• Springsteen, Ledger Win Golden Globes
• Times Publishes Bono’s First Column
• Iggy Pop Speaks Out About Asheton Death
• 50 Cent Disses Kanye, Lil Wayne on Radio
• Adele on Teaming With Jack White
• Steve Earle on KOL, Townes Van Zandt
• Motown Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Party
• Readers’ Rock List: Jam Bands
• News Ticker: AC/DC, Conchords, blink-182
• Rock of Love Bus Recap
• Q&A: Paul McCartney on the Fireman
• Kelly Clarkson Reveals New Album Cover

Top stories from the last three days:

• New Idol Judge Kara DioGuardi Opens Up
• Exclusive Premiere: Of Montreal’s “An Eluardian Instance” Video
• Random Notes: Amy Winehouse, Prince
• New Dr. Dre Song Leaks
• Will the Zune Become Extinct?
• “Led Zeppelin Are Over,” Says Page Manager
• Phish Confirm Summer Tour
• Man Bob Dylan Made Infamous Dies
• Springsteen’s Super Bowl Is a Super Gig
• Live Nation Ticket Sales Start With Big Fees
• What’s Big in Australia? Empire of the Sun
• Vinyl Sales Nearly Double in 2008
• Video: Ron Asheton on His Influences
• Breaking: Adele
• Taylor Swift Tops the Charts Again
• Looking Back at Ron Asheton’s Legacy of Loud
• How to Save Rock & Roll: Nine Pros Weigh In
• Dr. Dre, 50 Cent Join Eminem on “Bottle”
• U2 Break Down No Line on the Horizon
• Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck to Share Concert Bill
• 2008’s Biggest Rock News Stories

Scroll down for full news stories, commentary and much more in Rock Daily.

Photo: Waisman/FilmMagic

Before they embark on their U.S. tour, the Heartless Bastards will chill with Austin Scaggs in the Smoking Section. Keep an eye out for footage from their exclusive performance in our offices. Plus, Cursive add five more shows to their jaunt and the Living Things promise not to get into any brawls when they team with the Eagles of Death Metal. Full dates for all three treks, after the jump. (more…)

Photo: Getty

Never let it be said that Jack White has no soul — the White Stripe famously recorded the theme to Bond film Quantum of Solace with Alicia Keys, but before he did that he made plans to record with British soulster Adele. Rolling Stone’s Nicole Frehsée recently sat down with the four-time Grammy nominee, who opened up about her “amazing” experience in the studio with White. The worst part? Though the press kept talking about Amy Winehouse collaborating with White on the Bond theme, Adele knew the truth but couldn’t spill it. The best part? That would be working with Jack White in the studio:

“The Raconteurs watched us on XL in England, and Jack was like ‘I’m going to love you, let’s do a song together.’ Someone gave my album to him, and he asked me to do a cover of a Brendan Benson song ‘Many Shades of Black’ as the B-side to their version. We went to do it in Nashville after I did Bonnaroo, and then he had to fly to New York to do the Bond thing. And so I thought, okay, never mind, I have to go do it with my band in England because we couldn’t do it here. And I was putting down the vocal, and they walk in — the whole band.

“I’m such a huge fan of Jack White. And Brendan Benson, I love his writing as well. So that was insane. I was kind of nervous the whole time. We all went for dinner and he kept trying to call his wife, like can I speak to the kids, can I speak to the kids? And he kept coming back and going, oh, my kids are playing with sprinklers in the garden. He’s really intense, he loves to really look into your eye. I went home and was beeping all my friends. He was lovely. Even if he slapped me, it would have been cool.”

Related Stories:

• Breaking: Adele

Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

Today marks the official 50th anniversary of Motown Records, and members of some of the label’s most famous acts were on hand in the Motor City to help kick off what will be a year-long celebration for the famed label. The Four Tops’ Abdul “Duke” Fakir and members of the Miracles, Martha & the Vandellas and Rare Earth will spend the week at the Motown Historical Museum, housed in the original Hitsville Headquarters. Plus, today was officially named Motown Day in the city of Detroit.

