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  The King of Pop Lives On: New Michael Jackson LP to be Released in November

  07.30.10

  Michael Jackson has a lot more to offer music fans. According to his manager Frank DiLeo, 10 unreleased Jackson songs will be featured on a posthumous album coming out this November. Speaking with Rolling Stone magazine, DiLeo said that there are probably over 100 unreleased songs in the late performer’s vaults from many different points in his career. It is not clear which 10 will be selected, or whether they will include recent collabs with will.i.am, Ne-Yo and Akon. This record is also only one of 10 Jackson projects, including a greatest hits album and multiple reissues, that Sony will be releasing in the coming years. But if those in possession of the King of Pop’s estate follow in the footsteps of Tupac and Biggie, I’m sure we can expect many more post-mortem releases.

  ELP

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  One Year Later, Michael Jackson Items Hit Auctions

  06.24.10

  It will be exactly one year tomorrow since Michael Jackson passed away, and this legend is still managing to rake in some serious cash post-mortem. Never-before-seen photo portraits of Jackson will be put up for auction this October at the Pierre Bergé & Associés auction house, with each of the 12 unique prints set with a starting bid of 1,000 Euros, though they’ll likely fetch much more. The only photo released to the press features a short-haired Jackson in a studded black jacket and a circle of sparkling blue face paint over one eye aptly titled, Michael Jackson’s Blue Eye. The portraits were shot by French photographer Arno Bani in 1999 to be used as artwork for 2001 album Invincible, though it didn’t pan out. On the eve of the anniversary of his death a few other Jackson items hit the auction houses, notably some of his clothes, hats and gloves at Julien’s Auctions at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood.

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  First Single/Video From Wu-Massacre Album

  03.23.10

  There’s been much talk about the hotly anticipated Raekwon/Ghostface Killah/Method Man collaborative Wu-Massacre album, which hits the stores next week.  From it now comes the single Our Dreams, and an accompanying video, that you can watch here. It has to be said the video is a bit strange, starting off like a hammy spoof of Se7en then segueing into your typical rapper in a limo with a girl, drinking Champagne (I mean, where are they going?). Still, the tune is good, and has a nice Jacko sample to boot.

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  Gaga Over Lady Gaga

  03.15.10

  As we reported last Friday, the internet is agog over Lady Gaga’s latest video for her song Telephone, with some critics comparing the piece to Michael Jackson’s epically classic Thriller vid. The diva will be hoping to capitalize on, and live up to all the hype  when she hits the road for a three month arena tour of North America this June. The dates kicking off June 28th at Montreal’s Centre Bell and ending September 19th in Raleigh, North Carolina. (more…)

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  2010 BRIT Awards Round Up

  02.17.10

  The BRIT Awards, the night when the British music industry officially gets together to dole out awards to its homegrown pop artists and foreigners alike, went down on Tuesday night at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in West London. The ceremony, which in the past has seen some hilarious stunts – Jarvis Cocker’s 1996 stage invasion in which he mooned Michael Jackson’s performance of Earth Song being a particular highlight – has been dry since the late 90s, idea being to discourage unruly behaviour. (Seriously though, thousands of slightly bored Brits cooped up in a room together, loud music and free booze all night, who could possibly think anything bad could come out of that?) This year’s biggest winner was Lady Gaga who walked away with three BRITs; Best International Album for The Fame, Best International Female Artist and Best International Breakthrough Act. Dressed in her familiarly bombastic get up, she paid an emotional tribute to her fashion designer friend Alexander McQueen, and turned in a characteristically ‘crazy’ perfomance – check it out here. Also crowned on the night were Jay-Z, who nabbed Best International Male from under the noses of Bruce Springsteen and Eminem; Lily Allen, who took British Female Solo Artist and rapper Dizzee Rascal, who picked up British Male Solo Artist. Best British Group was (mystifyingly) adjudged to be pouting Midlands types Kasabian, and, finally, Florence and The Machine won Best British Album for Lungs. Florence then went on to perform a pretty awesome duet with Dizzee, replete with ten harpists. Viddy it here. Perhaps sadly, this year’s event seemed to go ahead without much scandal, although Liam Gallagher, although not before a customary expletive filled ‘speech’, took the opportunity of being invited on stage to accept Oasis’s award for the Best BRITs Album of 30 Years to throw both the award and his mic into the baying crowd. Good to know you can still rely on Liam to spice things up a little bit! (more…)

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  La Roux @ Metropolis – 02.05.10

  02.11.10

  

