It’s easy to forget that TRL was more than a show where tweens would make their parents drag them to Times Square on a pilgrimage to run their vocals ragged, screaming for their favorite stars. TRL was a defining show for MTV, popular music and kids of a certain generation. It’s also easy to forget the caliber of celebrities that appeared on the show, which ran from 1998-2008. Madonna, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, hell, even Angelina Jolie, they all appeared on the show often. In honor of the new VH1 Rock Doc The TRL Decade, which airs January 29, we’d like to take a look back at the VJ’s who made the show what it was, and the celebrities that came down to 1515 Broadway to hang with them. (We invite you to take a closer look at the photo on the upper left in our gallery — yes, that is indeed Destiny’s Child, Eve, 3LW, and Dream hanging with Carson Daly.) And of course, check out the documentary when it airs on Sunday January 29 at 9:30 pm ET/PT.



Last week, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of A Tribe Called Quest’s seminal album, The Low End Theory, and after spending quality time with the LP, it became clear that many artists may have snagged sonic gems from the trendsetting hip-hop quartet over the years. If you’re a fan of rap music, you already know that sampling and re-working existing songs is commonplace in the creative process; similar to contemporary art’s idea of the “readymade,” producers will lift elements from one song and add them to a new canvas to re-envision their use. But what happens when the same thing is done with lyrics?

One little-known fact: Lil’ Wayne’s“A Milli” is a slowed-down sample of one of Phife’s lines from a remix of “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo” off Tribe’s first album, 1990′s Peoples’ Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. Sometimes referred to as swagger-jacking, a rapper re-purposing the bars of artists before him or her can in other circumstances be seen as a salute-beckoning sign of respect. And in Tribe’s case, it should be! In addition to sitting down with ATCQ for their first joint interview since 1998, we also got to chat individually with in-and-out, behind-the-scenes group member Jarobi White to scoop his brains for memories on the group’s incredible second album. In honor of its Album-Versary, we present you with Jarobi’s exclusive interview clips, and the Top 5 Recycled Lines From The Low End Theory.

[click to continue…]

Starting at 4 p.m. ET this afternoon, VH1 will be airing six uninterrupted hours of footage from The Concert For New York City, which was originally held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2001. We’ll be streaming the entire show this one-time only on VH1.com, and you’ll also be able to tune-in on your television to watch, too. As a way to help you remember this epic event, we put together this gallery of images from that unforgettable evening. We’ve got snaps from the night’s biggest performances (Paul McCartney, The Who, Bon Jovi, etc.) and some awesome backstage photographs as well.

Don’t forget, the Robin Hood 9/11 Relief Foundation could still use your assistance, too. Oh, and one last thing: If you are looking for a schedule to find out when to tune-in to see your favorite artist, we’ve got it for you here: The Concert For New York City: 10 Years Later Air Schedule

VH1.com will be streaming a special, one-time only re-broadcast of the Concert For New York City this Sunday afternoon, September 11th, starting at 4 p.m. ET; the entire broadcast will also be shown commercial-free on VH1 that afternoon, too. As a nation reflects back on the tenth anniversary of the most horrific attack to ever occur on American soil, we here at VH1 will be focused on remembering the way that the artistic community came together during the difficult days and weeks after 9/11 to not only to pay respect to those who lost their lives that day, but also to honor the heroes that emerged in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.

The Concert For New York City: 10 Years Later is being hosted by native New Yorker Ed Burns, and will feature memorable, once-in-a-lifetime performances from the likes of Paul McCartney, The Who, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child and many, many more. In order to make sure that you don’t miss the performances of your favorite artists, we’ve put together this handy schedule for you of who will be streaming/appearing on-air when. We hope you find it helpful!

And remember, even though it’s 10 years later, the Robin Hood Relief Fund could still use your assistance. Follow along for a schedule of when to tune-in to see the show’s most captivating moments…

[click to continue…]

The Video Music Awards are a celebration of the best music video work that musicians and technical personnel have to offer. They’re also a live event attended by more than a few outsized personalities, all interacting with each other in close proximity. Part of what makes the event so exciting to us is the tension that proximity creates. Sometimes, though, it boils over past professional rivalry into personal beef.

With that in mind, here is a look back at the ten most memorable VMA fights. Will anyone get into it this year? (Pitbull and Lindsay Lohan?) We’ll be tuning in to MTV on Sunday at 9 p.m. to find out.

