The 2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Beyonce's Parents, Mathew And Tina Knowles, Skip Divorce Hearing
Tina filed for divorce last year after 29 years of marriage.
By Kara Warner
Beyonce and Tina Knowles
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images
Despite the fact that Beyoncé's mother, Tina Knowles, filed for divorce from B's father, Mathew, nearly a year ago, it appears the couple might not be headed for a split after all.
According to TMZ, Mathew and Tina were expected to appear at court in Harris County, Texas, on Monday, but no one showed up, so the judge dismissed the case. There is no official word from Mathew or Tina's reps about a possible reconciliation.
Tina filed divorce papers last November after 29 years of marriage to Mathew. Mathew was reportedly hit with a paternity suit in October 2009 from a woman named Alexsandra Wright, who was then six months pregnant with a child she claimed was Knowles'. A paternity test later proved that the child was, indeed, Mathew's. Neither Tina nor Mathew commented on whether that incident precipitated her divorce filing.
Both parents have played a pivotal role in Beyoncé's career, with Mathew quitting his job at IBM nearly 20 years ago to begin managing the singer's early group, Girl's Tyme, which eventually morphed into Destiny's Child. He has had producer credits on many of B's projects, including the 2009 film "Obsessed," and he is the founder of Music World Entertainment, a label that, through Columbia Records, has released albums by Beyoncé's sister, Solange Knowles; Sunshine Anderson; and former DC members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Tina Knowles is a stylist and one of the principals in House of Deréon, a fashion line she helped launched in 2004 with Beyoncé. She also designed many of DC's one-of-a-kind costumes early in their career.
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Britney Spears - Piece of Me
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Wayne Isham
- Album: Blackout
Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump
Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry Pick Up Platinum Certifications
Releases by Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, B.o.B, Bruno Mars also recognized by recording-industry organization RIAA.
By James Montgomery
Justin Bieber
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Recording Industry Association of America handed out their latest round of gold and platinum certifications ... and if your name was Ke$ha or Justin Bieber, well, then it was a very good day for you.
Ke$ha's Animal was certified gold (meaning it passed the 500,000-sales mark) and a spate of her digital singles went multiplatinum, with "Tik Tok" being downloaded more than 5 million times and "Your Love Is My Drug" racking up another 2 million. "Blah Blah Blah" and "Take It Off" both were certified gold, meaning that, all told, she's sold more than 8.5 million downloads to date.
Bieber earned his first-ever multiplatinum award, as the RIAA certified sales of his My World 2.0 album at more than 2 million copies. "Baby," his team-up with Ludacris, also was certified as double platinum.
Wednesday also was a great day to be the Black Eyed Peas, as their massive tune "I Gotta Feeling" was certified 6-times platinum (that's more than 6 million downloads) — making it the RIAA's highest-ever digital-song certification.
Following (somewhat) close behind the Peas were the likes of Katy Perry, B.o.B, Taio Cruz and Rihanna, who had their respective mega singles "California Gurls," "Airplanes," "Break Your Heart" and "Don't Stop the Music" certified as triple platinum. Perry and Rihanna also each picked up a double-platinum certification — for "Teenage Dream" and "Rude Boy," respectively — bringing their total hauls to more than 5 million units sold.
The Bruno Mars track "Just the Way You Are" was certified platinum, giving the crooner his very first solo plaque. B.o.B's "Magic" and former "American Idol" champ Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying" also picked up platinum certifications.
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Beyonce Says She Takes Pregnancy Rumors In Stride
'I just hope that one day, when I decide to be pregnant that people are happy for me,' superstar jokes about year-round bump-watch.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News
In 2010 alone, Beyoncé was pregnant at least twice, if you believe the rumors.
While the singer shot down the talk both times, she says that at this point she's pretty much to used to people speculating about potential baby bumps. "I mean, it's a part of it. At this point they said I've been pregnant like eight times, so I'm kind of used to it," Beyoncé told MTV News at a screening for her concert DVD, "I Am ... World Tour," in New York City.
"I just hope that one day, when I decide to be pregnant that people are happy for me, 'cause I'm like gosh, like, everyone's like, 'Oh god, please! She's been pregnant 100 times.' One day, hopefully, I will be. So whatever; it's a part of being a celebrity, I guess."
Her mom, Tina Knowles, was also at the screening and when asked if she thought that 2011 might be the year we give up gossiping about Bey's pregnancy status, she played it cool. "You have to ask her those personal things," she said. "I don't know!"
But Tina was also the lady to shoot down the baby-bump rumors last month when she sat down with talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres.
"I heard that, but I'm here to clear the rumors up. The truth is it's not Beyoncé that's pregnant, it's me," she joked. "No, it's not true. Not right now. I'm looking forward to it. With all the rumors, by now I should have about five or six grandchildren."
What do you think of the constant speculation about Bey and a baby bump? Tell us in the comments!
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Michael Jackson - Thriller (Long Vers.)
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
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New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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'Harry Potter' Brushes Past 'Tangled' Over Thanksgiving Weekend
'Deathly Hallows, Part 1' continues to enchant moviegoers.
By Josh Wigler
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I"
Photo: Warner Bros.
As people across the country recover from their Thanksgiving turkey comas, it's clear that moviegoers remained energetic throughout the five-day holiday box-office weekend. Thanks to the combined efforts of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" and "Tangled," this past weekend was the second-highest-grossing Thanksgiving period on record, second only to last year when "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and "The Blind Side" battled it out.
