Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.
Wilson Phillips Gets Reality Show
Wilson Phillips is riding their “Bridesmaids” cameo back to relevancy: the TV Guide network announced “The Wilson Phillips Project” today. The show will profile and follow Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips as they try to reach the top of the charts again. Chynna Phllips is already set to appear on the upcoming season of “Dancing With The Stars,” so you’ll have plenty of Wilson Phillips to keep you occupied before their new material drops. ( NY Mag)
Mos Def Retiring His Name At Year’s End
Mos Def has announced he will be ditching the “Mos Def” name at the end of 2011 and will assume the moniker “Yasiin.” The MC/actor told MTV2’s Sucker Free that he’s “done quite a bit with that name and it’s time to expand and move on” and that he “didn’t want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that [he sees] and [knows himself] as.” (MTV2 via hiphopdx.com)
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Lady Gaga Backs ‘I Will’ Effort for 9/11 Commemoration
With the ten-year anniversary of the September 11 tragedy arriving this Sunday, Manhattan native Lady Gaga lent her celebrity to Viacom’s PSA effort to support the Red Cross and other charitable deeds. Gaga joins several other notables, including Nas and “Jersey Shore” cast member Pauly D in the ad campaign. (Idolator)
New Order to Reunite Minus Bassist Pete Hook
Synthpop dynamos New Order, creators of dance floor hits like “Blue Monday” and “Bizarre Love Triangle,” will play for the first time in five years for a pair of charity concerts next month. This incarnation of New Order, however, will not include original bassist Pete Hook, who left the band on less-than-amicable terms in 2007. The two shows will include keyboardist Gilliam Gilbert, who hasn’t toured with the band since 2001. (Rolling Stone)
Feist Debuts Five New Songs At Secret L.A. Gig
Canadian singer-songwriter Feist debuted five new songs from her upcoming record “Metals” (out October 4) at a secret show on Friday (Sept. 2) at the Del Monte Townhouse in Venice, Calif. Feist posted a cryptic message on her Twitter alerting fans of the show: “Anyone in Los Angeles will probably have a good time tonight if they can find this place by 10 pm,” along with a picture of the Townhouse’s neon sign. She rewarded those who solved the mystery by performing unreleased “Metals” tracks like “Woe Be,” “A Commotion,” “Graveyard” and “Bittersweet Melodies.” Watch “A Commotion” below. (SPIN)
(Reporting by Jon Blistein, RJ Cubarrubia and Chris Payne)