Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.
Justin Timberlake on Britney Spears: ‘I Just Don’t Think We Were Normal’
In the latest issue of Vanity Fair, on newsstands tomorrow (June 2), Justin Timberlake dishes on his girlfriends, including none-other than first love Britney Spears. “We were two birds of the same feather-small-town kids, doing the same thing,” Timberlake says, adding that the two haven’t spoken in 9 or 10 years. “But then you become adults, and the way you were as kids doesn’t make any sense. I won’t speak on her, but at least for me, I was a totally different person.” He adds: “I just don’t think we were normal; there was nothing normal about our existence. We spent way too much time being the biggest thing for teenyboppers.” (Vanity Fair)
Bjork Releases Details About iPad Record
Earlier this year, Bjork, announced that her upcoming record, “Biophelia,” would be made partly with an iPad. And now, everyone’s favorite Icelandic musician announced a few more details: The record will include videos (with one directed by Michel Gondry) and at least 10 coordinated apps. For instance, during the song “Virus,” users will be able to watch a close-up video of a virus attacking cells. Though there’s no official release date, Bjork will perform tracks from “Biophelia” at this year’s Manchester International Festival in England between June 27 and July 16. (Paste)
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Muse’s Matt Bellamy Steps Out Of Songwriting Spotlight
Matt Bellamy, singer and guitarist for Muse, will be taking a break from his songwriting duties in order to spend more time with his fiance, actress Kate Hudson, who’s expecting their first child. Taking his place is bassist, Chris Wolstenholme, who seems a tad anxious: “Matt’s raised the bar quite high in terms of songwriting,” he said. “I’m a bit nervous because I don’t want to write a song and it be responsible for the demise of the band.” (The Sun)
Jane’s Addiction & Guitar Center Join Forces
Rockers Jane’s Addiction have teamed up with Guitar center to give an unsigned artist the chance to open for the band through the Guitar Center On-Stage program. More so, Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, and Stephen Perkins will be inducted into Guitar Center’s RockWalk on June 1, which is dedicated to honoring artists who have contributed to the growth and evolution of rock, blues, and R&B.
CMT Music Awards Presenters Announced
The big name presenters for next week’s CMT Music Awards include two first timers: Shania Twain and Justin Bieber. Twain has not appeared at the award show in seven years, and Bieber is up for an award for his collaboration with Rascal Flatts on “That Should Be Me.” Other presenters include: “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina, Sheryl Crow, Train, Kristin Chenoweth, Luke Bryan and Sara Evans. The show will air live from Nashville on CMT next Wednesday (June 8) at 8 p.m. ET. (People)
Colin Hanks Uses Kickstarter to Help Fund His Tower Records Documentary
Nearly every weekday on my way to work, I walk past the vacant space that used to be Tower Records’ international store on Lafayette Street. Just this morning I was marveling (for the hundredth or so time) that the record-retail business was once so big that Tower could have opened a separate store in the middle of Manhattan just for international releases, and also how amazingly quickly it all fell apart in 2006.
It’s a story ripe for telling, and of all people, Tom Hanks’ actor son Colin is the one who wants to tell it — and, true to his subject, he’s taking the DIY route by seeking funding on Kickstarter for his film “All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records.” The project has been in the works for several years, but got a fresh burst of media attention (and funding) when Tom tweeted about it yesterday. “This will make a great docu, and I’m a fan of the film maker! Do U miss LP’s? I do,” he wrote. (Read the full story at Billboard.biz)
(Reporting by Jem Aswad, Jillian Mapes and Jon Blistein)