"Harry Potter" led the charge, soaring away from the five-day weekend with $76.3 million in its pocket, $50.4 million of which was made during the standard Friday-through-Sunday timeframe. The seventh installment in the beloved novel-turned-film series has earned $220.4 million after two weekends in theaters, an impressive result that's bound to get shattered when the second half of "Deathly Hallows" arrives next summer.
But Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't earn first place without a fight, as Disney's "Tangled" provided some stiff competition. Both movies targeted similar family-friendly crowds, and while "Harry Potter" won in the end, it was a close race. "Tangled" ended its five-day debut with $69 million, less than $10 million behind "Harry." It was even closer when examining the standard three-day totals of each film, where "Potter" outpaced "Tangled" by less than $1 million. Of course, it can't be ignored that "Tangled" debuted in almost 2,500 3-D locations — meaning higher ticket prices — while Warner Bros. opted to skip 3-D altogether for the first "Deathly Hallows" installment.
"Tangled" performed the best of the weekend's new releases, with Cher and Christina Aguilera's "Burlesque" coming in a distant second with a $17.2 million fourth-place finish. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway's "Love & Other Drugs" and Dwayne Johnson's "Faster" fell flat, arriving in sixth and seventh place with $14 million and $12.2 million respectively over the five-day holiday weekend.
The Box-Office Top Five
#1 "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" ($76.3 million)
#2 "Tangled" ($69 million)
#3 "Megamind" ($17.6 million)
#4 "Burlesque" ($17.2 million)
#5 "Unstoppable" ($16.2 million)
Upcoming Releases
"The Warrior's Way" kicks its way into the box-office arena next weekend, while director Darren Aronofsky and actress Natalie Portman's "Black Swan" dances in limited release.
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1," "Tangled" and "Megamind."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Adam Lambert's 'Whole Lotta Love': The Story Behind The Cover
Glam rocker tackled the legendary 1970 Led Zeppelin song for 'American Idol' rock night.
By Gil Kaufman
Adam Lambert performs "Whole Lotta Love" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: R. Mickshaw/Getty Images/ Fox
Imagine a freight train speeding toward you at midnight. Or a rockslide barreling down a hill as you try to outrace it. That's the feeling of the ominous, chugging Jimmy Page riff that kicks off Led Zeppelin's 1970 Stonehenge of rock, "Whole Lotta Love." And that's before singer Robert Plant leans into one of the nastiest, ecstatic rock screams this side of the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."
That's the song Adam Lambert chose to sing on "American Idol" rock night Tuesday (May 5), and, needless to say, it was a challenge that the eyeliner-loving Los Angeles stage veteran was more than up for, hitting a series of high notes and rock screams that would have made Plant proud. It was a risky maneuver that paid off for Lambert, who chose a tune that came in at #75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
The legendary British rock act recorded the tribute to Chicago blues icon Willie Dixon during their second U.S. tour after working it out in their live show, including it on their 1969 classic album Led Zeppelin II. Like many of the songs Zeppelin performed early in their career, "Love" was a blues standard turned on its head with a heavy dose of crunching psychedelic guitar and thundering drums, courtesy of late drummer John Bonham. The song was based on a 1962 tune by another blues forefather, Muddy Waters, called "You Need Love," which was penned by Dixon.
For Zeppelin's version, Plant customized the lyrics by adding some lyrical quotes from a few other songs Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, "Back Door Man" and "Shake For Me," nailing the tricky vocal in a single take. It was also inspired by 1966's "You Need Loving" from the British rock group the Small Faces, for whom Zeppelin had great affection, but they also did not credit Dixon for his part in writing the original lyrics. The song became Zeppelin's first U.S. single and their only U.S. top 10 hit. Though their manager would not let them release singles in the U.K. because he thought it cannibalized album sales, the song was finally released as the band's only British single in 1997.
Dixon sued Zeppelin over the song in 1985, claiming it borrowed too heavily from his "You Need Love," and Zeppelin reached an agreement with him, with Dixon using the money he received to set up a program that provided musical instruments for schools. A cornerstone of heavy rock, the tune -- which was the theme song for the long-running British countdown show "Top of the Pops" in the 1970s and '80s -- has been covered by dozens of artists over the years, from Tina Turner and Ben Harper to Prince, Slash, Leona Lewis, Train's Pat Monahan, the London Symphony Orchestra and Jane's Addiction.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Britney Spears To Hit Studio With Max Martin, Dr. Luke This Week
'I'm pretty sure it's a smash,' Spears' manager tweets about song for her upcoming album.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
For those wondering what the deal is with Britney Spears' next album, her manager, Adam Leber, tweeted an update about the princess of pop's musical endeavors as she works on the follow-up to 2008's Circus.
"Brit is recording a big big BIG new song on Friday with #MaxMartin & @TheDrLuke. I'm pretty sure it's a smash!" he wrote. Leber recently said that the album would sound "progressive" and that ''it'll be a departure from what you've heard" in the past.
Dr. Luke retweeted Leber's message, as well as this update for all the Britney fans out there: "Please continue to wait 4 Britney's new song!!!!" Luke worked with Spears on her "Circus" track for her last album.
As for Martin, he and Spears have a long history of making music together, having worked on "3," "... Baby One More Time" and "If U Seek Amy."
"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke recently shared about working with Britney, who is expected to release music sometime in early 2011. "But most importantly, I want to make good music ... I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music. And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."
Spears has also hit the studio with producer Danja, who worked on her song "Gimme More." He explained, "I'm definitely gonna do my part and try to make it hard-hitting, up-tempo, high-energy. That's what I think we need and that's what I'm gonna shoot for."
