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“American Idol” will launch an ambitious poverty-relief campaign in April with a two-night spectacular that is slated to feature performances from Gwen Stefani, Pink and Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat. Host Ryan Seacrest announced the details of “Idol Gives Back” on Thursday night’s results show, in which the final 12 contestants were revealed . The April 24-25 episodes are aimed at raising awareness and funds for poverty-relief organizations helping children in the United States and Africa. The first night will find the top six finalists on the show singing “life anthems” about hope and compassion, with show sponsors Coke and… Read more »

Among the legions of acts booked for this year’s South by Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival March 14-18 in Austin, here are 10 that people will be talking about. THE PIPETTES Sure, the Pipettes revel in the ’60s girl group sounds of the Ronettes and the Shangri-Las. And yes, they even conjure up cool memories of British sister-in-song, the beehived Mari Wilson, who covered similar musical ground in the ’80s. Still, the trio, who hail from the British seaside town of Brighton, manage to make songs like “Pull Shapes,” “Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me” and “Dirty Mind”… Read more »

We’re not even 20 seconds into the show, and Ryan Seacrest is already suggesting that we’re in for one helluva train wreck tonight. “We don’t havhe Paula! But we’ll find her, right?” This is “American Idol”? It’s the last round of semifinal performances, and nothing could be worse than Tuesday’s embarrassing men’s show . Well, I guess if they let Antonella sing for the entire episode I’d reconsider that statement. But with a group of girls this talented, even an off-night would be worth watching. And Paula’s top-of-the-show disappearing act certainly suggests that it may be chock full of potential… Read more »

A Dublin High Court judge on Wednesday formally requested that Eminem provide testimony under oath explaining why he scrapped a sold-out gig at Slane Castle in 2005. The rap superstar’s answers are considered a potentially critical part of a civil lawsuit brought by the promoter against three insurance companies that declined to cover the costs of the cancellation. Eminem had been slated to headline the Sept. 17, 2005 concert as part of the European leg of his Anger Management Tour, but the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, backed out just weeks before the show, citing exhaustion stemming… Read more »

As expected , the reunited Genesis will visit North America on a fall tour that begins Sept. 7 in Toronto, the group announced this morning (March 7) at a media event in New York. So far, 13 dates have been announced through Oct. 12 in Los Angeles but more will be added. Some tickets begin going on sale this weekend. The trio, comprised of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, acknowledged they had discussions a couple of years ago with former members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett about touring behind a complete performance of the 1974 album “The Lamb… Read more »

There are several thoroughly rocking places a band can hole itself up in to begin work on a much-anticipated new album. But when it came time for the guys in Panic! at the Disco to embark on the follow-up to their platinum-plus debut, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, they decided to pick one of the most un-rocking places on Earth: an honest-to-goodness cabin nestled in the hills of Nevada. “Guess you could say I’ve been hibernating for the past few months,” guitarist Ryan Ross wrote on the band’s site. “I’ll be meeting up with everyone at the cabin in… Read more »

Atlanta-based cruise company Sixthman has announced the return of three popular music cruises from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Barenaked Ladies and Sister Hazel, which will set sail early next year. Sixthman will launch Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man, the Rock Boat VIII and Barkenaked Ladies’ Ships & Dip III in conjunction with Carnival Cruise Lines starting in January 2008. Each cruise will feature live performances, artist meet and greets, Q&A sessions and other onboard activities. Onsales begin this month. “Sometimes you’ll think that a cruise is for the newlywed, the nearly dead or the overfed, but when it comes to musicians playing cruises,… Read more »

To the Academy Is …, the name “Santi” means many things, none of which make very much sense. “Adam [Siska], our bass player, had this enemy in high school whose last name was Santiago, but everyone called him Santi, and he had associates called, like, Panti, Canti and Fruscianti or something,” drummer Andy “the Butcher” Mrotek explained. “Adam always hated the name Santi, so to annoy him, we all started saying it instead of ‘thank you’ or ‘cheers’ or anything. So it started out as this incredibly stupid thing, the kind of stupid thing you do in a band on… Read more »

NEW YORK – With a guest appearance from Alicia Keys, sing-alongs galore and an intimate two-song acoustic performance on a small stage in the middle of the crowd, John Mayer’s sold-out performance Wednesday night delivered everything a headlining spot at Madison Square Garden should. After a strong opening set from Mat Kearney, Mayer’s show began with the venue darkened before the sounds of Mayer’s guitar drowned out the screams from younger members of the audience. A blue spotlight revealed him as he began “Belief” solo before being joined by the rest of his band. As the 90-minute set (consisting primarily… Read more »

Britney Spears is certainly not the first celebrity to go off the rails in full view of her once-adoring public. But hers is one of the most spectacular falls from grace in recent memory, meticulously documented by paparazzi and bystanders, and uploaded instantly for the titillation of the masses. At 25 she’s certainly young enough to resume her career after she regroups, and for perspective, we’ve compiled some of the most notorious celebrity flameouts of the past 10 years, along with the success (or not) of their efforts to get back on track. We’ve rated these 1-4 in ascending order… Read more »