Tag Archives: Foo Fighters

The Sundance You Didn’t See: Sex, Harry Potter And Dave Grohl

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I’m not at my best. I’ve eaten exceptionally badly for six days. I’ve been living in close proximity to six [awesome, dedicated, but insane] MTV News dudes for so long that our inside jokes have beget inside jokes. It was cold. Real cold. Sleep was not plentiful. Oh and I’m writing this on a plane after one Chili’s margarita (well deserved, I think!) and running at breakneck speed to the gate after I got the time difference wrong in Minneapolis, where my flight connected, to take me home at last.

All of the above is which to say my seventh (how the hell did that happen?) Sundance Film Festival is in the books, and yes, once again Robert Redford‘s baby was thrilling, frustrating and quite memorable. Below are some of the trends I noticed and some personal highlights:

Sex on the Brain
If I asked one more actor about taking it all off, Dr. Ruth would have stormed into our shooting space to say I have a problem. But I swear, it’s not just me! This year’s selection of films at Sundance really did warrant the line of questioning. January Jones and Dakota Fanning took it off for the first time. Amanda Seyfried played a porn star. Joseph Gordon-Levitt played a porn addict. And then there’s James Franco: three films, two of which were extremely explicit (documentaries “Kink” and “Interior. Leather. Bar.”). I’ve now spent 30 minutes talking to James Franco about sex. Don’t say I never did anything for you.

Their Big Moment
We spoke to movie stars galore, but for me, it’s always a special thrill to talk to someone that you can just feel is on the precipice of a big career. Two years ago, I couldn’t pick Jessica Chastain out of a lineup, but after seeing “Take Shelter” and talking to her at Sundance, I was raving about her to anyone who would listen. If you want to bet on the next big male star, start closely following the careers of Michael B. Jordan (earning raves for “Fruitvale”), Miles Teller (making a big leap from wild teen comedies in “The Spectacular Now”) and Dane DeHaan (who popped in every scene he appeared in of “Kill Your Darlings”).

Something to Prove
OK, it’s one thing to show up to the festival with nothing to lose, but how about those actors looking to reframe their career and break out of a box? Mission accomplished for a host of my favorites this year. Amanda Seyfried confessed to me extreme worry just hours before the debut of “Lovelace,” in which she exposes a lot in every conceivable way playing the famed porn star. Her concern seems to be for naught, as the reviews have been kind. Meanwhile, Michael Cera found a friend and trusted collaborator in Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Silva, who cast him against type in not one but two divisive films, “Magic Magic” and “Crystal Fairy.” Finally, “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” wasn’t for everyone, but I found a lot to like in the messy but original and romantic comic thriller (actually, putting this in a genre box is a bit fruitless). And I found a lot to love in Shia LaBeouf’s lead performance. LaBeouf goes for broke in the role. It’s a bold and brave performance, and he’s never been better.

The Boy Who Lived
Daniel Radcliffe is a gentleman and a maniac. Last Saturday morning, he dropped by the MTV News house we were all staying in and … let’s just say it all ended up with him and I head-to-head in adjacent beds. Watch for a very special “After Hours” soon.

Late to the Party
OK, now I get it. I confess I’m not a “Community” viewer, but watching Alison Brie freestyle rap has converted me. I’m a fan for life now. Oh, and she loves “Ghostbusters 2″ as much as me. Soul mates.

Tough Talk
Matthew McConaughey is a straight shooter. He could have politely begged off weighing in on a question about Lance Armstrong, but instead, McConaughey (headlining “Mud” at the festival) pulled no punches delivering a lengthy, passionate take on the unfortunate situation.

Facing Your Fear
Scariest interview and biggest relief for me? Dave Grohl. If you know my stuff, you know it’s mostly actors and filmmakers I chat with. I know and appreciate how important Grohl is to so many, and I wanted to do him and the audience right with a smart/fun conversation. All worked out as Grohl was charming as he spoke enthusiastically about his new doc, “Sound City,” not to mention breaking news with us that the Foo Fighters‘ next album may not be so far away after all.

