Naked Randy Travis Threatened To Kill Police During Arrest

Travis was charged with DWI and retaliation for making the threats. Travis is currently in custody. Story developing ...

Madonna Has Nothing To Prove To Elton John?

(popmusiclife) Madonna has not commented publicly on Elton John's recent attack, but a friend of hers reportedly told the Huffington Post, "I honestly do not understand his need to trash the crap out of her over and over again. He says she has no authority, but apparently he has authority? He needs to hate on her."

"To say her tour is a disaster is just silly. She is selling out arenas, singing new material and a few classic hits. He will be singing the same old songs until he dies," added the source.

"Ultimately, she doesn't care what he has to say about her in public or private," summed up the friend. "She has nothing to prove to anyone, especially Elton John." more on this story

Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe Sets Chart Record

(popmusiclife) Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" continues to dominate the US pop charts. This week, the smash hit marked it's 9th week at #1 on the Billboard 100, giving the Canadian singer the longest-running US chart-topper of 2012.

"Call Me Maybe"'s 9th week set the new record after being tied with Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," which held down top spot for 8 weeks earlier this year.

"9 weeks at #1 on Billboard. Insane. Feeling high as a kite. Thank you!," posted Jepsen. "My new album "KISS" will be released on September 18th!!!!" more on this story

Mike Nesmith Reuniting With The Monkees For Fall Tour

(Gibson) The Monkees are set to kick off an autumn tour beginning November 8 at Escondido, California's Center for the Arts. The 12-city trek wraps up on December 2 at New York's Beacon Theater.

The performances will be the first the band has undertaken since the death of singer Davy Jones, who passed away in February. Plans call for Jones to be saluted in the show's multimedia context. The group will perform as a trio composed of surviving members Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith.

Remarkably, the dates mark the first instance in which Nesmith has participated in a Monkees tour in the U.S. since 1969. "This seems like a good time to do this – the right time," says Nesmith. "Who knows when we will get another chance?" more on this story

The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Captured For New DVD and Blu-ray

The Beach Boys launched a 2012 reunion to celebrate their 50th anniversary and on August 28th they will be releasing a new DVD and Blu-Ray and we've been sent a preview for you to check out! But first some more details:

The Beach Boys: Doin' It Again is said to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the reunion as well as pivotal moments in the band's history.

Surviving members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston gathered earlier this year for an emotional reunion in Los Angeles to record their first album of new material in 20 years, to reflect on their remarkable history, and to kick off a worldwide tour. These moments and more are captured on The Beach Boys: Doin' It Again.

The hour-long DVD features exclusive 2012 interviews with The Beach Boys, live performances from the band's 2012 world tour, never-before-seen footage from the 1966 "Good Vibrations" recording sessions, moving tributes to founding members Carl and Dennis Wilson and behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions for their new That's Why God Made The Radio CD.

A preview of The Beach Boys: Doin' It Again, can be seen here.

Dave Stewart Sets New Album Release

Eurythmics star Dave Stewart will release his new album, The Ringmaster General, on September 4th in the U.S. and September 3 in Europe. MSO sent over these details:

Dave Stewart holds a special place in his heart for Nashville. That's where the legendary British singer, songwriter and guitarist has now recorded two albums: 2011's critically praised The Blackbird Diaries and the forthcoming The Ringmaster General, which was produced by Stewart and Mike Bradford.

A potent and distinctive musical gumbo with rock, blues, country, rhythm & blues and psychedelia, The Ringmaster General was recorded and mixed by John McBride at the famed studio he owns with Martina McBride, Blackbird Studio. It features 13 new songs--including striking duets with Alison Krauss, Diane Birch and Joss Stone--as well as one sung with and co-written by Jessie Baylin. The blistering guitar skills of Orianthi are featured as well. As with The Blackbird Diaries, Stewart is backed by some of the finest musicians in Nashville including: guitarist Tom Bukovac, drummer Chad Cromwell, bassist Michael Rhodes, steel guitarist Dan Dugmore and Mike Rojas on piano. more on this story

John Lee Hooker Releasing New Album Next Month

John Lee Hooker, Jr. has set a September 18 release date for his new album, All Hooked Up.

The new CD was produced by renowned writer/producer Larry Batiste, recorded at Pajama Recording Studios in Oakland, California, and features special guests Lucky Peterson on guitar and "The Cleanup Woman" herself, Betty Wright, who duets with John Lee on the sizzling and soulful track, "I Surrender."

The All Hooked Up album package also features a special bonus DVD, rated PG, of an animated film noir video for John Lee's song, "Dear John." The video was created by French production studio Callicore, under the dynamic creative team of Laurent Mercier and Xavier Semen. more on this story

Shelby Lynne Loads Up Deluxe Revelation Road With Extras

Shelby Lynne will release a new deluxe edition of her album Revelation Road on October 16th that will include a lot of bonus material.

In addition to the studio album, the package will include a second disc, Live At McCabe's, marking Lynne's first-ever live album, plus a Live in London DVD featuring Shelby's concert shot at Union Chapel, London on February 25, 2012 and a DVD containing Jason Harter's exclusive documentary on the making of Revelation Road, one limited edition picture postcard, and five bonus acoustic tracks.

