December 10th, 2012 | 11:55 am by Lacey Seidman (@Lacezilla)

VH1, VH1 Classic & Palladia Present ‘The Concert For Sandy Relief,’ Live From MSG

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to see Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The Who, Paul McCartney and – just added! – The Rolling Stones perform in one night. But next Wednesday December 12th at 7:30pm EST, 121212 – The Concert For Sandy Relief will be broadcast from New York City’s Madison Square Garden to over one billion people in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, and you shouldn’t miss it!

Performing together on 12.12.12 to raise awareness for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, these world-renowned, A-list artists will all help The Robin Hood Foundtation raise funds to rebuild communities and lives of those affected by the disastrous storm. Here at @VH1, we’ll be live-streaming the 5-hour long concert at 121212concert.vh1.com, so bookmark the page and feel free to donate what you can as you catch the historical night right here alongside us. If you can’t find an internet connection, tune-in to VH1 Classic or Palladia to watch the show over good old-fashion television airwaves!

Read more…

August 8th, 2012 | 6:11 pm by Bené Viera

BRACKET MADNESS: Were You Feeling Nirvana’s Grunge Or TLC’s Funky Hip-Hop Soul?

It’s on, folks! Voting for Round Two of Bracket Madness for the greatest artists of the 90s is upon us. And the choice isn’t getting any easier. By popular vote, Nirvana slaughtered Pearl Jam in a land slide win of 29%. In a much closer call, TLC beat out Boyz II Men by a 13% vote. Now it’s time for the alternative rock band to duke it out with the super girl group for the chance to take on either Green Day or Mariah Carey for the championship win. Since we’re in Olympics mode we want you to jump hurdles, cartwheel or leap to vote for either Nirvana or TLC. Read more…

August 7th, 2012 | 6:29 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

BRACKET MADNESS: Do You Get Chill Out With Dave Matthews Band Or Rock Out With Green Day?

Pearl Jam and Nirvana having done their part to bring alternative edge to 90′s mainstream, Green Day and Dave Matthews Band swooped in just after Neverland and Ten to further atomized the scene. Each at the top of their own alt-genre, Green Day’s Dookie (1994) heralding an era of mainstream pop-punk while Dave Matthews Band “chilled” the mainstream with their seven-times platinum album Crash (1996). Radio is far more diverse these days, and for that we can thank all of the aforementioned. But Bracket Madness means there can only be one Greatest Artist of the 90s. Who should it be?

Like we’ve done with Pearl Jam versus Nirvana and Boyz II Men versus TLC already, let’s break it down. Read more…

August 7th, 2012 | 1:00 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

BRACKET MADNESS: Who Was The Greatest Grunge Band Of The 90s, Nirvana or Pearl Jam?

Bracket Madness is upon us once more, and this time around artists from the 90s are off and battling for the “Greatest” crown. This first round pits Nirvana against Pearl Jam, and it almost feels unfair to have to choose. Both groups emerged from the hair and flannel and sludge of Seattle in the 90s as alt-rock legends, distinguished in their tunely post-punk and oftentimes painful sincerity. Eddie Veder with his masterpiece, Ten, and Kurt Cobain with his masterpiece, Nevermind, are giants in grunge but different in the shadows they cast. Which represents the greatest of grunge?

Let’s consider: Read more…

August 6th, 2012 | 12:00 am by Bené Viera

BRACKET MADNESS: Vote For The Greatest Artist Of The 90s

Bracket Madness: Greatest Artist of the 90s

Artists of the 90s rock! Not only did they produce some of the greatest music of all time, they were trendsetters with style, image and sound. Get ready to take a trip down memory lane with our Greatest Artists of the 90s Bracket Madness. While dwelling in the utopia of nostalgia, vote for the artist you’d like to reign as the greatest artist of the 90s. What’s awesome about the music from that golden era is the diversity in choices–from grunge, r&b/soul, big balladeers or alternative rock–the 90s ruled with indelible artists of every genre.

In Round One it’s Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam and Boyz II Men takes on TLC. How will you choose between Nirvana, hello Kurt Cobain anyone, and the creators of “Black?” Also in Round One  pop diva Mariah Carey and Celine Dion duke it out while Green Day and the Dave Matthews Band go head-to-head. Mariah’s five octave range versus Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me” and the punk rock sound of Green Day versus the jazzy rock of Dave Matthews Band. Only one can win the coveted VH1 Greatest Artist of the 90s title.

