Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, Others Make Top Twitter News In 2009
December 31, 2009
Death of pop icon Michael Jackson actually caused the micro-blogging site to crash this year.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Miley Cyrus
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
A Twitter feed, where you subscribe to other people's musings, be it a celebrity or a friend (or both, as it often seems on Twitter), is sort of like the locker room segment from the old Nickelodeon series "You Can't Do That on Television."
Twitterers take turns firing off virtual quips, ranging from the informed (a comment on current events) to the mundane ("Making dinner. AKA a peanut butter and jelly :-)") to the highly impractical (Diddy's boast of marathon tantric sex sessions), before retreating back to the real world, where their every utterance might not be as well received or interesting as they are on Twitter.
It's an experience through which the walls of celebrity seem broken down while simultaneously remaining sturdily in place in the real world. It can feel safe for celebs who are generally averse to being open in the press. It creates new connections between stars and fans, revealing candid information about daily routines, among other things.
But while the jokesters from "You Can't Do That ..." were often reciting scripted lines, some artists often shared feelings that didn't always jibe with their public personas. Whether it was Chris Brown publicly pining for his former flame Rihanna, or Miley Cyrus being self-conscious about her appearance, the freedom of the micro-blogging site eventually was lost for some celebrities, replaced with what seemed to them like a swarm of Twitter paparazzi — RSS feeds replaced cameras, and bloggers had plenty of content to drive traffic to their own URLs. Some celebrity tweets became headlines.
But while Brown and Cyrus ended up canceling their accounts, others became emboldened by Twitter.
Take Pink, for example, who never seems at a loss for words. She promptly responded to Kanye West's Video Music Awards stunt of interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech.
"Kanye west is the biggest piece of sh-- on earth. Quote me," the rock chick wrote.
And she wasn't the only one annoyed with his antics. Katy Perry may have even one-upped her musical counterpart.
"F--- you Kanye," she wrote. "It's like [you] stepped on a kitten."
John Mayer, Ricky Martin, NBA star Chris Paul, Ryan Seacrest and a host of other people also logged on to take their shots at Kanye.
"OMG" moments, however, weren't limited to the VMAs. Events like the MTV Movie Awards and the passing of pop icon Michael Jackson also brought out the best in Twitter.
The Gloved One's passing, in fact, was among the biggest trending topics on Twitter all year. News of MJ's death rattled the site. Twitterers found themselves locked out of the site as the company's servers weren't able to handle the surge of traffic.
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MTV'S "TOP 9 OF '09" Top 9 of '09: Moments Top 9 of '09: Phenomena Top 9 of '09: Scandals |  |
In the past 12 months, it's like a new Titanic-sized living room was created where instead of your crazy uncle saying inappropriate things at the most inopportune time, it was Diddy. People like Ashton Kutcher now lead the day's conversations on Twitter. For better or worse, Twitter took over in 2009, and as the new year rolls along, expect more of the same.
Miley Cyrus, who once tweeted simply, "TWEET! TWEET! TWEET! I JUST TWITTERED. I LOVE TWEETIN'," may have left the popular service, but here's hoping more artists embrace it and fans keep following them and speaking their minds.
And you don't even have to be stuffed in a locker to do so.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsChris Brown, Kanye West And Tiger Woods Lead 2009 Scandals
December 31, 2009
These three men are no doubt hoping for a fresh start in 2010.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Kanye West and Taylor Swift onstage at the 2009 MTV VMAs
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images
They were quite simply the most infamous moments of the year — Chris Brown's assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech and the lurid details of Tiger Woods' adultery. Each incident made us look at the stars involved a little differently.
Chris Brown was the rising Prince of Pop, a gifted singer and dancer with an easy charm about him and a childlike eagerness to please. His fall from grace was startling, as word spread he assaulted Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards. Fans were split in the aftermath, debating who was at fault — but once a police photo of Rihanna taken after Brown punched and bit her was posted on TMZ.com, opinions changed.
The sweet-faced "Forever" crooner not only crossed the line, he grossly trampled over it. His actions confounded and confused fans.
Brown and Rihanna's relationship went on a topsy-turvy trip in the wake of the incident. There was word they would be collaborating on a song together about the ordeal, which later proved to be false. The couple reunited briefly in Miami in an attempt to mend their relationship, but the pressure was too much — from fans, from family and, most importantly, from each other.
Brown avoided jail time, but he wasn't let off the hook. The entertainer was forced to submit to counseling, community labor service and a five-year probation period, which coincides with a judge-imposed mandate to stay away from Rihanna at all costs.
He's done all he can to rehabilitate his image, from interviews with CNN and MTV News to launching charitable endeavors to engaging in a fan-appreciation tour. So far Brown's been able to win back some of the trust he lost from the public, though the process has been arduous and perhaps slower than he expected.
The same can't be said for Kanye West.
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MTV'S "TOP 9 OF '09" Top 9 of '09: Moments Top 9 of '09: Phenomena Top 9 of '09: Twitter | |
He's endured a trying time in his life with the death of his mother and the fallout from his broken engagement. Both experiences inspired his last album, 808s & Heartbreak, where West was more muted, choosing to sing through Auto-Tune more than rap on the project.
'Ye has often been revered for his talent, but through his heartache he became embraced by fans — Jay-Z's little brother was growing up. But a streak of immaturity placed Kanye in the public's dog house.
The scene was the 2009 Video Music Awards and Taylor Swift had just won Best Female Video. The country superstar took to the stage and before she had the chance to say much, West swooped. He grabbed her microphone as he protested her win.
"Yo, Taylor, I'mma let you finish," he began, words that would be parodied for months after.