Live At McCabe's was recorded on May 19, 2012, the final night of a sold-out two-night stand. Although it is included in the deluxe edition of Revelation Road, the 18-track Live At McCabe's can also be purchased on its own, in digital format only, beginning October 16th. more on this story

Mumford & Sons Streaming New Song Online

Mumford & Sons are giving fans a little taste of what's to come having posted their newest single, "I Will Wait" on Youtube.

The clip gives fans a listen to the new song but it is not the official music video for the song. Check it out here.

"I Will Wait" is the first single from the band's sophomore album Babel, which will be released on September 25th, 2012 more on this story

Usher Sings Michael Jackson Classic

(TMZ) Where there is love, Usher will BE THERE -- or so he promised earlier this week at an L.A. bar ... during a pretty incredible karaoke rendition of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" ... and it was all caught on tape.

The song requires some pretty impressive falsetto -- but Usher hit ALL the notes early Tuesday morning at Rock & Reilly's on the Sunset Strip ... and the crowd loved every second of it, singing along the whole time.

Sources tell TMZ, Usher had been hanging out upstairs in a private area with friends throughout the night -- but came down around 1am to show the bar how karaoke is REALLY done. Watch video here.

Olympian Celebrates Beatles Abbey Road Anniversary With Reenactment

(TMZ) Why did the sexy Olympic rifle shooter cross the road? TO REENACT THE MOST FAMOUS BEATLES PHOTO OF ALL TIME.

The gorgeous rifle-shooting 21-year-old deadeye Amanda Furrer struck a pose on the world-renowned Abbey Road yesterday in honor of the famed Beatles photograph -- which was snapped exactly 43 years ago ... on August 8th, 1969.

Furrer – who placed 15th in the women's 50m rifle competition – took the pic during a little sightseeing excursion from the athletes' village ... IN HEELS.

She's so heavy. more on this story

Former Lakers Star Matt Barnes Being Sued For Car Accident

(TMZ) Former L.A. Lakers star Matt Barnes is being sued for $25,000 minimum -- after allegedly rear-ending a car on an L.A. freeway last year ... and causing the family inside injuries.

The family just filed a lawsuit against the NBA player, claiming they were driving on the Harbor Freeway in March 2011 when Barnes plowed into the back of their car.

According to the lawsuit, there were 4 people total in the vehicle Matt allegedly hit -- including 3 minors -- and all were injured during the accident.

Now, the alleged victims are demanding unspecified damages for medical bills, property damage, and more -- totaling $25,000 at the very least.

It's the latest legal headache for the basketball star -- you'll recall, Matt was arrested just last week in Manhattan Beach for an outstanding traffic warrant and resisting arrest. more on this story

Johnny Depp Celebrates Being Freshly Single With Aerosmith

(TMZ) A freshly single Johnny Depp threw on some eyeliner and his finest pashmina Monday night ... and partied his face off with his boys from Aerosmith ... the first time we've seen the actor in public since announcing his split from Vanessa Paradis.

Depp was among the legion of stars who attended the Aerosmith after party at Pink Taco in West Hollywood -- a list that included Jim Carrey, Seth Green, Lana Del Rey and the guys from Tokio Hotel.

One source inside the party tells us, "Aerosmith rented the place out ... one of the greatest parties I've ever seen ... legendary."

It's been roughly six weeks since Depp and Paradis broke things off -- after spending 14 years together. more on this story

NFL Star Plaxico Burress Facing Tax Lien

(TMZ) Current free agent Plaxico Burress could really use an NFL team right now ... because the unemployed wide receiver just had a tax lien filed against him in the State of New York for more than $59,000.

According to legal docs, Burress didn't quite pay all his personal income tax for the year 2007 and now the Empire State is looking to collect on the $59,241 he owes.

Burress was the top receiver for the NY Giants and under a 6-year $25-million contract ... but a stint behind bars after a gun charge put an end to all that. If he doesn't cough up the cash, the state can seize his assets. more on this story

Kristen Stewart Affair Might Not End Director's Marriage

(TMZ) Liberty Ross -- the wife of director Rupert Sanders who cheated on her with Kristen Stewart -- has already seen a divorce lawyer ... TMZ has learned ... but her goal is reconciliation.

We do not know which lawyer she hired, but the picture (above) was taken Tuesday in the lobby of a Century City office building in which a number of divorce lawyers practice -- including disso queen Laura Wasser. By the way ... how hot does Liberty look?

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ ... although Liberty has lawyered up, her end game is NOT divorce. In fact, Liberty and Rupert have already been to a marriage and family therapist. Our sources say, when they were photographed together on Tuesday in Beverly Hills , they were coming out of an office building where they met with the psychologist.

Although Liberty is not wearing her wedding ring, we're told her goal is figuring out why Rupert cheated and getting some sort of assurance he views what he did as a terrible mistake that he won't repeat. See the photo here.

No Doubt's New Single Gets Remixed

(popmusiclife) No Doubt returned to action recently with the release of "Settle Down," the lead single from the band's forthcoming album, "Push And Shove," which is due September 25.

