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Its hard to believe when we first met Jim Verraros, he was only 19 years old. The Season 1 finalist is celebrating his 27^th birthday today! Many people remember Jim as the contestant who was fluent in American Sign Language because both of his parents are deaf.

Jim performed on the first ever semifinals show and advanced to the Top 10 with his performance of When I Fall in Love by Nat King Cole. Although Jim was eliminated during the Top 10s Motown Week, he went on to have a successful career in music. In 2004, he released an album entitled Unsaid and Understood. The indie-CD won an Out Music Award for Outstanding New Recording Debut Male in June of 2004. On April 26, 2005, Jim released his mainstream debut album, Rollercoaster. The album garnered a Tp 20 Billboard Dance Hit with You Turn It On. The song Youre Getting Crazy was also a breakout hit.

This past year has been an exciting one for Jim, who got married on September 6, 2009 in his home state of Illinois.

Happy Birthday, Jim!

View photos of Jim on the groundbreaking season of American Idol.

• Conrad Murray Charged for Jackson’s Death
• The Who Rock Super Bowl XLIV With Big Hits
• Howard Stern Says He’d Consider Idol Job
• Joan Baez Joins White House Concert Lineup
• Timberlake Dons Drag for Harvard Honor
• Grohl Pulls Double Duty on SNL
• Readers’ Rock List: Best Drummers
• Fans React to the Who’s Big Set
• News Ticker: Ozzy Osbourne, Leonard Cohen
• Black Eyed Peas Open E.N.D. Tour in Atlanta
• Howard Stern as Cowell Replacement?
• Ke$ha Hijacks Hollywood Sign in Prank
• Cold War Kids Rock Live at Rolling Stone
• Depp Directing Keith Richards Doc
• Wentz, Simpson Joke About Naked RS Covers
• Swift’s Label Defends Grammy Performance
• Drake on Lil Wayne’s Prison Time
• Kelly Clarkson Riled By Anti-Idol Comments
• Jedward Rule With “Under Pressure” Mash
• Mayer Treats Fans to Free Rehearsal Gig
• Breaking: Yeasayer
• Pete Wentz Hints at End of FOB in Blog Post

Scroll down for full news stories, commentary and much more in Rock Daily.

Photo: Polk/Getty
Mastodon continue to Crack the Skye with a new leg of headlining dates, Drake lines up a tour of college campuses and “private locations” and Arctic Monkeys return in April in support of their third album Humbug. Full dates for all three treks are below.

Mastodon
Apr. 16 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
Apr. 17 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater
Apr. 18 – Richmond, VA @ The National
Apr. 20 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head
Apr. 21 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Apr. 22 – Hartford, CT @ Webster
Apr. 23 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Apr. 24 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Apr. 26 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Palace Theater
Apr. 27 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street
Apr. 29 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room
Apr. 30 – Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue
May 1 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
May 3 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
May 4 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
May 5 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
May 7 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
May 8 – Oakland, CA @ The Missing Link
May 9 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
May 10 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater
May 11 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
May 13 – Billings, MT @ The Shrine
May 14 – Fargo, ND @ The Venue
May 14 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Hall
May 16 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
May 18 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum
May 19 – Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club
May 20 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood
May 21 – Knoxville, TN @ Valarium
May 22 – Lexington, KY @ Busters

Drake
Apr. 6 – Charleston, IL @ Eastern Illinois University
Apr. 7 – Columbus, OH @ Private Location
Apr. 9 – State College, PA @ Penn State University
Apr. 10 – Boston, MA @ Private Location
Apr. 11 – Lock Haven, PA @ Private Location
Apr. 14 – East Lansing, MI @ Michigan State University
Apr. 15 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Oakland University
Apr. 16 – Morgantown, WV @ West Virginia University
Apr. 21 – Orlando, FL @ University Central Florida
Apr. 22 – Greenville, SC @ Furman University
Apr. 23 – TBA
Apr. 24 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Apr. 26 – Kansas City, MO @ University of Missouri
Apr. 27 – Lexington, KY @ University of Kentucky
Apr. 29 – Lowell, MA @ University Mass Lowell
Apr. 30 – Syracuse, NY @ Private Location
May 1 – Boston, MA @ Private Location
May 1 – East Rutherford, NJ @ Bamboozle Festival
May 4 – Worcester, MA @ Holy Cross
May 5 – Towson, MD @ Towson University
May 6 – Cheney, PA @ Cheyney University
May 7 – Ithaca, NY @ Private Location
May 8 – Plymouth, NH @ Private Location

