Music stories.

Adam Levine says Randy Jackson is irresponsible

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 12:57 pm on February 3, 2012

February 3, 2012

Rumblings and tumblings between two top TV talent competitions continue as The Voice coach Adam Levine calls American Idol judge Randy Jackson “irresponsible.”

Levine reportedly took issue with Jackson calling NBC’s The Voice a show for “second chance people” that takes the left-over contestants from Fox’s Idol and X Factor.

Jackson provocatively stated at an Idol TCA panel last month that “The winner of The Voice, I will remind you, was an artist who had a deal at Capitol Records for several years, a failed contract,” referring to Voice victor Javier Colon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levine responded to the accusation during a recent visit to the Ellen DeGeneres show, while sitting alongside fellow coaches Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton.

“Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that,” Levine said. “Because he, out of anybody, should know that if you’re in this business you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances. So we love and embrace that being part of the show.”

Softening the blow slightly, he added “You know, God bless Randy. He was a working musician for a long time and had a lot of success, and then the show Idol kind of blew him out of the water. And he is a household name now. It was an irresponsible thing to say that.”

Something Jackson recently said to THR may shed some light on why he lashed out. He admits that Idol’s success isn’t what it used to be, a reality he blames at least in part on the saturation of their brand of programming.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Lana Del Rey not bankrolled by daddy

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 11:42 am on

February 3, 2o12

Lana Del Rey’s career was not bankrolled by a rich father, says the owner of her former label Five Points Records,

Five Points’ David Nichtern tells MTV that reports daddy funded the pop singer’s foray into the music biz are false.

“There’s a lot of misinformation that I’ve read that’s dead wrong,” Nichtern says. “For example, her father never had anything to do financially with supporting her creativity. I don’t know if he was lending her money to live off of, but at least when she was with us, not a penny. I don’t know if he’s rich or not; I met him and he seemed like a pretty ordinary guy. But that whole thing that she was backed by her millionaire dad is a bunch of crap, basically.”

Other falsehoods, says Nichtern, include reports that the album Del Rey recorded with Five Points was made on a budget of $10,000.

“It was way more,” he says. “It was an all-in budget of $50,000. And we also gave her a significant advance. So I don’t know why … I’m not sure who’s saying what about anything; it seems like people are grabbing at loose facts, but nobody is verifying with anybody.”

It was recently announced that said album, recorded in 2010 and titled Lana Del Ray, a.k.a. Lizzy Grant, will get a re-release later this year. Whether the subtle change in the spelling of her stage name will be amended for the re-release is yet to be told.

Nichtern says the record, which was pulled from iTunes two months after its digital release, was shelved at Del Rey’s demand.

He explains, “[She] and her new manager came in and said ‘We want to get this off the market. We’re going for a completely new deal. We’ll buy you out of the deal.’ So we made a separation agreement.”

(Image: Five Point Records)

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Nicki Minaj used to be Queen of England

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 11:04 am on

February 3, 2012

Nicki Minaj says she was “probably” the Queen of England in a past life.

The hip-hop superstar tells Wonderland Magazine that she knows for a fact that she was English in a former life, claiming “I was born in London in my past life, no one can tell me different.”

The eccentric star imagines a past that includes trading rags for riches and extending a helpful hand to her followers, who Minaj habitually calls her “Barbies.”

“I probably was like a queen in London, I was probably the people’s queen that fought for lives,” the rapper says. “And I probably started off as a maid and then was just, like, really revolutionary and moved all my [Barbies] into the big queen mansion.”

The star also reveals that there are real and substantial differences between her real self and her colourful stage persona.

“Oh they’re definitely two completely different people,” Minaj admits. “Obviously what I would wear at home is not what I would wear up on stage and I think, when I’m at home it’s a way more introspective character and I think the person people see on stage is anything but, I watch a lot of Judge Judy. And I watch a lot of Forensic Files.

“And I cook – I cook spaghetti really, really good; I cook macaroni and cheese really, really good; I cook chicken really, really good.”

