American Idiot” contest were not only treated to a great show — but a surprise mini concert by Green Day , with the band playing “American Idiot” and “Basket Case,” too. So, all in all, it was a pretty great night. “I think I had heart failure! It was the most amazing experience,” contest winner Fallyn Ruzzi told MTV News following the show. “I mean, the play was great, and then Green Day played songs, too!” Ruzzi was just one of the 300 lucky winners, who flocked to New York’s St. James Theater hours before the performance was even scheduled to begin, waited in line to pick up their tickets to the musical, and then got to witness a post-show performance by Green Day, who took the stage and blasted through “American Idiot” and “Basket Case.” It took most of the audience completely by surprise. “We had heard Green Day weren’t even going to be here,” Ruzzi said. “It was amazing when they came out!” But what did Ruzzi — and other winners — think of the show itself? Well, as might expect, they were blown away by the production. But, like most hard-core Green Day fans, when they first heard the band was taking “Idiot” to Broadway, she had her doubts. “I didn’t like the idea of Green Day coming to Broadway at first — I thought it was a bad idea,” Ruzzi said. “But then I heard the songs from the Berkeley Rep [performances] and I just fell in love with it.” Echoing those sentiments were Ruzzi’s friend — and fellow Green Day enthusiast — Toni Ann Graffigna, who was also skeptical of the album coming to the Great White Way, but, after seeing the show, she’s now firmly a believer. “I wasn’t that crazy about the idea at first, but it’s Green Day, you gotta give it a chance,” she said. “The whole show touched my heart. I would see it every day, if I could. I almost cried … I’d recommend everyone to see it, even if you don’t like Green Day, just come out and see it.” Related Videos Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ On Broadway Related Artists Green Day

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Lady Gaga Working On ‘Crazy’ New Tracks, Akon Says

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Kon says he’s joining his artist in Europe to record songs for her next album. By Jocelyn Vena Akon and Lady Gaga Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage While Lady Gaga has been touring across the globe and gearing up to shoot a video for her single “Alejandro,” she’s also found time to record tracks for her next album. Her label boss, Akon , has already heard some of the Fame Monster follow-up, and he says it is out of this world. “She records while she’s on the road,” Akon told Vibe.com . “I’m flying out to Europe to work on some new records with her. Gaga’s just like me. She has a tour bus with a studio in it. Some of the songs I’ve heard are going to be crazy. She’s getting bigger and better.” Although a release date, title and other details have yet to be revealed, Akon knows that she’s working hard and doesn’t need much advice from him. “All I’m doing at the end of the day is listening to the tracks Gaga has written and approving them for her album. She has producers that she works with outside of myself and they are coming up with some incredible records,” he explained. “But the beauty of it is she knows exactly what she wants. So it just makes it easier for me.” Frequent Gaga collaborator RedOne told MTV News that he and the singer still have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. “That I don’t want to say, because you always want to shock people,” he said. “And you don’t want to let people know, so that when they hear it, [they go], ‘Oh my God.’ ” And after winning a pair of Grammys with Gaga this year, RedOne promised more successes to come. “We’re just gonna rock again,” he said. “When me and Gaga get together, it’s crazy. It’s unbelievable.” What do you hope Gaga will do on her next album? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga Related Artists Lady Gaga Akon

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Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ Musical Is Political And Personal

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s about people becoming lost and just trying to find their way,’ Billie Joe Armstrong tells MTV News. By James Montgomery Billie Joe Armstrong at “American Idiot” on Broadway Photo: Jason Kempin/ Getty Images By now, you’re probably aware that Green Day’s 2004 album American Idiot was a fairly, uh, political affair. And while the Broadway version of the record doesn’t exactly shy away from the topic, it also reveals a side of the music that most probably never realized was there in the first place: the personal. “I think, politically, American Idiot, when we were writing it, it was trying to make sense out of a big mess,” Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said. “You’re trying to find something to believe in, but it’s difficult when you’re getting bombarded with useless information. So it’s just [about] trying to find your identity and your individualism in the midst of all that.” “That’s the political side, but on the personal side, there’s characters in American Idiot that allowed Billie and us to carry those emotions and translate them,” bassist Mike Dirnt added. “And I think that it’s really great. We’ve had those characters, and in the play, [director] Michael Mayer has expanded on that … made a more linear approach to it with adding extra characters and expanding the original story-line concept.” So while the Broadway reimagining of Idiot is plenty loud and raucous, there’s also more of the softer stuff: the voyage of discovery that three bored teens embark on, the struggle to find themselves in a world gone haywire. It’s the kind of stuff that resonates not just with Armstrong, but with theater-going audiences too — which is sort of the point, if you think about it. “I think a lot of people weighed really heavy on the ‘American’ side of American Idiot and what it’s like to be an American and what it means when the record came out, so a lot of people were looking towards the political, angry part of it,” Armstrong said. “But I think there is a theme with the characters, it’s about people becoming lost and just trying to find their way, and I think that’s a theme that’s been going through our songs since 1988, and it really kind of manifests itself, you know, with the characters, like Jesus of Suburbia, Whatsername and St. Jimmy. And now, on the stage, that’s really coming across. You’re investing into the characters a lot more and identifying with them.” Do you want to head to NYC to check out “American Idiot” on Broadway? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ On Broadway Related Photos The Evolution Of: Green Day

