March Madness, Justin Bieber And Christina Aguilera: This Week’s Deep Cuts

Here in the MTV Newsroom, we’ve spent the past week suffering from various types of madness (as in March) and fever (meaning Bieber). It’s been a busy week, and it will stay busy, as voting continues on MTV News’ Musical March Madness tournament and we are still on the ground in Miami for the 2010 Winter Music Conference. So before you run out to see “Hot Tub Time Machine,” cheer on the continued success of Butler, root for Shane Carwin to destroy Frank Mir at UFC 111 or watch Shawn Michaels take on the Undertaker at WrestleMania, check out everything you might have missed.

» Voting for the second round of MTV News’ Musical March Madness continues through Sunday evening (March 28). Keep pushing your favorite artists into the Sweet 16!

» The hottest names in electronic music are still in Miami for WMC 2010, and so is MTV News.

» We celebrated the release of Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0 this week, and we brought you all manner of Bieber-related material, including proof that he may supplant Steve Nash as the world’s greatest Canadian basketball player.

» “American Idol” soldiered on, featuring chart-topping songs, the end of the Paige Miles era and a whole lot of Miley Cyrus.

» Speaking of Miley, she’s about done with the record industry (for now, at least).

» This weekend, the stars of the WWE will descend on University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for WrestleMania, and David Otunga things Batista will defeat John Cena.

» “Dancing With the Stars” kicked off this week, and though we still have got nothing but love for Buzz Aldrin, his first performance was a little problematic.

» Christina Aguilera showed off the cover art for her new album Bionic, which reminded us of at least one monster from “Dr. Who.”

» Finally, when the news came down that Rihanna and Travis Barker had been working together (the Blink-182 drummer is teaching the singer how to play the drums), we went ahead and mashed them up. You’re welcome, audience.

WMC Recap: DJ AM Tribute, Tiesto And David Guetta Headline Memorable Day Three

By Adam Stewart

The third day of WMC 2010 proved to be monstrous. We started our afternoon with a chat with DJ A-Trak, whose highly anticipated Fool’s Gold showcase would ultimately close out our night. From there, the day snowballed into controlled insanity as we caught up with Calvin Harris, up and coming artist Burnes, NGDJ winners Maya Vanya, industry sage DJ Dan, rising star Dennis Ferrer, prolific producer/DJ Kaskade, electro rockers Shiny Toy Guns and of course the insanely huge David Guetta. And that was all before lunch.

The afternoon temperatures soared into the 80s and our interviews only got hotter. We had the honor of hosting a long chat with the godfather of all dance music Tiesto and followed that up with chats with Deep Dish member Sharam, fresh and funky DJ Riva Starr and finally the legendary Paul Oakenfold.

After briefly regrouping, and a quick shower, it was time to rally the troops and head to two of the most anticipated events of this years gathering. First was the DJ AM tribute party (headlined by A-Trak and Travis Barker) at LIV nightclub in the recently renovated Fountainbleu Miami Hotel (the former stomping ground of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the rest of the Rat Pack). Tiesto, Oakenfold, Lil Jon, Steve Aoki and “The Situation” from “Jersey Shore” were all in attendance and rocking out to a truly memorable set.

From there we jumped in a car with A-Trak and rolled up to his anxiously-awaited first live set with mega DJ Armand Van Helden and their new collaboration that they’ve dubbed “Duck Sauce.” They were joined at the Fool’s Gold showcase by acclaimed producer Just Blaze (Jay-Z, Fabolous). It was an incredible show that had the crowd going insane. Even our friend Tommy Sunshine showed up (and sends a big hello to his new MTV family). How on earth can we top this day?

We certainly plan on trying on Friday (March 26). Our lineup includes Swedish House Mafia (Axwell, Sebastian Ingross and Steve Angello), DeadMau5, Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond, rising star Agnes Carlsson, the Crystal Method, LMFAO and Will.I.Am. Then we head to Bicentennial Park with approximately 100,000 other dance music lovers to help kick off the Ultra Music Festival headlined by Tiesto, David Guetta, WMC breakout artist Afrojack, Kaskade, Dirty South, Laidback Luke, Carl Cox and Passion Pit.