Arctic Monkeys
Apr. 1 – Miami, FL @ Fillmore
Apr. 2 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz
Apr. 3 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
Apr. 5 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
Apr. 6 – Raleigh, NC @ Disco Rodeo
Apr. 7 – Baltimore, MD @Rams Head Live
Apr. 9 – Covington, KY@ Madison Theatre
Apr. 11 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
Apr. 12 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
Apr. 13 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
Apr. 15 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee

There are very few of us in this world that know what it's like to be a trend on Google. But "My Life as Liz" star Liz Lee knows exactly what that is like. When her show premiered on MTV last month, the following day she ended up being a top trend on Google. She was even a trending topic on Twitter.

So, what has that been like for Liz, who is otherwise an anonymous art student in New York City? To be blunt, her fame has been kind of insane.

"It's the most amazing feeling, it really is, to know that you have people on your side now," she said about finding out that being TV's newest underdog has made her quite popular with fans. "It's a complete flip-flop in the best way."

As for being a Google trend, she added, "It was crazy! On Monday [last month] 'My Life as Liz' was the number one Google search for like hours. That was insane. That was the most amazing feeling I think I've ever felt to have my producers call me and be like guess what? It just blew me away. It's so surreal. It still kind of feels like it isn’t happening and we were a trending topic on twitter that was insane. It was so amazing. That's awesome. I'm really stoked."

"My Life as Liz" airs Monday nights at 10:30 on MTV. Stay tuned to MTV Newsroom and MTV News for more on Lee and her show!

"There's not a better job on the planet than judging a f-----g karaoke contest. They'd have to pay me a ton of dough, because I already make a ton of dough. A $100 million to judge a karaoke contest? Yeah, I think I would do that show for $100 million. It would be the best thing that happened to me. What a cush job: $100 million for four months. Who wouldn't take that?"

-Radio host Howard Stern, talking about the rumors surrounding him being the replacement for Simon Cowell as a judge on "American Idol." Last week, the New York Post reported that a source said that producers were weighing the idea of bringing in Stern to replace Cowell after this season of "American Idol" wraps up, as Cowell will be exiting the show to focus on bringing "X Factor" to U.S. television. The rumor has some convenient coincidences rolled into it, as Stern's contract with Sirius/XM expires at the end of this year, and considering the state of satellite radio, it's doubtful that his new contract would be as lucrative as the one he signed back in 2004.

During his show on Monday morning, Stern addressed the rumors without mentioning whether or not he had actually been contacted by "Idol" producers. "I'm not going to comment about any discussions I might or might not have had," he said on the air. "I watch 'American Idol.' ... people seem to think that if I was on it, because I'm such a foul-mouthed, miserable f---, that I would get them thrown off the air. I know how to judge."

He added that nobody would have more credibility as the new "Idol" judge. "If I do say so myself, I can't imagine anyone else but me replacing [Cowell]," Stern said. "I mean, how else are they going to make that show work? Who knows how to broadcast and who knows how to be interesting? And who's not afraid to speak their mind?"

Photo: Brown/Getty

Nearly eight months after Michael Jackson died due to “acute Propofol intoxication,” the singer’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office for his role in the King of Pop’s sudden death on June 25th, 2009, CNN reports. In a press release, the D.A.’s office writes that Murray “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson … in the commission of an unlawful act, not a felony; and in the commission of a lawful act which might have produced death, in an unlawful manner, and without due caution and circumspection.” If found guilty, Murray faces a maximum four-year prison sentence.

As Rolling Stone previously reported, Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide after a toxicology report discovered that the powerful sedative Propofol and other sedatives ultimately caused Jackson to go into cardiac arrest. Investigators have long accused Murray of using “gross negligence” in administering Propofol to Jackson, because the sedative is meant to be used strictly in hospital settings for patients recovering from surgery. In interviews with police, Murray admitted administering Propofol to Jackson after the singer himself requested the sedative, which he dubbed “milk” because of its cloudy white appearance, to help his insomnia.

