Kanye West and Lady Gaga Fame Kills Tour Killed

That was all they had to say on the matter, no more details were released. So let the rumors begin! But we can't help to wonder if ego had a part in killing this tour with Kanye turning fans off with his - VMA stunt?

Letterman Blackmailed Over Sex With His Employees

antiMusic reports: And the Top Ten reasons to blackmail David Letterman. Coming in at number one: Threaten to expose the late night talk show host's sexual encounters with several female members of his staff!

Apparently Letterman was the victim of an extortion plot that led to an arrest. News.com.au reports: Talking on The Late Show, Letterman said that he had been approached by a man who threatened to make the affairs public if he did not pay $2 million ($2.3 million).

In a press release from Late Show producers, Letterman said that he wrote a fake check for the man who was later arrested by police. - Read the news.com.au story for more details

Lil Wayne Drug Trial Set

antiMusic reports: Rapper Lil Wayne has a trial date for felony drug charges in Yuma County, Arizonia. The case is set to go to trial in March, over two years after the arrest.

According to AP: The case stems from a January 2008 arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 east of Yuma.

Authorities reportedly found cocaine, Ecstasy and a handgun on his tour bus. Lil Wayne pleaded not guilty to the charges. - Read the AP's full report on this story for more details

Want To Own Rare Michael Jackson and Elvis Items?

PR reports: Profiles in History, the world's leading auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia has added several fantastic items to their upcoming $5,000,000 auction, taking place October 8-9, 2009.

Among them are 11 lots of original stage-worn performance costumes from the early period of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 brothers' career with Motown Records. (*Costumes range from $3,000-$50,000). Also available is a 1976 yearbook signed by Michael to a fellow classmate at Cal Prep School ($*2,000-$3,000). Because there were only 90 students in this exclusive school, very few of these yearbooks are thought to still exist. These items complement Profiles in History's extraordinary Michael Jackson Collection, which includes the iconic illuminating white glove adorned with crystals from his "Suit of Lights" that Jackson wore on stage during The Jackson's Victory Tour (*$60,000-$80,000).

Profiles in History will also present several key Elvis Presley items, including his personal Martin D-28 guitar, used on stage in his final Las Vegas performances (*$60,000-$80,000). Also added to the auction are the karate gi worn and owned by Elvis Presley and used as the model for the McCormick Distillery whiskey decanter (*$25,000-30,000) and an original Elvis Presley gold lightning bolt "TCB" necklace given by Elvis to his karate training partner Wayne Carman (*$18,000-$22,000). - more on this story

Blake Lewis Party

antiMusic reports: American Idol Season 6 runner up Blake Lewis' second album, Heartbreak on Vinyl, will be released on October 6th, 2009 from Tommy Boy Entertainment and the singer will be holding a record release party for the effort at the Roxy in West Hollywood next Thursday night.

Here is a little info his PR peeps sent over: For his official album release party, Lewis will perform tracks with his full band from his forthcoming Heartbreak on Vinyl. The event is open to the public with tickets available through Ticketmaster.

Lewis made a name for himself as the unconventional and charming beat boxer who was selected as first runner up on season six of American Idol in 2007. His cover of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name," was the biggest selling download of the season on iTunes with over 190,000 downloads. His debut album Audio Day Dream hit the Billboard album charts at #10 and has since sold over 350,000 units to date. He created a unique persona for himself as not only a singer-songwriter, but DJ and beatboxer, drawing fans of all ages to his shows, which vary between musical performances and DJ sets. - more details

Michael Jackson's This Is It Music Director Tapped As Band Leader For New Late Night Talk Show

PR reports: Musical director, keyboardist, and composer Michael Bearden has been named band leader of "Lopez Tonight," the newest entry in late-night talk, starring George Lopez and launching on TBS on November 9, 2009. The announcement was made today by Jim Paratore and Mike Gibbons, Executive Producers of "Lopez Tonight."

"Music is going to be a big part of 'Lopez Tonight.' Michael is an extraordinary musical talent who has been sought out by some of the world's most popular artists from the late Michael Jackson to Madonna. Having him a part of the show illustrates how seriously we take music," said Paratore.

Most recently, Bearden served as Musical Director for "This Is It," the series of 50 concerts by Michael Jackson to be held in London before Jackson's death and can be seen as keyboardist in the upcoming film documenting Michael Jackson's rehearsals of the concert series of the same name. Michael is also the music supervisor, composer and associate producer of the film. - more on this story

Curtains For You Claim to Be The Beatles meets Vaudeville meets the Muppet Show

PR reports: Seattle, Washington-based five-piece retro-pop outfit Curtains For You have signed to Seattle-based indie Spark & Shine Records, and will be celebrating the release of their new album, "What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here", in October 2009.

Self-described as "The Beatles meets Vaudeville meets the Muppet Show," Curtains For You are comprised of Matthew Gervais (guitar/lead vocal), Mikey Gervais (guitar/ sax/ vocals), Nick Holman (bass/euphonium/vocals), Peter Fedofsky (piano/vocals), and Dave Lawrence (drums).

Leaning on the British Invasion music of the 60s to create such memorable pop songs, their songs are filled delicious melodies, intricate three- and four-part harmonies, and hooks to land whales on. - more on this story

Chris Young Joins The Charlie Daniels Christmas 4 Kids Concert

PR reports: Charlie Daniels has announced that Chris Young will join other artists set to appear at The 2009 Charlie Daniels Band and Friends Concert to benefit Christmas 4 Kids, (a Division of Christmas For Kids, Inc).

