[Updated: 1:24 P.M.]
NEWS:
- AVENGED SEVENFOLD Drummer Dead at 28
Jimmy Owen Sullivan, aka “The Rev,” dies in Southern California home, reportedly of natural causes. [SPIN]
- LIL WAYNE Kicks Off Tour in New Orleans
Weezy rocks the hits in his hometown as his jail sentence looms. [SPIN]
- JAY-Z to Premiere New Video on NYE
Clip for “On to the Next One” to air on NBC’s New Year’s special with Carson Daly, where Jay-Z will also perform. [MTV]
- VAN MORRISON, Wife Welcome Baby Boy
Rock legend, 64 (!), announces Monday’s birth of George Ivan “Little Van” Morrison III. [AP]
- METRIC Named “Triumph of the Year”
MySpace Music champions the rad Canadian band’s grand 2009, which featured their hit self-released album. [MySpace]
- MARILYN MANSON Settles Lawsuit with Keyboardist
Stephen Bier, aka Madonna Wayne Gacy, settles $20 million lawsuit for $380,000. [EW]
- TRENT REZNOR: New NIN Material in 2010
“I am in a state of rediscovery and reinvention,” says the muscular frontman. [SPIN]
- R.E.M.‘s MICHAEL STIPE Remembers VIC CHESNUTT
Patti Smith also pays tribute to the influential singer/songwriter, who died Christmas day. [SPIN]
MP3s & VIDEOS:
- Awesome Year-End Mashup Features KINGS OF LEON, DRAKE & More!
DJ Earworm’s YouTube mix also samples Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift. [YouTube via EW]
- WATCH:SPIKE LEE Directs MICHAEL JACKSON Video
“This Is It” clip mixes iconic footage of the late singer with images of his hometown of Gary, IN. [SPIN]