Lenny Kravitz Drops Out of Marvin Gaye Biopic

Lenny Kravitz in Ibiza, Spain.

Lenny Kravitz has dropped out of the long-anticipated Marvin Gaye biopic Sexual Healing, to be replaced by Law & Order alumnus Jesse L. Martin. 

Directed by Julien Temple, the film has long been in the works, but is finally set to begin filming later this month in Europe, Deadline Hollywood reports. Martin, who also appeared in the stage and film version of the musical Rent, was actually attached to star in a previous version of the film being produced by James Gandolfini back in 2008.

100 Greatest Singers: Marvin Gaye

No word was given for why Kravitz has bowed out, though news last November that the rocker would be portraying Gaye reportedly led to objections from the singer's son,  Marvin Gaye III, who threatened legal action if Kravitz did not drop out. 

Sexual Healing reportedly focuses on Gaye's time in Europe during the 1980s as he attempted to curb his addictions and re-start his career with the help of British promoter Freddy Cousaert, who will be played by Brendan Gleason.

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Carly Rae Jepsen Drops Boy Scouts Concert Over Anti-Gay Policy

Carly Rae Jepsen in Hollywood, California.

Carly Rae Jepsen has canceled a concert appearance for the Boy Scouts of America because of her opposition to the organization's controversial policy banning openly gay members. The 27 year-old Canadian singer announced her withdrawal from July's National Scout Jamboree on Twitter.

Jepsen – whose music has few traces of politics, egalitarian or otherwise – threw her hat into the ideological ring Tuesday morning, tweeting her support of the "ongoing battle for gay rights" as "an artist who believes in equality for all people."

Top 25 Songs of 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen, 'Call Me Maybe'

Jepsen's cancellation comes on the heels of another Jamboree headliner's tentative dropping out: the band Train said yesterday that they would only play the July concert if the Boy Scouts of America makes “the right decision before then" — a reference to a meeting in May, when the policy will go up for a vote.

In protesting the Boy Scouts' policy, both Jepsen and Train acknowledged a petition on Change.org that encouraged them to remove themselves from the concert's lineup. The petition, started by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has supporters that number in the tens of thousands.

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Lenny Kravitz Drops Out of Marvin Gaye Biopic

Lenny Kravitz in Ibiza, Spain.

Lenny Kravitz has dropped out of the long-anticipated Marvin Gaye biopic Sexual Healing, to be replaced by Law & Order alumnus Jesse L. Martin. 

Directed by Julien Temple, the film has long been in the works, but is finally set to begin filming later this month in Europe, Deadline Hollywood reports. Martin, who also appeared in the stage and film version of the musical Rent, was actually attached to star in a previous version of the film being produced by James Gandolfini back in 2008.

100 Greatest Singers: Marvin Gaye

No word was given for why Kravitz has bowed out, though news last November that the rocker would be portraying Gaye reportedly led to objections from the singer's son,  Marvin Gaye III, who threatened legal action if Kravitz did not drop out. 

Sexual Healing reportedly focuses on Gaye's time in Europe during the 1980s as he attempted to curb his addictions and re-start his career with the help of British promoter Freddy Cousaert, who will be played by Brendan Gleason.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Carly Rae Jepsen Drops Boy Scouts Concert Over Anti-Gay Policy

Carly Rae Jepsen in Hollywood, California.

Carly Rae Jepsen has canceled a concert appearance for the Boy Scouts of America because of her opposition to the organization's controversial policy banning openly gay members. The 27 year-old Canadian singer announced her withdrawal from July's National Scout Jamboree on Twitter.

Jepsen – whose music has few traces of politics, egalitarian or otherwise – threw her hat into the ideological ring Tuesday morning, tweeting her support of the "ongoing battle for gay rights" as "an artist who believes in equality for all people."

Top 25 Songs of 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen, 'Call Me Maybe'

Jepsen's cancellation comes on the heels of another Jamboree headliner's tentative dropping out: the band Train said yesterday that they would only play the July concert if the Boy Scouts of America makes “the right decision before then" — a reference to a meeting in May, when the policy will go up for a vote.

In protesting the Boy Scouts' policy, both Jepsen and Train acknowledged a petition on Change.org that encouraged them to remove themselves from the concert's lineup. The petition, started by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has supporters that number in the tens of thousands.

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Coachella Drops Strong Hint the Rolling Stones Are Headlining

Coachella organizers posted an image of a large round stone at the Empire Polo Grounds on the fesival's official Facebook page, seeming to confirm widespread reports that the Rolling Stones will headline the festival this year.

The Stones themselves listed Coachella 2013 in the tour section of their mobile app for a brief time late last year, though Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone that he didn't know how it got there.