(Revisit the birth of Motown in our 1971 feature by Jon Landau, “The Motown Story.”)

It was 50 years ago that Motown founder Berry Gordy first borrowed $800 with the hopes of starting his own label and founded Tamla Records, which would be incorporated as Motown in 1970 and produce its first hit a year later. “Fifty years is a wonderful anniversary,” Fakir told Billboard.com. “You’ve got to give credit to the songs, but of course you’ve got to give credit to Berry Gordy for the vision. He had the whole vision, and he made it come true.” Berry will not be on hand for the festivities, but said in a statement, “Motown music was for everybody, and it grew out of love. It has spread around the world and has become part of the culture and consciousness in all seven continents, and it all started right here.”

To honor the anniversary, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will house the exhibition “Motown: The Sound of Young American Turns 50,” plus Gordy has a documentary about his famed label in the works, along with a Broadway musical and a Marvin Gaye exhibit. In all, it promises to be a busy year for Hitsville USA. As we get ready to partake in the celebration, we ask our readers to tell us their favorite Motown hits.

Related Stories:

• The Four Tops Frontman Levi Stubbs, Jr. Dead at 72
• Marvin Gaye, Temptations Producer Norman Whitfield Dies
• Rare Motown, Stax, Decca Albums Hit the Web at New Lost Tunes Store

Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

Last week, to celebrate Phish, the Dead and the Allman Brothers all announcing tour dates, we asked our readers to tell us their favorite jam bands. We turned on A Live One and counted the votes, and the winner by the narrowest of margins were the creators of the “Mountain Jam,” “Whipping Post” and other half-hour masterpieces, the Allman Brothers. The Georgia boys beat out the favored Grateful Dead and Phish to claim the crown as the Readers’ Favorite Jam Band. Where did jam-prone acts like My Morning Jacket, Led Zeppelin and the Disco Biscuits land? Check out the whole list below:

1. Allman Brothers Band
2. The Grateful Dead
3. Phish
4. Umphrey’s McGee
5. moe.
6. Widespread Panic
7. Led Zeppelin
8. My Morning Jacket
9. Dave Matthews Band
10  Gov’t Mule (more…)

Photo: Arnold/Wireimage

When Steve Earle was just 16 years old he struck up a relationship with songwriter Townes Van Zandt that would change the direction of the budding musician’s life: Van Zandt became a mentor to Earle, and now Earle is repaying the favor by recording a tribute album to his troubled late friend, who died in 1997. Brian Braiker rang up the rabble-rouser in Nashville to chat about the record, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and Earle’s favorite new band: the Kings of Leon.

• Q&A: The Music That Moves Steve Earle

Photo: Warner/Wireimage

Iggy Pop gave his first interview since the death of Stooges’ guitarist Ron Asheton this morning, telling a pair of Detroit radio show hosts, “As long as I don’t think about it, I’m OK. And then when I think about it, I’m not OK… He had a beautiful touch as a musician.” Pop also spoke with Rolling Stone’s David Fricke at length for a memorial that will run in our next issue (on stands January 21st).

“He developed such a unique sound and approach to his instrument and writing that I don’t think that everybody got it at first, but over the years other generations caught on,” Pop told the Deminski & Doyle show. “I think a lot of good musicians were influenced by what Ron pioneered.”

Asked what bands he thought were most influenced by Asheton’s style, Iggy answered, “The most obvious would be Sonic Youth… bands that use dissonance and overdrive. I hear a little bit in Smashing Pumpkins… also in Nirvana.” Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore wrote about how the Stooges’ inspired Sonic Youth in our Immortals issue.

In a statement following Asheton’s death, Pop called the guitarist his “best friend,” and much of the radio interview was spent reminiscing about Pop and Asheton’s high school days as well as the early days of the Stooges. (more…)

Photo: Williamson/Wireimage

You can tell 50 Cent has a new album coming out when he hits the radio and starts beefs with other rappers for absolutely no reason. Thus was the case this weekend as Fiddy called into Eminem’s Shade 45 XM/Sirius radio station to unload diss after diss on Lil Wayne and Kanye West — and talk a little bit about his upcoming album Before I Self Destruct.