Living the Dream
About a year ago, an awesome shooter/producer at MTV News by the name of Evan Jackson Leong left us for other pursuits. It turns out one longtime passion project of his turned into one of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the entire festival, “Linsanity,” the documentary detailing the hard-to-fathom rise of NBA superstar Jeremy Lin. Evan stopped by to chat with the MTV News team, and I know I speak for all of us when I say it was a beautiful sight to behold, the dreams of a young filmmaker realized beyond his wildest dreams. Swag suites be damned, Sundance still is about the movies.

Did Dave Grohl Put On The Greatest Sundance Show Ever?

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PARK CITY, Utah — It was Dave Grohl‘s night, and not a single song he wrote was played.

To promote his debut filmmaking endeavor, “Sound City,” at the Sundance Film Festival, the Foo Fighters‘ frontman invited his friends (who just so happen to be modern day musical gods) to put on a concert at the cozy Park City Live on frigid Friday night (January 18). In a way, the three-plus hour concert was the spiritual stage version of Grohl’s documentary.

Welcome to “Sound City”
“Sound City” is the rock-and-roll version of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” — the story of how generations of bands came together and found their voices through the same customized analog mixing console at the legendary Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. However, the narrative isn’t just about a piece of hardware, but rather the creation of an artistic community. The film’s message is what Grohl was referring to in his widely misinterpreted Grammy acceptance speech from last year: music isn’t mathematical, it’s about the human experience of creating art and the shared understanding forged from loving music. And like any good director, Grohl’s cast encompasses players that are both his frequent collaborators and his heavy influencers.

Paying that sentiment forward at Park City Live, the Foos played as backing band for a rotating cavalry of rockers that could have doubled as the cast of “This is Your Life, Dave Grohl.” Each artist that joined the Foo Fighters on stage had recorded an iconic album at the lauded Sound City Studios.

The 90′s and Punk Rock Roots
Jumping on bass, the perpetually smiling Grohl greeted the crowd by welcoming on-and-off band mate Alain Johannes to the stage and ripping through songs from Queens of the Stone Age and Eleven. Shortly after, Masters of Reality frontman Chris Goss joined the fray. Once the set was satiated with the grunge pioneer set, current Foo and former Nirvana and Germs guitarist Pat Smear ushered in the punk rock portion of the night. Looking like a hybrid of Johnny Cash and a bulldog, Fear singer Lee Ving — best known for destroying the set of “Saturday Night Life” in 1981 and starring in 1985′s “Clue,” — riled up the crowd as he barked songs about beer and bologna.

The Sing-Alongs
In the most bizarrely awesome pairing of the night, Grohl shifted to the drum kit and Krist Novoselic picked up the bass as Cheap Trick founder Rick Nielsen joined the remaining members of Nirvana along with Slipknot singer Corey Taylor. Subverting Grohl’s metal past (see: Probot), the temporary super-group delivered an adrenaline fueled cover of “Surrender,” with Taylor playing the role of a surprisingly peppy ringleader. To follow-up, the Foo Fighters backed up an unexpectedly hard-rocking Rick Springfield, who kept the energy high by giving the crowd another karaoke favorite with “Jessie’s Girl.”

There Goes My Hero(es)
To close out the night, flannelled Creedence founder John Fogerty brought back the blues roots with a mini-CCR set, playing anthems like “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary,” and to finish, a Foo-ified version of ” Fortunate Son.”

The crowd played favorites for the final performer of the night: Stevie Nicks. Introduced by Grohl as the “Queen of Rock and Roll,” the Fleetwood Mac star was greeted by a sea of camera flashes and a new surge from the crowd. Nicks debuted a new song from the “Sound City” soundtrack about the death of her godson, a stalwart, octave-driven anthem called “You Can’t Fix This.” Nicks and the Foos then launched into a set of Fleetwood Mac hits, with Nicks bringing the night full circle by going back to her roots, citing “Landslide” as the song that made her the songwriter and performer that she is today.

The 2013 Sundance Film Festival is officially under way, and the MTV Movies team is on the ground reporting on the hottest stars and the movies everyone will be talking about in the year to come. Keep it locked with MTV Movies for everything there is to know about Sundance.

[News] B.o.B Discusses Upcoming Rock EP, Names Wish List Of Rock Collaborators

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B.o.B preps the release of an upcoming album and Rock EP.

