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Ike Turner, whose role as one of rock’s critical architects was overshadowed by his ogrelike image as the man who brutally abused former wife Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in suburban San Diego. He was 76. Turner died at his San Marcos home, Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner’s career, told There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by celebrity Web site TMZ.com. Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in later years, touring around the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical… Read more »

Panic! at the Disco guitarist-lyricist Ryan Ross is tired of computer-tuned vocals and software-tweaked drums. “People have taken technology so far, to the point where music is almost sterile these days,” he says from the studio in Las Vegas’ Palms Hotel, taking a break from recording sessions for the band’s second album. “With all those old rock & roll records, you can really feel there’s a character to them, because it was played by real people. I feel like a lot of that’s missing now.” It’s a common argument these days, but Ross is an odd person to be making… Read more »

Donda West, the mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University’s English department, passed away Saturday from undisclosed causes, according to a spokesman for the family. She was 58. According to multiple sources, West was in Los Angeles and her death may have been the result of complications from a surgical procedure; more specific information was unavailable at press time. Although widely known as the mother of Kanye, Dr. West was a noted scholar and an active college professor for 31 years; she left the profession in 2004 to assist with Kanye’s career, according to her biography… Read more »

Sources close to wild-living singer Britney Spears have now said that she took a number of anti-depressant pills just minutes before taking the stage at this week’s MTV VMA Awards. Onlookers were aghast when she performed a dance routine onstage at the glitzy Las Vegas show but barely seemed to know what she was doing. According to the source, the singer was nervous about her comeback performance and flew into a rage when she saw what her hair looked like in a mirror, causing her to lash out at staff, including hairdresser Ken Paves. Apparently this is when Britney took… Read more »

Tommy Lee thinks the media is making a mountain out of a molehill. So, he’s making a pebble out of Kid Rock. The Mötley Crüe drummer wasted no time in addressing his well publicized brawl and subsequent ousting from the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night, insisting that while he has been painted in the press as the instigating party, it was fellow Pamela Anderson ex Kid Rock who initiated the throwdown. “Yeah!!….here I am minding my own biz having a great time with my friend Criss Angel (magician) and watching the MTV awards in the front row saying hello… Read more »

With an emphasis on the visual over the audio, MTV from its inception has never been “about the music.” But after seeing interest in its signature trophy show wane in recent years, the network put the spotlight where it belongs for a music awards show: on the concert stage. The result of this brainstorm, and a few other format changes to its Video Music Awards? The most watchable show in many a Moon Man outing. Even if that isn’t saying much. And this despite opening with an onstage career suicide by Britney Spears. More on that later. The 2007 VMAs… Read more »

I thought about being nicer in the title of the article, but it is simply the truth. MTV tried to re-invent the awards show this year and managed to make it worse. The VMAs were moved to Las Vegas this year to try to add some new flavor to the beleaguered show. The idea was to have bands hosting parties in different rooms at the Palms. The show would cut between the main stage where presentations were made and the party rooms. Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, Foofighters and others performed from the parties. That was the best part of… Read more »

Against Me! have released the “Thrash Unreal” EP on iTunes. The EP features the video for the band’s current single “Thrash Unreal” and completely new acoustic versions of “New Wave” and “Animal.” Currently, the EP is available for purchase here. Against Me! will kick off a U.S. tour on September 4th in Poughkeepsie, NY with Matt & Kim and David Dondero. The band will be out in support of their new album, New Wave, in stores now. Scheduled dates can be found below. Catch Against Me! On Tour: September 4th Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance September 5th Brooklyn, NY –… Read more »