Music News & Videos

• Conan O’Brien Announces Bonnaroo, Tour
• Pearl Jam Plot May Tour Dates
• Corgan on Mayer’s Career-Destruction
• Idol to Tackle Rolling Stones Songs
• Pink Floyd Halt Single-Song Downloads
• Strokes Confirm Lollapalooza Slot
• News Ticker: Beck, Rock Band 3
• Actor Corey Haim Dead at 38
• Kate Nash Talks My Best Friend Is You
• OK Go Split With EMI, Form New Label
• Faith No More Announce East Coast Show
• Lady Antebellum Retake Number One
• U2’s Spider-Man Loses Evan Rachel Wood
• New Videos: Big Boi, She and Him
• Breaking: Midlake
• New Music Report: Gorillaz
• News Ticker: DMX, Lady Gaga, Stars
• Watch Exclusive New Runaways Clip
• Beastie Boys Delay Hot Sauce to Late 2010
• Exclusive Premiere: Yeasayer’s “O.N.E.”
• MGMT Unveil New Song “Flash Delirium”
• Smashing Pumpkins Seek Two New Members
• LCD Soundsystem Debut Greenberg Tune
• Hear Dr. Dog’s New “Stranger”
• Samberg, Parnell Revive “Lazy Sunday”
• Win a Trip to See STP at SXSW!
• Coyne Wants Timberlake in Lips Film
• Lil Wayne Begins Year-Long Jail Term
• T.I. Announces Return With “I’m Back”
• Foo Fighters Team With Vig For Heavy Disc
• Win the White Stripes’ Box Set

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

Missed Pearl Jam live during the band’s run of Backspacer tour dates last year? Eddie Vedder and company are giving you another chance to see their legendary live show in action with a month-long slate of U.S. shows that kick off in May. The trek launches at New Orleans’ Jazz Festival on May 1st and moves its way northeast, culminating with two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on May 20th and 21st.

Pearl Jam in posters: an illustrated guide to the band’s tour art.

Band of Horses have been enlisted to serve as Pearl Jam’s opening act on the trek, with the Black Keys subbing in for the May 20th MSG show. Tickets go on sale to Pearl Jam’s Ten Club members on March 15th, with a public on-sale to follow on March 19th. As evidenced by last year’s tour and the group’s legendary Halloween night show in Philadelphia, Pearl Jam mix up their set lists every night and the 2009 jaunt yielded live performances of nearly every song in the PJ catalog, so don’t miss them this time around. For more info, check out Pearl Jam’s official site.

And if you’re bummed out that Pearl Jam isn’t visiting your half of the U.S., at least you can watch them perform on Saturday Night Live this weekend.

Pearl Jam
May 1 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz Festival
May 3 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
May 4 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
May 6 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
May 7 – Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
May 9 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
May 10 – Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena
May 13 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
May 15 – Hartford, CT @ XL Center
May 17 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
May 18 – TBD @ TBD
May 20 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
May 21 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

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Two years ago American Idol celebrated the music of the Fab Four, and next week the show’s Top 12 will pick up that rockin’ tradition by belting out songs by “the Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World,” the Rolling Stones. Host Ryan Seacrest made the announcement of next week’s musical theme on a radio promotion taped during last night’s episode, Entertainment Weeky reports. As it’s still too early on in the competition for celebrity mentors, it’s highly unlikely Mick Jagger or Keith Richards will participate, though Richards mentoring the kids on partying and excess for an hour would likely be more entertaining than the performances themselves.

We won’t know which contestants are singing what Stones classics until next week, but we’re already placing bets on what we expect to hear. On the ladies’ side, we anticipate “Satisfaction,” “Tumbling Dice,” “Time is on My Side,” “Gimme Shelter” (if a contestant is brazen enough to handle both Mick and the female leads) and, thanks to Susan Boyle, “Wild Horses.” For the men, we’re thinking “Brown Sugar,” “Miss You,” Sympathy for the Devil,” “Angie,” “Honky Tonk Woman” and “Waiting on a Friend.” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” seems destined for the group performance, and let’s just add that any contestant who mines Goats Head Soup gets our automatic vote.

Related Stories:

• Secrets Behind the Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street” Reissue
• Keith Richards: “Rumors of My Sobriety Are Greatly Exaggerated”
• Unearthed Rolling Stones Tracks Set to Debut on “Exile on Main Street” Reissue

This week, 311 celebrate their fans and their music during a three day festival called 311 Day. We sent two 311 superfans to give us the diehard's perspective about the show, the crowds and the vibe of the greatest 72 hours in 311 history..

By Dave Kosin

So I just got back from interviewing 311. Without a doubt, that was one of the single most awesome experiences of my life.

Lauren and I were brought into the Mandalay Bay Events Center to the backstage area. We were both a little geeked out when we realized we were doing the interviews in Nick Hexum's dressing room. The whole time, I just kept thinking "I'm in Nick's dressing room! Are you kidding me?"