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'Glee' Takes On Britney Spears
Monday, November 29, 2010
Led Zeppelin - Heartbreaker
- Artist: Led Zeppelin
- Label: Atlantic
- Album: Hiawatha Express
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Beyonce's Banned Perfume Ad Defended By Company
The spot is 'intended to reflect the singer Beyoncé's personal 'sexy chic' style,' says fragrance maker Coty.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé in her ad for Heat
Photo: Coty UK
Beyoncé's steamy new ad for her perfume, Heat, recently gathered some heat of its own from the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority — which banned the commercial from the country's daytime TV rotation because of its sexy imagery. Now the company that makes Heat is speaking out about the sanction brought against the ad, which features the singer in a skin-tight, hot-red satin minidress, touching herself and showing some skin.
In a statement from perfume maker Coty that was posted on AceShowbiz.com, the company notes that it doesn't think there's anything too explicit about the TV spot, maintaining that it is "intended to reflect the singer Beyoncé's personal 'sexy chic' style." And while Beyoncé's cleavage is exposed at certain parts of the commercial, Coty added that it's not "overtly graphic or explicitly sexual and at no point was Beyoncé naked."
The company continued, "It was aimed at a vast selection of music programs to target a young adult audience. It would therefore be consistent with the expectations of viewers of those sorts of programs."
In a statement posted on its website, the advertising watchdog said that it has received several complaints about the Jake Nava-directed spot, which initially was aired throughout the day during family programming and now only will be shown after 7:30 p.m. The organization said, "We considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children."
Do you think Beyoncé's commercial is too sexy to air in the day? Tell us in the comments!
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Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
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Justin Bieber's My Worlds Acoustic: A Cheat Sheet
Get the scoop on the singer's latest album, out Black Friday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images
On Black Friday, the year's busiest shopping day by far, Justin Bieber will release his album, My Worlds Acoustic. It will feature one new track, "Pray," as well as acoustic reinterpretations of some of Bieber's biggest songs from his first two LPs, My World and My World 2.0.
While fans have gotten the chance to hear "Pray" as well as acoustic teases of "Favorite Girl" (when he stopped by Ryan Seacrest's radio show this month) and "Never Say Never," his musical director, Dan Kanter, tweeted what the rest of the album will sound like, saying, "Loving the percussion... Cajones and congas! Definitely an influence from our travels around the world!"
As for "Pray," Bieber has said he was inspired by a track from the King of Pop himself. "It's a very uplifting song, very motivational," he said. "It definitely comes from the heart. It's very beautiful. I definitely thought of Michael [Jackson's] 'Man in the Mirror' when I was writing it."
The album, which also features "One Time," "Baby," "One Less Lonely Girl, "Down to Earth," "U Smile," "Stuck in the Moment" and "That Should Be Me," was recorded because Bieber wanted to silence his critics. "I really think that I did an acoustic album because there's a lot of haters out there that say, 'Justin Bieber can't sing. His voice is all Auto-Tuned,' " he said. "And there's a lot with production, it kind of drowns out your voice, and it takes away from the singer, over the synths and everything.
"I think kind of stripping it down," he added, "and having it kind of really mellow and being able to hear my voice is why I wanted to do it."
Will you be picking up Bieber's latest on Black Friday? Let us know in the comments!
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Leslie Nielsen Dead At 84
'Airplane!' and 'Naked Gun' star passed away on Sunday.
By Gil Kaufman
Leslie Nielsen
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Leslie Nielsen has died.
Surely, you can't be serious. Yes, the comedy great and "Airplane!" star passed away on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 84 after being treated for pneumonia. And don't call me Shirley.
It was lines like the above, delivered in Nielsen's patented deadpan, that gave the dramatic stage and screen actor an unlikely comedic revival later in life.
After beginning his career in the 1950s as a matinee idol, taking on the roles of dashing heroes in films such as the sci-fi classic "Forbidden Planet" and the stalwart captain in 1972's "The Poseidon Adventure," the Canadian-born actor switched gears in 1980 and took a chance with a slapstick disaster-movie spoof that would forever change his life.
Nielsen was at first reluctant to take on the role of the clueless Dr. Alan Rumack, but the white-haired, hilariously dopey MD became the comedic find of a lifetime, as the actor managed to steal the show in a movie packed with dozens of classic one-liners thanks to his impeccable timing and serious delivery.
It was an unlikely, but ultimately lucrative left turn in a long career that spanned more than 100 movies and 1,500 television appearances.
Born Leslie William Nielsen in Regina, Saskatchewan, on February 11, 1926, Nielsen signed up with the Royal Canadian Air Force before turning 18 and trained as an aerial gunner during World War II, but never saw action. He tried his hand at radio and studied acting, landing his television debut in 1950 as part of the "Actor's Studio" TV series. He spent the next several years bouncing around different TV shows, including "Lights Out" and "Tales of Tomorrow," and working in a Broadway play before landing his film debut in 1956 in "Ransom!"
Even as his movie career blossomed, Nielsen kept returning to TV to play earnest heroes in shows like "Rawhide" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." He continued bouncing back and forth between the big and small screens throughout the 1960s and '70s, appearing in hit shows like "M*A*S*H" and "Barnaby Jones" while taking small roles in little-seen films such as "Project: Kill" and "Day of the Animals."
By the late 1970s, he was on the "Fantasy Island" and "The Love Boat" celebrity-cameo circuit when producers/directors/writers Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker came knocking with "Airplane!" The slapstick film was not only a box-office success, but it recast Nielsen in a whole new light that the actor clearly relished. Following "Airplane!" he again stuck with the Zuckers for their six-episode 1982 "Police Squad!" TV series, in which he again spoofed a popular genre he had once played it straight in, police procedurals, giving the world the bumbling detective Frank Drebin.
