Jack White attempts record for most metaphors
(Fri, 18 May 2012 19:15:37 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jack White earned his musical stripes with his chart-topping debut solo album "Blunderbuss," and now the singer is attempting to add another accolade to his shelf - a Guinness World Record for most metaphors in a single concert. The eccentric former White Stripes frontman, who also has put "Blunderbuss" forward for the fastest named album in history, did not explain why he is attempting this feat of speech, but his record company is concerned about failure. ...

Renowned baritone Fischer-Dieskau dead at 86
(Fri, 18 May 2012 13:34:07 -0400)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, whose passionate and sensitive interpretations of German lieder brought the 19th-century song form to life again for new generations, died on Friday, 10 days short of his 87th birthday. Sometimes described as the most recorded singer in history, Fischer-Dieskau died in the town of Berg on Starnberg Lake in Bavaria, the Bavarian State Opera announced on its website. "The death of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is a great loss for the entire music world. Through his interpretations of vocals he decisively influenced the art of opera singing. ...

Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb dies aged 62
(Sun, 20 May 2012 19:17:31 -0400)
LONDON (Reuters) - Robin Gibb, who with his brothers Barry and Maurice formed the disco-era hit machine the Bee Gees, has died aged 62, his official website said on Sunday. The singer had been battling colon and liver cancer. "The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," a statement posted on his official website said. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time. ...

Violinist Hahn: Music from a different direction
(Thu, 17 May 2012 11:28:08 -0400)
LONDON (Reuters) - Classical music fans know that American violinist Hilary Hahn plays a wicked concerto, knocking out the fiendishly fast final bars of Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto, for example, faster and with more sheer energy than pretty much anyone else alive. "It's a finger twister but it's so fun. ...

Beach Boys-inspired musical to open in Las Vegas
(Wed, 16 May 2012 20:05:43 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The recently reunited Beach Boys aren't just re-igniting interest in their catalog on concert stages these days - their pop classics will also be finding new life on the theatrical stage soon. "Surf the Musical," which revolves around such Beach Boys chestnuts as "California Girls," "I Get Around" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice," is coming to the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino this summer, with a week of preview performances beginning on June 11 and an official opening night of July 17. Kristin Hanggi, who was nominated for a Tony award for "Rock of Ages," will direct. ...

Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi headline Rock the Bells
(Wed, 16 May 2012 15:56:20 -0400)
NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Kid Cudi, Nas and Wiz Khalifa are just a few of the hip-hop heavyweights headlining the 2012 "Rock the Bells Festival," Guerilla Union and Boost Mobile announced on Wednesday. The annual touring festival series always boasts many of the top artists from the world of rap and hip-hop, and this year's installment will kick off in San Bernadino on August 18 and 19. That means it has expanded into a two-day festival. Missy Elliot, who has been battling Graves' disease, will also make an "exclusive North American festival performance" with longtime collaborator Timbaland. ...

"Godfather of Go-Go"' Chuck Brown dies at 75
(Wed, 16 May 2012 19:21:40 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chuck Brown, known as the "Godfather of Go-Go" for the subgenre of funk music he helped create, died on Wednesday at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore after being admitted earlier this month suffering from pneumonia. A spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed the death but could not provide a cause, and Brown's manager, Tom Goldfogle, was not immediately available to comment. Goldfogle told the Washington Post Brown died of complications from sepsis. Brown, a singer/songwriter and guitarist had been a key personality in the Washington, D.C. ...

"Tresspassing" gives glimpses into the true Adam Lambert
(Wed, 16 May 2012 15:55:33 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Well, the upcoming movie adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey" has its theme song, if it wants one. "Chokehold," a provocative track from Adam Lambert's second album, sounds tailor-made for the S&M occasion: "Sheets are in a knot... I kinda like the pain... I keep running away from you, but I can't stop breaking the chains." Madam Ana, he's Adam. Lambert may play the submissive in "Chokehold," but through the rest of "Trespassing," he's trying to assert himself in a way that he didn't on his debut album. ...