If the Rolling Stones do perform at Coachella, it will be their first festival gig in the United States since Altamont in 1969. The band also played SARS benefit festival in Toronto in 2003 and the Isle of Wight in England in 2007, but has largely stuck to its own gigs over the years.

The Rolling Stones Weigh Offers for Full Tour in 2013

A Coachella appearance would likely be one of many 2013 gigs for the Stones. "We barely got off the starting blocks," Keith Richards told us of the group's 50th anniversary run late last year, which was limited to seven shows. "It would be dopey to bring things up to this level and say, 'Well, that's that, 50 years, bye-bye.'"

Like last year, Coachella 2013 will staged across two weekends in April with the exact same lineup at both events. The Stones' mobile app only listed the April 12th show, but they'll almost certainly be at the festival on the weekend of April 19th as well.

The full Coachella lineup will be officially announced later this month.

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Coachella Drops Strong Hint the Rolling Stones Are Headlining

Coachella organizers posted an image of a large round stone at the Empire Polo Grounds on the fesival's official Facebook page, seeming to confirm widespread reports that the Rolling Stones will headline the festival this year.

The Stones themselves listed Coachella 2013 in the tour section of their mobile app for a brief time late last year, though Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone that he didn't know how it got there.

If the Rolling Stones do perform at Coachella, it will be their first festival gig in the United States since Altamont in 1969. The band also played SARS benefit festival in Toronto in 2003 and the Isle of Wight in England in 2007, but has largely stuck to its own gigs over the years.

The Rolling Stones Weigh Offers for Full Tour in 2013

A Coachella appearance would likely be one of many 2013 gigs for the Stones. "We barely got off the starting blocks," Keith Richards told us of the group's 50th anniversary run late last year, which was limited to seven shows. "It would be dopey to bring things up to this level and say, 'Well, that's that, 50 years, bye-bye.'"

Like last year, Coachella 2013 will staged across two weekends in April with the exact same lineup at both events. The Stones' mobile app only listed the April 12th show, but they'll almost certainly be at the festival on the weekend of April 19th as well.

The full Coachella lineup will be officially announced later this month.

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'Breaking Bad' Cast Drops Hints About Darkest Season Yet at Comic-Con

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston from 'Breaking Bad' speak at a Comic-con panel in San Diego.

The cast of Breaking Bad offered some tidbits about the show’s fifth season during a Comic-Con International panel in San Diego on Friday night. While exact details remained elusive, one thing was clear: The season, which premieres on Sunday night, is the show’s darkest yet."This season is about winning; and what it means to stay on top," said executive producer Vince Gilligan. 

"This entire season is just creepy. Unsettling," added Aaron Paul, who plays meth dealer Jesse Pinkman.

The hour-long panel, moderated by TV Guide’s Michael Schneider, marked the first time Breaking Bad has made an appearance at Comic-Con. The panelists included Gilligan and seven of the show’s actors, including Bryan Cranston, who stars as chemistry teacher-turned-meth maker Walter White.

Some devoted fans had apparently shown up early – really early – to get a good seat. "I’m scared to leave this line up. I don’t want to miss breaking bad IN 5 HOURS. What is another 5 hours without peeing?" tweeted a user named @elizabutt.

Despite the show’s intensity, the panelists were clearly having a good time. Hitfix noted that Cranston and Paul came onstage dressed in yellow hazmat suits. Actor Dean Norris – who plays White’s DEA agent brother-in-law, Hank Schrader – was dressed in an outfit that made him look like Xena.

At one point, the cast started eating some of Walter White’s famous blue meth, reported TV Guide. Later, asked if his character had any redeeming qualities, Cranston said, "He makes damn good meth."

The fifth season is the show’s last, with 16 episodes set to air in two blocks of eight before it wraps up in 2013. In that time, Cranston’s character reaches new lows: Gilligan said Walt does something during the season that made Gilligan lose all sympathy for the character, though he wouldn’t specify what.

"He’s found a new power and it’s his ego," Cranston said, according to the show's Twitter feed.

The new season adds two new characters into the mix. Jesse Plemons of Friday Night Lights plays a guy named Todd, and Scottish actress Laura Fraser plays Lydia, a former associate of meth kingpin Gus Fring, who died at the end of the fourth season. Pinkman’s drug runner buddies Badger and Skinny Pete also make a return.

The show also brings in Madrigal, a German company that was bankrolling Gus’ operation. Gilligan said to expect more German subtitles on the show, noting that the second episode partially takes place in Hanover, Germany.

During the question-and-answer session, a fan asked if the season will include any "bottle episodes," low-budget productions designed to save on costs. Gilligan said the season’s fifth episode is actually the "polar opposite" of a bottle episode. It was also the first one of the series that was filmed outside of Albuquerque – all the way in Santa Fe, an hour’s drive away.