After figuring out our questions and shooting a little intro, we waited for the band. While we were waiting, we heard voices in the hallway, and then all of a sudden, Tim Mahoney came walking around the corner. And then Chad Sexton. And Nick Hexum. And SA Martinez. And P-Nut (he was a little late, but it's cool, because I love him).

We made our introductions and a little small talk while the producer was setting up his gear. I had heard plenty of stories from friends who had spent time with the band about how down to earth and sociable the guys were, so any nerves I had about the interview immediately went away. They're all so easy to talk to. When Tim asked where I was from and I said Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Midstate represent!), he said, "Oh my God, I know someone from there!" Having only met these guys for 29 seconds, I felt completely at ease, like I was talking to someone I had known my whole life.

Sadly, Tim and Chad weren't able to be there for the interview because they had soundcheck-type things to do (I mean, there is a little concert coming up), so Nick, P-Nut and SA sat down with me to do my interview. As it went along, I couldn't get over how straightforward and thoughtful their answers were. You could tell they were treating me, the 25-year-old kid who made a video for a contest, the same way they would treat someone like Kurt Loder who has been doing this forever.

I was also blown away at how much appreciation the band has for their fans. I can't even count how many times they mentioned how 311 Day was meant to be a thank you to the fans and how blessed they feel to have such a strong and passionate fan base. I never got the sense that they were just saying that just to say it. They were saying it because they meant it, and that hit home for me way more than I thought it would.

You can read more about Dave's interview with 311 -- including the part where he asks Hexum about his pants -- after the jump.

After the interviews were all over, the guys came over to sign our official MTV News note cards (maybe the coolest souvenir I've ever gotten from anything in my life) and we chatted with them a bit. I decided to ask Nick a question I had been dying to ask him for more than a year: What was with the white pants?

If you're not aware, Nick chose to rock an awesome pair of white pans for nearly every 311 show last year, but nobody really knew why. He went into a whole explanation about how it had to do with lighting and the white pops better than wearing dark clothes on stage. Then he paused a few seconds and said, "Well, I'm just gonna say it: Joe Strummer wore them all the time, so I wanted to wear them."

How awesome of an answer is that?

Either the eight men on “American Idol” are reading my mind (and/or my stories), or this show is getting way too predictable in season nine. Yesterday, I made my suggestions for what the remaining eight-pack needed to do to avoid going home and, freakishly, I was kind of dead-on with a couple of them.

Okay, Aaron Kelly didn’t take my advice and sing a Kris Allen or David Gray ballad -- which isn’t totally why he’s probably going home -- and Todrick Hall went in the absolute opposite direction, ignoring my suggestion to sing something by Usher and opting instead for Queen.

But I totally cracked wise about how lucky-to-even-be-there singer Tim Urban would definitely be packing his bags … unless he was getting secret voice lessons from the ghost of Jeff Buckley. And guess what? He sang Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which, as you probably know, was famously covered by Buckley, a version Urban surprisingly rocked on Wednesday night!

And did I mention that I said Michael Lynche should sing a Maxwell song? Okay, technically he killed Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” but he totally did the Maxwell version of it! To make it even stranger, I originally suggested that Lee DeWyze should cover “Fireflies” by Owl City to show an edgier vibe. But then I changed my mind at the last minute because I’d suggested a day earlier that Siobhan Magnus should sing it, and recommended an acoustic Kings of Leon cover, so I was kind of right on that one, too.

Now that I’m done being impressed with myself [Editor's Note: Finally], here’s who I think should go home tonight. On the girl’s side, it’s pretty easy. Paige Miles totally flamed out with her limp cover of “Smile” and will say goodbye after an uneven run, and I suspect teen Katie Stevens has run out of chances to stop acting old and figure out who she is.

It’s a bit harder on the boy’s side, but I figure the other teen, Aaron Kelly, will also get the hook after a very uneven night and a further display of his total lack of starpower. And while Tim Urban would have been my go-to for the second slot, he may just have bought his ninth life on Wednesday with “Hallelujah,” which makes the second slot harder to predict. As much as I loved his cover of Queen’s bombastic “Somebody To Love,” I think America just hasn’t connected with Hall yet and he’ll be hurt by Simon’s comments that he’s too Broadway.

Check back on Friday for our “Idol Deadpool” feature to see how I did on my predictions and how our “Idol” experts’ picks panned out.

Who do you think will go home tonight? Post your comments below.

Photo: Bedder/WireImage (Mayer), Mayer/WireImage(Corgan)
After reading John Mayer’s controversial recent interviews, Billy Corgan is convinced Mayer is trying to self-destruct. “He’s trying to destroy his career,” Corgan told Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt in an interview outtake from RS‘ revealing new Corgan feature in the new issue, on sale now. “Rather than take a year off or change his musical direction… some part of it is irritating his soul to the point where he’s trying to blow it up. Certainly a talented guy, but empathetically, standing on the sidelines, it’s hard to watch someone literally burn their career to the ground — speaking as somebody who’s done it.”