Charges were expected to be filed last week in the case, but a conflict between the District Attorney’s office and the Los Angeles Police Department delayed the charges until today. Murray entered the Airport Court in Los Angeles to surrender to the LAPD just before 1 p.m. PST, where he was arraigned on the involuntary manslaughter charge. Murray pleaded not guilty to the charge. TMZ reports bail was set at $75,000, three times the usual bail in a case like this. Prosecutors originally sought bail of $300,000 because Murray was born outside the country and could be considered a flight risk. Murray was forced to give up his passport as part of the terms of his bail agreement. Members of Michael Jackson’s family were in attendance for the arraignment. According to the D.A.’s press release, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren will prosecute the case.

Related Stories:

• No Charges for Jackson Doctor Yet; Conrad Murray Expected to Surrender to Cops
• Source: Dr. Murray Likely to Face Manslaughter for Jackson Death
• Michael Jackson’s Death Officially Ruled Homicide

Photo: Mayer/WireImage
Between Dave Grohl on Saturday Night Live and Zak Starkey filling in for the Who’s Keith Moon during the Super Bowl, drummers were in the spotlight this past weekend, so we asked our readers to tell us the greatest of all time. After counting up the votes, and there were lots of them, it comes as no surprise that Bonzo himself, Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, was voted Number One, beating out Moon, Grohl, Rush’s Neil Peart and more. And despite a grass-roots effort to get The Muppet Show’s Animal on the list, we kept the results to drummers with a human pulse. (Check out RS‘ Greatest Singers and Greatest Guitarists stories, too):

1. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
2. Neil Peart (Rush)
3. Keith Moon (The Who)
4. Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures)
5. Stewart Copeland (The Police, Oysterhead)
6. Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
7. Ginger Baker (Cream, Blind Faith)
8. Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)
9. Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)
10. Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
11. Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
12. Danny Carey (Tool)
13. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
14. Buddy Rich
15. Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)

Photo: Ufberg/WireImage
Last week Page Six stoked a rumor that Howard Stern is a possible candidate to replace the departing Simon Cowell on next season’s American Idol. Today the shock jock addressed the reports on his satellite radio show, admitting the job wouldn’t be out of the question. “There’s not a better job on the planet than judging a fucking karaoke contest,” Stern said, MTV reports. “It might be possible, we’ll see.”

As Rolling Stone reported last week, Stern’s five-year, $500 million contract with Sirius XM expires in January 2011, freeing up the radio personality to pursue other opportunities. While the New York Post wrote last week that Idol’s overtures to Stern might just be a leverage tool to help secure Stern a lucrative new contract from his current employer, Stern seemed pretty open about taking on the Idol job because he’s long been a fan of the show. “If I do say so myself, I can’t imagine anyone else but me replacing [Cowell],” Stern said. “I mean, how else are they going to make that show work? Who knows how to broadcast and who knows how to be interesting? And who’s not afraid to speak their mind?”

Idol producers are rumored to be considering offering Stern a contract that mirrors his five-year, $500 million deal with Sirius XM, but considering Paula Abdul and Idol split ways over a few million and Cowell will only make a reported $50 million per season to executive produce and judge on The X Factor, that figure seems a little excessive. “A $100 million to judge a karaoke contest? Yeah, I think I would do that show for $100 million,” Stern said. “It would be the best thing that happened to me. What a cush job: $100 million for four months. Who wouldn’t take that?”

Related Stories:

• Howard Stern Named as Rumored Replacement for Cowell on “Idol”
• <Cowell’s Fear of “Overexposure” Led to “American Idol” Exit
• <“The X Factor” Due Fall 2011; Simon Cowell Confirms Departure From “American Idol”

A pair of supergroups took the stage on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live, and while Them Crooked Vultures were the episode’s musical guest, it was Crisis of Conformity — fake reuniting for the first time in 25 years to play a wedding — that delivered the night’s most memorable performance. Featuring SNL’s Fred Armisen on vocals, Bill Hader on bass, Ashton Kutcher on guitar and the Vultures’ Dave Grohl on drums, the hardcore quartet turned the peaceful reception into a “TV Party” with a brutal rendition of “Fist Fight in the Parking Lot.” After the mellow but admittedly amusing Michael Bublé guested last week, a little hardcore was just the shot in the arm SNL needed. For Grohl, it was his second noteworthy appearance in a recent SNL sketch: When the Foo Fighters were the musical guest back in 2007, Grohl was one of Andy Samberg’s victims in the hilarious “People Getting Punched Just Before Eating” digital short.

Check out a history of supergroups in photos.

