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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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610709/adam-lamberts-whole-lotta-love-story-behind-cover.jhtml

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Kids' Choice Awards 2011: The Show And Winners List

Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus awarded on slime-filled Nickelodeon night.
By Aly Semigran


Russell Brand and Rico Rodriguez get slimed onstage during Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images

For 23 years, Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards has been an event in which celebrities can truly let loose. After all, it's hard to have an ego when you're getting covered in green slime or being inducted into the Arm Fart Hall of Fame (we're looking at you, Josh Duhamel).

Nick's 2011 awards show, which aired lived on the network Saturday from Los Angeles, kept with its tradition of stars finding themselves in some truly outrageous situations. Host Jack Black, who was at the helm for the third time (he last helped hand out those coveted orange kaleidoscope blimps in 2008), kicked things off with an over-the-top musical number. The funnyman, wearing a black leather jumpsuit with flames — the first of many quirky wardrobe changes — was joined by a group of dancers to perform his own rendition of the Black Eyed Peas' hit "I Gotta Feelin'."

Black then introduced the group, as the "Jack Black Eyed Peas," and joined them onstage for "The Time (Dirty Bit)." BEP, who later won the award for Best Music Group, then sang their next single, "Just Can't Get Enough."

The first award of the evening was given out to Johnny Depp, who won Favorite Movie Actor for his performance in "Alice in Wonderland." Depp, who emerged from backstage, told the kiddie crowd and voters it was "truly a pleasure to receive this award that comes from you guys. I appreciate it."

After apologizing for beating Black in the category, Depp told Nick viewers, "You guys are the future; take good care of us." The actor then proceeded to get in on the fun, sliming the group of young fans who stood at the foot of the stage.

Depp's stunt led to one of the evening's most memorable — and by far, funniest — moments when "Arthur" actor Russell Brand and "Modern Family" star Rico Rodriguez appeared onstage soon after to present the award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (the blimp eventually went to Eddie Murphy, who got the crowd to sing him "Happy Birthday," for his role in "Shrek Forever After").

Before Brand and Rodriguez could even begin their banter at the podium, the freshly slimed youngsters began throwing the green, gooey mess at the two stars. In response to the mayhem, Brand declared, "I'm never having children."

Brand continued, as he guarded Rodriguez from the kiddie coup, "I am English! I am your leader! You must not do this, I am royalty! You are all going to juvenile hall. You children are going to prison. You are bad children!" Brand, who is voicing a character in the animated feature "Hop," cried that the moment was not in the script, then joked, "Johnny, I wished you'd drowned them."

They weren't the only stars to get slimed during the broadcast. Heidi Klum, who almost took a spill thanks to her sky-high heels, got hit, as did Jason Segel, who received a slime slushie courtesy of Jane Lynch. Even Snoop Doog — who joined pop-rock group and Nick stars Big Time Rush for their song "Boyfriend" — got doused in the green stuff.

As Willow Smith performed her hits "21st Century Girl" and "Whip My Hair," the 10-year-old was cheered on by her dad, Will Smith, and brother, Jaden Smith, who were in the audience.

The final big award of the evening went to Miley Cyrus, who won for Favorite Movie Actress for "The Last Song." The former "Hannah Montana" star attempted to put gossip to rest during her acceptance speech as she thanked her family for supporting her career.

Cyrus will no doubt get fans wondering about the status of her relationship with "Last Song" co-star and on-again, off-again beau Liam Hemsworth, whom she thanked for "helping me make movie magic" in the 2010 drama.

The Big Help Award, which was presented by Rosario Dawson, went to singer/actor Justin Timberlake for his devotion to charities, particularly the work he does with Shriners Hospital for Children. In between cracking jokes about burping and getting the crowd to cheer if they had ever helped anyone, Timberlake took the time to tell his young fans, "Your heart is the most beautiful part, so don't forget to use it."

In addition to telling kids they can do their part to help, even with major issues such as the crisis in Japan, the star said something bound to make any adult watching elated: "Listen to your parents!"

Finally, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian hit the stage to help give away the last award of the night for Favorite TV Show, which went to the kid-friendly Nickelodeon hit "iCarly."