Corgan also responded to Mayer’s comments on their mutual friend Jessica Simpson (”sexual napalm,” Mayer called her). “As far as it pertains to her. I think for any person who has celebrity to sort of drop rocks at somebody else’s feet like that — there’s things you should really just keep your mouths shut on. There’s things that should just be left alone.”

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Photo: Brown/Getty

NBC may have stripped Conan O’Brien of his Tonight Show and contractually barred him from temporarily appearing on television, but the red-headed host has found another way to get in front of his legion of fans: Bonnaroo. O’Brien posted on his newborn Twitter page today to reveal he’s hitting the road. “Hey Internet: I’m headed to your town on a half-assed comedy & music tour,” he tweeted. One of the last stops on the trek is a June 11th performance at Bonnaroo, where Conan will entertain nearly 60,000 festival-goers in Manchester, Tennessee — a perfect venue to reprise his final-episode “Free Bird”.

Check out Conan and more comics on the cover of Rolling Stone.

O’Brien has already proven his ability to rock, so don’t be surprised if Conan picks up a guitar at some point and jams out with other ‘Roo artists like Jeff Beck, Weezer, Flaming Lips, Tenacious D and, if we’re really lucky, sing Alicia Keys’ part in “Empire State of Mind” during Jay-Z’s headlining set. In addition to performing at the fest’s Comedy Theatre, O’Brien will emcee Bonnaroo’s “What” stage on Friday and Saturday nights. Joining O’Brien at the fest will be Aziz Ansari (hopefully as Raaaaaaaandy), Margaret Cho, Greg Giraldo, Rob Huebel, Bo Burnham and Jeffrey Ross, who will “roast” Bonnaroo during his set.

O’Brien’s “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television” tour will kick off April 12th in Oregon and work its way across the country before concluding in Atlanta on June 14th. For all the ticket info, check out the Team Coco site.

Conan O’Brien
Apr. 12 – Eugene, OR @ Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Apr. 13 – Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum Theatre
Apr. 16 – Spokane, WA @ INB Performing Arts Center
Apr. 17 – Enoch, AB @ River Cree Resort & Casino
Apr. 18 – Seattle, WA @ Seattle Center
Apr. 22 – San Francisco, CA @ Nob Hill Masonic Center
Apr. 24 – Universal City, CA @ Gibson Amphitheater
Apr. 29 – San Diego, CA @ San Diego Civic Theatre
Apr. 30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
May 1 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl Concert Theatre
May 4 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
May 5 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose State University Events Center
May 6 – Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
May 9 – Boulder, CO @ Mackey Auditorium
May 10 – Denver, CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
May 13 – Dallas, TX @ McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
May 14 – Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
May 15 – Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater
May 16 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
May 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
May 19 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
May 22 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
May 30 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata
June 1 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
June 4 – Boston, MA @ Wang Theater
June 6 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
June 7 – Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre
June 8 – Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall
June 11 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre

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Photo: Bedder/Getty
With the Strokes in the studio hard at work on their long-awaited follow-up to First Impressions of Earth, frontman Julian Casablancas has reiterated drummer Fab Moretti’s prediction about when the album will be released, telling the Chicago Tribune, “I think it’ll be out in September.” Casablancas added, “I’ve written a lot of melodies for it, but the other guys have also contributed a lot more: melodies, choruses, parts. It’s way more collaborative. So it’ll have a different feel than our other albums.” As Rolling Stone reported last month, Moretti labeled the band’s recent studio sessions a “free for all” of musical ideas.

The Strokes have been rumored to be among the six headliners at this year’s Lollapalooza festival, and Casablancas told the Tribute the news is in fact true. The Tribune predicts the reunited Soundgarden, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, Green Day and Phoenix will also play Perry Farrell’s annual event, but the festival has yet to confirm this potential lineup. Lollapalooza traditionally unveils its list of performers around April 10th.

It promises to be a busy summer for the Strokes, as the New York rockers have already lined up headlining slots at four European musical festivals this summer: Rockness, South Side, Hurricane and Isle of Wight. Casablancas is also still in the midst of touring in support of his solo album Phrazes for the Young.

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• Julian Casablancas Wraps Solo Tour With Hometown NYC Show
• Casablancas Says Strokes Are Divided Over Progress of Fourth LP

Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
Pink Floyd have won their lawsuit over single-song downloads against EMI, effectively halting the digital sale of the band’s individual tracks. As Rolling Stone reported yesterday, under the terms of a 1999 contract that predated iTunes and other digital-music retailers, the band mandated its songs could not be offered outside the context of their original albums. EMI argued that the contract only covered physical and not digital releases. In the end, the judge sided with preserving Pink Floyd’s artistic vision, the BBC reports.

Check out Rolling Stone’s collection of Pink Floyd photos.