The band delivered the live debut of the song at Nickelodeon's Teen Choice Awards, and have been out promoting it to the press.

Now, No Doubt's new single is getting the remix treatment. "Remember all of the amazing remixes from Rock Steady?," posted the band. "Well we've got even more coming for Push And Shove, including a brand new remix of "Settle Down" by Major Lazer." Listen here.

Author Michael Levin Remembers Marvin Hamlisch

(News and Experts) News and Experts sent over best selling author Michael Levin's tribute to composer Marvin Hamlisch, who died this week at the age of 68:

The first time I saw Marvin Hamlisch, he was playing piano at Carnegie Hall. It was May 6, 1972 and the occasion was "An Evening With Groucho." My childhood hero, Groucho Marx, was performing a show of reminiscences, comedy and song, and Hamlisch was his accompanist. The audience, jammed with knowledgeable Groucho-philes, responded favorably to his glissandos and general keyboard mastery.

Over the next couple of years, Groucho's accompanist and straight man did something even more remarkable than win a string of Emmys, Oscars and Tonys. He completely reshaped the nature of the American musical.

"A Chorus Line" opened in 1974, music by Hamlisch, lyrics by Ed Kliban, stories by the actual dancers themselves. Until "A Chorus Line," Broadway musicals told big stories about larger-than-life people: the king of Siam; Oklahoma farmers, Russian peasants; ancient Roman notables and slaves. "A Chorus Line" was the first to focus on the lives of the performers themselves, the individuals behind the makeup and costumes, the ones who lived for the stage and had suffered enough in their childhoods to need an audience to shower them with love.

One of the many haunting moments of "A Chorus Line" is when the dancers, auditioning for a Broadway musical, stand in a row with their headshots in front of their faces. We are human beings, just like you; we'll do anything to dance for you and entertain you. We'll give you our lives.

There would never have been an "Avenue Q" or "Rent" or any of the other "reality" musicals without "A Chorus Line." More importantly, we might never have recognized the humanity, or the dignity, of the non-star performer, without this show.

If you weren't alive and in New York back in 1975 when it opened, let me set the scene. No one had ever thought of sitting dancers down in a room, turning on a tape recorder (nothing digital back then, kids), and letting them tell the stories of their lives. Of pretending that an absent father was an Indian chief, dancing around the living room. Of rising from an inner-city childhood to a potential career as an elementary school teacher … and suddenly realizing that you haven't the slightest interest in teaching elementary school and that you may have gotten scholarships to college, but "there ain't no scholarship to life." Of a mother digging a father's girlfriend's earrings out of the car.

The lyrics were blunt and powerful and raw and real: "I was terrific at a dance, guys were coming in their pants…" "And I thought, sh*t, Richie…" No one had ever heard words like that on a Broadway stage before. And the music that Hamlisch and Kliban created swept audiences off their feet and created a demand for tickets so huge that the show ran seemingly forever. The show that looked like nothing else on Broadway ran longer than anything ever had on Broadway, and completely changed Broadway and its audience, right down to the present day. "A Chorus Line" made theater, the home of artifice and distortion, real.

Hamlisch then went on a winning streak like no other. He composed music for "The Sting." "The Way We Were." Shows. Movies. He won every award you could win, and he did the seemingly impossible: He made the ultimate Brooklyn Jewish name, Marvin Hamlisch, for God's sake, sexy.

And now he's gone. It doesn't make sense that someone who gave voice to so many no longer has a voice of his own.

I can still see him pounding those keys so exuberantly at Carnegie Hall, taking verbal punches from Groucho and gleefully giving as good as he got.

I'll miss you, Marvin. And thank you again for "A Chorus Line." You made those in the shadows come to life.

About Michael Levin: New York Times best-selling author Michael Levin runs www.BusinessGhost.com

Singled Out: 40Love's Tiki Tiki ft. Zumbi (Zion I)

Today 40Love tells us about the song "Tiki Tiki" from the brand new album "Dreams Don't Sleep". Here is the story:

"Tiki Tiki" centered around the creation of the beat. Mikos came out with the heavy, Far East-inspired vibe, and the song kind of fell around that. G-OFF had the idea to base a hook on an old children's story based in ancient China about a kid with too long of a name (Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo). The song ultimately celebrates that name, and is a meditation on life. It was about urging the listener to reach their highest and most aligned self in every moment, and a nod to that life force. Bassnectar also sampled the hook for his Wildstyle EP, which was our first glimpse into working with a big electronic producer, and actually inspired us to take on a more multi-genre approach.

Zumbi was the perfect guest emcee to get on it, because we all grew up listening to him, and his energy has always held such vibrancy and positivity. He added a really inspiring last piece to "Tiki Tiki" about honoring those fallen and sending blessings out into the universe. It was dope because John Coyne, the director, was inspired by SF and Oakland Chinatown's colors, unique feel and culture, so we shot the whole video there. At the end of shooting, we were caught in a random street parade, complete with fireworks, topping off the song and bringing even more richness to the moment.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!