He spent the rest of the 1980s mostly doing comedic cameos in films and spot appearances on series such as "227" and "Highway to Heaven." Mining the "Police Squad!" vein once more, he hit paydirt again in 1988 with the movie spoof "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" in which he revived the Drebin character. A series of sequels followed in 1991 and 1994, but Nielsen would never again capture the comedic imagination as he did at his second career peak.
By the 2000s he was mostly seen in cameos in the "Scary Movie" franchise — including a spot in the upcoming fifth installment — and other spoofs such as "2001: A Space Travesty."
What's your favorite Leslie Nielsen line? Share it in the comments!
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Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That's News To Him
'I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be,' singer says.
By Chris Harris
Chris Cornell
Photo: MTV News
Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he's been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.
Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn't take part in the tour.
"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," Cornell told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour."
Cornell's denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. "They did it for fun," Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show "Todd N Tyler Radio Empire." "I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert."
Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London's O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.
According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, " 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].' "
"And he can sing the sh-- out of Zeppelin," Snider added. "They're going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in."
In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. "We are trying out a couple of singers," he said. "We want to do it. It's sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there."
But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren't interested in finding a Plant clone. "It's got to be right," he said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard."
Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn't see it that way.
"It makes me happy that there's this perception that I have a group of fans that I'm now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be," he said. "But I've been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I'd done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren't necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.
"It feels like I've done this so many times that when it's presented to me as being a departure, I feel that's a misconception," he added. "I feel like that's my theme at this point."
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Akon Disagrees With Will.i.am Over Michael Jackson's Posthumous Release
'These records would have come out whether he was alive or dead,' 'Kon says.
By James Dinh
Michael Jackson and Akon
Photo: Getty Images
As with many other posthumous releases, the forthcoming Michael Jackson album, Michael, is already creating controversy. After will.i.am told Entertainment Weekly that he thought it was "disrespectful" to release the collection of previously unheard material from the King of Pop, fellow collaborator Akon struck back.
'Kon, whose "Hold My Hand" collaboration with Jackson dropped on Monday as the LP's first single, insists that releasing new music is actually a way of honoring the icon.
"I think that's probably will's opinion," Akon told TMZ of the Black Eyed Peas frontman's statement. "Me personally, I think that's keeping his legacy alive, if you ask me. I don't see anything disrespectful about it. He got his people taking care of it. We all did records that we actually worked on together on the album. These records would have come out whether he was alive or dead, so I think this actually to helps keep his legacy alive. I honestly disagree with that."
The hip-hop star explained that he hopes "Hold My Hand" will reach "another level" and be properly distributed as he and the Jackson team had originally planned.
Last week, will.i.am slammed the project, suggesting that there's no honor in the upcoming release, due in stores December 14. "Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are," he told EW. "To say that what [Michael] contributed during his life wasn't enough. He just wasn't any ordinary artist. He was a hands-on person. To me it's disrespectful. There's no honoring."
Not only did Akon call his sessions with MJ "amazing," but he also gushed that it was nothing short of a dream come true saying, "He was a very incredible person, very creative. That was really a dream come true on my end. I enjoyed every moment of it."
Do you agree with Akon or will.i.am on the new Michael Jackson album? Share your thoughts below!
Related ArtistsHilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump
The Situation Hopes To Go From 'Jersey Shore' To Big Screen
'I would have to say that I'm looking forward to possibly doing a movie or so,' he hints to MTV News at the American Music Awards.
By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Tim Kash
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino
Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage
He's got his own clothing line, a book, a couple of moneymaking trademark phrases, a hilarious abstinence commercial with Bristol Palin, a hit TV show, a couple mill in the bank and, of course, those abs. But what "Jersey Shore" breakout star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino really wants to do is ... act.
MTV News caught up with the former underwear model on the red carpet at Sunday night's American Music Awards, where the Sitch told us he's got his eye on jumping to the big screen.
"In the upcoming year, I would have to say that I'm looking forward to possibly doing a movie or so," Sorrentino said. Asked what kind or roles he's coveting, the onetime "Dancing With the Stars" contestant teased, "I want to surprise everybody. They might be coming to something soon."
While an action movie would seem to be the way to go for the buff GTL fanatic, Sitch was cagey on that angle, saying it could be a shoot-'em-up situation — or something entirely different. "It could be something in the middle. I don't know. ... Hopefully it works out. Other than that, there could be also some reality in the future as well. I'm right in between, I don't know. I'm like in college right now, about to graduate. I don't know what's going on. Maybe I'll stay another year, maybe I'll graduate, I don't know."
In the meantime, he's focused on hawking his book, "Here's the Situation: A Guide to Creeping on Chicks, Avoiding Grenades, and Getting in Your GTL on the Jersey Shore," and he recently told MTV News that the sky's the limit for him.
"I've realized what I want to do in life in that I just love being in front of the camera," he said. "I love being an entertainer. It's almost been a lifelong journey to find out what I wanted to do. I'm so happy to be here, and everything's been going great."
What kind of movie would you like to see the Situation in? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Related PhotosMichelle Obama Michelle Rodriguez Michelle Trachtenberg Mila Kunis Milla Jovovich
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry Pick Up Platinum Certifications
Releases by Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, B.o.B, Bruno Mars also recognized by recording-industry organization RIAA.
By James Montgomery
Justin Bieber
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Recording Industry Association of America handed out their latest round of gold and platinum certifications ... and if your name was Ke$ha or Justin Bieber, well, then it was a very good day for you.