The judge also ordered EMI to pay roughly $60,000 for the band’s legal fees immediately while the court determines how much the label, to which Floyd signed in 1967, should pay in fines and damages. Also at issue: how much money Pink Floyd should receive in digital royalties, because the 1999 contract did not foresee the advent of downloadable music. Millions of dollars could be at stake; only the Beatles’ back catalog is more profitable than Pink Floyd’s.

With the ruling, it’s now last call for fans who want to legally download “The Narrow Way, Pt. 3″ without investing in the rest of Ummagumma, since at press time both iTunes and the Amazon MP3 store were still offering up Pink Floyd’s tracks as single song downloads. Expect this to change in the near future.

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Watch 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Trailer Now!

The love triangle between Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner heats up in the third "Twilight" installment.

Though they first got together way back at the beginning of the '90s, it took a new millennium for A Fire Inside (AFI for short) to get the sort of recognition they always deserved. On this day in 2003, the band released their sixth album Sing the Sorrow, which became the group's first big mainstream hit on the back of singles like "Girls Not Grey" and "Silver and Cold."

Sing the Sorrow saw the band take their particular blend of goth-infused hardcore punk and slather on layers of industrial grind, hook-happy arena rock and prog flourishes like keyboards and strings. The resulting brew gave birth to stomp-heavy singalongs like "Bleed Black" and "Dancing Through Sunday." Sing the Sorrow also saw the continued evolution of frontman Davey Havok, who was slowly growing from a simple growler to a true lead singer, leading the band into a new era of theatricality and showmanship. (Their 2009 album Crash Love represents the pinnacle of that evolution.)

The group followed Sing the Sorrow (which sold over a million copies) with the similarly large hits Decemberunderground (which featured the massive single "Miss Murder," the group's most successful song to date) and the aforementioned Crash Love. Their evolution continues, and they can feel satisfied that Sing the Sorrow stands up as a modern classic. So put on your best make-up, break out your heaviest boots and crank your computer speakers way up so you can stomp along with the video for "Girls Not Grey."

Photo: Getty

• Beck’s next Record Club project will feature St. Vincent, the Liars and Os Mutantes, Pitchfork reports, though it’s unclear which classic album they’ve tackled.

• If you’ve already mastered Rock Band 2, there’s good news on the horizon: Rock Band 3 will be out in time for the 2010 holidays. A statement on the game’s Facebook page promises the new title will “innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again.” Green Day: Rock Band will arrive June 8th.
• In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis next week, Phil Collins will be honored at June 17th’s Songwriters Hall of Fame gala in New York with the Johnny Mercer Award.
• Kings of Leon’s Tap Tap Revenge game Kings of Leon Revenge is being unleashed today for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game features 10 songs including “Use Somebody,” “Notion” and “Sex on Fire.” Check out a preview on YouTube.

Wednesday night's (March 10) "American Idol" kicked off with Ryan Seacrest staring into the soul of the remaining eight men. I wonder if he knew that some major shake-ups were about to go down in the boys' talent department. Hard rockers covered pop tunes, a bad singer didn't completely suck and the grand finale left one judge in tears.

Let's break this down.

Lee Dewyze
Song: "Fireflies" by Owl City
Verdict: Ow! City
It's a Christmas miracle! Lee Dewyze looked like he was having fun while performing! And he showed his creative side by turning the twee electro-pop of "Fireflies" into a frat house jam. He probably should have saved original recording's Auto-Tune, because his pitch was as off as Ryan Seacrest's pronunciation of Owl City. (Did the radio DJ really say "Al City?") Kara went so far as to say Lee's guitar-based arrangement was superior to Adam Young's Postal Service-y bleeps, but Kara was going through some heavy stuff Wednesday, so I'm not so sure we can trust her. (More on Kara in a bit.)

Alex Lambert
Song: "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne
Verdict: Tremblin'
The charming Alex Lambert we fell in love with last week has turned back into the nervous nelly from week one. The trouble with Alex's "Trouble" wasn't his hazy voice or his marble-mouthed delivery. Both suited the song well. It's the petrified expression on his face that you usually only see on five-year-olds who've been separated from their moms at the mall. Ellen praised Alex, comparing him to a banana that continues to ripen (yep, she's still on that banana analogy) while begging him to avoid becoming a "cocky banana," which, as my co-worker Gil noted, might be the best name for a gay bar ever. Simon's got an easy fix for Lambert's stage fright: Picture Randy in a bikini. Let's all be thankful Ellen didn't suggest a "banana hammock" for Randy's imaginary swimwear.)

Tim Urban
Song: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
Verdict: You Don't Really Care For Music, Do You?
Tim Urban will not go away, though as disasters go, Urban's "Hallelujah" was pretty tame. He managed to not completely embarrass himself on TV for the first time, and considering the sacred song he attempted, that's worth a little credit, right? But let's be real here, folks. In a pile of D+ papers, Tim finally handed in a C. And "Idol" surely isn't graded on a curve ... until now. Ellen's hug, Simon's rave, Kara's "fantastic?" Really, guys? Sure, they were surprised to see a one-legged dog not fall on his (adorable) face, but that puppy sure as hell can't keep up with the four-legged specimens! It also feels like an insult to put Jason Castro's name anywhere near Urban's. Castro crushed this song two seasons ago. Hell, he still does — he's about to release it on his debut album.