  Almost one hundred percent electric and definitely defying gravity with improbable quaffed hair, La Roux coaxed a rambunctious crowd to tear up the concrete beneath their pounding feet at Metropolis recently. (more…)

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  Jackson Sr. Adds to Controversy Surrounding Trial of Michael Jackson Medic

  02.09.10

  OK. What did we tell ya about this one? It’s gonna run and run… Yup, I’m talking about the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, who if convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of the King of Pop could face up to four years in prison. Today, Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson chose a CNN interview as his moment to wade into the controversy surrounding the trial, stating that he thought Murray to be the “fall guy” to a wider conspiracy that had existed to kill his son. Speaking live on the Larry King show, Jackson Sr. stated “There’s other people, I think, involved with this whole thing.” He continued that if Murray was to be “…interrogated — he would come clean and tell everything he knows.” (more…)

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  Michael Jackson Doctor Charged, Fans Demonstrate at Arraignment

  02.08.10

  Eight months after the star’s death, another trial involving Michael Jackson. This time it’s that of his personal doctor, Conrad Murray, who yesterday was finally charged with the involuntary manslaughter of his client, and his trial is already threatening to turn into a tabloid carnival akin to that of Jackson’s own 2005 trial on child abuse charges. Then, the King of Pop tap danced atop of limos, showed up in court in pajamas, and generally behaved like the person completely devoid of reality. Yesterday, some of his devoted fans showed up outside the Los Angeles Superior Court where Murray entered a not guilty plea, with placards demanding ‘Justice for Michael’. Much of the Jackson family were also present, including Michael’s father Joseph, mother Katherine, and brothers Jermaine, Tito, and Randy. Murray could face as much as four years in prison if found guilty of acting without “the caution and circumspection required” when administering Jackson with the extremely powerful drug propofol (a drug only supposed to be given in a medical setting by an anesthesia professional) to combat simple insomnia. Said Murray’s lawyer Ed Chernoff, “We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell” and as nothing involving Jackson – alive or dead – ever threatens to be dull, this story is likely to get weirder before it becomes boring. Stay tuned!

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  Mary J. Blige and Travis Barker to Cover Led Zep’s Stairway for Haiti

  02.04.10

  Murdering the classics for a good cause? Is it OK? Probably. Mary J. Blige – no stranger to a hammy rock cover, having previously performed U2′s One and, most recently, Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water at the GRAMMYs – entered the studio this week to record a version of the song whose opening refrain strikes fear into the hearts of guitar store clerks everywhere. Yup, Blige has gathered a slightly (OK, very) random group of musicians that is to include Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, American Idol judge/studio bassist Randy Jackson, Steve Vai and former Michael Jackson bandmember Orianthi to give the mighty Led Zeppelin’s epic 1971 hit Stairway to Heaven the ‘weird-musician-celeb-cover-for-charity’ treatment. Apparently the track will appear as a bonus track on the R ‘n B diva’s forthcoming international release of her album Stronger With Each Tear, which drops March 15th, and when interviewed Blige felt confident she would do it justice, “I think this song is not hard at all because it’s based on pure emotion…You gotta get lost in the rock ‘n’ roll moment of it all, and once you get lost in the rock ‘n’ roll moment of it all you can do is scream to the top of your lungs or go as low as you need to go.” The track can be purchased as a single via iTunes, with all the proceeds going to the Red Cross’ Haiti efforts.

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  We Are the World Performers List Revealed

  02.02.10

  As we previously reported, among the numerous star studded fundraising efforts to combat the effects of the disastrous earthquake to hit Haiti last month, has been a 25th anniversary version of the We Are the World charity single. The 1985 original brought together some of the world’s biggest stars, reading like a who’s who of the pop music scene of the time, with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson (who co-wrote the song with Lionel Ritchie), Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder all lending their vocals with the aim to end famine in Africa. This time, money raised will go to Haiti, and as MTV has reported the lineup is no less impressive: Kanye West, Brian Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Gladys Knight, Barbra Streisand, Pink, Nick Jonas, LL Cool J, Robin Thicke, Celine Dion, Akon, Rob Thomas, Wyclef Jean, Jeff Bridges, Vince Vaughn, Jordin Sparks, Good Charlotte’s Madden brothers, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Hudson, Keri Hilson, Jamie Foxx, Tyrese, Katharine McPhee, Sean Garrett, will.i.am, Carlos Santana, Melanie Fiona, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Jason Mraz, Busta Rhymes, Nicole Scherzinger, Nicole Richie, Usher, Julianne Hough, Raphael Saadiq, Zac Brown, India.Arie, Randy Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Fonzworth Bentley, Kid Cudi, IYAZ, Bizzy Bone, Nipsey Hussle, Al Jardine, Trey Songz, Faith Evans and Mya. (more…)

