SMASHING PUMPKINS ENLIST TOMMY LEE
UNDATED (AP) — Billy Corgan will have Tommy Lee drum on the new Smashing Pumpkins album. Just to be sure you heard that right, Corgan says, “Yes, that Tommy Lee.” He writes on the Pumpkins Web site Lee will perform on all nine songs of the upcoming album, “Monument to an Elegy.” Corgan has posted a photo of Lee and himself in the studio.
LORDE TO PERFORM NEW SINGLE AT BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
SANTA MONICA, California (AP) — The good news if you’re one of those people who are getting tired of hearing “Royals:” Lorde is dropping a new single. The not-so-good news: it kinda makes “Royals” sound like Pharrell Williams “Happy.” The New Zealand teenager will perform “Tennis Court” on the Billboard Music Awards. It will be the first time she has done the song on TV. The awards ceremony is a week from Sunday.
”AMERICAN IDOL” DOWN TO THREE
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jessica Meuse goes home from “American Idol,” while Caleb Johnson, Jena (JEE’-nah) Irene and Alex Preston go home in a different way. Meuse was eliminated as the lowest vote-getter. The other three will go back to their hometowns for parades and concerts that will be shown next week.
JIMMY PAGE PREPARES MEMOIR OF PHOTOS
NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Page will put out his autobiography as a story in pictures. The book “Jimmy Page” will have more than 600 photos, with Page telling his story through captions. The photos include every one of his passports, because Page feels that they make up a complete picture of his life. The cover is his 1977 passport photo. The book will be in stores in October.
HERBIE HANCOCK WRITING A BOOK
NEW YORK (AP) — Herbie Hancock wrote the book on winning wider crossover status for jazz. Now, he’s writing a book about his life. Viking books says the memoir is titled “Herbie Hancock: Possibilities” — and is due out October 28. Hancock used to play with Miles Davis, and has multiple Grammy wins, including one for his instrumental hit “Rockit.” He received a Kennedy Center Honor last year.
ERIC HUTCHINSON CAN’T STOP THE CELL PHONE RECORDING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If you ever were upset because the person in front of you at a concert blocked your view by filming the show on a cell phone, Eric Hutchinson feels for you. There’s just not much he can do about it. Hutchinson says he hears complaints about that, but he’d get more complaints if he banned recording. He says those people probably will never watch that video anyway. He gets worried if no one is holding up a phone because it means he’s not doing anything worth sharing. He’s all about sharing. Hutchinson will often suggest a tweet during his show for fans to send out — and it’s usually a thousand characters long.
JASON DERULO ON WORKING WITH GIRLFRIEND JORDIN SPARKS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jason Derulo says he was intent on having his girlfriend Jordin Sparks do a song with him on his new album. But he acknowledges that the effort got “a little sticky at first.” He says it took a little time for the two of them to “figure out each other’s space” in the studio. But Derulo says that kind of adjustment “was natural” — and that in the end, their duet on “Vertigo” worked well. Derulo says he and Sparks tried about a half dozen songs together — but when he wrote Vertigo, he “knew that it was the one” that would be on the project. He says it’s a lot like their relationship: a “sexy, emotional high.”
KRIS ALLEN TO DO BENEFIT FOR ARKANSAS TORNADO VICTIMS
CONWAY, Arkansas (AP) — “American Idol” winner Kris Allen is doing a concert tonight in his home town. The event will go to benefit victims of tornadoes in the area. Allen won Idol in 2009.
BLACK KEYS ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Black Keys will begin a tour of North America on September 5 in Columbus to support their “Turn Blue” album. Cage The Elephant, Jake Bugg or St. Vincent will be the opening act, depending on the date. “Turn Blue” comes out Tuesday.
‘‘GOOD MORNING AMERICA” ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
NEW YORK (AP) — Lady Antebellum will kick off “Good Morning America’s” summer concert series. “GMA” will air a live concert every Friday starting with Lady A on May 23. Others who will perform throughout the summer include 50 Cent, Paramore, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Keith Urban, Kings of Leon, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Robin Thicke and Brad Paisley.
Photo courtesy of SmashingPumpkinsNexus.com.