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Tim Urban Sent Packing During ‘Idol Gives Back’

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Elimination came after a night of all-star performances and fundraising pleas. By Gil Kaufman Tim Urban on “American Idol” (file) Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images Wednesday night’s (April 21) “American Idol” was focused on “Idol Gives Back,” so the two-hour-plus show devoted most of the airtime to raising funds for children’s charities with a series of celebrity pleas and performances from Mary J. Blige , Carrie Underwood, Elton John, the Black Eyed Peas and several others. But there was an elimination to take care of, and after visiting the bottom three on three earlier occasions, the sand finally ran out of the hourglass for Texas singer Tim Urban. A Look Back At Tim Urban’s ‘Idol’ Journey With help from comedian George Lopez, the first step toward cutting the group down to six came with a role reversal, as Lopez judged the judges for a change. He told Randy Jackson to come up with something to say besides “pitchy” and encouraged Kara DioGuardi to formulate her own thoughts, giving both of them a pass and declaring them safe. Addressing his pal Ellen DeGeneres, whom he faulted for loving too much, and Simon Cowell, whose size-small T-shirts and flirtation with Ryan Seacrest he mocked, Lopez gave Ellen the pass but said Cowell had to return to England immediately. Because of the Icelandic volcano, though, he said Cowell could hang out. That made way for Ryan Seacrest to call Casey James and Crystal Bowersox center stage, where he sent James to the bottom three for the first time this season after a lackluster Fleetwood Mac cover. MamaSox was sent back to safety after her emotional performance on Tuesday night. Next up were Lee Dewyze and Aaron Kelly, with the high-schooler taking a seat next to James in the bottom three after a lukewarm response from the judges for his cover of R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly.” Siobhan Magnus, Michael Lynche and Urban were the last group to face Seacrest, with Urban ending up in the bottom three yet again after America agreed with Ellen that his rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Better Days” just wasn’t their cup of soup. With the show running more than 20 minutes over, the elimination was finally due, as Seacrest sent Kelly to safety yet again, followed by James. Calling Tim the “comeback kid,” Seacrest stood next to the always-smiling mop-topped singer. As he watched his goodbye segment, Urban was surrounded by the final six, though he did not get a chance to sing one more time, likely because of the show running so far over. Next week’s mentor will be country icon Shania Twain, and the remaining six-pack will choose from her songs during Tuesday night’s performance show. What did you think of Tim Urban’s elimination? Was it the right call? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos A Look Back At Tim Urban’s ‘Idol’ Journey ‘Idol Gives Back’: Season Nine ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances

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‘Glee’ Stars Get Help From Madonna, But What About Adam Lambert?

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’ve only heard rumors,’ Chris Colfer says of a possible Lambert appearance. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino The cast of “Glee” in the “Power of Madonna” episode Photo: FOX In the “Power of Madonna” episode of “Glee” set to air on Tuesday night (April 20), fans will get more than just remixes of favorite pop tunes. The Material Girl herself praised how Mr. Schuester will use her songs to teach his students a little more about themselves, and possibly change the way they interact with each other. Jenna Ushkowitz said that her character Tina will use Madge’s girl-power pop to clear up her relationship with pal and love interest Artie Abrams (played by Kevin McHale). “Well, definitely in the Madonna episode you’ll see [Tina and Artie] interact more, and it’s all about women’s empowerment,” she explained to MTV News at the GLAAD Media Awards in L.A. on Saturday. “And how the boys are degrading and disrespectful. Tina will come back and fight back pretty hard, and then the writers have graciously given us the chance to live out our relationship for a while.” Chris Colfer (who plays Kurt Hummel on the show) didn’t shed too much light on the Madonna episode, but did weigh in on the rumors that Adam Lambert may bring his glam-rock voice and style to the show. “He’s a sweetheart,” he said. “I’ve only heard rumors, but I’ve never heard anything discussed with the writers or any of that.” But Colfer was able to speculate a bit on what’s next for his openly gay character. “There’s lots of good Kurt and Burt [Kurt’s father] story lines coming up, and I think next season he’s getting a love interest, so that should be interesting, I believe,” he said. “They don’t tell me anything, but I believe he’ll be a student — but that’s all I really know.” Do you think Adam Lambert should stop by “Glee?” Tell us in the comments! Related Photos What Other ‘Glee’ Music Videos Do We Want To See? ‘Glee’ Returns For 2010

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Type O Negative’s Peter Steele Remembered As ‘Genius’ By Fans

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Goth-metal frontman, who died Wednesday, pulled fans through ‘darkest days.’ By Kyle Anderson Peter Steele in 2007 Photo: Greetsia Tent/ Getty Images The sudden death of Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele has sent shockwaves through the metal community . The imposing, deep-voiced frontman for the Brooklyn goth-metal favorites left an impression not only on his bandmates and contemporaries, but also on his fans and followers, many of whom stormed the Web to express their sorrow and share memories. “I love Peter. He was so unique,” commenter Deborah wrote on MTV.com. “I loved his lyrics to his songs. I loved his sense of humor. He was so down to earth with his all fans.” Dan, another commenter, recognized Steele’s passion and said it came through his music. “Peter Steele changed my life. His tall frame and massive build was not what defined him; it was his voice and his passion for his music,” he wrote. “Type O Negative moved me in ways no music ever has. Peter Steele will be deeply missed, but his music will live on in my soul.”