One positive note: I admire Urban's attitude and perseverance. Even though he's been a punching bag on the show and on "Idol" blogs everywhere, he still hasn't thrown in the towel unlike some other contestants. (Achoo, Katelyn Epperly.)

Andrew Garcia
Song: "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
Verdict: Unhappy Ending
Remember when your little cousin or nephew or sibling said a silly word like wiener" for the first time, and you cracked up at how off the cuff it was? And then the little rugrat thought to himself, "If I say wiener, people will laugh." So he kept saying it more and more, and his "wiener" stories and jokes would become more and more elaborate yet less and less appealing because really the only thing that was funny to you to begin with was how surprising it was? Well, Andrew Garcia told a really lame "wiener" joke Wednesday night. I can see the reasoning behind picking Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" ("If people liked 'Straight Up,' they'll like an even girlier cover more!"), but watching a 24-year-old man croon, "I'm a genie in a bottle, you got to rub me the right way" was stomach-churning and, as Simon said, "desperate." Congrats are in order for sixth season semi-finalist Jared Cotter" His "Let's Get It On," dedicated to his mom and dad, is no longer the ickiest performance on "American Idol."

Casey James
Song: "You'll Think of Me" by Keith Urban (No Relation To Tim)
Verdict: Forgettable
I honestly don't remember anything about Casey's performance. My notes are "sat on stool" and "sounds like Rob Thomas." If it's my job to recap the show and even I can't recall specifics, that doesn't bode well for the casual viewer. His only hope would have been another Kara/Cougar moment to make him stick in people's minds, but the most we got was Kara mentioning something called a "Casey Train." (Apparently Amtrak does have a Casey Train. It's known for its beauty and inconsistency. Sometimes it shows up on time, other times it takes a detour to buy Funyons.)

Aaron Kelly
Song: "I'm Already There" by Lonestar
Verdict: Little Person, Big Song
Aaron Kelly's Lonestar rendition was bumpier than Lonestar's post-"I'm Already There" career. If it weren't for Allison Iraheta's dominance last season, I'd be begging "Idol" producers to raise the age minimum to 18. These young'ins are not ready for prime time. Or afternoon time. Or morning time. Or even nap time! Speaking of age, Kara pointed out that it would be impossible for a 16-year-old to relate to Lonestar's hit, but Simon called her theory "complete and utter nonsense" and thinks anyone can sing any song ever written. Let's note this exchange for the next time Simon complains about a young contestant's gloomy song choice.

Todrick Hall
Song: "Somebody to Love" by Queen
Verdict: A Royal Effort
Say what you will about Todrick (he's a dancer first and a singer second, he steals money from children, he's a diva), but you have to admit the guy gave it his all this week. Todrick aimed his slingshot at a giant and let it rip. He didn't quite conquer the beast, but he took out one of its legs handily. I loved the gospel fusion he added to the song, mostly because I could picture Jermaine Sellers sitting on his couch (in a onesie, naturally) cursing up a storm out of jealousy. In a night where most guys sat on a stool or robotically swayed their hips back and forth (Oh, Aaron), Todrick added some much-needed pizzazz to the proceedings. And when I say "pizzazz," I mean air-punching. Because Todrick does that a lot. Kara had the gall of accusing Todrick for being "too dramamtic" with the Queen classic (because Freddie Mercury was known for his subtlety?) but Simon articulated it better. "That is 'American Idol on Broadway' doing Queen." Since half of the ejected "Idol" stars end up on the Great White Way at some point in their career, how exactly is that Broadway dig an insult?

Michael Lynche
Song: "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush (though this was the Maxwell variation)
Verdict: Mike Hits The Big Time
Am I a heartless bastard for not getting swept up in Big Mike's "This Woman's Work?" (Don't answer that.) When I closed my eyes, Big Mike's ferociously emotional rendition was a season stand-out. But I didn't close my eyes for very long l because I was watching TV, and on my TV screen I saw a large man chewing the scenery in a small studio. "But Jim," you say, "you just praised Todrick for jumping around the stage and causing a commotion. Big Mike can't do the same?" Well, no. "This Woman's Work" doesn't lend itself to kicks and shimmies. The more Mike "felt" it, the more I resisted. Regardless, the judges freaked out and deemed it the moment of the season so far. (Take your harmonica and shove it, Bowersox!) The craziest thing about Big Mike's vocal abilities? His high-pitched falsetto acted like a dog whistle to Kara DioGuardi's empty womb, and the judge burst into tears — tears! — during his performance. "As a woman who doesn't have a child, I could relate to it so much," she sobbed. Whoa, DioBarren. Slow your roll. (Upon further reflection, it seems what Kara meant to say that he did such a good job telling the story of the song that even though she doesn't have kids herself, she understood all the heavy stuff he was feeling being a new father. Instead it came out as, "I have no babies and I'm sad!")

