The Rolling Stone Blog
  • Since releasing a free mixtape, House of Balloons, in March, 21-year-old R&B singer Abel Tesfaye - otherwise known as the Weeknd - has been tantalizing fans and critics alike with his mysterious persona. Refusing interviews and often posting cryptic, short messages on Twitter, Tesfaye has cultivated a strong following based on internet buzz but until last night, when he played to a sold-out crowd at Toronto's Mod Club, he had yet to make a proper live debut.

    Tesfaye owes much of his current fame to his mentor, fellow Toronto native Drake, who met him in 2009 when a songwriting/production team Tesfaye was part of called the Noise wrote a song for the rapper, who was then putting together his debut full-length Thank Me Later. The track, "Birthday Suit," never made it on the album, but Drake kept an eye on Tesfaye nonetheless - and when the latter release House of Balloons, Drake was so impressed that he tweeted the lyrics to the song "Wicked Games" and linked to it on his blog. Now, each

    Read More »from Drake Protégé the Weeknd Proves He’s No Fluke in Live Debut
  • The cause of Amy Winehouse's death will remain a mystery for at least a few more weeks.

    An autopsy performed Monday at St. Pancras Mortuary in London did not establish a formal cause of death, Metropolitan Police tell Us Weekly in a statement. "We are awaiting the results of further toxicology tests," they add.

    VIDEO: Remembering Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

    Further information regarding the 27-year-old singer's death is not expected for at least another two to four weeks. An inquest was opened at St. Pancras Coroner's Court Monday afternoon and was adjourned until October 26.

    Photos: Amy Winehouse Remembered

    Sky News has reported her parents Mitch and Janis "formally identified" Winehouse's body Monday morning and that there "no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Amy Winehouse."

    A spokesperson for the Winehouse family told BBC News that they are hoping to hold their daughter's funeral as soon as possible, but the post-mortem and police investigation have "made it

    Read More »from Amy Winehouse’s Autopsy Results Are Inconclusive
  • Faith No More singer and songwriter Mike Patton has a starring role in The Darkness II, where he voices the character of the Darkness, an evil power that takes over the protagonist Jackie, a mafia hitman. The game, out on February 7th, 2012 from 2K Games, is the sequel to 2007's The Darkness, and is based on the comic series of the same name by Mark Silvestri.

    "They wanted some kind of otherworldly voice, basically screaming and narration, and I thought, 'that's kind of in my wheelhouse,'" Patton tells Rolling Stone from Comic Con International in San Diego. The singer, known for his powerful, distinctive wailing on songs such as "Epic" and "Midlife Crisis," says he was familiar with the comic but had never done any voice acting. "I thought it was something I should try and could learn something from."Faith No More - Epic by Studio D Recording

    Patton says that while he is not an avid gamer in his spare time, he does play, and particularly enjoyed Red Dead Redemption, which is "a game

    Read More »from Mike Patton on Voicing a Video Game, Faith No More Reunion
  • One day after Amy Winehouse's tragic death, her family has issued a statement regarding the 27-year-old singer's untimely passing.

    VIDEO: Remembering Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

    "Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece. She leaves a gaping hole in our lives," the Winehouse family tells Us Weekly in a statement. "We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time."

    PHOTOS: Amy and other stars who died at 27

    The "You Know I'm No Good" singer is survived by her father, Mitch, her mother, Janis, and her older brother, Alex. Winehouse's father was in New York City when he learned of her death. "I'm getting on the next plane back. I'm coming home. I have to be with Amy," he reportedly said. "I can't crack up for her sake. My family needs me. I'm devastated; it's such a shock."

    PHOTOS: Amy Winehouse's tumultuous life

    Janis believed her daughter's death had been "only a matter of time" when

    Read More »from Family: Amy Winehouse’s Death ‘Leaves a Gaping Hole in Our Lives’
  • While plans for a new Outkast album are still unknown, Big Boi tells Rolling Stone that a collaboration between him and the group's other half, André 3000, could very well happen on his next solo album, Daddy Fat Sax.

    "I think it's very much possible because we have L.A. Reid in our corner now, and he was the first to sign Outkast," Big Boi said, referring to the record executive's recent jump from chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group to Epic Records. If all goes well, that move should undo the label roadblocks (Big Boi has a solo deal with Def Jam, while Outkast is signed to Jive) that kept the pair's "Lookin' for Ya" collaboration off of Big Boi's 2010 solo debut, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.

    "L.A. has permission to make it happen now," Big Boi said of the potential mini-reunion. "So I hope it does, and I don't really see why it won't."

    The Atlanta MC, who recently confirmed to Junior Online that he has finished 17 songs on Fat Sax - which he hopes to release

    Read More »from Big Boi: Andre 3000 Cameo ‘Very Much Possible’ on Next Album
  • "I hate singles," Drake says. It's a funny thing to hear from the rapper behind hits like "Best I Ever Had" and "Find Your Love," but he says he's always felt this way - now more than ever, as he puts the finishing touches on his second full-length LP, Take Care (due October 24th). "With this album, I want to tell a whole story," he adds. "I don't want people to just hear a piece and judge the album on that."

    Drake is home in Toronto, recording at his longtime producer Noah "40" Shebib's studio. The vibe is industrial yet cozy: exposed brick, low lighting, plenty of high-grade weed and virtually no decoration aside from a vinyl copy of U.K. dubstep crooner James Blake's debut on a windowsill. "This is home," says Drake, wearing a T-shirt, black jeans and work boots. "If I'm in a big expensive studio, it starts messing with my head about what kind of music I should be making."

    To a degree, that's what happened with his 2010 debut, Thank Me Later, which sold 1.4 million copies and

    Read More »from Weed, Top Chefs and Rick Ross: Drake Ranges Wide on New Album
  • In this exclusive clip from Disney's Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension, Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver guitar hero Slash flips a switch on his amp that turns him into a cartoon character. Upon entering the animated zone, he jams out with the show's protagonists on a tune called "Kick It Up A Notch" before a huge stadium crowd. To catch the full song, tune in to the tv movie when it premieres at 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel on Friday, August 5th

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News for You

  • Latest 'Bachelorette' won't say if she's engaged

    NEW YORK (AP) — ABC's newest "Bachelorette," Desiree Hartsock, says it's not hard to keep the details of her experience on the show a secret from her friends.

  • Actress Bynes accused of bong toss out NYC window

    NEW YORK (AP) — Actress Amanda Bynes appeared disheveled in a long blond wig and sweats Friday in a criminal court where she was charged with reckless endangerment after police said she heaved a marijuana bong out the window of her 36th-floor Manhattan apartment.

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    SINGAPORE (AP) — Portraying USS Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu in the latest "Star Trek" movie comes with big shoes to fill, but the man who played the part in the TV series and six films has given his blessing to the actor currently playing the role.

  • Jersey shore reopens for 1st post-Sandy summer

    SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey rolled out some of its big guns Friday to proclaim that the shore is back following Superstorm Sandy, using Gov. Chris Christie and the cast of MTV's "Jersey Shore" to tell a national audience the state is ready for summer fun.

  • Rare Superman comic found in house insulation

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It's considered the Holy Grail of comic books: Action Comics No. 1 from 1938, featuring the debut of Superman. And David Gonzales found one mixed in with old newspapers insulating a house he was renovating in a small town in Minnesota.

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    NEW YORK (AP) — Police say actress Amanda Bynes has been arrested in midtown Manhattan after she heaved a marijuana bong out of a window.

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