Them Crooked Vultures performed a pair of tracks from their self-titled debut album, and sadly their combined supergroup powers couldn’t overcome SNL’s infamous sound woes. Josh Homme’s vocals get lost in the mix on “New Fang,” and the 30 Rock version of “Mind Eraser” doesn’t really do the band’s extraordinary live shows justice. Watch both performances below:

“New Fang”

“Mind Eraser”

We've been on a pretty epic run of rock and roll greats at the Super Bowl over the past eight years. From U2 and Paul McCartney to the Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and now the Who, it's been a Hall of Fame stampede at halftime. If you look back at what the halftime gig consisted of in the mid-to-late 1980s (Up with People, George Burns and Mickey Rooney with a drill team, Chubby Checker, New Kids on the Block and Gloria Estefan), it definitely feels like we're in a golden period.

And for good reason. It just makes sense that the biggest TV event of the year should come with the biggest entertainment roster. Here's the problem, though: We're running out of superstars. Having already burned through the Big Three (The Who, Stones and the Beatles' McCartney), as well as modern superstars U2, Springsteen and Prince, who could possibly fill the hole next year and provide the kind of mass market bang for the big game buck?

We already know Led Zeppelin aren't interested in playing together and while we love the Kinks, they're don't really have the same marquee value as their British Invasion peers (and they too don't want to play live together anymore it seems). In the early rock icon category, Bob Dylan isn't likely to do it and doesn't seem right for the job (ditto Simon & Garfunkel). Eric Clapton solo or with Cream also doesn't inspire helmet-smashing excitement, nor does Elton John or his piano-playing pal Billy Joel.

As much as I love David Bowie, he seems too cool for the gig and while Pink Floyd would provide the proper spectacle, that band, too, seems unlikely to get it together anytime soon. Fleetwood Mac still tour, and they have a beloved catalog that might work, as does Santana and AC/DC certainly have the pyrotechnic power to blow the roof off the sucker.

With the fount of classic rockers dwindling or dry, producers could look to the past two decades and try to convince Madonna to take a swing at the ring. If Van Halen get it together and put out another album, they certainly have the stagecraft and hits to do the big show.

Though it would be a blow to their remaining indie cred and a huge longshot, the Pixies could totally rock it while confounding most of middle America and Trent Reznor might resuscitate Nine Inch Nails one more time to scare all the children still up past their bedtimes (but probably only if he was feeling ironic).

They could go the boring route and dial up a Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift, perhaps paring them with Carrie Underwood and/or Kelly Clarkson. As long as we're talking shelf life, Britney Spears would bring the appropriate sexy/mass market appeal, and if he ever puts out another album, Justin Timberlake would surely kill the gig (though we kind of doubt the NFL would give a do-over in his case).

That leads us to some hip-hop acts that might work, with exactly one name popping to mind: Run-DMC, who, as of right now, are permanently on ice. And there's probably half a dozen country acts that are popular enough to do it, but, to be honest, I can't tell a Brad Paisely from a George Strait or a Kenny Chesney from a Keith Urban, so anyone of those guys would probably do.

It's gonna be hard to top this year's extravaganza, which is why we're asking you to help.

Who would you like to see headline next year's Super Bowl halftime show? Vote in the poll below, and if you've got an even better idea, leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo: Martinez/Getty
More than 100 million people tuned in to Super Bowl XLIV last night, and it seems like each one of them has an opinion on the Who’s 12-minute halftime performance. Readers flocked to Rolling Stone’s report on the Super Bowl set to leave comments praising and criticizing Daltrey and Townshend’s pyro-packed show. “The Who were an amazing band, but you gotta face the fact that they really didn’t sound good,” Bob wrote, while Redsox argued, “Everyone can say what they want, but I’ve seen them 28 times over the last 25 years and last night at the ripe age of 65 and 64 they were unreal, living the dream and spreading the genius of Pete’s music onto a new generation.”

Relive the Who’s halftime set in photos.

Many readers lodged complaints over the band’s sound issues — a common issue when rockers perform on impromptu stages in open-air stadiums. Some commenters remarked that their telecast of the performance suffered from a slight delay between sound and visuals. Others felt that the Who showed their old age in the performance, and a small minority claimed that the band onstage wasn’t the Who at all since they were missing drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle.