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Eminem Was ‘Open To Ideas’ On New Music, Jim Jonsin Says

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Producer also talks about upcoming projects with T.I., Wiz Khalifa and Shakira, in Mixtape Daily. By Shaheem Reid Jim Jonsin, B.o.B and T.I. Photo: MTV News Behind The Beats: Jim Jonsin Jim Jonsin is a former Fire Starter and a repeat Behind the Beats subject. Jonsin is rolling with a string of hits for people such as Beyonc

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Madonna Gives Props To ‘Glee’ Episode

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Material Girl thinks one character in particular is ‘very cute.’ By Jocelyn Vena Madonna Photo: James Devaney/ WireImage Not only is Madonna excited to have her songs used in next week’s “Power of Madonna” episode of “Glee,” she is also apparently hot for teacher. “I think Mr. Schuester is very cute,” Madonna said in a statement, referring to Matthew Morrison, who plays the glee-club instructor on the hit Fox show. “And I’m glad he’s doing such a good job empowering all the girls.” In the episode, according to Fox, Mr. Schuester assigns the kids to sing Madonna songs because he thinks the girls have been mistreated by the boys. He wants them all to benefit from the girl-power messages in tracks like “Express Yourself.” “Like a Prayer,” “Like a Virgin” and “4 Minutes” are also covered in the episode. Following this Tuesday’s spring premiere of “Glee,” Fox aired a shot-by-shot reenactment of Madge’s iconic “Vogue” clip, starring Sue Sylvester (played by Jane Lynch), Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Kurt (Chris Colfer). Lynch told MTV News about how empowering she found it to cover Madonna. “Oh, yeah, the cone bra, the Gaultier bra, I wear that in one scene. And it’s the most powerful I’ve ever felt in my life,” she dished. “Well, you know what, I wore the cone bra with the track suit, so it worked. It was a win, win.” Which song are you most looking forward to seeing in the “Glee” Madonna episode? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos It’s The Return Of ‘Glee’! Related Photos The ‘Glee’ Spring Premiere Party ‘Glee’ Returns For 2010 Related Artists Madonna

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‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds: Katie And Andrew Ignore Adam Lambert’s Wisdom

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest’s erratic behavior was the only thing keeping us watching. By Jim Cantiello Katie Stevens and Ryan Seacrest on Wednesday night’s “American Idol” Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images “American Idol” in 60 Seconds has fast become an MTV News institution, but it goes by so fast that it’s not always easy to catch every golden nugget. So, here we present to you Jim Cantiello’s bite-size recap of this week’s “Idol” high jinks. This week, “American Idol” producers targeted the tween demo by forcing the top nine to sing the songs of Elvis Presley! And where better to rehearse than on the stage of the Cirque du Elvis Las Vegas stage show?! Adam Lambert broke all sorts of barriers by being the first openly-“Idol” contestant to return to the show as a guest mentor. Although Adam’s advice was spot-on and intuitive (Yo, Andrew, stop being a bore! Yo, Aaron Kelly, stop being a 5-year-old! Yo, Lee Dewyze, Jocelyn Wildenstein moves her face more than you!) most of the contestants blatantly ignored his wisdom. The result? An episode as entertaining as “3000 Miles to Graceland.” Yep, it was that bad. The only thing that kept viewers from switching over to “Lost” was Ryan Seacrest’s increasingly erratic behavior. He slow-danced during Tim Urban’s (kind of awesome) performance; he slurred his speech; he made inappropriate comments to contestants; he forgot he was on live television — it was like Paula Abdul never left “Idol.” So congratulations, Mariah Carey! Your loopy “TRL” appearance from 2001 is no longer the craziest thing we’ve seen on live television. On Wednesday night’s results show (which featured a double elimination), we learned that “Idol Gives Back” will have the same lineup as the one from two years ago. (Basically.) We also learned that Kara DioGuardi is somehow even more unappealing when she’s holding an adorable African baby. How is that even possible? Two “Idol” alums returned to sing a song, and each brought something special to the stage. Adam Lambert brought lasers and a glittery ear monitor, while Brooke White brought along deadweight in the form of Miley Cyrus’ tone deaf ex-boyfriend, Justin Gaston. Once results time arrived, Andrew was the first to get the boot, and he straight up didn’t sing “Straight Up” as his farewell song. By the end of the hour, Katie Stevens was the other singer sent packing, putting the “cut” in “Connecticut.” Next week is “Idol Gives Back,” which means we’ll hear inspirational ballads from the top seven. You’ve been warned. Do you think Katie and Andrew were eliminated too soon? What was the highlight of this week’s “Idol”? Share your opinions in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances Related Artists Adam Lambert

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