Ke$ha's Animal was certified gold (meaning it passed the 500,000-sales mark) and a spate of her digital singles went multiplatinum, with "Tik Tok" being downloaded more than 5 million times and "Your Love Is My Drug" racking up another 2 million. "Blah Blah Blah" and "Take It Off" both were certified gold, meaning that, all told, she's sold more than 8.5 million downloads to date.
Bieber earned his first-ever multiplatinum award, as the RIAA certified sales of his My World 2.0 album at more than 2 million copies. "Baby," his team-up with Ludacris, also was certified as double platinum.
Wednesday also was a great day to be the Black Eyed Peas, as their massive tune "I Gotta Feeling" was certified 6-times platinum (that's more than 6 million downloads) — making it the RIAA's highest-ever digital-song certification.
Following (somewhat) close behind the Peas were the likes of Katy Perry, B.o.B, Taio Cruz and Rihanna, who had their respective mega singles "California Gurls," "Airplanes," "Break Your Heart" and "Don't Stop the Music" certified as triple platinum. Perry and Rihanna also each picked up a double-platinum certification — for "Teenage Dream" and "Rude Boy," respectively — bringing their total hauls to more than 5 million units sold.
The Bruno Mars track "Just the Way You Are" was certified platinum, giving the crooner his very first solo plaque. B.o.B's "Magic" and former "American Idol" champ Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying" also picked up platinum certifications.
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Lady Gaga Cameo Rumored For 'Muppets' Movie
Plot of reboot is said to involve Miss Piggy ending up as Gaga-esque character.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga gives Kermit the Frog a kiss at the 2009 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
She's already worn them and been escorted by them, so it makes sense that Lady Gaga now may be joining the Muppets, in a reboot of their long-running film series due in theaters next year.
This is according to Production Weekly, an industry publication that chronicles film and television projects in pre-production and development, which on Thursday tweeted that they were "hearing that [actors] Eric Stonestreet, John Krasinski and Ed Helms may be in Lady Gaga's entourage for 'The Muppets.' "
By logical extension, that would mean that Gaga herself could be filming a cameo for the movie. And it lends credence to earlier reports that "How I Met Your Mother" star Jason Segel — who is writing the script for the new "Muppets" movie — was basing the story line around the idea that "Miss Piggy ends up becoming like a Lady Gaga-esque character living in Europe."
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the matter, but if LG does show up in the new "Muppets" film, we expect a few scenes with Kermit the Frog, her date to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Their appearance on the red carpet — not to mention the smooch they shared — had gossipmongers whispering that the two were an item. But Kermit would later deny those rumors, telling People that he "just gave Lady Gaga a ride to the VMAs, and when [she] left her credentials in the limo, I had to bring them to her."
Of course, that angered Kermit's longtime beau Miss Piggy, which had some rather disastrous results. "After Lady Gaga and I were seen on the red carpet together, well ... Miss Piggy got a little jealous," Kermit said. "But I definitely did get a ride home — in the trunk!"
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Michael Jackson - Beat It
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: Bob Giraldi
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
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'Cowboys & Aliens' Director Jon Favreau Offers Trailer Play-By-Play
Favreau sits down with MTV News to talk about opening scene, villainous Harrison Ford and a 'mistake' fans found in the sneak peek.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Jon Favreau
Photo: MTV News
"Iron Man" director Jon Favreau sure knows how to cut a trailer. Going back to his sneak peek for the first "Iron Man" — which brought down the house at that year's San Diego Comic-Con — to the debut of the highly anticipated "Cowboys & Aliens" trailer last week, Favreau seems to be an expert at getting fans into a frenzy.
Due in large part to the response from the trailer, and our own excitement for Favreau's upcoming flick, MTV News caught up with the man himself at his editing bay in Santa Monica, California, for a play-by-play look at his titillating teaser.
"This is new for me," Favreau said of commenting on his trailer. "I'm already doing a commentary track on a [trailer]. I'm in the middle of [editing] my director's cut."
Beginning with the first shot — in which a rough-and-tumble Daniel Craig wakes with a start to discover a mysterious metal band on his arm — Favreau addressed the challenge of melding two genres: Western and sci-fi.
"When you're doing a mash-up of two genres, if you play with either of them tongue-in-cheek, the combo is not going to be what's special," he said. "It allowed us to play Western pretty dead straight."
Also, that opening shot will likely be the film's opening sequence too. "It's the first shot — I'm in my director's cut, but right now, this is essentially how the movie starts," Favreau revealed, adding that the credit for that opening goes to executive producer Steven Spielberg. "The writers told me when Spielberg was developing the script, this was one of his big ideas, this [opening] image."
Another arresting image in the teaser is iconic actor Harrison Ford looking not-so-Harrison-Ford-like but rather grizzly and villainous. Favreau explained that he wants fans to see another side of their favorite actor, with shades of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
"When Harrison comes into the movie, how do you separate him from everything he's done? How do you present him in a way that I, as a fan, would want to see him?" Favreau said of the challenge in having Ford portray a seemingly villainous character. "He was always this bastard with a big heart; that's the archetype I like for him.
"Everybody's got kind of a rough edge," Favreau added. "This is a genre film."
One more aspect to touch on, via hundreds of comments on the Internet, is a certain shot in which fans claimed that they could see a wire pulling an actor into the air; Favreau said that was no accident.
"When you see more about the way the aliens work, there is a device that they abduct people with that that is a practical element of," he explained. "It's not a mistake — we didn't miss the paint-out — but thanks to the people playing at home. If you could catch that, I'm very proud."