And just like that, we have a new front-runner. Do you think tonight's performances had any effect on who is going home Thursday night? What did you think of Big Mike's Kate Bush/Maxwell impression? After the cancer routine on "So You Think You Can Dance" and now Mike Lynche, is "This Woman's Work" becoming a reality show shortcut for tears? Leave a comment below and follow me on Twitter @jambajim to make sure you keep up with all my "Idol" coverage.

The Top Secret 'Telephone' Video

The epic 10 minute video premieres Thursday night - what can you expect?

MTV Rough Cut: 'The Runaways'

Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart sit down to talk about their third movie together.

Remembering Corey Haim

The 80's teen star died on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, of an apparent drug overdose.

This week, 311 celebrate their fans and their music during a three day festival called 311 Day. We sent two 311 superfans to give us the diehard's perspective about the show, the crowds and the vibe of the greatest 72 hours in 311 history.

By Dave Kosin

So here's the thing about 311 Day: It's more than a concert, and way more than just a vacation. It's a homecoming, really. More like a family reunion.

311 fans know how tight-knit the fan community is. Whether you grew up with someone who always went to shows with you, made new friends in a pit somewhere or got involved with the 311 bulletin board, chances are when you roll into down for 311 Day, you're gonna know quite a few people.

I'll admit I was a little late to the party. I didn't really get into 311 until 2007, but once I did, I was completely hooked. I started hanging out on the bulletin board shortly thereafter, and I found myself meeting up with other BBers at shows all over the country. Then I'd make new friends on the board, then I'd meet them and repeat (and repeat and repeat).

Almost three years later, I've made dozens of great friends, all thanks to 311. Some of my closest friends in the world — I consider some of them my brothers and sisters — are fellow 311 fans. So when I arrived in Vegas on Tuesday, I thought I knew what I was in for.

Man, was I wrong.

I hadn't been in my hotel but 20 minutes before I was walking through the lobby and someone shouted, "Mookie!" This was someone I hadn't met yet, and when those moments happen, it's always just a little surreal for a second or two. These are total strangers, but where there would otherwise be awkwardness, with 311 fans you have these chance encounters and within five minutes you feel like you've known them forever.

As the day went on I met up with a bunch of my friends throughout the hotel complex we have dubbed Luxcalibur Bay. Later on, about 30 of us headed off the strip for a glorious bulletin board tradition known as Taco Tuesday. This poor restaurant didn't know what hit them. Fans were streaming in, four or five or six at a time, and each time someone new arrived, they were greeted by loud shouts, handshakes and hugs. I'll be honest: I've been to some pretty massive fan gatherings, but something about this one was just so incredible. The energy was off the charts, the love was intense and genuine.

It’s that kind of experience that makes me so happy 311 smacked me across the face and became such a big part of my life. The friendships we've all made, the memories we've created, the nicknames, the pictures — it's what makes it all worth it. People always ask me why I spend so much time and money traveling all over God's creation just to see a band.

This is why.

Photo: AFP/Getty

We told you about the Rolling Stones’ upcoming Exile on Main Street reissue — which includes 10 never-before-heard Stones tracks — now read our Q&As with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and producer Don Was as they explain how they polished up gems from the vaults for the May disc and reevaluate their 1972 classic:

• The Secrets Behind the Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street” Reissue

Fo Yo Sorrows VIDEO Big Boi Ft. Too Short and George Clinton from SNORT THIS TV on Vimeo.

A whole battalion of new music videos has made their way onto the Web and for your viewing pleasure Rolling Stone has corralled them into this post. First up is Big Boi’s latest single off his much-anticipated Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, “Fo Yo Sorrows.” The OutKast rapper had previously promised vids for every track off his solo disc, so like the video above and Boi’s previous “Shine Blockas,” they’ll likely be low-key affairs. That isn’t stopping Big Boi from calling in guests George Clinton and Too $hort to appear in the clip. Any time George Clinton shows up in a music video, we get nostalgic for P.C.U., so definitely check out “Fo Yo Sorrows” above.

For “In the Sun,” She & Him’s first video off their upcoming Volume 2, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward go the High School Musical/Glee route as Deschanel and her clique of peers and teachers go dancing around hallways and classrooms in pursuit of the object of her desire, played here by a way-too-old-to-be-in-high-school Ward. It’s sort of like Feist’s “1, 2, 3, 4″ video combined with Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” clip. Adding authenticity to the sing-along is director Peyton Reed, who previously mastered the art of high school and dancing with his cheerleading flick Bring It On.

Finally, we have the official music video for the Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” that combines the band’s classic track with a ton of new footage from the film The Runaways. In the video, we see Dakota Fanning completely morphing into her role of Cherie Currie, plus brief clips of the cinematic Runaways from their rise to their eventual crash. As Rolling Stone previously reported, both Fanning and Kristen Stewart, who plays Joan Jett, sing on the soundtrack, which is available for pre-order now.