When Kanye released 808s & Heartbreak, he blogged that 50 Cent would love it, but on the radio 50 finally responded by saying the album was “an R&B record.” “I’m surprised he got away with it,” 50 said. “That album is supposed to be a brick.” 50 also mocked Kanye’s singing skills. 50 had equally harsh words for Lil Wayne, saying the Carter III rapper was a “junkie” and a “little baby.” “[Wayne] had a great album,” he said, “but he makes a lot of records and I think he’s gonna exhaust the public with his sound. He’s a talented artist, but if you put us in a space where we’re in competition, my consistency will break his neck.” Fiddy then dared — almost pleaded — for both rappers to respond, probably in an attempt to keep his name in the papers and blogs before Self Destruct is released.

50 Cent also shed some light on that leaked Dr. Dre track “Could Have You Been,” saying the song, which also features R. Kelly, was recorded two years ago for Detox. (more…)

Every week Poison frontman Bret Michaels searches for a worthy life partner on Rock of Love Bus, while Rock Daily searches for ways to reference “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode two:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: Bret Michaels’ tour pulls into Indianapolis, where he tests the girls’ devotion by forcing them to write vows for a mock wedding where the brides wear, well, nothing, and groom Bret sports one of those T-shirts with a tux printed on the front (classy!). Taya, Farrah and Brittanya win a hayride date with Bret, which rankles the increasingly psychotic Brittaney (he wasn’t swayed by her mushy five-page vow). And just before elimination, Melissa articulates the words we’re all thinking: “It is hard to kiss you after all those yucky girls kissed you.” (more…)

Photo: Charrlau/Wireimage

Rolling Stone has been pleased to publish Bono’s writing in the past (see his lengthy comment on the band’s first albums, his meditation on Immortal artist Elvis Presley, his essay on Greatest Singer Bob Dylan), and now The New York Times is putting the multitasking rock star to work. Bono’s tenure as a Times op-ed writer began yesterday. Rather than devote space in the world’s most-read newspaper to his many charitable causes, the recession or Barack Obama, the U2 frontman threw everyone a curve ball by dedicating his first piece to the “Chairman of the Board,” Frank Sinatra. Bono does briefly connect the recession’s hit on Ireland to the legendary crooner, recounting a recent trip to a Dublin pub where there was revelry but “builders and bankers laugh uneasy and hard at the last year, and swallow uneasy and hard at the new.” The one cure to mend all of their sorrows? Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” which blares out of the bar’s speakers.

From here, Bono gives us a critical take of what makes Sinatra Sinatra. “Fully inhabiting the moment during that tiny dot of time after you’ve pressed ‘record’ is what makes it eternal,” Bono writes, “If, like Frank, you sing it like you’ll never sing it again. If, like Frank, you sing it like you never have before.” Bono also examines the two different versions of “My Way,” from the triumphant 1969 version to a later version, when 78-year-old Sinatra sings “a heart-stopping, heartbreaking song of defeat.” (more…)

Good news for people who like good harmonies: next Saturday (January 17th) Seattle indie rockers Fleet Foxes will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. This past weekend chart champion Taylor Swift joined a remarkably funny Neil Patrick Harris to perform “Love Story” and “Forever & Always,” and popped up in a very insidery sketch about saving Broadway.

Photo: Pimentel/Wireimage

• AC/DC fans in Peoria, Illinois rallied this weekend outside the city’s Civic Center, hoping to convince the band to play the arena for the first time in 1983. A local radio station organized the event, and a video and petition from the rally will be sent to AC/DC today. “We’re going to prove to AC/DC that we’re out of our minds,” said DJ Matt Bahan.