Black kept a high energy throughout the show, including some interactions with his "Kung Fu Panda 2" character, Po, — one of which featured a cameo from Britney Spears in a pre-recorded segment. He ended the evening with a slime battle between himself and Jim Carrey, who made a surprise finale appearance.

Other winners included:

Favorite Female Singer

  • Katy Perry
  • Favorite Male Singer

  • Justin Bieber
  • Favorite Song

  • "Baby" - Justin Bieber
  • Favorite Movie

  • "The Karate Kid"
  • Favorite Animated Movie

  • "Despicable Me"
  • Favorite Reality Show

  • "American Idol"
  • Favorite TV Actress

  • Selena Gomez
  • Favorite TV Actor

  • Dylan Sprouse
  • Favorite Book

  • "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series
  • Favorite Cartoon

  • "Spongebob Square Pants"
  • Favorite Male Athlete

  • Shaquille O'Neal
  • Favorite Female Athlete

  • Lindsey Vonn
  • Favorite Video Game

  • "Just Dance 2"
  • What was your favorite moment at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards? Tell us below!

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    Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661191/kids-choice-awards.jhtml

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    Janet Jackson Thrills Fans With Greatest Hits, Michael Tribute At Radio City

    Singer covered songs ranging from classic 'Pleasure Principle' to 2008's 'Feedback' at New York show.
    By Vaughn Schoonmaker


    Janet Jackson (file)
    Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images

    NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.

    Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.

    At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.

    With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."

    Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.

    Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."

    Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.

    "Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"

    "She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"

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    Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660385/janet-jackson-radio-city-concert.jhtml

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    Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, John Paul Jones Unveil Supergroup

    Them Crooked Vultures make their debut with a post-Lollapalooza set.
    By James Montgomery


    Dave Grohl (file)
    Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

    Officially, Lollapalooza ended Sunday night in Chicago's Grant Park, with dueling sets from the Killers and Jane's Addiction. Unofficially, it ended very early Monday morning, across town at venerable rock club the Metro, with a surprise show by Them Crooked Vultures.

    To the unfamiliar, the Vultures might seem like an odd choice to close out Lolla weekend ... until you realize that they're made up of Foo Fighters frontman/ former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age mastermind Josh Homme and Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones. And their gig at the Metro was their world premiere.

    According to some reports, the Vultures actually turned down Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell's request to replace the Beastie Boys as headliners at the festival, opting to debut in front of some 1,100 super-psyched fans at the Metro, rather than 75,000 in Grant Park (tickets for the gig were announced via Foo Fighter/ QOTSA fan clubs). Meaning that, in a lot of ways, this was the most sought-after ticket in town.

    Taking the stage just after midnight, the Vultures — Grohl on drums (of course), Homme on guitar and vocals, Jones on bass and keys and frequent QOTSA contributor Alain Johannes on guitar — ripped through 12 songs in 80 minutes, all taken from their upcoming debut, which may or may not be called Never Deserved the Future, and may or may not be hitting stores on October 23 (early "promo" videos touting both those facts were revealed over the weekend to be hoaxes perpetrated by QOTSA fans).

    The songs, with appropriately Homme-ian titles like "Scumbag Blues," "Mind Eraser (No Chaser)," "Caligulove" and "Interlude w/Ludes," sounded pretty much how you'd expect, given the band's pedigree. They rocked, hard — Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot described them as "fresh, invigorating and just plain nasty" — delving off into psychedelic, reverb-filled excursions and exploring proggy territory, "both of the old-school Yes variety, and the more modern Tool flavor," according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis.

    It's not known if Monday's Metro performance was a one-off event for the Vultures — there have been whispers of a full-blown tour, but a spokesperson for Homme had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time. Nor was it clear whether or not they'll have an album out in October.

    Early Monday, a Crooked Vultures Twitter account, which had previously posted links to the band's official-looking Web site and the Metro's online ticketing site — posted a link to what appears to be the group's first bit of official merchandise: a Deserve the Future T-shirt. Cost: $30.

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    Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617950/dave-grohl-josh-homme-john-paul-jones-unveil-supergroup.jhtml

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