Rock News

Last Update on March 12, 2010 03:09 EST

"AMERICAN IDOL" UNVEILS TOP 12

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Katie Stevens was crying more than Lilly Scott was on "American Idol" -- and Scott was the one who had gotten kicked out. Scott failed to make the top 12 and she says, "I don't know what America wants to hear." Alex Lambert was crying as well, but for himself. He didn't make the top 12 either, and he says he wishes he had come out of his shell. Todrick Hall and Katelyn Epperly missed out on the top 12 too. Hall says he wanted to prove that he was a dancer who could also sing and he feels he did that. Epperly says she learned a ton and "Idol" was a push for her to do more. The top 12's first assignment: tackle the music of The Rolling Stones. They'll perform that on Tuesday.

PINK FLOYD WINS COURT CASE ON DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

LONDON (AP) -- Buying individual Pink Floyd tracks online could soon disappear. Britain's High Court has ordered EMI to stop selling downloads of Pink Floyd songs individually, instead of as whole albums. Pink Floyd had argued it wanted to maintain its artistic vision of seamless pieces of music. EMI had claimed a clause in the band's contract that predated digital downloads applied only to physical albums. The judge sided with the band and ordered EMI to pay Pink Floyd's legal costs while he figures out how much EMI must pay in damages. The judge also ruled on the level of royalties the band is due, but that judgment was made in private. Pink Floyd tracks are still available individually on iTunes and Amazon.

BRET MICHAELS IS READY TO TAKE ON "CELEBRITY APPRENTICE"

NEW YORK (AP) -- Bret Michaels was ready for quitters on "Celebrity Apprentice," because there had been quitters before. He says this time no one gave up the battle, which made the game more intense. He says some of his competitors he thought would ruthless were not that bad, but he didn't underestimate anyone because "sometimes it's the sleeper is the one that gets ya." Still, he says the "truly insane, sometimes funny, sometimes extremely painful." His competitors include Sharon Osbourne, Cyndi Lauper, Darryl Strawberry and Sinbad. "Celebrity Apprentice" premieres Sunday on NBC.

RAY CHARLES MUSICAL PLANNED FOR BROADWAY

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ray Charles is heading for Broadway. A musical called "Unchain My Heart" will open in New York on October 8, with preview performances beginning November 7. The show will be produced by Stuart Benjamin, the same producer behind the movie "Ray."

PHIL SPECTOR'S LAWYERS ARGUE CONVICTION SHOULD BE OVERTURNED

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lawyers for music producer Phil Spector want his conviction thrown out. Spector's attorneys filed court documents arguing Spector should be freed because he was denied a fair trial. They claim prosecutors used a videotape of the trial judge commenting on evidence on the case, and that prosecutors improperly argued Spector should be convicted based on bad character. Spector is serving 19 years to life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. His first trial ended in mistrial.

NEWSEUM PORTRAYS ELVIS AS FIRST AMENDMENT CHAMPION

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Elvis Presley, First Amendment hero? That's how the Newseum in Washington is portraying him. Newseum president Ken Paulson says newspapers in the 1950s saw themselves as arbiters of social values, and they were "fiercely negative" of Elvis. They stopped picking on him after he served two years in the Army. The exhibit includes items like Elvis' 1957 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, his 1968 gospel Grammy, the coat and gold belt he wore when he met President Richard Nixon and the Bureau of Narcotics badge Nixon gave Presley. The exhibit runs through next February.

"GREEN DAY: ROCK BAND" COMES OUT IN JUNE

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Green Day version of "Rock Band" is set for release on June 8. The game will let players go through the story of Green Day through a 47-song setlist. Players can unlock more than 100 collectible images and more than 40 minutes of unreleased video from interviews, outtakes and performances.