However, an army of Who devotees applauded the Who’s energetic performance and marveled at their ability to rock in their 60s. Of course, some used the hyperbolic “Best halftime show ever,” but most of the positive comments suggest that the Super Bowl performance was just the latest chapter in the Who’s ongoing legacy. Drummer Zak Starkey — yes, Ringo’s son — was credited with channeling the spirit of Keith Moon, and Daltrey’s scream on “Won’t Get Fooled Again” managed to scrape the same heights as it did almost 40 years ago. And there’s no one who can deny that the stage setup was pretty remarkable.

Check out photos of music’s big names rocking football’s big game.

Here’s a cross-section of RS’ best reader comments:

Who-Fan: “The Who will always be great, but that was not singing…they are long past their prime.”

Proud: “How many of you could get up and do that 60 50 40 whatever it was fun it wasn’t like 45 years ago but it was great just the same”

Are you kidding?: “worst performance at half-time in a while”

Timmyy: “Truly a great example of Live Arena Rock! People are so used to lip sync techno produced pop that they just don’t get live rock. Its not supposed to sound perfect, its not a CD. The Who showed why they are best of all time at LIVE ARENA ROCK!”

Siberia: “brilliant staging brilliant pyro brilliant stage design. the performance? sub par at best. what i wanna know is how oprah got letterman and leno to do a commercial together”

Lorraine: “The Who were Whorrible!! WHO came up with the idea of booking them? Who Dat???”

Moon the Loon: “25 or 65, The Who Rocked!! Best half-time show ever. Sad that so many of you are so f’n clueless!!”

Robin: “I didn’t enjoy The Who’s performance, but the lighting display was pretty cool. I find it hard to believe many people like the halftime show. People need to separate nostalgia from their opinion.”

Goatherd: “The Who were never noted for impeccable live rendition, but rather energy. There was plenty of energy here. And Daltrey hit the only note that matters: the HEYYYYY!!! at the end of Won’t Be Fooled Again. Rock on!”

Related Stories:

• The Who Rock Super Bowl XLIV With Explosive Medley of Big Hits
• A History of Rock Stars in Super Bowl Commercials

Really, you should be listening to music every day, but thanks to Twitter, Monday has become the best day of the week to discover new songs, show some love to the tune currently dominating your iPod playlist and quietly judge the listening habits of your closest friends. Yes, it's #MusicMonday, one of Twitter's most enduring trending topics. Hence "MTV News' #MusicMonday," a weekly look at the songs your favorite stars are currently crushing on.

This week, "Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" praises the remix of "Forever," which features Drake, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem.

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino has built up quite a reputation for himself as one of the breakout stars of MTV's hit reality series "Jersey Shore." He'll be back for a second spin in season two, and in the mean time he's been getting around. The Situation spent some time at the Grammy Awards last week and is even rumored to be nearing some sort of music deal for himself, but until then, he says he's enjoying the work of a handful of the best rappers in the game.

"I do like Drake's 'Forever,'" the Situation told fellow "Jersey Shore" star Snooki at the Grammys. "It goes with our whole situation that we got going on. We're just shutting it down, man. Wherever we go, we just want this thing forever. So that's what's up."

What are you listening to on this #MusicMonday? Leave your latest favorite tracks in the comments below!

Photo: Lincoln/Harvard University News Office via Getty Images

Justin Timberlake was named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year at a ceremony this weekend at Harvard University, the BBC reports. Timberlake, donning a blonde wig, was roasted by the members of Harvard’s Hasty Pudding theatrical troupe, who poked fun at JT by having actors impersonate Britney Spears and Timberlake’s ‘NSync bandmates. By the ceremony’s conclusion, Timberlake’s get-up included pink high heels and a bra with tiny presents on each cup, a nod to “Dick in a Box.” “This is cooler than any Grammy or Emmy or anything I could have ever thought of. Thank you,” Timberlake said.

Timberlake became the first male singer to win the award, joining previous honorees that read like a “Who’s Who in Hollywood”: Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg and more. “This year’s Man of the Year is a triple threat,” the Hasty Pudding troupe announced at the ceremony. “He sings, he dances and he goes straight to DVD.”

Considering he hasn’t released an album since 2006’s FutureSex/LoveSounds and starred in the almost-straight-to-DVD The Open Road, it’s unclear which recent work warranted the Hasty Pudding award. Maybe it was simply for “Motherlover”? More than likely, however, Timberlake was selected because he’s starring in the upcoming Facebook film The Social Network, based on the story behind the site’s roots at Harvard University. Anne Hathaway was previously presented with the 2010 Woman of the Year award.