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  Details of GRAMMY Night Performances Emerge

  01.28.10

  It’s GRAMMY season again, and as usual, news of potentially bizarre collaborations abounds. So, who’s looking to team up for the cameras this Sunday’s broadcast that airs 8 P.M. EST on CBS? Well, it would seem that the hip-hop/rock combo is once again going to be a popular flavor, with Lil Wayne, Eminem, Drake, and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker are reportedly going to perform Barker’s remix of Weezy’s Forever. Excited? Then this news may interest you further: former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash will take the stage and perform a song with Auto-Tune kings T-Pain and Jamie Foxx. In further GRAMMY related news, you can now pick up your 3D glasses for the special Jacko tribute at Target, and Green Day will also apparently be bringing the cast of their American Idiot opera along with them to perform the night of.

  http://www.travisbarker.com/

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  Quincey Jones Plans We Are the World 25th Anniversary Single for Haiti

  01.21.10

  Here’s one musical coincidence that, unfortunately, couldn’t have been timed better. Word is that Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are planning a 25th anniversary re-recording of their 1985 charity single We Are the World. The original, penned by Michael Jackson and Richie, was inspired by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, and aimed at raising money to combat famine in Africa, went quadruple platinum in the US. This time around, stars invited, which include Usher, Natalie Cole and John Legend, are being asked to stay on for an extra night after the GRAMMY ceremonies in LA to record the new anniversary version. The record is set to be produced by GRAMMY producer Ken Ehrlich, with a whole host of other recording artists set to participate; Sting, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys being strongly tipped. It must be said that the presence of Michael Jackson, co-writer of the original song will conspicuous in its absence, although there is expected to be a 3D tribute to the late star at this year’s GRAMMYs ceremony.

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  Spike Lee Directs Vid for Michael Jackson’s This Is It

  12.28.09

  Spike Lee has joined the ranks of Michael Jackson tributeers as he releases his video for This Is It. The track was originally recorded in 1983 and posthumously released in October. The single shares a name with the recently released documentary recording Jackson’s final rehearsals for the string of London shows that had been planned prior to his death. Lee’s music video nostalgically reminds us of Jackson’s accomplishments and roots. Opening at the location of the singer’s childhood home, the clip brings us to the corner of 2300 Jackson Street and Jackson Family Boulevard in Gary, Indiana, eventually intertwining snippets of Jackson fandom, offering an emotional homage to a fallen star. See Spike Lee’s video for This Is It here.

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  Michael Jackson To Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award

  12.11.09

  The late Michael Jackson will be honored at this year’s 52nd annual GRAMMYs with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The envelope extravaganza will air on January 31st at 8pm on CBS, with the Special Merit Awards to be distributed a day earlier. Although the Achievement award is to be presented the day before, rumors predict a fairly flamboyant presentation on show day as well. Seasoned rapper LL Cool J has expressed that he’d like to see Justin Timberlake, Usher, Chris Brown and others perform Billie Jean.

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  This Is It Gets Late January DVD Release Date

  12.01.09

  After the theatrical success of This Is It (pulling in $240 million worldwide last month), Sony Pictures is hustling to get the Michael Jackson doc/concert flick out on DVD and Blu-Ray. January 26th has been set as the release date, and those who pick up the DVD can look forward to 60 minutes of bonus footage. If you go the Blu-Ray route, there are 90 minutes of extras.

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  Jackson Memorabilia Brings in $2 Million at Hard Rock Auction

  11.23.09

  New York’s Hard Rock Cafe hosted an auction of iconic rock and roll memorabilia this past weekend, where items belonging to The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Nirvana, and Michael Jackson were placed upon the block. The story of the auction, which was estimated to bring in $120 000, was the remarkably high prices paid for the King of Pop’s swag. On the strength of the Jackson item bids, the auction raked in more than $2 million. Rhinestone studded glove? $420 000. This is the glove he was sporting when he pulled off the Moonwalk for the first time. I’m not positive, but I think that might be the most paid for a left hand glove in the history of gloves. Jackson’s fedora from the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards was thought to garner attention in the 6 to 8 thousand dollar range. The gavel fell after a winning bid of $73, 800. Michael Jackson sketches of Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Mouse (in Jackson’s jacket from the Bad album cover) also sold for at high prices.