Favreau ended his first trailer play-by-play with a good-natured "thank you" to all the fans.
"We're working hard. Thanks to all of you for putting wind in our sails," he said. "I'm glad you liked what we put out there."
Check out everything we've got on "Cowboys & Aliens."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
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Ashley Tisdale And Alyson Michalka Shoot Scene For ?Hellcats?
Ashley Tisdale, Alyson Michalka and Sharon Leal were seen on the set of 'Hellcats' in Vancouver, Canada. The new show - which airs on the CW network this Fall - focuses around cheerleaders in a High School setting. Click here to see a preview.I guess since 'Glee' is doing so great, the networks thought to put more shows centered around school on air. Makes sense.Something you'd be interested in watching? Photos by INF Continue reading
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Tom Cruise Leaves Red Roses For Katie Holmes ?Everywhere She Goes?
Katie Holmes is currently out promoting her upcoming movie "The Romantics", so it's the perfect opportunity to ask her about husband Tom Cruise's romantic side.Katie shared a little private tidbit with Parade:
"My husband has red roses for me everywhere I go."Doesn't Tom worry that if a delivery is delayed or doesn't show up or something like that - that she'll be thinking something's wrong? ;) That's a lot to live up to - sending them everywhere she goes! It's very sweet!She also chatted about what drew her to this movie:
"I really loved the script when I read it. It felt a lot like The Big Chill and St. Elmo's Fire and also a little bit of a John Hughes feeling, and I always loved those movies growing up.She shared her respect for the other actors and actresses involved in the film:
"It was great to work with this wonderful cast and director. I was floored by the performances. These guys are such incredible actors. It was really inspiring every single day because you'd watch somebody else do a scene and you'd be like, 'OK, wow. I didn't know that was what it was about.' They brought something so different and wonderful. It was such a great time, I think that's why we all still hang out and we go to dinner often and we're a tight-knit group."Are you looking forward to this movie? I'm excited about the huge, talented cast: Josh Duhamel, Anna Paquin, Elijah Wood, Malin Akerman, Candice Bergen, and Adam Brody. More importantly - how often does your significant other send you flowers?Photos by INF Continue reading
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US embassy cables leak sparks global diplomacy crisis
The United States was catapulted into a worldwide diplomatic crisis today, with the leaking to the Guardian and other international media of more than 250,000 classified cables from its embassies, many sent as recently as February this year.
At the start of a series of daily extracts from the US embassy cables - many of which are designated \"secret\" – the Guardian can disclose that Arab leaders are privately urging an air strike on Iran and that US officials have been instructed to spy on the UN\'s leadership.
These two revelations alone would be likely to reverberate around the world. But the secret dispatches which were obtained by WikiLeaks, the whistlebowers\' website, also reveal Washington\'s evaluation of many other highly sensitive international issues.
These include a major shift in relations between China and North Korea, Pakistan\'s growing instability and details of clandestine US efforts to combat al-Qaida in Yemen.
Among scores of other disclosures that are likely to cause uproar, the cables detail:
• Grave fears in Washington and London over the security of Pakistan\'s nuclear weapons programme
• Alleged links between the Russian government and organised crime.
• Devastating criticism of the UK\'s military operations in Afghanistan.
• Claims of inappropriate behaviour by a member of the British royal family.
The US has particularly intimate dealings with Britain, and some of the dispatches from the London embassy in Grosvenor Square will make uncomfortable reading in Whitehall and Westminster. They range from serious political criticisms of David Cameron to requests for specific intelligence about individual MPs.
The cache of cables contains specific allegations of corruption and against foreign leaders, as well as harsh criticism by US embassy staff of their host governments, from tiny islands in the Caribbean to China and Russia.
The material includes a reference to Vladimir Putin as an \"alpha-dog\", Hamid Karzai as being \"driven by paranoia\" and Angela Merkel allegedly \"avoids risk and is rarely creative\". There is also a comparison between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Adolf Hitler.
The cables name countries involved in financing terror groups, and describe a near \"environmental disaster\" last year over a rogue shipment of enriched uranium. They disclose technical details of secret US-Russian nuclear missile negotiations in Geneva, and include a profile of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who they say is accompanied everywhere by a \"voluptuous blonde\" Ukrainian nurse.
The cables cover secretary of state Hillary Clinton\'s activities under the Obama administration, as well as thousands of files from the George Bush presidency. Clinton personally led frantic damage limitation this weekend as Washington prepared foreign governments for the revelations. She contacted leaders in Germany, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, France and Afghanistan.
US ambassadors in other capitals were instructed to brief their hosts in advance of the release of unflattering pen-portraits or nakedly frank accounts of transactions with the US which they had thought would be kept quiet. Washington now faces a difficult task in convincing contacts around the world that any future conversations will remain confidential.
\"We are all bracing for what may be coming and condemn WikiLeaks for the release of classified material,\" state department spokesman PJ Crowley said. \"It will place lives and interests at risk. It is irresponsible.\"
The state department\'s legal adviser has written to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and his London lawyer, warning that the cables were obtained illegally and that publication would place at risk \"the lives of countless innocent individuals … ongoing military operations … and cooperation between countries\".
The electronic archive of embassy dispatches from around the world was allegedly downloaded by a US soldier earlier this year and passed to WikiLeaks. Assange made them available to the Guardian and four other newspapers: the New York Times, Der Spiegel in Germany, Le Monde in France and El País in Spain. All five plan to publish extracts from the most significant cables, but have decided neither to \"dump\" the entire dataset into the public domain, nor to publish names that would endanger innocent individuals. WikiLeaks says that, contrary to the state department\'s fears, it also initially intends to post only limited cable extracts, and to redact identities.