Nashville RCA recording artist, Chris Young, has a new single, "Gettin' You Home," which recently powered into the Country Radio Top 10 while his latest album, "The Man I Want to Be" debuted at #6 on Billboard's Top Picks. With the addition of Chris Young, the 13th annual concert is complete.

This concert is sponsored in part by 95.5 The Wolf, Bob Parks Realty (Sumner County Branch), and coach manufacturer, Prevost Car, Inc. - more on this story

Al Jarreau Gets Comp'd

PR reports: Considered by many to be the greatest living jazz singer, Al Jarreau is an artist of stunning range. He's spent decades bending genres with his lithe voice, earning him the rare distinction of being the only artist to have won Grammy Awards in three different categories: pop, jazz and R&B. Rhino honors the superlative vocalist's musical achievements with a collection that spans his entire career. Al Jarreau The Very Best Of: An Excellent Adventure will be available September 29 from all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com, for a suggested list price of $18.98 (physical) and $11.99 (digital).

The 16-song compilation bridges the past and the present, bringing together Jarreau's greatest recordings with his latest, "Excellent Adventure," recorded especially for this release. The track was produced by Richard Nichols and The Randy Watson Experience (Grammy-winning songwriter James Poyser, and The Roots drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson) who have produced songs for Erykah Badu, Al Green and The Roots.

The collection surveys Jarreau's life in music, spotlighting such notable songs as "We Got By," the title track from his 1975 major-label debut; "Take Five" from Look To The Rainbow, the breakout album that earned him the 1977 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal; "(Round, Round, Round) Blues Rondo A La Turk," the 1981 Grammy winner for Jazz Vocal Performance Male; and the title track from Breakin' Away, the 1981 Grammy winner for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. All told, Jarreau has earned seven Grammy awards, with wins in four decades and continues to tour extensively in the US and all over the world. - more on this story

illScarlett On US Tour

PR reports: Currently on tour with like-minded party bros Pepper, and soon to hit the road with Big D & The Kids Table, illScarlett is winning over new fans every night. While on this most current trek the band is selling its first U.S. release, EPdemic.

Canada's reggae-enthused illScarlett feels like a mix of Sublime meets No Doubt with a dash of Goldfinger thrown in for good measure. A cast of chill characters raised on their parents' Beatles and Queen records, and influenced by the likes of Nirvana, Incubus, Beck, The Police, and Foo Fighters, the Mississauga, Ontario, Canada natives built the initial framework for illScarlett's infectious sound, perfect for fist-pumping punk/pop/reggae jams, by cultivating, shaping and finessing their songs into their own signature creations.

They could be described as a rhythm and reggae influenced, filthy dub band that takes no prisoners, but just go to an illScarlett show and you'll find a slew of sweaty, screaming kids who are fans of hip-hop, punk and emo, charged full of frenetic energy, jumping off the stage and rolling in the pit. - more on this story

Jeffree Star A Heatseeker

PR reports: Jeffree Star's debut album Beauty Killer debuted at #2 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart this week. It also debuted at #7 on the Dance/Electronic chart and #122 on Billboard's Top 200. The video for lead single "Prisoner" is being shot in LA next week.

"Prisoner" is undeniably catchy, it has the ability to seduce anyone vulnerable to a fist-pumping electro-rock anthem. For those who dig any combination of Lady GaGa, Boy George, Cobra Starship, Madonna, Katy Perry, Marilyn Manson or 3OH!3, this is for you.

The debut album from Jeffree Star - Mrs. Orange County, self-proclaimed boyfriend thief, and Queen of the Beautifuls - an internet phenomenon turned into a real life success story. His big breaks may have been fortuitous, but his rise to fame has been anything but coincidental. Jeffree Star works his ass off. - more on this story

Maia Sharp Launching Fall Tour

PR reports: On October 7th, Maia Sharp will launch the fall leg of her 2009 headlining tour in support of her latest album, Echo, which was produced by Don Was.

Fans can get a preview of Sharp's compelling live show when her performance on NPR's "Mountain Stage with Larry Groce" airs this weekend, October 2 - 4.

Upon the album's release, Sharp was hailed as "A Songwriter Set To Arrive" by NPR's "All Things Considered" - and online sales soared after the feature aired, with Echo jumping to #11 on Amazon.com's Bestsellers in Music - Adult Contemporary chart. - more on this story

Cunninlynguists Plot Strange Journey

PR reports: Fueled by the fire of their current release Strange Journey Volume One (Bad Taste Records), hip-hop trio Cunninlynguists have announced dates for their 2009 "Strange Journey" US Tour, kicking off November 10 in Atlanta, GA.

The new tracks, production work and remixes that appear on Strange Journey Volume One span an array of stylistic inspiration that displays what makes Cunninlynguists a hip-hop anomaly.

Sampling genres from psych-rock to blues, new romantic and polka, the group has been compared to UGK and Atmosphere in the same breath, while producing tracks for everyone from Lil' Scrappy to KRS-One, as well as sharing stages with Kanye West and Aesop Rock to equal success. The upcoming live dates will showcase the trio's explosive delivery to audiences across the nation, including dates in Orlando, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Boston and many others. Additional tour dates and details - are here

Wait there is more!

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

tell a friend about this article

know of a news item we should cover?

antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info .