Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher

Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News

Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.

In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.

"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.

"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."

But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."

As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.

"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.

"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."

On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.

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Lady Gaga Approves 'Weird Al' Yankovic Parody Of 'Born This Way'

Comedian claims Gaga's people initially denied him the right to release his parody 'Perform This Way.'
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga
Photo: Jemal Countess/ Getty Images

The great "Weird Al" Yankovic-Lady Gaga standoff of 2011 appears to be over. After the song parody king wrote a lengthy blog on Wednesday complaining that Gaga's people had denied his request to release his stinging "Perform This Way" cover of Gaga's "Born This Way," he updated the situation later in the day and said it was a big misunderstanding.

"After putting my Lady Gaga parody on YouTube this morning — and announcing that it wouldn't be on my next album because Gaga didn't approve it — there was a huge outpouring of disappointment from the Internet," Yankovic wrote. "Apparently the fact that she didn't approve it was news to Lady Gaga herself! Gaga's manager has now admitted that he never forwarded my parody to Gaga — she had no idea at all. Even though we assumed that Gaga herself was the one making the decision (because, well, that's what we were TOLD), he apparently made the decision completely on his own."

Though a spokesperson for Gaga had not returned requests for comment at press time, Yankovic said the singer's manager has apologized to him for the mix-up and noted that apparently Mother Monster "loves the song."

Yankovic's songs are legally protected by fair-use laws, but he has made a point of getting approval from the artists he is parodying before releasing his songs, including Michael Jackson, R.E.M., AC/DC, Madonna and Chamillionaire, who sang the praises of Al's "White & Nerdy" take on "Ridin'."

Citing an unnamed source "extremely close" to the singer, TMZ reported that "there must have been a misunderstanding because [Gaga] is in no way trying to block the release of the parody." Other unnamed sources added, "she's busy touring and hasn't heard the song yet. Her manager hasn't had a chance to play it for her yet ... she's a huge Weird Al fan."

Yankovic, 51, said he's thrilled the situation has been resolved because he not only respects and admires Gaga as an artist (who clearly has a "great" sense of humor), but it also means he gets to put out his new album. Proceeds from the video will go to the Human Rights Campaign.

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Usher To Donate Gadhafi Money To Charity

'I will be donating all of my personal proceeds...to various human rights organizations,' singer says of concert linked to Libyan dictator.
By Shawn Adler


Usher (file)
Photo: Getty Images

R&B superstar Usher announced Friday (March 4) that he was donating to various charities proceeds from appearing at a private event at St. Barts linked to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to a statement made to the Associated Press.

The Grammy award winner's renouncement comes after similar announcements from singers Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, and Beyoncé, all of whom were revealed to have performed at private concerts linked to the Middle Eastern leader, who has faced open revolt and major political uprisings since February.

"I am sincerely troubled to learn about the circumstances surrounding the Nikki Beach St. Bart's event that took place on New Year's Eve 2009," Usher said of the concert, at which he appeared alongside Beyoncé but did not perform. "I will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations."

Usher has already begun the process, having made a donation to Amnesty International, the AP reports. The exact size of the donation is not known.

The New Year's Eve gig was reportedly for Moammar's fourth son Muastassim, who an unnamed music industry source told MTV News has a history of throwing lavish parties "jammed" with supermodels.

Beyoncé, who sang at the event, donated all proceeds from her performance to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of the Haitian earthquake.

"All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year's Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago," the "Halo" singer's publicist said in a statement to The Huffington Post. "Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."

Singer Nelly Furtado tweeted February 28 that she plans to make similar amends.

"In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy," she tweeted. "I am going to donate the $."

The leader of Libya since a successful military coup in 1969, Gadhafi has reportedly lost control of much of his country as a result of widespread uprisings. The United Nations voted unanimously to refer the dictator to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

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Usher Gets Sick, Walks Offstage Mid-Show In Berlin

Singer cancels kick off date of European leg of his OMG Tour due to illness.
By Gil Kaufman


Usher (file)
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage

Usher was forced to delay the kick off of his European OMG Tour on Wednesday night in Berlin because of illness. In a statement released to fans, the singer apologized for the last-minute scratch, saying he felt he was suffering from a "sinus complication." Although the gig was rescheduled for Thursday night at the O2 World arena in Berlin, his German fans apparently weren't appeased by his effort.