The cables published today reveal how the US uses its embassies as part of a global espionage network, with diplomats tasked to obtain not just information from the people they meet, but personal details, such as frequent flyer numbers, credit card details and even DNA material.
Classified \"human intelligence directives\" issued in the name of Hillary Clinton or her predecessor, Condoleeza Rice, instruct officials to gather information on military installations, weapons markings, vehicle details of political leaders as well as iris scans, fingerprints and DNA.
The most controversial target was the leadership of the United Nations. That directive requested the specification of telecoms and IT systems used by top UN officials and their staff and details of \"private VIP networks used for official communication, to include upgrades, security measures, passwords, personal encryption keys\".
When the Guardian put this allegation to Crowley, the state department spokesman said: \"Let me assure you: our diplomats are just that, diplomats. They do not engage in intelligence activities. They represent our country around the world, maintain open and transparent contact with other governments as well as public and private figures, and report home. That\'s what diplomats have done for hundreds of years.\"
The dispatches also shed light on older diplomatic issues. One cable, for example, reveals, that Nelson Mandela was \"furious\" when a top adviser stopped him meeting Margaret Thatcher shortly after his release from prison to explain why the ANC objected to her policy of \"constructive engagement\" with the apartheid regime. \"We understand Mandela was keen for a Thatcher meeting but that [appointments secretary Zwelakhe] Sisulu argued successfully against it,\" according to the cable. It continues: \"Mandela has on several occasions expressed his eagerness for an early meeting with Thatcher to express the ANC\'s objections to her policy. We were consequently surprised when the meeting didn\'t materialise on his mid-April visit to London and suspected that ANC hardliners had nixed Mandela\'s plans.\"
The US embassy cables are marked \"Sipdis\" – secret internet protocol distribution. They were compiled as part of a programme under which selected dispatches, considered moderately secret but suitable for sharing with other agencies, would be automatically loaded on to secure embassy websites, and linked with the military\'s Siprnet internet system.
They are classified at various levels up to \"SECRET NOFORN\" [no foreigners]. More than 11,000 are marked secret, while around 9,000 of the cables are marked noforn. The embassies which sent most cables were Ankara, Baghdad, Amman, Kuwait and Tokyo.
More than 3 million US government personnel and soldiers, many extremely junior, are cleared to have potential access to this material, even though the cables contain the identities of foreign informants, often sensitive contacts in dictatorial regimes. Some are marked \"protect\" or \"strictly protect\".
Last spring, 22-year-old intelligence analyst Bradley Manning was charged with leaking many of these cables, along with a gun-camera video of an Apache helicopter crew mistakenly killing two Reuters news agency employees in Baghdad in 2007, which was subsequently posted by WikiLeaks. Manning is facing a court martial.
In July and October WikiLeaks also published thousands of leaked military reports from Afghanistan and Iraq. These were made available for analysis beforehand to the Guardian, along with Der Spiegel and the New York Times.
A former hacker, Adrian Lamo, who reported Manning to the US authorities, said the soldier had told him in chat messages that the cables revealed \"how the first world exploits the third, in detail\".
He also said, according to Lamo, that Clinton \"and several thousand diplomats around the world are going to have a heart attack when they wake up one morning and find an entire repository of classified foreign policy is available in searchable format to the public … everywhere there\'s a US post … there\'s a diplomatic scandal that will be revealed\".
Asked why such sensitive material was posted on a network accessible to thousands of government employees, the state department spokesman told the Guardian: \"The 9/11 attacks and their aftermath revealed gaps in intra-governmental information sharing. Since the attacks of 9/11, the US government has taken significant steps to facilitate information sharing. These efforts were focused on giving diplomatic, military, law enforcement and intelligence specialists quicker and easier access to more data to more effectively do their jobs.\"
He added: \"We have been taking aggressive action in recent weeks and months to enhance the security of our systems and to prevent the leak of information.\"
At the start of a series of daily extracts from the US embassy cables - many of which are designated \"secret\" – the Guardian can disclose that Arab leaders are privately urging an air strike on Iran and that US officials have been instructed to spy on the UN\'s leadership.
These two revelations alone would be likely to reverberate around the world. But the secret dispatches which were obtained by WikiLeaks, the whistlebowers\' website, also reveal Washington\'s evaluation of many other highly sensitive international issues.
These include a major shift in relations between China and North Korea, Pakistan\'s growing instability and details of clandestine US efforts to combat al-Qaida in Yemen.
Among scores of other disclosures that are likely to cause uproar, the cables detail:
• Grave fears in Washington and London over the security of Pakistan\'s nuclear weapons programme
• Alleged links between the Russian government and organised crime.
• Devastating criticism of the UK\'s military operations in Afghanistan.
• Claims of inappropriate behaviour by a member of the British royal family.
The US has particularly intimate dealings with Britain, and some of the dispatches from the London embassy in Grosvenor Square will make uncomfortable reading in Whitehall and Westminster. They range from serious political criticisms of David Cameron to requests for specific intelligence about individual MPs.
The cache of cables contains specific allegations of corruption and against foreign leaders, as well as harsh criticism by US embassy staff of their host governments, from tiny islands in the Caribbean to China and Russia.
The material includes a reference to Vladimir Putin as an \"alpha-dog\", Hamid Karzai as being \"driven by paranoia\" and Angela Merkel allegedly \"avoids risk and is rarely creative\". There is also a comparison between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Adolf Hitler.