Vote, vote and vote some more to see your favorite artist advance to the next round. Round One is open from today to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8. Round Two opens from 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8 to 4 p.m on Friday, August 10. The final round voting opens at 4 p.m. Friday, August 10 and closes at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 13. Check back daily to see who’s in the lead.

July 6th, 2012 | 4:29 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

Last Lap: 108 Shows Later, Pearl Jam Diehard Gets His Dream Set

PEARL JAM DIEHARD GETS HIS DREAM SET
Superfan Brian Farias has been to 108 Pearl Jam shows but none so special as the 109th, when the band played a setlist (complete with two encores!) he had drafted for them. [RS]

DO YOU DRIP.FM?
Music nerds, behold! Based on HBO’s “quality, consistency and catalog” model, this new music subscription service “drips” new releases straight from the labels to your inbox several times a month. [LAWeekly]

KEEP COOL IN JAMES HETFIELD’S SUNGLASSES
The “road dog” Metallica frontman is releasing “faster than a speeding riff” pair of shades through Sutro Eyewear. And for just $219.99, they’re yours! [Vulture]

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT
In the New York Times this weekend, Frank Ocean talks about love and life and his new album; and James Murphy talks about his almost starring role in Noah Baumbach’s since slashed The Corrections adaptation. And to soundtrack your reading, “Sweet Life,” a Pharrell assisted leak from Channel Orange. Happy weekend! [NYT/NYT / Fader]

June 13th, 2012 | 5:57 pm by Christina Leake (@_bobina)

What Does Hard Rock Music Mean To Your Favorite Rockstars?

Where would you be without hard rock and heavy metal music? Hopefully we won’t ever have to find out. Watch the new promo for That Metal Show with everyone from Slash, Lemmy (Motorhead), Michael Schenker, Warrant, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Tom Morello, and more of your favorite rock stars as they sound sound-off on why they’re passionate about hard rock music, and list their favorite bands. Oh, and don’t worry, we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. A brand new season of That Metal Show starts this August on VH1 Classic.

May 22nd, 2012 | 1:47 pm by Bené Viera

Jay-Z Selects Eclectic Group Of Artists For Made In America Festival: Pearl Jam, Odd Future, Rick Ross And The Return of D’Angelo

Lineup for Budweiser Made in America Festival Curated by Jay-Z

Since Jay-Z’s press conference in Philadelphia last week we’ve been on pins and needles anticipating the announcement for the lineup of the Made in America festival he’s curating and headlining on September 1 and 2. Jigga man delivered on the goal he’d set for himself asking, “Is it going to push the culture forward?” With such a diverse selection of musical acts crossing multiple genres, we’d say the answer to Jay’s query is unequivocally, “Yes!”

For the two day festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philly, music lovers can enjoy the tunes of Pearl Jam, Afrojack, Odd Future, Skrillex, Miike Snow, Dirty Projectors, X, the Knocks, Calvin Harris, Jay’s artist Rita Ora, Prince Royce, Janelle Monae, Santigold, Passion Pit, Wale, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, the DJ set by Savoy and the return of D’Angelo. Let’s not forget Hov will also hit the stage as the headliner. As with everything he does, Jay-Z took his job as curator seriously, and created a highly anticipated festival.

Oh, can we talk about Jay sangging R&B singer D’Angelo (who hasn’t released an album in 12 years) for a minute? Over the weekend D’Angelo made headlines when a GQ profile hit the net with him looking rather scrumptious. The singer is working on an album, and whatever Jay did to get him to perform at Budweiser’s Made in America, we salute you, Jay. As diverse as the list of performers is, even more acts will be announced next week. Jay-Z can check off successful curator from his bucket list.

Official “Made In America” Lineup Announced [Complex.com]

[Photo: Getty Images and GQ magazine]

May 10th, 2012 | 2:15 pm by Christina Leake (@_bobina)

Sneak Peek: Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy from The Cult on That Metal Show

Last week on That Metal Show, we were joined by TMS alums Frank Hannon (Tesla) and Michael Schenker (Eddie Trunk’s idol), as well as Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), who talked about Pearl Jam holding out on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame until another band gets it. Find out what band they’re holding out on and watch the entire episode online, here.

This week, Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy from The Cult stop by to discuss the band, their future, and their newest album, Choice of Weapon. Ian gets candid on his time playing with The Doors and how he almost played Jim Morrison in a movie. See Ian and Billy from The Cult as well as Doro Pesch (Warlock) on an all new episode of That Metal Show this Saturday at 11 p.m. ET/10 CT on VH1 Classic. Read more…