Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Good vibrations are reverberating across the globe after surf rock group The Beach Boys announced a 50th anniversary tour and new album.

Brian Wilson, revered by many as one of the most talented songwriters in pop history, is putting his differences and grudges aside and join Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks for a new album and a 50-date tour.

Wilson had denied rumors of a reunion, saying that he “didn’t really like working with the guys.” But in a change of heart, he decided that perhaps he really didn’t dislike working with them that much. He nows says of the tour and album: “This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again.”

The tour will kick off on April 27 in New Orleans.

The Beach Boys began in Hawthorne, CA, in 1961. They became known for iconic hits that conjure up images of a carefree Southern California beach lifestyle, complete with convertibles and romance.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, the Beach Boys hold the title for America’s top selling band, and they also hold the record for the most Billboard Top 40 chart hits, with 36 songs.

View full post on All Stories

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – She wasn’t born this way. But she’s enjoying it now.

Lady Gaga had a monster of a year. Forbes has ranked the singer as the top earning woman in music for 2011.

Gaga grossed a whopping $90 million from album sales, endorsement deals and blockbuster worldwide tours.

Taylor Swift ranked second with nearly half of Gaga’s take. The country singer made $45 million in 2011.

Trailing close behind and snagging the number three spot is Katy Perry with $44 million. Perry’s success comes on the heals of five consecutive hits off her multi-platinum “Teenage Dream” album.

Beyonce took the No. 4 spot and Rihanna landed in fifth place with $29 million.

Earnings were tabulated from data complied from May 2010 to May 2011.

The complete list is available at Forbes.com.

View full post on All Stories

Los Angeles, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – Fans awaiting No Doubt’s upcoming album will have to wait just a little bit longer.

The band released a statement to their fans on their website stating that their sixth album would not be released this year.

“Ideally our new record would be coming out this year but it’s just not ready yet. We don’t want to rush this album just to get it out,” the band wrote in the statement.

No Doubt is best known for their 1995 hit album Tragic Kingdom, which includes hits “Just a Girl,” “Spiderwebs” and “Don’t Speak.”

The band has been on hiatus from 2004-2008.

View full post on Arts, Culture And Entertainment Stories

Los Angeles, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – Rapper J. Cole will kick off MTV2′s “Sucker Free Road to Release” on Wednesday.

Cole, who is the first artists signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, will premiere the video for his single “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Trey Songz.

“J. Cole is the perfect first artist to kick off ‘Sucker Free Road to Release’,” Amy Doyle, executive VP, Music and Talent, MTV & MTV2 said in a statement.

“His album is one of the most anticipated releases of the year and fans are hungry for more access to him,” she added.

The video will premiere at 10 p.m. ET/PT during the “Block Party” nighttime programming block on MTV2 and then across all of MTV’s platforms on September 15th.

J. Cole’s debut album “Cole World: The Sideline Story” will be released on September 27th.

View full post on All Stories

Los Angeles, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – American Idol season 10 winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina will release their debut albums one week apart from each other this coming fall.

Scotty McCreery will release his debut “Clear As Day” on October 4, while Alaina’s will release “Wildflower” on October 11.

“I’ve been working nonstop since the finale, so I’m really proud of it,” McCreery said in a Good Morning America interview about the album.

Alaina who appeared alongside McCreery on GMA was enthusiastic about her debut.

There are “fast songs for people who like up-tempos that you can dance to, and there are also tearjerkers for people who like slower ballads,” Alaina said about her debut.

McCreery was crowned as the winner of American Idol last May.

Both McCreery and Alaina signed deals with Mercury Nashville.

View full post on All Stories

Los Angeles, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – Coldplay fans have been highly anticipating their fifth studio album and now the band has revealed the album’s name and release date. With the band’s help, you could probably pronounce it.

Coldplay have named their follow-up to 2008′s interestingly titled “Viva La Vida… or Death and All His Friends” “Mylo Xyloto.” It’s set to hit stores in the UK on October 24th and the US on October 25th.

“Hello everybody. We have finished our new album,” Coldplay wrote on their website. “We hope you like it and we hope you are all well.”

While the album title sounds like a drug you’d take for indigestion, the band must have known fans would struggle with the aname.They included some pronunciation help on their website. “P.S. it is pronounced ‘MY-lo ZY-letoe,” they write.

But fans already have quite a few reasons to pick up the record regardless of what it’s called. They’ve already debuted a few of the tracks while performing at festivals around the world.

Among them is the bouncy lead single “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” already a top 10 hit worldwide, as well as “Charlie Brown,” and “Hurts Like Heaven.” The next single, “Paradise,” is set to debut on September 12th.

“Mylo Xyloto” will be released in CD, digital, and vinyl, as well as a limited-edition “pop-up album version” with a hardcover book and more.

View full post on Arts, Culture And Entertainment Stories

After a show a few weeks ago in Chicago, I had a quick word with the band and asked about the recent departure of their former lead singer Susan Sanchez. Of course, as gentlemen, they had only positive comments about their former leading lady. They explained it was a decision made by all members and they will continue to tour and make music. Though Sanchez’s soft and powerful crooning was a hallmark of the Bear Country look and sound, there is something to be said for the group’s new all-male composition.

It’s true the remaining five members are easy on the eyes, and with their new album Frozen Lake (Slumber Party Records), their first without Sanchez, they stay true to their homegrown roots and craft a new folk freshness that never goes over the top. The influence of Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, and maybe a touch of Radiohead blends into something unexpected, and definitely worthwhile. more

It’s true the remaining five members are easy on the eyes, and with their new album Frozen Lake (Slumber Party Records), their first without Sanchez, they stay true to their homegrown roots and craft a new folk freshness that never goes over the top. The influence of Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, and maybe a touch of Radiohead blends into something unexpected, and definitely worthwhile. more

Jimi Hendrix or Johnny Allen Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seatlle. His father changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix after returning from the war. This name was in honor of his uncle Leon Marshall Hendrix.