What wild stories will come of this years bash? Keep up with our crew and all of the action at MTV News and on Twitter @MTVNews.

A-Trak On His And Travis Barker’s WMC Tribute To DJ AM

‘It was very important for me to have one show where I could do an official dedication’ to AM, A-Trak says.
By MTV News staff, with reporting by Akshay Bhansali

src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/news/w/wmc_2010/dj_am_tribute_032610/a_trak_on_djam_032610/281x211.jpg"/>



DJ A-Trak


Photo: MTV News

MIAMI — On Thursday night, Travis Barker, A-Trak, Lil Jon, Jazzy Jeff and Steve Aoki were some of the guests on hand to honor the late DJ AM at an unannounced tribute show on Thursday night at Miami’s LIV nightclub during the Winter Music Conference. MTV News caught up with A-Trak in the wee hours of Friday morning (March 26), after his set at the Fools Gold party at Grand Central.

“At LIV, it was a party for DJ AM — obviously a dedication to him,” A-Trak said. “[He was] a dear friend of mine, we miss him a lot. I’m now doing shows with Travis, so it was very important for me, especially knowing how much Travis and AM established a partnership before [AM] passed, to have one show where I could really do an official dedication and a dedicated routine to him — a scratching thing that he particularly liked, and do it in his honor and pass the torch, in a sense.”

The lineup of the show — part of the Winter Music Conference — was a tightly guarded secret, though most in attendance suspected that both Barker and Trak, who recently toured as a duo, were part of the bill. And when they hit the stage shortly after midnight, those suspicions were confirmed.

Trak announced that he and Barker were performing “in honor of our fallen friend, DJ AM,” and the two launched into their set, which saw the DJ cutting up a song that mentioned AM by name while Barker flailed at his kit. Both men were wearing “Rest in Peace AM” T-shirts, and a video screen behind the stage displayed a collage of images of AM (real name: Adam Goldstein), who was found dead in his New York apartment last August, of an accidental drug overdose in September.

Barker and AM famously teamed together for years — they were the house band at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards — survived a fiery South Carolina plane crash in September 2008. Earlier this year, Barker remembered his friend and colleague by getting an “In Memory Of” tattoo on his thigh.

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Rihanna Teams Up With Blink-182′s Travis Barker In An MTV News Mashup

By George Loomis

When most people learn to play the drums, they hire a tutor, watch videos online or buy a how-to book. Rihanna took a decidedly different (but certainly more awesome) path: She hired Blink-182 star Travis Barker for private lessons. A source confirms to People that the “Hard” star needed to develop some chops for her upcoming European tour and didn’t want to settle for anything less than the real deal, which gave rise to the best new collaboration we’ve heard of in a while.

As strange as it seems now, signs that Rihanna and Travis Barker are destined to collaborate date back to 2007. After all, Travis added snare drums and guitar to a well-received remix of “Umbrella.” More recently, Rihanna showed off some killer air drumming skills in her recently-debuted “Rude Boy” video. Travis appears to be enjoying the gig, as he has posted multiple updates to his Twitter page.

But what would a fresh collaboration between Rihanna and Barker sound like? Genius MTV News digital producer Rich Sancho has the answer. He used his various knobs, dials and magic wands to meld Rihanna’s “Hard” with Blink-182′s “Feeling This.” In many ways, the two make an ideal pair: Rihanna is based in R&B and often strays toward rock, while Travis is based in rock and often strays toward hip-hop and R&B.

Don’t they go together like peas and carrots? Find out if Rihanna will show us what Travis has taught her on Saturday (March 27) when she performs at the 2010 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards!

What do you think of the mashup? Should Rihanna and Travis Barker collaborate on an album? Let us know in the comments!

Taylor Swift: ‘Band Hero’ Commercial Revealed!

Check out Taylor Swift’s latest commercial for the Band Hero video game, which was shot last week in Los Angeles by director Brett Ratner.