B.o.B only recently dropped off his sophomore album Strange Clouds, but he’s already to branch out for his next project. During an interview with Shade 45′s Sway in the Morning, Bobby Ray spoke on his upcoming Rock EP that he plans to drop in 2013 and says that he’s been working on it for some time.

“Man, 2013, I would expect an album from B.o.B and a Rock EP as well,” he said. “My Rock EP is like… I take pride in my work and I’m not going to do something just to say that I can do it if I ain’t really passionate about doing it. I’m very passionate about my music. Sometimes I take it too seriously. But this Rock EP, I’ve been working on it for a long time actually. Because that type of music, you gotta let it marinate for a minute. You can’t just deep-fry that.”

Though he’s collaborated with a few Rock artists in the past, the Grand Hustle signee says that he has a wish list of artist with whom he’d like to hit the studio.

“I can tell you who I’d like to work with as far as Rock legends. Definitely Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters. Of course Linkin Park. Actually, I already worked with Travis Barker on a couple of things. Gotta let the drummer get some. Possibly Paramore, Hayley Williams. We collaborated before [on 'Airplanes'], but I want to collaborate on the Rock side.”

RELATED: B.o.B. – A Day In The Life [The Hip Hop Dance Experience]

Dave Grohl Re-Joins Queens Of The Stone Age

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With the Foo Fighters currently taking a break (but “definitely not breaking up”), frontman Dave Grohl has found a new way to stay busy — you know, aside from directing documentaries — reclaiming his seat behind the kit for the Queens of the Stone Age.

In a new interview with BBC Radio 1′s Zane Lowe, Queens mastermind Josh Homme revealed that Grohl would be re-joining the band to play drums on their upcoming album, replacing Joey Castillo, who has left the group for reasons still unclear.

The Queens also posted a photo of their studio mixing board on their Facebook page, which shows Grohl’s name written alongside Homme’s, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen‘s and bassist Michael “Shoes” Shuman’s.

Grohl famously smashed the drums on QOTSA‘s 2002 breakthrough Songs For The Deaf, and toured with them in support of the album. Homme returned the favor by playing guitars on the Foo’s 2005 album In Your Honor, and the two formed the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures — along with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones — in 2009.

There’s still no firm release date for the new Queens of the Stone Age disc (their first since 2007′s Era Vulgaris), though they’ve been working on it since August, and Homme told Lowe that the album would be in stores ahead of the band’s performance at the U.K.’s Download Festival in June.

Foo Fighters ‘Definitely Not Breaking Up,’ Rep Confirms

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During the Foo Fighters‘ Saturday night set at the Global Music Festival, frontman Dave Grohl made it clear that it would be a while before the band took the stage again, telling the 60,000 in New York’s Central Park:

“This is it, man. We don’t have any [shows] after this. This is the show where we come out and we play as many songs as we can in a short period of time, because honestly, I don’t know when we’re going to do it again.”

Grohl went on to punctuate his point by declaring “last chance to dance!” before the Foos launched into the set-closing “Everlong,” and though he tempered his statements by adding “without making a big deal out of it,” it seems that some of his fans — or some overzealous members of the media — may have missed that fact, as, within hours, news began to spread that the Foo Fighters were calling it quits.

So on Monday (October 1), MTV News reached out to a spokesperson for the band seeking clarification on Grohl’s comments, and he told us, in no uncertain terms: “They are definitely not breaking up.”

So there you have it. Of course, the spokesperson wouldn’t comment on just how long of a break the Foos would be taking. Though, to be fair it’s not all that uncommon for bands to cool their heels for an extended period of time after a lengthy world tour (or two). In fact, this isn’t the first time rumors of the Foos taking an extended hiatus have surfaced (or the first time the band has been forced to deny said rumors, either). Grohl made similar comments during the band’s headlining stand at England’s Reading Festival last August, and would subsequently dismiss any rumors of a hiatus on Twitter, writing “Relax … I was talking TO England ABOUT England … stop eavesdropping Internets!”

And while he may not have any Foo Fighter shows on the horizon for the foreseeable future, Grohl’s still staying busy. He’s currently putting the finishing touches on his “Sound City” documentary, which is, as always, “coming soon.”