The cables name countries involved in financing terror groups, and describe a near \"environmental disaster\" last year over a rogue shipment of enriched uranium. They disclose technical details of secret US-Russian nuclear missile negotiations in Geneva, and include a profile of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who they say is accompanied everywhere by a \"voluptuous blonde\" Ukrainian nurse.
The cables cover secretary of state Hillary Clinton\'s activities under the Obama administration, as well as thousands of files from the George Bush presidency. Clinton personally led frantic damage limitation this weekend as Washington prepared foreign governments for the revelations. She contacted leaders in Germany, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, France and Afghanistan.
US ambassadors in other capitals were instructed to brief their hosts in advance of the release of unflattering pen-portraits or nakedly frank accounts of transactions with the US which they had thought would be kept quiet. Washington now faces a difficult task in convincing contacts around the world that any future conversations will remain confidential.
\"We are all bracing for what may be coming and condemn WikiLeaks for the release of classified material,\" state department spokesman PJ Crowley said. \"It will place lives and interests at risk. It is irresponsible.\"
The state department\'s legal adviser has written to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and his London lawyer, warning that the cables were obtained illegally and that publication would place at risk \"the lives of countless innocent individuals … ongoing military operations … and cooperation between countries\".
The electronic archive of embassy dispatches from around the world was allegedly downloaded by a US soldier earlier this year and passed to WikiLeaks. Assange made them available to the Guardian and four other newspapers: the New York Times, Der Spiegel in Germany, Le Monde in France and El País in Spain. All five plan to publish extracts from the most significant cables, but have decided neither to \"dump\" the entire dataset into the public domain, nor to publish names that would endanger innocent individuals. WikiLeaks says that, contrary to the state department\'s fears, it also initially intends to post only limited cable extracts, and to redact identities.
The cables published today reveal how the US uses its embassies as part of a global espionage network, with diplomats tasked to obtain not just information from the people they meet, but personal details, such as frequent flyer numbers, credit card details and even DNA material.
Classified \"human intelligence directives\" issued in the name of Hillary Clinton or her predecessor, Condoleeza Rice, instruct officials to gather information on military installations, weapons markings, vehicle details of political leaders as well as iris scans, fingerprints and DNA.
The most controversial target was the leadership of the United Nations. That directive requested the specification of telecoms and IT systems used by top UN officials and their staff and details of \"private VIP networks used for official communication, to include upgrades, security measures, passwords, personal encryption keys\".
When the Guardian put this allegation to Crowley, the state department spokesman said: \"Let me assure you: our diplomats are just that, diplomats. They do not engage in intelligence activities. They represent our country around the world, maintain open and transparent contact with other governments as well as public and private figures, and report home. That\'s what diplomats have done for hundreds of years.\"
The dispatches also shed light on older diplomatic issues. One cable, for example, reveals, that Nelson Mandela was \"furious\" when a top adviser stopped him meeting Margaret Thatcher shortly after his release from prison to explain why the ANC objected to her policy of \"constructive engagement\" with the apartheid regime. \"We understand Mandela was keen for a Thatcher meeting but that [appointments secretary Zwelakhe] Sisulu argued successfully against it,\" according to the cable. It continues: \"Mandela has on several occasions expressed his eagerness for an early meeting with Thatcher to express the ANC\'s objections to her policy. We were consequently surprised when the meeting didn\'t materialise on his mid-April visit to London and suspected that ANC hardliners had nixed Mandela\'s plans.\"
The US embassy cables are marked \"Sipdis\" – secret internet protocol distribution. They were compiled as part of a programme under which selected dispatches, considered moderately secret but suitable for sharing with other agencies, would be automatically loaded on to secure embassy websites, and linked with the military\'s Siprnet internet system.
They are classified at various levels up to \"SECRET NOFORN\" [no foreigners]. More than 11,000 are marked secret, while around 9,000 of the cables are marked noforn. The embassies which sent most cables were Ankara, Baghdad, Amman, Kuwait and Tokyo.
More than 3 million US government personnel and soldiers, many extremely junior, are cleared to have potential access to this material, even though the cables contain the identities of foreign informants, often sensitive contacts in dictatorial regimes. Some are marked \"protect\" or \"strictly protect\".
Last spring, 22-year-old intelligence analyst Bradley Manning was charged with leaking many of these cables, along with a gun-camera video of an Apache helicopter crew mistakenly killing two Reuters news agency employees in Baghdad in 2007, which was subsequently posted by WikiLeaks. Manning is facing a court martial.
In July and October WikiLeaks also published thousands of leaked military reports from Afghanistan and Iraq. These were made available for analysis beforehand to the Guardian, along with Der Spiegel and the New York Times.
A former hacker, Adrian Lamo, who reported Manning to the US authorities, said the soldier had told him in chat messages that the cables revealed \"how the first world exploits the third, in detail\".
He also said, according to Lamo, that Clinton \"and several thousand diplomats around the world are going to have a heart attack when they wake up one morning and find an entire repository of classified foreign policy is available in searchable format to the public … everywhere there\'s a US post … there\'s a diplomatic scandal that will be revealed\".
Asked why such sensitive material was posted on a network accessible to thousands of government employees, the state department spokesman told the Guardian: \"The 9/11 attacks and their aftermath revealed gaps in intra-governmental information sharing. Since the attacks of 9/11, the US government has taken significant steps to facilitate information sharing. These efforts were focused on giving diplomatic, military, law enforcement and intelligence specialists quicker and easier access to more data to more effectively do their jobs.\"
He added: \"We have been taking aggressive action in recent weeks and months to enhance the security of our systems and to prevent the leak of information.\"
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