[Images: Getty Images]

Yesterday, we introduced you to the upper reaches of our Top 100 Videos of 2011 … So Far list, serving up the #100-51 videos that you’ve been clicking on most so far this year. Although a hefty portion, consider that first installment just an appetizer for today’s first course and tomorrow’s main entree. Going a bit deeper into the list, we now give you #50-11, inching closer and closer to #1.

50. Train, “Hey, Soul Sister”
49. Goo Goo Dolls, “Notbroken”
48. Jennifer Lopez, “Love Don’t Cost a Thing”
47. Jennifer Hudson, “Where You At”
46. Beyonce, “Run The World (Girls)”
45. My Chemical Romance, “SING”
44. Adam Lambert, “If I Had You”
43. Fitz and The Tantrums, “Money Grabber”
42. Kid Rock ft. Sheryl Crow, “Collide”
41. Bruno Mars, “Just The Way You Are”

[click to continue…]

Quick, name Kid Rock‘s biggest hit! “Bawitdaba”? “All Summer Long”? “Cowboy”?

If you guessed any of the above, sadly, you would be wrong. Despite his image as a hard drinking, hard partying rap star turned rock ‘n’ roller, Kid Rock’s most successful single to date is his lovelorn duet with Sheryl Crow, “Picture.” The song, which was initially released to radio stations in late 2002 with vocals from Alison Moorer — legend has it that Sheryl Crow’s management was not thrilled that she decided to record a track with the man born Robert James Ritchie until the Moorer version started climbing the charts — was a huge crossover smash, charting at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and logging 33 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, before becoming a staple of karaoke bars across the country.

[click to continue…]

top40-2010-500

Earlier this week, we gave you an alphabetical list of 35 of our Top 40 Music Videos of the year and asked you to guess what artists where going to be included in our top five music videos of 2010. Well, we’ve got good news and we’ve got bad news. If you’re one of the Little Monsters or a card carrying member of Glam Nation, you’ll be happy to see that Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me” each made the Top Five. However, if you count yourself as a die-hard 30 Seconds To Mars fan, um, well, there’s always next year!

Without any further ado, here is our complete list of VH1′s Top 40 Music Videos of 2010!

1. Train“Hey Soul Sister”
2. The Script“Breakeven”
3. Katy Perry ft Snoop Dogg“California Gurls”
4. Adam Lambert“Whataya Want From Me (Concept)”
5. Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”

[click to continue…]

UPDATE! The sweepstakes is over. Thanks to all the participants!

There’s something special about a summer concert – driving to the arena with the windows down and the music blasting, psyched to see your favorite rock gods storm the stage. This year VH1 Classic and Live Nation want to give you that perfect concert experience – only this time you’re not in the crowd, you’re with the band!

Through the middle of August, we’re giving away tickets (including backstage access) to the summer’s biggest classic rock tours, including: Fleetwood Mac‘s Unleashed Hits Tour, Def Leppard with Poison & Cheap Trick, Aerosmith & ZZ Top and, Kid Rock & Lynyrd Skynyrd.

This sweepstakes is only open to subscribers of our VH1 Classic email alerts. You must sign up to become eligible. Sign up here.

Next up is your last chance to win tickets to see Aerosmith and ZZ Top.

Enter to win by sending an email to us at win@vh1.com.

Please include your first and last name, telephone number and the email address used for the VH1 Classic newsletter subscription. You have until Noon ET on Wednesday, August 12.

Tour Dates and cities for the Aerosmith and ZZ Top tour are after the jump.

This could be the greatest rock ‘n’ roll summer of all time. So roll down those windows, turn up the volume, and sign up for our Classic newsletter to have a chance of winning the “I’m With the Band Sweepstakes.”

Read the Official Rules. Sign up for VH1 Classic Email alerts.

For more tour dates and to buy tickets go to www.livenation.com.

[click to continue…]

Posted by

542 comments

Kid Rock loves a good romp, and a few weeks ago, just outside of Nashville, he gathered up his Twisted Brown Trucker band and spent the evening recording songs both old and new for an episode of VH1 Storytellers. That’s the show that delivers the artistic backstory, with stars explaining a bit about their songs’ genesis – you really get a feel for what goes into the creative process. Kid, of course, has been riding high this year. His Rock ‘n’ Roll Jesus CD found its way into lots of record collections. His “All Summer Long” dominated the radio during the last few months. His entire song catalog finally became available for download exclusively at Rhapsody.

VH1 Storytellers is set to premiere on Thanksgiving day, November 27 at 9 pm ET. Watch him bounce through “All Summer Long” from the show in the above clip.

And below you’ll find a special glimpse of another Storytellers track, as well as the show’s entire set list.

Check out a photo gallery of Kid Rock through the years.

[click to continue…]