The Black Keys Rock New York’s Global Citizen Festival

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NEW YORK — Given, well, everything about the Black Keys, they’re probably not the first band that comes to mind when you think of “global ambassadors.”

And yet, after a decade of grinding it out, and a string of hits that stretches back three albums — at least — they’ve become one of the most popular rock acts on the planet (even though they’d probably never admit it), which is why they seemed such a natural fit for Saturday (September 29) night’s Global Citizen Festival, the culmination of the Global Poverty Project‘s campaign to end extreme poverty around the world.

Of course, in keeping with their blue-collar roots, they didn’t use their time on stage to discuss politics. instead, they simply rolled up their sleeves (or, in frontman Dan Auerbach‘s case, tossed off his leather jacket) and tore through a set of searing, hard-riffing rock, one that had the 60,000 who packed Central Park’s Great Lawn losing their collective minds.

a3554 black keys embed The Black Keys Rock New Yorks Global Citizen Festival

Kicking things off with “Howlin’ For You,” the Keys ran roughshod through their back catalog, making stops at slow-burners like “Next Girl” and “Nova Baby,” going full-throttle through chortling chuggers like “Just The Same Old Thing” and “Gold on the Ceiling,” and letting things boil over on fuzzed-out hits like “Little Black Submarines” and “Lonely Boy.”

Auerbach spent the set pulling elastic solos out of his menagerie of axes, and drummer Patrick Carney — who, organizers pointed out to MTV News, had just come back from his honeymoon — based with reckless abandon. Aided by their backing band, they blasted through muscly songs like “Moneymaker” and “Tighten Up,” and, by the time their hour was up, had the throngs wanting more.

With a lineup that boasted sets from the Foo Fighters and Neil Young with Crazy Horse, they were sure to get even more. But for 60 minutes, the Black Keys held the thousands in their hands, rocked hard, and didn’t let up for a single instance. Charity concerts should always be this awesome. And this unassuming.

LIVE NOW: Global Festival Concert In Central Park Featuring K’naan

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ff842 knaan embed LIVE NOW: Global Festival Concert In Central Park Featuring Knaan

The Global Citizen Festival is live from Central Park in New York right now, with headlining sets from artists including K’Naan. Hit play above to watch.

Additional headliners include the Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Neil Young Crazy Horse and Band of Horses, and the show aims to be the biggest syndicated music charity webcast and broadcast ever.

Among the many partners planning to broadcast the show focused on spurring action to end extreme poverty are: Palladia (like MTV, a division of Viacom Inc.), as well as VH1.com, NYTimes.com and YouTube. The first-of-its-kind collaboration between global online and broadcast outlets will include full performances and remarks from the speakers on tap to attend.

In addition to host Katie Couric, the host committee for the festival includes actresses Olivia Wilde (on behalf of the Half the Sky movement), Sophia Bush (Pencils of Promise) and Minka Kelly (World Food Program), singers Selena Gomez (U.S. Fund for UNICEF) and Katharine McPhee (Malaria No More), as well as economist Jeffrey Sachs, Twitter co-creator Jack Dorsey and model Erin Hetherton.

“The Global Poverty Project is proud to have such partners to help carry the message of the Global Citizen Festival around the world,” said Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of GPP in a statement. “This is a chance to take action towards ending extreme poverty in our generation.”

The Festival, in partnership with ten nonprofit organizations, has been timed to celebrate achievements and create awareness around the UN General Assembly in New York, when world leaders will convene to debate the Millennium Development Goals and make commitments to end extreme poverty.

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Black Keys Rock Global Citizen Festival Today: Tune In!

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For those of you who are already fans of the Black Keys, the fact that they write, produce and perform such great music is reason enough to follow each and every musical move they make. Another reason is because they are headlining the Global Citizen Festival today (September 29) in New York City‘s historic Central Park.

The show will also feature performances by Foo Fighters, Neil Young Crazy Horse, Band of Horses and K’Naan and aims to be the biggest syndicated music charity webcast and broadcast ever, so get ready to tune into the show beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET today on MTV.com or other online outlets broadcasting the show, such as Palladia (a division of Viacom Inc., like MTV), as well as VH1.com, NYTimes.com and YouTube.

0ae8c black keys embed Black Keys Rock Global Citizen Festival Today: Tune In!