"I am truly sorry to all my fans in Berlin who were inconvenienced by tonight's postponement of the show," the singer said in a statement about Wednesday's aborted concert. "I was ill and felt that I would not have been able to give them the show that they properly deserve. ... I am looking forward to performing tomorrow and giving Berliners a great show."

According to the statement, the singer received treatment from doctors for a sinus issue that affected his balance, but a visibly still-ailing Usher was unable to finish the Thursday make-up show, reportedly abandoning the stage after just five songs.

On Friday (January 14), a follow-up statement from his spokesperson confirmed that he was too ill to play Thursday night's Berlin date and has been forced to reschedule the next three dates on the tour as well. The Rotterdam show originally scheduled for this week has been moved to March 1 and a show in Antwerp, also slated for this week, has been bumped to March 7.

The statement also updated the singer's condition: "Usher is suffering from upper respiratory illness, which is currently preventing him from performing a proper show. After consultation with doctors, he has been advised to reschedule the upcoming dates in order to get the rest he needs to ensure a complete recovery."

Footage posted on YouTube that was purportedly taken at the make-up performance in Berlin shows Usher standing silently at the microphone seemingly unable to sing, with fans booing him at first and then chanting, "Usher, Usher," as he approaches the microphone and apologizes to them for his struggles. "I appreciate your support," he told the fans wearily.

"I have been very excited about my European Tour and I deeply regret having to reschedule the shows," the singer said in the new statement. "I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused my fans. My fans are the best in the world and I am looking forward to getting better so that I can give them the show they deserve."

Usher wrapped up the North American leg of his tour in December and his overseas dates are slated to last through the spring.

What do you think of the fans' reaction to Usher's walking offstage mid-show? Tell us in the comments.

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Lady Gaga's Born This Way Cover: 'American Chopper' Star Weighs In

Paul Teutul Jr. tells MTV News he's puzzled by Gaga's motorcycle makeover.
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images

When Lady Gaga unveiled the cover art for her much-anticipated Born This Way album over the weekend, even the most manic of Little Monsters seemed perplexed by her brand-new motorcycle makeover ... with some even going so far as to speculate that the cover was fake.

And if you think Gaga's fans are confused by the BTW cover, well, then you should hear Paul Teutul Jr.'s take on it. After all, he designs motorcycles for a living, first under his dad's tutelage at Orange County Choppers — made famous on Discovery Channel's "American Choppers" — and now with his own shop, Paul Jr. Designs. Turns out Junior's sort of at a loss when it comes to Gaga's new look.

"This chopper is very, kind of, uh, interesting. They kind of melted the motor around and stuff so it's hard to even see what they have ... they almost did a ribcage, kinda see-through in the tank. But none of it feels really smooth," he told MTV News. "The bike that it emulates the most is that 'Easy Rider' bike ... it has that king and queen seat, it's got the old-school exhaust, but I can't really tell what kind of bike it is."

Of course, aside from the assumed technical issues, Teutul Jr. said that he's most puzzled that the Born This Way album cover didn't go even further. Because, as he put it, what could be cooler than a full-fledged Gaga-cycle?

"Looking at it, I would've made it more of an integration of her into the bike. It would be more seamless. In other words, it would be her and the bike morphed," he said. "If you're Born This Way, then it almost has to look kind of mermaid-ish, in the sense that there's this fusion between the actual mechanical aspect and the human perspective. ... It's a little cut-and-paste looking. I would've done something even integrated throughout the bike that would've been more 'Lady Gaga.'

"How awesome would it have been if her entire body, like, her feet actually became the axle rod for the rear tire, and her body actually formed the entire bike? I mean, it could've been a more flowing, freakier look," he continued. "And that's what we do at Paul Jr. Designs. Our full integration isn't 'put a sticker on it.' Our full integration is we make that bike what the theme is intended to be. It's about pulling off the theme front-to-back."

And to that end, Teutul Jr. said that he'd love to work with Gaga on an actual motorcycle — it'd probably make for an interesting episode of his show, "American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior," which returns April 25 — because it would give him and his team a chance to do what they do best.

"I would get inside her head on the whole project, and really be able to pull off what it is, creatively, that she would want integrated into the bike," he said. "And for this tour, she could come out onstage and it could be a whole theatrical thing that ties around the actual album cover. I think it would be a great fit and we're both young and creative. It would be a great collaboration for sure."