• Songs from this season’s Flight of the Conchords will be available for download the day after each episode. “Angels,” from the January 18th season two premiere, will hit iTunes on the 19th. While the songs often appear in truncated form on the show, the downloads will include the complete track. Additionally, the Conchords’ next album, comprised of songs from the new season plus five bonus tracks, will be released on April 14th.
• blink-182’s Mark Hoppus tells MTV News “The future is wide open” for a reunion, but fans shouldn’t hold their breathe, because it’s not imminent: “If — and this is a big if — Blink-182 were ever to re-form, it would have to be the most amazing, ridiculous, mind-blowing show and tour ever,” Hoppus said.
• Capitol Records will look to profit off Radiohead once more, this time by reissuing the band’s singles as 12′’ vinyl. The singles range from the rare Drill EP to “2 + 2 = 5,” and feature the original 5′’ CD artwork simply printed as a sticker onto the jacket. The reissues are due out April 21th.

Photo: Williamson/WireImage

Bruce Springsteen beat out Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus and Peter Gabriel to take home a Golden Globe last night, winning Best Original Song for “The Wrestler,” from the Darren Aronofsky film of the same name. The Globe nod was Springsteen’s second: He also won in 1994 for Philadelphia’s “Streets of Philadelphia.” With the victory, the Jersey legend is now the favorite to take home his second Original Song Oscar at this year’s Academy Awards, having also won for “Philadelphia” (he was nominated but lost in 1996 for “Dead Man Walking”). In his acceptance speech, Springsteen thanked actor Mickey Rourke for calling him and getting him involved in the film.

Later in the evening, it was Rourke who was called to the podium after winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama for The Wrestler. In what was the most rock & roll moment of the night, Rourke thanked Guns n’ Roses’ Axl Rose for allowing the low-budget film to use “Sweet Child O’ Mine” for almost nothing. Rose has often credited Rourke as being someone on his small list of friends. Equally awesome: Rourke also thanked his dogs. (more…)

Photo: Natkin/Wireimage

• Rock Daily remembered the Stooges legendary guitarist Ron Asheton, who passed away from a suspected heart attack at age 60. Iggy Pop paid tribute to his “best friend,” we looked back at Asheton’s legacy and his greatest riffs, revisited Asheton talking about his influences and Talk Show Flashbacked to the band’s good old days.

• Phish Phans and Dead Heads crowded the streets in celebration as both jam band greats announced tour dates for 2009. That’ll give Trey Anastasio ample time to play with that new compressor fans bought him. Not to be outdone, the Allman Brothers announced their annual Beacon run, and we asked readers to tell us their favorite jam bands.
• In what could be considered good news and bad news, Jimmy Page’s manager announced that plans for Led Zeppelin to tour with a replacement for Robert Plant have been called off. Unfortunately, Page’s manager doesn’t think the band will be touring with Robert Plant at any point either.
• 2009 is shaping up to be the Year of the Shady Aftermath as Eminem’s “Crack A Bottle” from Relapse and Dr. Dre’s “Could Have Been You,” maybe from Detox, leaked on the Web.
• Kelly Clarkson revealed her glossy new look and her re-embrace of pop with the covers of both her single “My Life Would Suck Without You” and upcoming album All I Ever Wanted.

Photo: Islandpaps / Splash

Would you rather see Amy Winehouse looking as sickly as a goblin, or as naked as a hippie chick at Bonnaroo? If the answer is “B,” you are so in luck: the troubled British soul songstress has been vacationing in St. Lucia over the past few days and looks a little bit healthier. Sure, her bathing suit bottom looks a bit like the days-of-the-week underoos we had in elementary school, but we can’t find any visible ribs sticking out of her torso! A fine day for Winehouse indeed.

Jay-Z underwent a fashion conversion as well this week, bringing nerdy back with his Urkel specs at the premiere of Biggie Smalls biopic Notorious (for more on the film, read our in-depth report here). And Prince — who announced not one but three new albums for 2009 — hit a Lakers game sans purple attire (which makes no sense at all, since purple is one of the L.A. team’s two colors!).

We also saw Kid Rock pick up a People’s Choice Award, Paul McCartney sign new copies of his Fireman album Electric Arguments (full Q&A about the LP right here), J.Lo hit the town sporting her wedding band and Gregg Allman jamming out onstage in New York (his band announced their annual Beacon Theatre residency in the city, too).

For all those photos and even more weekly rock wackery, check out our Random Notes gallery here:

• Random Notes: The Week in Rock