Related Stories:

• Infamous Crotch Rock Moments: Adam Lambert’s AMAs Stunt to Timberlake’s “Dick in a Box”
• Timberlake and Samberg Follow “Dick in a Box” With “Motherlover”
• Justin Timberlake Not Working On New Album, Likes Radiohead

Though many football fans were skeptical, the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts managed to turn in an extremely memorable Super Bowl on Sunday night (February 7), with the Saints prevailing by a score of 31-17. New Orleans, a weighted underdog coming into the match-up in Miami, trailed for a bulk of the game and saw their normally potent offense stifled by the Colts early on. But a few key plays (including a gutsy on-sides kick and an acrobatic two-point conversion care of TK that shifted the momentum heavily in the Saints favor) allowed New Orleans to pull away and ascend to championship status in their very first Super Bowl.

Though the biggest play in the game came courtesy of defensive back Tracy Porter (who intercepted a Peyton Manning pass and took it to the end zone for a score that put the game away for the Saints), quarterback Drew Brees took home the award for Most Valuable Player. It's hard to argue with his statistics: 288 yards passing, a record-tying 32 completions and a pair of touchdowns. He also carried himself with a ton of poise in his first championship game, and he clearly kept a cool head even as the defense kept attacking and his team trailed on the scoreboard. It was an excellent performance from a quarterback who has always been just a little underrated.

When accepting his MVP trophy, Brees said, "Mardi Gras may never end." Indeed, though the official start to Mardi Gras is still eight days away, you can be sure that the city of New Orleans has already started the celebration. Brees will be at the center of the party; for the next few weeks, you can call him the "King of New Orleans." (Thanks, Better Than Ezra!)

Photo: Gallup/Getty
Joan Baez has been added to “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement,” a PBS special airing this Thursday, February 11th. Baez joins a lineup that includes her partner at the 1963 March on Washington civil rights rally, Bob Dylan. Three original members of the Freedom Singers — Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Rutha Harris and Charles Neblett — have also reunited for the “In Performance” special, which will be hosted by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The event will feature songs and readings from the Civil Rights era.

Baez and Dylan performed The Times They Are a-Changin’ song “When the Ship Comes In” at the March on Washington in 1963, an event that famously included Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. While Baez has been added to the lineup, it’s unclear whether or not she and Dylan will perform together. Baez was a member of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue troupe in 1975 and later toured with the rock poet in 1984.

As Rolling Stone previously reported, John Mellencamp, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Seal, Natalie Cole, John Legend, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Yolanda Adams are also set to perform during the “In Performance” special. Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Queen Latifah and Joanne Woodward will serve as guest speakers for the event, which will air February 11th at 8 p.m. on PBS. “In Performance” will also stream live February 10th at 5:15 p.m. EST. Check back here then to watch the concert below:

Related Stories:

• Dylan, Mellencamp Booked For White House’s Civil Rights Music Celebration
• Bruce Springsteen Honored at Kennedy Center By Mellencamp, Vedder, Sting
• Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind And Fire to Rock the White House

Photo: LaVeris/FilmMagic

• Ozzy Osbourne’s memoirs I Am Ozzy debuted at Number Two on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction. Read about a unique Ozzy book signing and his reflections on Black Sabbath’s early days.

• Robert Fripp and Tool’s Adam Jones are considering reviving a side project they started and abandoned five years ago. Blabbermouth cites a Pulse of the Radio report indicating the pair met up in London to discuss their joint album.
• Leonard Cohen has delayed his European tour due to a back injury. A statement from his publicist indicates Cohen has been instructed to undergo four to six months of physical therapy, but “Doctors have confirmed that Mr. Cohen is otherwise in terrific shape, thanks to years of exercise and careful diet.”
• Legendary jazz saxophonist John Dankworth has died at age 82 after a a brief illness, the Guardian reports. The British musician, who was knighted by the Queen in 2006, became known in the 1950s for his work with the Dankworth Seven before going on to work with Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald and scoring major television and film projects.

Photo: Kravitz/FilmMagic

For the past few years, the Super Bowl has stuck with all-star rock talent for its halftime shows: Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and now the Who, who brought a giant display of rock & roll might and pyrotechnics to the big game in Miami this evening.

Check out photos of music’s big names rocking football’s big game.

