Rolling Stone Thursday August 23, 2007

TODAY'S TOP ROCK HEADLINES

PHOTO GALLERY: ROLLING STONE COVER BOYS MAROON 5 Check out photos of current Rolling Stone cover stars Maroon 5 onstage and off. For snapshots of the band with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Will.i.Am, click HERE and for an excerpt of the cover story click HERE. Also check back with RollingStone.com later today for a behind-the-scenes video from Maroon 5's cover shoot.

MADONNA COULD LEAVE CURRENT LABEL FOR LIVE NATION Madonna's spokesperson has addressed rumors that the singer is parting ways with longtime label Warner Bros. to sign a deal with Live Nation worth over $100 million: "Madonna has a new CD coming out on Warner Bros. Records at the end of this year and early next year. She also has a greatest hits package on WB," Liz Rosenberg told Rolling Stone. "After that she is a free agent and I believe her managers are in talks with Warner Bros. as well as Live Nation regarding her future as a recording and touring artist." Click HERE for more on this story and Madonna's rumored VMA appearance.

EX-VAN HALEN BASSIST MICHAEL ANTHONY TALKS REUNION Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has blogged about his absence from the upcoming Van Halen reunion tour. Anthony explains he was not asked to be a part of the reunion tour, and he and former VH frontman Sammy Hagar will be performing shows with their own band, the Other Half. He says he harbors no ill will towards his replacement, Wolfgang Van Halen - the 16-year-old son of Eddie Van Halen - saying "Wolfgang is a great kid, so don't judge him too harshly. I'm sure he'll do just fine!" For more of Anthony's blog post, click HERE.

ON THE CHARTS: 'HIGH SCHOOL MUSCIAL 2', DAVE MATTHEWS AND MORE The soundtrack to High School Musical 2 debuted atop the charts this week with sales of 615,361 - making it second to Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight for the largest first week sales of the year. Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds' Live at Radio City Music Hall landed in third, with last week's number one album, UGK(Underground Kingz), coming in sixth place. Click HERE for the complete charts roundup.

SIX QUESTIONS FOR MACY GRAY Rolling Stone posed six questions to Macy Gray and found out the neo-soul star is ready to begin a career as a pimp, is a fan of the Cold War Kids and plays a wicked hand of poker. Click HERE to read the full interview.

For more of the latest music news - including a behind-the-scenes video of Maroon 5's Rolling Stone cover shoot - visit RollingStone.com.

TODAY'S PICKS

DAILY TRACK: Junior Senior - "Itch U Can't Scratch" Where can we buy the happy pills Junior Senior are taking? Hey Hey is the Danish duo's second straight album full of megabright electro disco, something on the order of KC and the Sunshine band partying with Abba, only with better keyboards and a knowing wink. Case in point is "Itch U Can't Scratch," which sounds like the B-52's mashed up with an Eighties break beat. Click HERE for more on Junior Senior's latest album.

DAILY VIDEO: The Matches - "Salty Eyes"

DAILY REVIEW: Galactic - From the Corner to the Block Like every great New Orleans funk band going back to the Meters, Galactic are an instrumental powerhouse that struggles gamely to make great studio records with songs and vocals. Their latest work is a twist -- guest MCs on charging rhythms that are not quite tunes. Click HERE for more of David Fricke's review.

ARTIST OF THE DAY: MADONNA The complete ROLLINGSTONE.COM archive includes videos, photos, interviews, reviews, and more.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS Julian Casablancas of the Strokes, 29 Rick Springfield, 58 TODAY'S ROCK ON TV (ALL TIMES EST) NBC 11:35pm - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: STEPHEN STILLS 12:35am - Late Night with Conan O'Brien: THE ACADEMY IS... 1:35am - Last Call with Carson Daly: LILY ALLEN CBS 11:35pm - The Late Show with David Letterman: STEVE EARLE 12:35am - The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: THE CLIKS