Review: Willie Nelson's son also rises on "Heroes"
(Tue, 15 May 2012 19:48:58 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Everyone remembers the most galvanizing moment of this year's Grammys - when the telecast cut to commercial and, over a Chipotle ad, we heard a studio recording of Willie Nelson singing Coldplay's "The Scientist." You can relive that very special Grammy moment (minus the environmentally themed animation and Chipotle logo) at the climax of Nelson's new album, "Heroes," a mostly satisfying grab-bag of celebrity duets, nepotism, odes to wacky weed and interpretations of everyone from Bob Wills to Pearl Jam. ...

OneRepublic drummer Eddie Fisher arrested in Denver
(Tue, 15 May 2012 21:11:14 -0400)
DENVER (Reuters) - Drummer Eddie Fisher of the alternative rock band OneRepublic was arrested in Denver on Tuesday on suspicion of assault, disturbing the peace and destruction of private property, police said. There was no immediate word from authorities on what led to the arrest, but Fisher, 38, was being held without bond at the Denver city jail, according to the Denver Sheriff's Office. Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said the musician was taken into custody Tuesday morning but he had no details on the circumstances of the case. Fisher was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. ...

MTV's Video Music Awards get a big new location
(Tue, 15 May 2012 19:49:28 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The MTV Video Music Awards ceremony is getting some roomier new digs. MTV's annual awards ceremony is moving to Los Angeles' Staples Center this year, giving it a lot more elbow room than its previous location, the Nokia Theatre. The Staples Center, home venue to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, has a seating capacity approaching 20,000 for concerts and special events, compared to the Nokia's 7,100 capacity. ...

A little music goes a long way in Egypt vote
(Tue, 22 May 2012 11:28:00 -0400)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's presidential hopefuls have had to zip their lips before voting starts, but there is no stopping the songs that pump up their virtues in styles ranging from hip-hop to folk. For the first time Egyptians get to pick their leader in voting on Wednesday and Thursday in a fiercely contested race enlivened by another novelty - online music videos. Many of them are the work of underground musicians who flourished since the popular uprising that overthrew Hosni Mubarak last year and who can capture political moments too fleeting for the mainstream music industry to latch ...

"The Master": creepy Joaquin Phoenix and crazy music
(Mon, 21 May 2012 17:06:18 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Paul Thomas Anderson has finally given audiences a look at his next picture "The Master," a sure-to-be-controversial look at the origins of a religion that sounds a whole lot like Scientology. The sneak peek features a zonked-out Joaquin Phoenix being grilled by a naval officer about his misbehavior while off-kilter music plays on the soundtrack. The whole thing is mighty unsettling. ...

Billboard Music Awards 2012 Arrivals
(Mon, 21 May 2012 13:20:10 -0400)
Spanning all genres and styles from dapper dudes to pastel princesses, check out this year's red carpet arrivals

Violinist Hahn: Music from a different direction
(Thu, 17 May 2012 11:28:08 -0400)
LONDON (Reuters) - Classical music fans know that American violinist Hilary Hahn plays a wicked concerto, knocking out the fiendishly fast final bars of Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto, for example, faster and with more sheer energy than pretty much anyone else alive. "It's a finger twister but it's so fun. ...

Chuck Brown, pioneer of 'go-go' funk music, dies
(Thu, 17 May 2012 05:22:19 -0400)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chuck Brown, who styled a unique mix of funk, soul and Latin party sounds to create go-go music in the nation's capital, has died after suffering from pneumonia. He was 75.

MTV's Video Music Awards get a big new location
(Tue, 15 May 2012 19:49:28 -0400)
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The MTV Video Music Awards ceremony is getting some roomier new digs. MTV's annual awards ceremony is moving to Los Angeles' Staples Center this year, giving it a lot more elbow room than its previous location, the Nokia Theatre. The Staples Center, home venue to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, has a seating capacity approaching 20,000 for concerts and special events, compared to the Nokia's 7,100 capacity. ...