The 19-year-old country cutie slides into action, sharing the stage with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy and Travis Barker from Blink-182.

Band Hero, which is the latest game in the Guitar Hero franchise, is in stores now!

DJ AM’s Death Caused By Accidental Overdose

New York medical examiner’s office reveals lethal cocktail of prescription drugs, cocaine found in AM’s system.
By Gil Kaufman

src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/bands/d/dj_am/082809/alt_4/281x211.jpg"/>



DJ AM


Photo: Rob Loud/ Getty Images

One month after DJ AM was found dead in his New York apartment, the city’s medical examiner has announced a cause of death in the case. After a battery of toxicology tests, the New York City medical examiner’s office has determined that AM’s death was accidental and caused by acute intoxication brought on by a cocktail of prescription drugs and cocaine, a spokesperson from the office confirmed.

The toxicology report released on Tuesday says that the 36-year-old celebrity DJ (born Adam Goldstein) had cocaine; painkillers OxyContin and Vicodin; anti-anxiety meds Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax; the antihistamine Benadryl; and Levamisole (a drug used to cut cocaine) in his system when he was found dead on August 28.

AM was found shirtless and face down on his bed by police after a friend called 911 when AM did not leave on time for a scheduled flight to a gig. According to reports, a crack pipe and prescription pill bottles were found scattered around the apartment.

AM was reportedly taking anti-anxiety medication as a result of his fear of flying following the fatal plane crash he escaped last year along with friend Travis Barker. While experts say it is acceptable for some addicts suffering from pain and other trauma to use prescription medication — AM said he’d been sober for 11 years prior to his death — if used inappropriately or abused, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as illegal narcotics, especially if used in combination with street drugs. 

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Tuesday Love Links – Katy Perry Jumps in Fountain, Cameras Love it!

Katy Perry unleashes the theatrics in nosebleed purple stilettos on the set of her new video as she filmed with controversial duo 3Oh!3 in between bouts in a very cold looking fountain on September 21, 2009 in downtown Los Angeles.

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Blink-182 Plan To Donate $100k To Burn Centers

Blink-182 has announced that $100,000 of the proceeds from their show in Phoenix, AZ, Saturday night will be donated to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia as well as the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, California.

Pay it forward!

According to the press release, the donation is “being made in recognition of their tremendous care and aid of Travis Barker through his recovery from the 2008 plane crash.”

The band is hoping their generous donation will “help these burn centers continue their lifesaving work.”

[Image via WENN.]

Travis Barker & Blink 182 Donate $100,000 To Burn Center

The guys of Blink 182 are very happy they still have Travis Barker to kick around and are donating $100,000 to the burn center that saved his life.  Travis and his good friend, the late DJ AM were seriously injured in the crash that killed four others.

Click Here To See Travis At DJ AM’s Funeral

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Katy Perry Tap Dances Her Way To The VMA Stage

Katy Perry may not be performing at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards tomorrow night, but the woman who brought the world “I Kissed a Girl” and “Waking Up in Vegas” still brings a certain performance flair to every stage she encounters. So when Perry arrived at Radio City Music Hall, she couldn’t help but provide a little soft-shoe for the MTV News cameras.

Dressed in a ski cap (to combat the unseasonable chill in New York City at the moment), sunglasses and a top that appeared to feature a giraffe print, Perry walked to her seat assignment in the theater and proceeded to do a little tap dance. She then followed that up with a groin grab, perhaps a nod to the scheduled tribute to Michael Jackson that will open the big show tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night, Perry will compete against Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pink and Kelly Clarkson for the Moonman for Best Female Video. This is Perry’s second trip to the Video Music Awards. Last year, she provided one of the show’s wackier moments during her sit-in performance with house band TRVSDJAM (the collaboration between Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and the late DJ AM). Perry was wearing a dress that looked not unlike a banana, a fact that was confirmed when she coyly “peeled” a bit of her dress just as the show was going to commercial while she was singing Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” Will Perry provide another memorable VMA moment at this year’s show? The only way to find out is to tune in live Sunday night at 8 p.m. to catch every award, performance and unscripted moment.

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