Fans can look forward to seeing Minaj take the stage with the Material Girl as Nicki joins Madonna for the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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George Michael’s impressive recovery

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 10:50 am on

February 3, 2012

Doctors are impressed with George Michael’s recovery after a nearly fatal battle with pneumonia last year. And, fortunately, he no longer looks like the “Bride of Chucky.”

The former Wham frontman was hospitalized in Vienna, Austria, last November, and spent four weeks in care before returning to the U.K. for the holidays.

He’s now recuperating on vacation and has taken to Twitter to inform followers about his progress.

“People, I’m excited….just finishing a ballad that I think is going to make you think my eighties self has been re-born ! Which I suppose it has in a way :) Even my tracheostomy scar is healing nicely in the sun, was looking a bit Bride of Chucky for a while,” he wrote.

“Spoke to doctors before I came away and they told me my recovery is way quicker than can usually be expected so I’m happy as Larry.”

Michael also told fans earlier this week that he’s hoping to make up the tour dates he had to cancel because of the illness.

“Realistically I can’t see my vocal cords being being ready till the summer,” he tweeted, “But then I have to think about people losing out if they are on their summer hols. So September seems the most likely. Sorry about that everyone. Rest assured I will use the time wisely… As in… working on improving the show, mixing the live tracks, finishing brand new tracks!”

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Adam Lambert to tour with Queen

Filed under: Music, Rock, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 10:32 am on

February 3, 2012

Adam Lambert will be touring with Queen as the new lead singer for the classic rock legends.

So says the former American Idol star according to the British tabloid Daily Star.

MTV reports that Lambert first performed with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor on Idol back in 2009. Ever since, rumours have swirled that the boys in the band think Lambert has exactly what it takes to fill in for the late great Freddie Mercury.

Now the Daily Star claims plans have finally been made for Lambert to perform with the surviving members of Queen for a number of shows, including one at Knebworth in England, when the band famously played its final show with Mercury in 1986.

“The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some f—ing great songs,” Lambert reportedly told the tab. “It’s to keep the music alive for the fans and give it an energy that Freddie would have been proud of.”

Lambert says plans to tour with the band began to solidify following his performance with Queen at last November’s MTV Europe Music Awards.

“After the EMAs, I heard faint little slithers of a backlash from people saying: ‘You can’t replace Freddie Mercury.’ But I already knew that,” he says. “There’s no intention in my mind of replacing Freddie. That’s impossible. The way I’m choosing to view it is that it’s a great honour and one I’m in no way going to shirk … Being asked to front Queen is the best thing that can possibly happen.”

Lambert’s new solo album Trespassing, is set to drop March 20.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Leslie Carter autopsy inconclusive

Filed under: Music, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 2:22 pm on February 2, 2012

February 2, 2012

An initial autopsy report on the death of Leslie Carter is inconclusive, according to The Chautauqua County Coroner’s Office.

Leslie, the 25-year-old sister of singers Nick and Aaron Carter, died suddenly on Tuesday in upstate New York.

“There were no visible signs of trauma,” coroner Richard Mackowiak told E! Online. “We are awaiting a toxicology report to determine a cause of death.”

He added, “The body has been released to the family. Results of the toxicology test are made public at the discretion of the family.”

The Carter family said in a statement yesterday, “Our family is grieving right now and it’s a private matter. We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter, Leslie Carter. We request the utmost privacy during this difficult time.”

Leslie was also a singer. She was signed to Dreamworks and her song “Like Wow” was featured on the Shrek soundtrack, but her debut album was never released, according to Billboard.

Leslie and her husband Mike had a daughter, Alyssa Jane, in April of last year.

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New Carrie Underwood album May 1

Filed under: Country, Music, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 1:54 pm on

February 2, 2011

Good news Carrie Underwood fans!

The American Idol and country superstar has announced that she will release her highly anticipated fourth studio album on Tuesday, May 1.

Billboard reports that the as-yet-untitled release will be produced by Mark Bright, who also worked on Underwood’s first three albums.

Last week she revealed that the title of the first single will be “Good Girl” and that the song will hit radio on February 23.

Carrie’s last album, the platinum-certified Play On, was released in 2009.