His childhood was said to unstable. He was also said to be deprived of the attention. He spent some time in welfare care. He started practicing his guitar skills on an unstringed broomstick and also a one-stringed ukulele. His first “guitar” cost him five dollars, that was well, a makeshift guitar. But his first real guitar was a Supro Ozark that was white. His father gave it to him when he realized that Jimi had real guitar slashing potential.

But poor Jimi did not have an amp. And he didn’t see that as an obstacle. He started learning by watching other guitar players and listening to guitar records. He was influenced by his father’s listening to Muddy Waters and BB King. And that should be the reason why his songs were sprinkled with the blues style of playing. He was very much of an extrovert as a player. And his showing off got him kicked out of his first band.

He jumped from band to band from there. And after he served as a paratrooper, he began working as a session guitar player for Little Richard, Sam Cooke and the Isley Brothers. It was when he got Chas Chandler, formerly of the band, the Animals, as his manager when his career started to go uphill.

Chandler found out about Jimi’s playing prowess through Linda Keith, Keith Richards’ (of the Rolling Stones) girl friend. It was Chandler who changed Jimi’s name to what we know now. And it was also his brainchild to for m the Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell.

The band’s first single, Hey Joe, blasted the charts. They also played after The Who during the 1967 pop festival in Monterey. Jimi was slashing his guitar while fire burned on the stage. The crowd went wild. It was also at about the same time they released their first album, Are You Experienced. And Jimi rocketed to stardom.

The most memorable and successful album from the band is Electric Ladyland. It was released in 1968. During this time, Chandler was no longer acting as their manager. This also marked the start of the bands demise. It was then when drugs and hanger’s on kept crowding the studios. This eventually led to the end of the band. Jimi then formed the Gypsies, Sun and Rainbows for a time. They were only able to play at the Woodstock 1969. This was when he played his final great public performance with an electrifying version of the Star Spangled Banner.

The guitar legend was hooked into drugs. His last album was Cry of Love which featured Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox of Gypsies. He took some sleeping pills on September 17, 1970. The pills belonged to his then girl friend, Monica Denneman. He apparently had an allergic reaction and started throwing up. He drowned in his vomit. But he was pronounced dead when he reached the hospital. He was 27 when he passed away.

Los Angeles, CA, United States (Celebrity News Service) – Although its release date isn’t another 3 weeks away, fans are already listening to Beyonce’s latest effort, “4.” The album leaked in full online on Tuesday.

The album features 12 tracks, including first single “Run the World (Girls),” “1 + 1,” and the official second single, the Babyface-penned “The Best Thing I Never Had,” which were all released to iTunes as a countdown to the album’s release.

The decidedly downtempo album (think more “I Am..” than “Sasha Fierce”) also features the Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh-sampling “Party,” which features a guest appearance Doug E. Fresh.

Beyonce also samples Boyz II Men’s “Uhh Ahh” for “Countdown,” while other hitmakers on the album include Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and Diane Warren on “I Am Here.”

A deluxe edition of the album is also set to be released exclusively at Target, which will feature bonus tracks and remixes.

Beyonce’s “4″ is officially set for release on June 28th. She’s also set to announce a fall tour in support of the album.

View full post on Arts, Culture And Entertainment Stories

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Entertainment) – Lady Gaga earns the highest-selling album since 2005 and, surprisingly, her very first #1 album yet with “Born This Way,” her third studio album. “Born This Way” sells 1.108 million copies, making it the biggest debut since 50 Cent’s “The Massacre” in 2005. She’s now the female artist with the second highest debut sales week of all-time, trailing only Britney Spears’ “Oops!..I Did It Again.”

While Lady Gaga is showing what pop music is, Brad Paisley arrives at #2 with “This Is Country Music,” his seventh top 10 album. The album, which also lands him his sixth #1 country album, sells 153,000 copies in its first week. Last week’s #1, Adele’s “21,” is down to #3 this week after nine weeks at #1.

“Glee, the Music: Season Two, Vol. 6,” which features new original songs plus the rest of the second season’s covers including tracks by Gaga, TLC, and Fleetwood Mac, debuts at #4 with 80,000. The compilation “Maybach Music Group Presents Self Made Vol. 1,” with music from Wale and Rick Ross, debuts at #5 with 59,000 copies.

“Now! 38,” featuring music from Britney Spears, Ke$ha, and Usher, is down to #6 this week, selling 45,000 copies. NKOTBSB, the new supergroup featuring members of New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, released their first joint compilation, “NKOTBSB.” The album, which features hits and new songs, starts at #7, selling 40,000.

Foster the People earns a top 10 debut with their very first album, “Torches,” which opens at #8 with 33,000. Jason Aldean drops five spots to #9 this week with “My Kinda Party,” selling 33,000 copies. Rounding out the top 10 this week are Mumford & Sons. Their “Sigh No More” is also down five spots to #10, selling 25,000 copies.

Billboard Top 200 Albums Week Ending June 11th, 2011:

1. Born This Way, Lady Gaga

2. This Is Country Music, Brad Paisley

3. 21, Adele

4. Glee: The Music, Vol. 6, Glee Cast

5. MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. 1 , Various Artists

6. Now! 38, Various Artists

7. NKOTBSB, NKOTBSB

8. Torches, Foster the People

9. My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean

10. Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons

View full post on Arts, Culture And Entertainment Stories