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• Concert Reviews

  GWAR @ Club Soda – 11.01.09

  11.07.09

  

  GWAR’s stage show is enough to send a catholic schoolgirl into a seizure and a freedom of speech activist jumping for joy. GWAR’s performance at Montreal’s Club Soda was nothing short of entertaining but nothing long of politically correct. (more…)

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  Har Mar Superstar @ Club Lambi – 10.30.09

  11.05.09

  

  Har Mar Superstar waged musical war against an unsure crowd at Club Lambi Friday, and won them over with his blunt humor and raw sexual confidence. (more…)

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  Jackson’s This Is It Turns Profit In Five Days

  11.02.09

  Sony paid out $60 million for the raw rehearsal footage that was edited into This Is It, Michael Jackson’s big screen farewell. In five days in theatres, the film took in $101 million worldwide. Less than a week and Sony is already turning profit. The North American gate was admittedly light at $32 million, falling short of that projected $40 million it was expected to rake in, but it still edged out the like of Saw IV and Paranormal Activity to be number one at the box office. It also overtook Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour, the highest grossing concert film released in theaters. And now this record holder will be in cinemas for another three weeks, as Sony is stretching its theatrical run in North America. The soundtrack for Jackson’s film is expected to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and that will surely contribute to the demand for the film when it comes out on DVD later this year. Sony is now simply collecting on a smart investment.

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  Michael Jackson’s This Is It Debuted on his Website

  10.12.09

  For those of you who have been waiting patiently, Michael Jackson’s website has officially released the posthumous track This Is It. The song will also appear on a new album and movie sharing the same title. Called ‘epic and reflective’, the song features the backup vocals of the brothers Jackson, infusing it with a classic step & slide Motown touch. So what do we need to look out for kiddies? The documentary for this whole ordeal will hit the public screen October 28th, while the soundtrack will see North America on October 27th and international waters on October 26th courtesy of Columbia/Epic.

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  Michael Jackson Comes Back to… South Park

  10.09.09

  Michael Jackson has made an appearance on South Park from beyond the grave. The episode aired October 7th, and featured Jackson’s ghost in denial about his death, along with possessing the body of a toddler named Ike. Michael Jackson had previously popped up in the series sharing a bed with Eric Cartman, but his name was changed to “Mr. Jefferson”.

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  Michael Jackson’s Physician To Be Charged With Manslaughter

  08.19.09

  After much speculation and a perseverant investigation Michael Jackson’s physician will reportedly be arrested and charged with manslaughter as early as next week, following the pending results of a pharmacy search in Los Angeles to accrue more evidence. Dr. Conrad Murray is the physician that issued the potent anaesthetic Propofol to the late Jackson just after 12am on the night of his death, which has since been found to be partially responsible for the cardiac arrest that led to the King of Pop’s demise. Also facing legal action is Jackson’s dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein as a criminal case is in the midst of being built.

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  Sly Stone Living On Social Security?!

  08.17.09

  Sly Stone, most famous for his lead role in the influential and innovative soul, funk and psychedelia band Sly & The Family Stone, has divulged the gravity of his current monetary situation in a recent interview. Subsisting on Social Security checks due to contract disputes with former long time manager Jerry Goldstein, Stone has reportedly been hopping from trailers to cheap hotels and barely surviving on government subsidies. The aforementioned contract was penned in the late 80s and so read that Goldstein would have rights to Stone’s music in return for “payment of fixed expenses and costs”. Goldstein has since ceased to honor said contract which has rendered the funk-soul legend destitute. In further unfortunate events, Sly had apparently inked a deal to write songs for what would have been Michael Jackson’s next album, a plan that Stone was relying on to help rise above his current situation. Can someone get this guy a project to work on already?!

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  Remembering Elvis Presley On The 32 Year Anniversary Of His Death

  08.16.09

  We remember the sad passing of Elvis Presley today marking the 32 year anniversary of his death on August 16th 1977. Although we’ve buried major icons in 2009 with Michael Jackson as a prime example, it is integral to remark that The King was not only an influential music icon, but the original rockstar. Although his untimely passing will affect the hearts of music lovers forever, he lives on through over 72 released albums, 31 films and a set of decadent swaying hips that electrified and shocked a nation into the swell of rock ‘n’ roll. Missed as much as the day he left us, we tip our hats to Elvis Presley… Long live The King.

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  Lil Wayne @ Centre Bell – 08.05.09

  08.11.09

  

  The New Orleans bred Lil Wayne leapt on stage to entertain a 9,600 person crowd, stomping around the colossal digs with his usual 10 foot tall strut and 5 ton canon ball of attitude. (more…)

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