Rolling Stone Tuesday August 28, 2007

TODAY'S TOP ROCK HEADLINES

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: BEN HARPER UNPLUGGED AND OFF-THE-CUFF In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, associate editor Austin Scaggs profiles singer/guitarist Ben Harper as Harper records his latest album, Lifeline, in Paris. Click HERE to watch video of Harper talking about creating that record and being interviewed by Scaggs, as well as footage of him performing an acoustic version of "Steal My Kisses" and click HERE to watch Joe Levy review Lifeline in the latest episode of New Music Tuesdays.

SMASHING PUMPKINS, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, FALL OUT BOY STORM THE U.K. FOR READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS Over this past weekend, two of the U.K.'s top festivals, Reading and Leeds, overtook the English countryside as acts like Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco and dozens of British buzz bands took the stage to more than 150,000 people total. Standout moments came courtesy of Billy Corgan (an acoustic rendition of "1979") and Fall Out Boy (covering Michael Jackson's "Beat It"). Click HERE for more on the shows, and to see photos of all of the key moments.

ROCK BLOGGIN': JACK WHITE CHATS ABOUT NEW RACONTEURS ALBUM ON MYSPACE In typically odd fashion, Jack White and Raconteurs partner Brendan Benson took to their MySpace blog to discuss the future of their project. The pair revealed they've recorded "a lot of new songs," but are hesitant to describe them. Click HERE to read their cryptic conversation in full.

BRITNEY SPEARS' BIG VMAS COMEBACK APPEARS TO BE A GO Rumors of Britney Spears' comeback gig at this year's Video Music Awards on September 9th appear to be correct: The newest reports indicate Spears' latest male companion is a choreographer who is helping the troubled star plan her big return to the stage. Click HERE for full details.

THE PHIL SPECTOR TRIAL: MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AS PROCEEDINGS NEAR THEIR END Yesterday brought an unexpected turn of events in Phil Spector's murder trial: Spector's lead lawyer, Bruce Cutler, left the defense team due to "a difference of opinion concerning the summations of the trial." Though Cutler's method of questioning witnesses have previously rubbed both judge and jury the wrong way, it was assumed Cutler would deliver the defense's closing statement. For what this means for Spector and all the latest trial news, click HERE.

For more of the latest music news - including exclusive audio from Ben Harper's interview - visit RollingStone.com.

TODAY'S PICKS

DAILY TRACK: Northern State - "Run Off the Road" The trio of Long Island natives continues to build a career on the concept of a female take of Licensed to Ill ("The Three Amigas" is a near replica of "Paul Revere"), but three albums in, the shtick wears thin. Thankfully, the three add more singing and guitars here and come up with some genuine gems like "Run Off the Road," on which they take a turn toward Check Your Head and play their own instruments. Click HERE for more on Northern State's latest album.

DAILY VIDEO: New Music Tuesdays: Ben Harper

DAILY REVIEW: Caribou - Andorra With every album Ontario-born studio whiz-kid Dan Snaith releases, he moves further from the mathy electro-hop he pioneered as the one-man band Manitoba, and closer to the shambling psychedelic orchestra he has developed under the moniker Caribou. Click HERE for more on the latest Caribou album.

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

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS LeAnn Rimes, 25 Danny Seraphine of Chicago, 59 Shania Twain, 42 TODAY'S ROCK ON TV (ALL TIMES EST) NBC 11:35pm - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: BEN HARPER AND THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS 12:35am - Late Night with Conan O'Brien: OKKERVIL RIVER 1:35am - Last Call with Carson Daly: KAY KAY AND HIS WEATHERED UNDERGROUND CBS 11:35pm - The Late Show with David Letterman: T.I. with WYCLEF 12:35am - The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: POISON ABC 12:05am - Jimmy Kimmel Live - THE ALMOST