“I am so excited to finally have new music,” she says, according to The Boot. “I was lucky enough to have an amazing tour from my last album, and it feels like it’s been forever, but I really had a blast writing the songs, making the music, taking my time, because I wanted it to be perfect, and I feel like we’re there. So, it’s very exciting for me to have new stuff to sing.”

Underwood will appear at the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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David Beckham wants Spice Girls reunion

Filed under: Music, Pop, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 12:38 pm on

February 2, 2012

Are the Spice Girls reuniting for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London? Or the Queen’s Jubilee? Maybe!

David Beckham, husband of Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, would love to see it happen.

Contact Music reports that the 36-year-old soccer player – who is an official ambassador for the 2012 Games – says of his wife, “She’s a busy girl. The Olympics mean a lot to me so I’d love her to be there. But I’m not sure I can exactly demand her to do it. I’ll try. We’ll have to see.”

Meanwhile, an “insider” tells The Sunday Mirror that four of the five Spices are keen to play the big show, and that Posh is the only one holding out.

“All the girls are desperate for some Spice action except Posh who is simply too busy – she loves the girls and wants to support them and the fans but doesn’t see how she has the time when her fashion business is so successful,” says the source.

Reports on the level of interest of the other Spices are conflicting. Contact Music quotes Melanie “Sporty” Chisholm as saying, “I don’t need that. Sure, it was great being on stage again with Victoria, Emma, Mel and Geri in 2007. But at the moment we don’t have any further plans. I’d rather focus on my solo career. Then I don’t need to compromise.” But the Daily Mail has her saying, “I’d love to do something, but it would have to involve all five of us.”

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Courtney Love killed pets, says daughter

Filed under: Music, Rock, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 11:10 am on

February 2, 2012

Courtney Love accidentally killed her daughter’s pets according to recently released documents.

TheFix reports that it has dug up previously sealed court records detailing the reasons Love’s teenage daughter Frances Bean Cobain, now 19, took out a restraining order against her famous mother back in 2009.

Among the allegations are the charge that the family cat died in a tangle of trash, cords and paperwork, and that the dog died after eating an assortment of Love’s pills.

According to the doc in TheFix’s report, Cobain gave a sworn statement on December 10, 2009, saying that Love “has taken drugs for as long as I can remember.”

Cobain, whose father was Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, reportedly told authorities that Love’s behaviour worried her.

“She basically exists now on… Xanax, Adderall, Sonata and Abilify, sugar and cigarettes,” Cobain reportedly said. “She rarely eats….She often falls asleep in her bed while she is smoking, and I am constantly worried that she will start a fire (which she has done at least three times) that will threaten our lives.”

In the same deposition, Cobain says Love has become convinced she’s been the victim of a massive fraud.

“My mother is obsessed with uncovering fraud and spends much of her day raging about the fraud that has been perpetrated on her and on me,” the statement reportedly says. “She slams doors, breaks things, stomps around the hotel or apartment and spends hours on the phone, yelling.”

In response to the allegation in the deposition, Love reportedly tells The Fix that she doesn’t understand what’s come between her and her daughter.

“It’s hard to understand what I did to make Frances treat me like this,” Love is quoted as saying. “We slept in the same bed till she was 14.”

(Photo by PR Photos)

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Willie Nelson returns to Sony

Filed under: Country, Music, Sympatico — D.I.S.H. @ 8:49 am on

February 2, 2012

Willie Nelson has signed a deal to return to Sony Records with plans to record five new albums and re-release archival works via the label’s catalogue division, Legacy Recordings.

According to Rolling Stone, the deal will include distribution of material from every stage of Nelson’s nearly 60-year career.

Sony was Nelson’s label from 1975-1993, after which he worked with several other imprints, including Island, Lost Highway and Rounder.

During his initial time at Sony/Columbia, Nelson released some of his most revered works, including 1975’s Red Headed Stranger and 1978’s Stardust.

“I’m really happy to be back home with Sony Music,” said Nelson in a statement. “We share a great history, and I’m looking forward to many more years together.”

In 2010, Nelson released Country Music, which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and at N0. 20 on the Billboard 200. In November 2011, he released Remember Me, Vol. 1.

(Photo by PR Photos)

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