Asked what he plans to do after Breaking Bad, Gilligan said he’d love to do TV or movies. "In a very greedy sense, I hope that this is not the highlight of my career," he said.

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Judge Drops Rick Ross Name Lawsuit

Rick Ross performs at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Rick Ross has won the rights to his name, TMZ reports. Former drug dealer "Freeway" Rick Ross had filed suit against the rapper, born William Leonard Roberts II, claiming ownership of the name. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has shot down "Freeway"'s suit, saying the reformed criminal has no case.

"Never have I given him permission to use the name," "Freeway" Rick Ross told Rap Radar earlier today. "I didn't file in time. Basically, what they're saying is that I should have filed five days before I got out of prison."

"Freeway" Rick Ross says he objects to the rapper using his name because it reflects poorly on the black community. "They have these people going around, portraying us in an image that is not what we are," he says. "That's not why I sold drugs. I didn't sell drugs so that I could spit in everyone's face and drive around in a Rolls Royce and wear big gold chains. I sold drugs because I was poor, illiterate and didn't know any better and had no opportunities."

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Judge Drops Rick Ross Name Lawsuit

Rick Ross performs at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Rick Ross has won the rights to his name, TMZ reports. Former drug dealer "Freeway" Rick Ross had filed suit against the rapper, born William Leonard Roberts II, claiming ownership of the name. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has shot down "Freeway"'s suit, saying the reformed criminal has no case.

"Never have I given him permission to use the name," "Freeway" Rick Ross told Rap Radar earlier today. "I didn't file in time. Basically, what they're saying is that I should have filed five days before I got out of prison."

"Freeway" Rick Ross says he objects to the rapper using his name because it reflects poorly on the black community. "They have these people going around, portraying us in an image that is not what we are," he says. "That's not why I sold drugs. I didn't sell drugs so that I could spit in everyone's face and drive around in a Rolls Royce and wear big gold chains. I sold drugs because I was poor, illiterate and didn't know any better and had no opportunities."

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Justin Bieber Drops New Single, 'Boyfriend'

Courtesy of @JustinBieber/Twitter.com

Justin Bieber has released the first single from his upcoming album, Believe. "Boyfriend" – an edgier-than-usual track that finds the teen idol singing and rapping – hit radio today and is available exclusively on iTunes for one week. The track was co-written written by Bieber, Mike Posner, Mason D. Levy and Mat Musto, with Levy and Posner producing.

Slated for release this summer, Believe is Bieber's fifth major release since signing to the label in November 2009.

Listen to "Believe" below:

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Justin Bieber Drops New Single, 'Boyfriend'

Courtesy of @JustinBieber/Twitter.com

Justin Bieber has released the first single from his upcoming album, Believe. "Boyfriend" – an edgier-than-usual track that finds the teen idol singing and rapping – hit radio today and is available exclusively on iTunes for one week. The track was co-written written by Bieber, Mike Posner, Mason D. Levy and Mat Musto, with Levy and Posner producing.

Slated for release this summer, Believe is Bieber's fifth major release since signing to the label in November 2009.

Listen to "Believe" below:

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Skrillex Drops the Bass in Manhattan

Skrillex performs at Roseland Ballroom in New York.

There is a lot to recommend about a Skrillex show: Sonny Moore's pure rock charisma, an exceptionally well-designed light show, the raw enthusiasm of the dance-happy fans. But the main attractions are the drops, in which the dubstep star hits the crowd with a heavy, plunging bass line accompanied by wild, stuttering beats. Skrillex didn't invent the drop – it's been a convention of dubstep and electronic dance music for years – but he's a virtuoso of the style, and the man most likely to bring the sound fully into the mainstream. (Britney Spears gets credit as the first pop star to include a drop in a major hit, with her smash "Hold it Against Me" last year.)

If you've never heard a drop, it sounds like this: 

This is one way of dancing to a drop: 

The bass drop has an exciting effect on a studio recording, but to really understand its appeal, you need to witness it in a live setting. Skrillex uses it like a joy buzzer, periodically zapping the audience with a jolt of low end. It's an extremely physical thing – the bass gets so loud that the vibrations shake your body. It's as if he's reaching out and physically touching and pushing the crowd, enforcing the communal experience with a rattling sound that everyone feels at once, whether they are enjoying the music or not.