Kiss made a name for themselves by crafting big hard rock tunes accompanied by pyrotechnics, moon boots, face paint and a healthy dose of sexual suggestion. They then took that name and slapped it on just about any product you can think of. Founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have created a gigantic empire full of merchandise gobbled up by the Kiss Army. For any fan of Kiss, there are literally hundreds of ways to bring Kiss into your life, in the form of action figures, underwear, toothbrushes, lamps, air fresheners, condoms, credit cards and the legendary Kiss Kasket (which you can buy while you're still alive and use it as a beer cooler until you have to fill it with your corpse).

Now comes the news that Stanley and Simmons have signed a deal to produce a television show for children in Canada. According to production company E1, the half-hour comedy show will introduce the band (and the group members' individual personalities) to a new generation of Kiss Army members. "Kiss continues to be the juggernaut of licensing and merchandising, from Kiss M&M's to Kiss Dr. Pepper," Simmons said in a statement. "Kiss is a band, but also the only music brand. Continuing in our 35 year history of going where no band has gone before, we are proud to partner with E1. Like all things KISS, we intend to make this a very special show for our fans."

With a new kid-themed TV show about to go under their belts, it begs the question: Is there anything left for Simmons and Stanley to brand? Here are five things that, shockingly, don't have Kiss-themed versions (though you can bet that they'll be available soon).

The Toyota Starchild
The Japanese automaker has taken an awful lot of heat lately (which tends to happen when you build cars with breaks that don't work), but an association with Kiss could really bring them back into favored brand status. Who wouldn't want to cruise around like Paul Stanley? The Kiss Starchild has a powerful engine, extra-loud stereo system and is only available in black. Of course, somebody already built a custom Gene Simmons-themed Volkswagen, though that isn't being mass-produced, nor does it look driveable.

Kissmotherapy
The Kiss empire is so gigantic and so flush with cash that Simmons and Stanley can afford to throw a little research money into some medical science. Can you imagine if a Kiss-funded biochemical engineer cured a major disease? That would be a pretty impressive legacy for Kiss, possibly even surpassing the majesty of "Rock and Roll All Nite." Though you would have to assume that if Simmons and Stanley did get into medical research, they'd probably make Kissagra first.

Kiss Kattle
Who wouldn't want to buy a steak cut from cows approved by the God of Thunder?

Kiss TV
If Oprah can have her own cable station, why can't Kiss? The network can not only air classic concerts, episodes of "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels" and endless repeats of "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park," but it can also launch a whole slate of new series like "Kiss Kooking with Chef Paul Stanley," a nature show hosted by Peter Criss called "Peter Criss' Jungle Cats" and a talk show lead by former Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent called "Vinnie Vincent's View."

Detroit Rock City, Michigan
Though the core members of Kiss were nice Jewish boys from Queens, New York, they've been associated with Detroit, Michigan since the release of "Detroit Rock City" (from the band's 1976 masterpiece Destroyer). Since Detroit has seen better days, the band should just go ahead and buy the city, rename it and turn it back into the vital metropolis it used to be (except this time with a lot more fire breathing). If one city is too small for them, then the state of Idaho and the planet Saturn are both reasonable alternatives.

What do you think Kiss should brand next? What's your favorite piece of Kiss merchandise? Let us know in the comments!

The members of Pink Floyd have reunited, but unfortunately it’s just to sue their label EMI. At the heart of the battle is Pink Floyd’s 1999 contract that indicated the band’s songs could not be isolated and sold outside the context of their original albums. However, on iTunes, EMI is offering all the Pink Floyd songs as a la carte purchases in addition to the full album bundles, prompting this latest lawsuit, the Guardian reports. EMI argues that the band’s clause about separating the songs only applies to their physical releases, and as it predates digital music services like iTunes, the clause doesn’t apply to the band’s downloadable discography.

In the lawsuit’s first hearing, which the band themselves didn’t attend, their lawyer Robert Howe argued, “Pink Floyd [are] well-known for performing seamless pieces. Many of the songs blend into each other,” adding that the 1999 contract “expressly prohibits” taking the songs out of context, which they allege EMI’s allowance of a la carte song purchases allows. Pink Floyd holds the label’s second most profitable back catalog behind only the Beatles.

This latest suit marks the second time in as many years that Pink Floyd and EMI have butted heads in a court of law: As Rolling Stone reported last April, the band sued EMI after accusing the label of significantly miscalculating their royalties. Pink Floyd initially signed with EMI in 1967 before moving to Columbia for their U.S. distribution for 1975’s Wish You Were Here. The group’s Columbia output was later reissued under EMI’s Capitol Records arm.

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• Pink Floyd Sue EMI Over Royalties
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"This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference. Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time."