Pete Townshend got things started by furiously strumming an acoustic guitar as Roger Daltrey grabbed the mike and began “Pinball Wizard” while pyro erupted from the center of the field, which was covered in a giant circular display of lights rather than filled with fans, as per tradition. After the first chorus, the arpeggio synth stutter of “Baba O’Riley” began as green lasers cut across the stadium and lights pulsed in lines from the stage outward through the stadium. Townshend ripped his pick down the neck of his guitar and peeled off a few of his signature windmills. The sound of the crowd singing along was audible as Townshend shouted out the chorus, “It’s only teenage wasteland.”

Relive the Who’s halftime set in photos.

Daltrey got out his harmonica and blew until a stream of red sparks flew from the stage and the band segued into “Who Are You” as a giant projection of the lyrics surrounded the circular stage. Townshend windmilled at a furious pace as the track wrapped and blue lights bathed the stage, signaling a quick nod to “See Me, Feel Me” before the band tore into “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Fireworks shot into the air and the crowd enthusiastically shouted the song’s title on the chorus. The set ended with a barrage of fireworks and Townshend and Daltrey with their arms around each other.

Flip through a brief history of rock stars in Super Bowl commercials.

Just before halftime, Will.i.am’s remixed version of “My Generation” aired over a commercial for mobile TV company Flo (the full-length track is available for download at Flo.tv and proceeds benefit Oxfam’s Haiti fund).

Super Bowl XLIV Highlights

Tonight, in only the latest show of support from the recording industry for the people of Haiti following the devastating 7.0 earthquake last month, BET presents its own fundraising effort: "SOS Saving Ourselves: Help for Haiti."

The star-studded event, taking place at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, is airing on MTV, BET, VH1 and Centric, but you can watch the entire thing streaming live right here.

Hosted by Diddy, Queen Latifah and Pharrell Williams, the event is set to feature performances by Drake, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Nas, Ludacris, Robin Thicke, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, Jazmine Sullivan, Busta Rhymes, India.Arie, Akon, Damian Marley and more. Wyclef Jean is set to deliver a special tribute to the Haitian people, while Pete Wentz, Gloria Estefan and Trey Songz are scheduled to participate. We're also getting inside word that the show will feature a number of all-star collaborations throughout the night.

Money raised during concert will go to organizations providing immediate relief in Haiti, including Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti foundation, C.A.R.E. and Project MediShare. George Clooney and MTV Networks' "Hope For Haiti Now" telethon was watched by 83 million people and helped raise more than $61 million. Tune in to "SOS Saving Ourselves: Help for Haiti" and continue to support relief effort in the struggling island nation.

Season 7s rocker girl, Carly Smithson, and her band, We Are The Fallen, announced their upcoming tour this week. They will be touring with rock group HIM across the United States and Canada, but their tour will kick off in London on 3/23/2010. Tickets are now on sale for most of the shows. This was a big week for We Are The Fallen; the band released their debut single, Bury Me Alive, this past Tuesday.

Here is We Are The Fallens tour schedule:

3/23 Kings College London, GB
3/26 Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
3/27 Sonar Baltimore, MD
3/28 House of Blues Boston Boston, MA
3/30 Metropolis Montreal, QC, CA
3/31 Sound Academy Toronto, Ontario, CA
4/1 House Of Blues Cleveland Cleveland, OH
4/2 Clutch Cargos Pontiac, MI
4/3 Bogarts Cincinatti, OH
4/6 The Orbit Room Grand Rapids, MI
4/7 The Pageant St. Louis, MO
4/9 House of Blues Chicago Chicago, IL
4/10 The Rave Bar Milwaukee, WI
4/13 MacEwan Hall Calgary, AB, CA
4/14 Edmonton Event Centre Edmonton, AB, CA
4/16 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC, CA
4/17 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA
4/18 Roseland Theatre Portland, OR
4/20 Regency Theatre San Francisco, CA
4/21 House of Blues Anaheim Anaheim, CA
4/22 House of Blues San Diego San Diego, CA
4/23 The Wiltern Los Angeles, CA
4/24 House of Blues Mandalay Las Vegas, NV
4/27 Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
4/29 House of Blues Dallas, TX
4/30 House of Blues Houston, TX
5/2 House of Blues Orlando, FL
5/3 Center Stage Atlanta, GA
5/4 House of Blues Myrtle Beach, SC
5/6 Irving Plaza New York, NY

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