Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.
Madonna Opening “Hard Candy” Fitness Centers
Madonna has announced the opening of Hard Candy Fitness global fitness centers, which will open in major cities around the world. The first gym, a 30,000 square foot complex in Mexico City, will open in mid-November and boast an appearance by the singer on Nov. 29.
Lady Gaga Interviewed by Anderson Cooper in London
Lady Gaga was interviewed about her forthcoming album, “Born This Way,” by CNN journalist Anderson Cooper on Saturday (Oct. 23). Wearing a lace outfit, the singer met Cooper at the Thames River in London and promptly gave “The Silver Fox” a warm hug. Gaga wrote on Twitter that the interview was her first promotion for the forthcoming album. (@ladygaga via JustJared)
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NIN Reissue Debut Album “Pretty Hate Machine”
Nine Inch Nails will reissue a remastered version of their debut album “Pretty Hate Machine” on Nov. 22. The album had previously been out of print due to a dispute between frontman Trent Reznor and distributor TVT Records. The reissue will include a cover of Queen’s “Get Down, Make Love,” originally a v-Side to the 1990 “Sin” single. (Pitchfork)
Gene Simmons Hospitalized for Dehydration
KISS frontman Gene Simmons was briefly hospitalized in Inglewood, Ca. today after fainting at LAX Airport. The singer was treated for dehydration and released. (TMZ)
Lykke Li Issues Two New Songs
Swedish singer Lykke Li has issued two new tracks, “Paris Blue” and “Get Some,” with the latter now available as a 7-inch and digital download. With lines like “I’m your prostitute, you goon’ get some,” the songs showcase a more grown-up Li than her innocent-sounding debut, “Youth Novels.” (Stereogum)
Uganda President Performs Hip-Hop Song
As part of the campaign rally “National Resistance Movement Solidarity Concert,” President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda performed a hip-hop song alongside musician Eddy Kenzo, who is known for his song “Stamina.” “We need to keep our traditions intact, put our poems in your songs so that they are not forgotten. We need those poems,” Museveni told the crowd. (AllHipHop)
(Reporting by Jason Lipshutz, Walter Frazier, Megan Vicki and Palika Makam)