-Actor Corey Feldman, talking about his longtime friend and co-star Corey Haim, who passed away early Wednesday (March 10) morning at the age of 38. Feldman starred with Haim in classic teen films like "The Lost Boys," "License to Drive" and "Dream a Little Dream." The two Coreys were not only co-workers but also good friends, carving out a minor empire for themselves at the end of the '80s. They remained close, starring in a reality show called "The Two Coreys" a few years back (where Haim moved in with Feldman and his wife).

Feldman was gutted to hear the news of his troubled friend's passing. "I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door," Feldman explained in the statement. "They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren't even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face. I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school."

At the end of the statement, he put forth his hopes for Haim's legacy. "I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived," he said.

"This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference. Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time."

-Actor Corey Feldman, talking about his longtime friend and co-star Corey Haim, who passed away early Wednesday (March 10) morning at the age of 38. Feldman starred with Haim in classic teen films like "The Lost Boys," "License to Drive" and "Dream a Little Dream." The two Coreys were not only co-workers but also good friends, carving out a minor empire for themselves at the end of the '80s. They remained close, starring in a reality show called "The Two Coreys" a few years back (where Haim moved in with Feldman and his wife).

Feldman was gutted to hear the news of his troubled friend's passing. "I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door," Feldman explained in the statement. "They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren't even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face. I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school."

At the end of the statement, he put forth his hopes for Haim's legacy. "I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived," he said.

"This is a tragic loss of a wonderful, beautiful, tormented soul, who will always be my brother, family, and best friend. We must all take this as a lesson in how we treat the people we share this world with while they are still here to make a difference. Please respect our families as we struggle and grieve through this difficult time."

-Actor Corey Feldman, talking about his longtime friend and co-star Corey Haim, who passed away early Wednesday (March 10) morning at the age of 38. Feldman starred with Haim in classic teen films like "The Lost Boys," "License to Drive" and "Dream a Little Dream." The two Coreys were not only co-workers but also good friends, carving out a minor empire for themselves at the end of the '80s. They remained close, starring in a reality show called "The Two Coreys" a few years back (where Haim moved in with Feldman and his wife).

Feldman was gutted to hear the news of his troubled friend's passing. "I was awakened at 8:30 this morning by my brother and sister knocking on my bedroom door," Feldman explained in the statement. "They informed me of the loss of my brother Corey Haim. My eyes weren't even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face. I am so sorry for Corey, his mother Judy, his family, my family, all of our fans, and of course my son who I will have to find a way to explain this to when he gets home from school."

At the end of the statement, he put forth his hopes for Haim's legacy. "I hope the art Corey has left behind will be remembered as the passion of that for which he truly lived," he said.

Who: Pastoral rockers from Denton, Texas, who first broke through with their 2006 track “Roscoe,” on which the group’s classic-rock-loving frontman Tim Smith sang about life in the 1800s. “I don’t do too well in the present,” he says. “Not that old times were better, but I’m more romantic about the past.”

Sounds Like: The band’s latest disc, The Courage of Others, has a sound influenced by 1960s British acts like Fairport Convention and Pentangle, with Jethro Tull-style flutes and references to maidens and merchant ships.

Vital Stats:

• Smith was a John Coltrane devotee until he reluctantly picked up Radiohead’s OK Computer while at the North Texas College of Music. “I didn’t want to listen to it, because of the name,” he says. “I thought, ‘What’s this, some kind of radio-pop music?’ ”

• Before Midlake embraced chiming guitars and meticulous harmonies, the group was a jazz-funk act. Smith ditched his sax when he joined up with the Texas group, which featured current bandmembers Eric Pulido and Eric Nichelson (guitar), McKenzie Smith (drums) and Paul Alexander (bass).

• Like fellow bearded strummers Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, Midlake recall CSNY and Fleetwood Mac. “You want your music to be ask great as those acts,” says Smith, “But I shouldn’t compare my work with everything that’s ever been done. I mean, you can only do so much before you die.”

Get It Now: Watch the band’s trailer for The Courage of Others up top.

Season 4s American Idol, Carrie Underwood, celebrates her 27^th birthday today. Carries upcoming year is already shaping up to be a big one. Her Play On Tour kicks off tomorrow at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA with special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia. The tour is currently slated to run through June 20 in Saskatoon, SK at the Credit Union Centre.

The Play On Tour will bring to life Carries hits with new and personal expressions of the songs. The tour also plans to bring her closer to her fans with an unexpected surprise, guaranteeing that even the audience at the back of the house will sometimes have a front row seat at the concert. World-class production and one-of-a-kind special effects make sure that Carrie's Play On Tour will be a night her fans soon won't forget. Her previous tour, 2008s highly successful Carnival Ride Tour, wrapped after 137 shows with over 1.2 million fans in attendance.

Carrie has also added acting to her resume. In December, she sang and acted in her own special, Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special. Last Monday, Carrie acted on How I Met Your Mother and plays a part in the upcoming movie Soul Surfer.

On top of her busy schedule, Carrie is planning a wedding to her fianc Mike Fisher. Last week, Carrie became a ... read more