What do you think of the Born This Way cover art? Tell us in the comments!

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Stone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says

'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris


Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images

There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.

Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.

On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.

"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."

Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.

"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."

DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.

"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."

As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.

"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."

While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?

"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."

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Lady Gaga Feels She's Been 'Probed Endlessly' About Who She Is

'Judas' singer goes on curse-filled rant in new issue of NME.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Lady Gaga is on the defense these days. Fans aren't sure how they feel about her Born This Way cover art, and in the new issue of British music magazine NME, the singer felt the need to let the world know that she's not some gimmick and her shtick is the real deal, protruding face bones and all.

"Let me tell you something. If you f---ing rip my hairbow and my wig off my f---ing head, my shoes, my bra, every single thing on my body, and you throw me on a piano with a microphone, I will f---ing make you cry," she proclaims in the magazine, which hits newsstands on Tuesday (April 19). On the cover, Gaga appears in a see-through body suit, with zippers over her lady parts, wearing heavy eye makeup, her now signature "BTW" prosthetics and a wig she wore in the "BTW" video.

"I feel I have been probed endlessly about who the f--- I am," she continues. "I have been quite open about it. And still nobody seems to have a clue."

Gaga recently unveiled her second single, "Judas," off her May 23 album release. Parts of the song may pay homage to some of her past hits, but it is certainly not the type of pop song that Katy Perry or Britney Spears would record. "I'm not going to start churning out what you expect," she said. "If you want me to be a manufactured act, you can f--- off."

The star also defended her prosthetics recently in Harper's Bazaar. "Well, first of all, they're not prosthetics. They're my bones," she said in the issue. "They've always been inside of me, but I have been waiting for the right time to reveal to the universe who I truly am. They come out when I'm inspired."

She mirrored that sentiment on her Twitter page on Tuesday, writing, "Born This Way is who I am. An artist in a constant state of half-fantasy/half-reality at all times."

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Lady Gaga Calls 'Judas' Leak 'A Slow Death'

Gaga opens up about the Born This Way creative process in latest 'Gagavision.'
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Tom Briglia/ WireImage

This week's "Gagavision" theme is "Music From Born This Way," as Gaga revealed more details about her May 23 album release. The video includes a possible preview of one of the album's tracks, shots from her forthcoming HBO special and her thoughts on last week's leak of her latest single, "Judas."

Perhaps a tease to one of the album's tracks, the music for the "Gagavision" video includes a song that starts off with slow, dramatic church-organ keyboard notes as Gaga says, "My fans are my sunshine. They are the sunshine in the darkness of the arena.

"Looking out into the darkness, I feel really fearless and strong and brave." A montage of Gaga rehearsing and making phone calls and her fans holding up signs plays as the song's synth tempo picks up.

Dressed like a space-age Cruella De Vil, Gaga heads off to do a promo. "The greatest challenge in writing Born This Way is I had to become confident and secure in myself," she explained. "I had to leave my insecurity behind, whatever residual scars behind. I spent two years delving deep into my wombs; the blood transfusion."

The video even addresses the "Judas" leak that took place right before she released it to the masses on April 15. She likens it to a disembodiment, saying, "A slow death! Just put me out of my f---ing misery, just put that sh-- out. They were tearing [the song] limb for limb. First it was the arm of the song, then the liver. ...

"I wrote it really quick," she later says, while lounging fully clothed in an empty bathtub. "I mean, all of the songs on the album, to be completely candid, the creative process is approximately [a] 15-minutes process. It's 15 minutes of vomiting my creative ideas in the forms of melodies, usually, or chord progressions and melodies and some sort of a theme, lyric idea. And then I spend days, weeks, months, years fine tuning. But the idea is, you honor your vomit."

The video ends with Gaga teasing her Monster Ball and the "polarizing" cover art for Born This Way. Fittingly, new teasers for her HBO special, which was taped at her Monster Ball shows at Madison Square Garden earlier this year, also hit the Net. The special airs May 7.

In one promo, Gaga hits the streets of New York City dressed in a studded leather jacket and high platform (and heelless) ankle boots, as "Born This Way" plays in the background. It leads to shots of the madness at MSG leading up to the show, which is eventually teased in the clip. In the second, shorter preview, shots of her performance is teased while her new single, "Judas," plays.

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