Other stars aligned with this very good cause are host Katie Couric, actresses Olivia Wilde (on behalf of the Half the Sky movement), Sophia Bush (Pencils of Promise) and Minka Kelly (World Food Program), singers Selena Gomez (U.S. Fund for UNICEF) and Katharine McPhee (Malaria No More), as well as economist Jeffrey Sachs, Twitter co-creator Jack Dorsey and model Erin Heatherton.

“The Global Poverty Project is proud to have such partners to help carry the message of the Global Citizen Festival around the world,” said Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of GPP in a statement. “This is a chance to take action towards ending extreme poverty in our generation.”

Don’t forget: The Global Citizen Festival will air live on Palladia today beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET as well as live-stream on MTV.com and VH1.com. For users unable to tune in to the live digital stream, it will repeat at midnight and 8 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Global Citizen Festival, K’naan Brings Largest Charity Concert To NYC’s Central Park

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0dbe1 global Global Citizen Festival, Knaan Brings Largest Charity Concert To NYCs Central Park

The Global Citizen Festival is set to take place in New York‘s Central Park on September 29 with headlining sets by artists such as Somalia rapper K’Naan.

Additional headliners include the Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Neil Young Crazy Horse and Band of Horses, and the show aims to be the biggest syndicated music charity webcast and broadcast ever.

Among the many partners planning to broadcast the show focused on spurring action to end extreme poverty are: Palladia (like MTV, a division of Viacom Inc.), as well as VH1.com, NYTimes.com and YouTube. The first-of-its-kind collaboration between global online and broadcast outlets will include full performances and remarks from the speakers on tap to attend.

In addition to host Katie Couric, the host committee for the festival includes actresses Olivia Wilde (on behalf of the Half the Sky movement), Sophia Bush (Pencils of Promise) and Minka Kelly (World Food Program), singers Selena Gomez (U.S. Fund for UNICEF) and Katharine McPhee (Malaria No More), as well as economist Jeffrey Sachs, Twitter co-creator Jack Dorsey and model Erin Hetherton.

“The Global Poverty Project is proud to have such partners to help carry the message of the Global Citizen Festival around the world,” said Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of GPP in a statement. “This is a chance to take action towards ending extreme poverty in our generation.”

The Festival, in partnership with ten nonprofit organizations, has been timed to celebrate achievements and create awareness around the UN General Assembly in New York, when world leaders will convene to debate the Millennium Development Goals and make commitments to end extreme poverty.

The broadcast will air live on September 29 beginning at 4 p.m. ET and then again at 12 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET globally for the worldwide audience.

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Global Citizen Festival, Black Keys Bring Largest Charity Concert To NYC’s Central Park

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New York‘s Central Park, the site of countless iconic concerts, will once again aim for the history books on September 29 when fans fill the lawn for the Global Citizen Festival. Headlined by the Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Neil Young Crazy Horse, Band of Horses and K’Naan, the show aims to be the biggest syndicated music charity webcast and broadcast ever.

Among the many partners planning to broadcast the show focused on spurring action to end extreme poverty are: Palladia (like MTV, a division of Viacom Inc.), as well as VH1.com, NYTimes.com and YouTube. The first-of-its-kind collaboration between global online and broadcast outlets will include full performances and remarks from the speakers on tap to attend.

In addition to host Katie Couric, the host committee for the festival includes actresses Olivia Wilde (on behalf of the Half the Sky movement), Sophia Bush (Pencils of Promise) and Minka Kelly (World Food Program), singers Selena Gomez (U.S. Fund for UNICEF) and Katharine McPhee (Malaria No More), as well as economist Jeffrey Sachs, Twitter co-creator Jack Dorsey and model Erin Hetherton.

“The Global Poverty Project is proud to have such partners to help carry the message of the Global Citizen Festival around the world,” said Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of GPP in a statement. “This is a chance to take action towards ending extreme poverty in our generation.”

The Festival, in partnership with ten nonprofit organizations, has been timed to celebrate achievements and create awareness around the UN General Assembly in New York, when world leaders will convene to debate the Millennium Development Goals and make commitments to end extreme poverty.

The broadcast will air live on September 29 beginning at 4 p.m. ET and then again at 12 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET globally for the worldwide audience.