It's a thrilling feeling, and once you've experienced it a few times, you start jonesing for more. Skrillex is fully aware of this, and uses it to his advantage. All through last night's packed gig at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, he stretched out on a variety of musical tangents, always circling back to reward the audience with increasingly visceral drops. In addition to including bits of his own hits "Rock N' Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)," "Bangarang" and "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex added drops to familiar hits like Damian Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock" and the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize." These songs go over well with their high recognition factor, but they fit seamlessly into the set and served as a subtle argument for the flexibility of dubstep as a genre. Skrillex was particularly compelling whenever he integrated elements of dancehall and reggae, with the harsh bass tone and jagged rhythms contrasting nicely with the warm, relaxed melodies.

Skrillex is already popular enough to headline festivals and play several large gigs in one week in both Los Angeles and New York, but he's poised to get even bigger this year. He's up for Artist of the Year at the Grammys next weekend, and though he's a bit of a long shot in that race, it's a good indication that the record industry is keenly aware of his star power and potential to bring this niche sound into the mainstream. It wouldn't be surprising if Skrillex-style bass drops became a ubiquitous feature of pop music in the next few years – it's a fresh sound that could get shoehorned into a wide variety of tunes chasing after the zeitgeist. (Skrillex has already dropped the bass on Korn's latest album, The Path of Totality.) It's hard to imagine many artists beating Skrillex himself at his own game though, at least not any time soon. For now, this guy is the king of the drops.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Read more »

Skrillex Drops the Bass in Manhattan

Skrillex performs at Roseland Ballroom in New York.

There is a lot to recommend about a Skrillex show: Sonny Moore's pure rock charisma, an exceptionally well-designed light show, the raw enthusiasm of the dance-happy fans. But the main attractions are the drops, in which the dubstep star hits the crowd with a heavy, plunging bass line accompanied by wild, stuttering beats. Skrillex didn't invent the drop – it's been a convention of dubstep and electronic dance music for years – but he's a virtuoso of the style, and the man most likely to bring the sound fully into the mainstream. (Britney Spears gets credit as the first pop star to include a drop in a major hit, with her smash "Hold it Against Me" last year.)

If you've never heard a drop, it sounds like this: 

This is one way of dancing to a drop: 

The bass drop has an exciting effect on a studio recording, but to really understand its appeal, you need to witness it in a live setting. Skrillex uses it like a joy buzzer, periodically zapping the audience with a jolt of low end. It's an extremely physical thing – the bass gets so loud that the vibrations shake your body. It's as if he's reaching out and physically touching and pushing the crowd, enforcing the communal experience with a rattling sound that everyone feels at once, whether they are enjoying the music or not.

It's a thrilling feeling, and once you've experienced it a few times, you start jonesing for more. Skrillex is fully aware of this, and uses it to his advantage. All through last night's packed gig at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, he stretched out on a variety of musical tangents, always circling back to reward the audience with increasingly visceral drops. In addition to including bits of his own hits "Rock N' Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)," "Bangarang" and "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex added drops to familiar hits like Damian Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock" and the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize." These songs go over well with their high recognition factor, but they fit seamlessly into the set and served as a subtle argument for the flexibility of dubstep as a genre. Skrillex was particularly compelling whenever he integrated elements of dancehall and reggae, with the harsh bass tone and jagged rhythms contrasting nicely with the warm, relaxed melodies.

Skrillex is already popular enough to headline festivals and play several large gigs in one week in both Los Angeles and New York, but he's poised to get even bigger this year. He's up for Artist of the Year at the Grammys next weekend, and though he's a bit of a long shot in that race, it's a good indication that the record industry is keenly aware of his star power and potential to bring this niche sound into the mainstream. It wouldn't be surprising if Skrillex-style bass drops became a ubiquitous feature of pop music in the next few years – it's a fresh sound that could get shoehorned into a wide variety of tunes chasing after the zeitgeist. (Skrillex has already dropped the bass on Korn's latest album, The Path of Totality.) It's hard to imagine many artists beating Skrillex himself at his own game though, at least not any time soon. For now, this guy is the king of the drops.

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Katy Perry Drops Out of People's Choice Awards After Split with Russell Brand

Katy Perry at the Grove in Los Angeles

Katy Perry has dropped out of plans to attend the People's Choice Awards, which would have been her first public appearance since splitting with her husband, comedian Russell Brand. Perry has been nominated for seven awards at this year's show, which will air on CBS tomorrow night.

"Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the People's Choice Awards. I want to thank u all for voting for me, fingers crossed! #KATYCATS," Perry announced on her Twitter account yesterday. Perry has kept a low profile since separating from Brand. Aside from this message, Perry's only word to her fans in recent days has been a tweet urging them not to trust reporting from gossip sites and magazines. "Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me. Not a blog, magazine, 'close sources' or my family," she wrote.

Russell Brand filed papers for divorce in Los Angeles just before New Year's Eve, citing irreconcilable differences. Brand and Perry had been married for 14 months.

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