Search Results for: thursday

Pop star Rihanna is prepared to take the witness stand next month if called to testify against former boyfriend Chris Brown, the singer accused of beating her, her lawyer said on Thursday. Donald Etra said prosecutors told him they will formally request his client, Rihanna, to appear at the June 22nd hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court. “She has always agreed to do whatever the law requires her to do,” Etra said. “She is totally willing to testify if called to do so.” Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, declined to comment. Brown, 20, the… Read more »

In the weeks leading up to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the recession was the tense undercurrent beneath the excitement over its 40th anniversary. The lineup was announced early this year to extend the ticket-buying season, and other festivals canceled or scaled down. Corporate sponsors Borders, AIG and Southern Comfort withdrew their support. But any concerns about Jazz Fest’s economic well-being evaporated Saturday when Bon Jovi delivered the second-largest audience in festival history. The hard rock band was this festival’s cause célèbre, evidence for festival veterans that Jazz Fest is losing its way, trading New Orleans music for… Read more »

Taking Back Sunday gave its fourth LP a fitting title: New Again. For frontman Adam Lazarra, the addition of guitarist Matt Fazzi last spring has given the five-piece a wildly fresh perspective. Bassist Matt Rubano agrees that the band is embracing a new genre with its new release. “The idea that we’ve really embraced on this record is that it’s up to us to decide what Taking Back Sunday sounds like,” bassist Matt Rubano said. “We always want to be redefining what that means, and there’s stuff on this record I think in the past we would have stayed away… Read more »

After reuniting for its first show in more than four years, Blink-182 has announced its summer tour dates. The band’s official return comes when they play the The Late Show With Jay Leno on Tuesday, May 21st. Blink will be joined by Fall Out Boy on the road for two-thirds of their reunion jaunt, with Weezer picking up the remaining dates. Last Thursday evening, Blink-182 closed out their set with 2003’s “The Feeling” and Dude Ranch’s “Dammit.” Bassist Mark Hoppus was overjoyed following the performance, a hugely significant event for the band whose members had spent the last four years… Read more »

HOLLYWOOD – It had been four and a half years since Blink-182 performed together on a stage. A December 2004 gig in Dublin, Ireland was the last time, to be exact. Well, now it’s been not even a week. Last Thursday night, the reunited Blink returned to the stage at a T-Mobile party at the Paramount Studios, ripping through a surprise three-song set before an audience of stunned (and thoroughly hyperventilating) guests. Blink tore through “The Rock Show,” “Feeling This” and “Dammit,” showing no signs of rust or any ill effects of their sometimes contentious breakup as they laughed, struck… Read more »

Las Vegas rock band the Killers, in the middle of a world tour to promote their third album, plan to release a live DVD later this year. “We’re working on some ideas for what will be our first DVD,” drummer Ronnie Vannucci said. “We’ve been kind of hounded about it for a while, and haven’t really thought we were due for it yet, but I think it’s time. I think we’re approaching the moment of DVD mass hysteria.” That’s not all the band is currently working on. In addition to tinkering around with songwriting ideas for its next Christmas single,… Read more »

NEW YORK —  YouTube and Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, said on Thursday they will launch a premium music video Web site as they bid to increase revenue from YouTube ‘s huge usage. The new site will be called Vevo and is expected to launch in coming months, the companies said. Plans for Vevo come in addition to the renewal and extension of YouTube’s rights deal to feature video content from Universal artists such as U2,  50 Cent and Kanye West Universal Music is owned by French media group Vivendi. Vevo will be a premium online music… Read more »

LILONGWE, Malawi — Wealthy, famous, fabulous at 50 – but not a mother of four. Pop star extraordinaire Madonna lost a bid Friday to adopt a second child from Malawi rejected by a judge who said she would not bend the country’s strict residency rules even for a wealthy celebrity. The decision came as a surprise since Malawi’s child welfare minister came out Thursday in support of the singer’s application to adopt 3-year-old Chifundo “Mercy” James. And it was a rare setback for the material girl who has projected an image of being able to attain whatever she sets her… Read more »

NEW YORK —  Reunited rockers No Doubt rapper Flo Rida and R&B singer Jennifer Hudson are among the artists headlining the upcoming summer concert series on morning chat show “Today,” NBC announced said on Thursday. Joining them will be the Dave Matthews Band, All-American Rejects, Kings of Leon and Black Eyed Peas among others. The 2009 version of the popular Friday-morning series kicks off its 14th season on May 1 with No Doubt, marking that band’s first live concert since reforming after a five-year hiatus. The appearance also marks a series first for Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews and Flo… Read more »