Pink was not happy, the audience booed him, Beyoncé was shocked, and even President Barack Obama eventually weighed in, calling his fellow Chicagoan a "jackass."
Kanye apologized profusely in the aftermath — to Taylor personally and then again later on Jay Leno's talk show. He's since retreated from the limelight, saying he still needs time to deal with his emotions in the wake of his mother's death.
If only Tiger Woods could get away.
He has, of course — since he was involved in a minor car accident, the famed golfer has been in hiding. But his name, image and mistresses have been plastered all over the news.
The golfing champion was a marketing jackpot, with a winning pedigree on the links and an inspiring backstory: mixed-heritage California kid makes good, marries a Swedish model and lives happily ever after.
That is until texts, voice mails and e-mail messages to and from various women made their way into the tabloids and gossip rags. Suddenly the squeaky-clean image Woods had projected fell apart.
Current reports suggest that Woods and his wife are headed for divorce, attempting to reconcile, moving overseas and more — no one really knows the truth yet. But amid the litany of women that the golfer allegedly bedded, Tiger continues to keep quiet.
All three, for certain, are looking for a fresh slate in 2010.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsLady Gaga, ‘New Moon,’ Obama Rocked Our 2009
December 31, 2009
A disco queen, a vampire tale and an American story were this year's supernova-like phenomena.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
Despite our best efforts, we here at MTV News are creatures of many and varied obsessions, and 2009 offered plenty of fuel for our fanatical fires. Over the past 364 days, we've feverishly monitored Twitter feeds to find out about everything from the latest Tiger Woods girlfriend count to the breaking updates on Michael Jackson's death and what Disney movie an under-the-weather Miley Cyrus is watching at any given moment.
Those diversions were all well and good, but there were three supernova-like phenomena that sapped most of our attention this year, each one offering a unique snapshot of what makes America the pop-culture epicenter of the planet.
This was the year that the nonsense word "gaga" became more than just a bit of baby-talk, when a "new moon" was not just something to stare at on a cold winter's night and, perhaps most importantly, a calendar cycle that began with the inauguration of an American president unlike any this country has seen before.
"New Moon"
It's hard to put into words just how jacked up we were for the sequel to the first "Twilight" movie. We obsessed over the various trailers for the vampire-vs.-werewolf flick, dissected every frame, and asked Twi-Hards what they thought. We would not let it go when it came to searching for definitive proof that Robsten (stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart) were indeed an item, and then we got all distracted by the many, many, many shirtless photos of new breakout hunk Taylor Lautner.
And that's all before the movie actually hit screens in November and smashed records with a $142 million opening weekend. And, of course, we're going to do it all over again this year in the ramp-up to "Eclipse."
Lady Gaga
When January dawned, if you were aware of MTV's Woman of the Year, Lady Gaga, at all, it was likely because you spent a lot of time in dank dance clubs and had started hearing her first single "Just Dance."
But within months, the most outrageous pop star since Madonna had us all transfixed with her signature mix of dark disco, futuristic fashion and provocative stage shows. Gaga became an instant global celebrity seemingly overnight, but it's hard to remember someone who has taken to the spotlight as quickly and as effectively as the former bar singer born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.
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MTV'S "TOP 9 OF '09" Top 9 of '09: Moments Top 9 of '09: Scandals Top 9 of '09: Twitter | |
She wowed us with her virtual death at the VMAs, did it again at the AMAs with a bizarre, bottle-smashing piece of performance art and raised more than eyebrows with the provocative video for the first single from her recent The Fame Monster EP, "Bad Romance."
In between, she went from opening for the Pussycat Dolls to collaborating with fellow buzz act Wale, reaching out to her fervent gay following often, hooking up with Beyoncé, getting props from Madonna and ending the year with the over-the-top Monster Ball tour.
Add in a hookup with Adam Lambert, a visit with the queen of England and a Billboard record for becoming the first artist in the 17-year history of the Pop Songs chart to land four #1 singles from a debut, and you have a pretty good year for Ms. Gaga.
Barack Obama
It's hard to put into words the emotion that bubbled up from the streets of Washington, D.C., in January on the morning of President Obama's inauguration. Families, black and white, braved the frigid temperatures, the intense security gauntlet and a massive million-plus-strong throng of supporters to witness history being made as the nation's first black president took the oath of office.
The party began the day before with the massive "We Are One" concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial featuring Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Will.I.Am, Shakira, Usher and Stevie Wonder and was capped by the former Illinois senator's rousing address to a nation in the midst of a historic financial meltdown.
The celebrations continued into the night, including MTV's own "Be the Change" youth inaugural ball with Fall Out Boy, Kanye West and a special appearance by the new president. Once the confetti had been swept up, Obama got to work trying to patch up relations with the Muslim world, worked overtime to bail out banks and re-energize the U.S. economy, won the Nobel Peace Prize and pushed hard to pass his signature health care legislation, promising coverage to 30 million more Americans.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsMichael Jackson’s Death Tops MTV News’ ‘Top 9 Of ‘09′ Moments
December 31, 2009
Chris Brown and Rihanna, Kanye West's VMA stage rush, and President Obama's inauguration also made the list.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Looking back on 2009, it's hard to believe that all the madness, sadness, scandal, success and mayhem was contained in a mere 365 days. This year we swung from the depths of grief with the death of Michael Jackson to the heights of history during President Barack Obama's inauguration and back down to the bottom thanks to the Tiger Woods scandal and Kanye West's VMAs bum-rush of Taylor Swift.
There were, of course, plenty of other high points, from the insanity surrounding the "Twilight Saga: New Moon" release and the breathless chatter about Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's alleged relationship, to the hilarity of the Eminem/Brüno incident at the MTV Movie Awards. The pulsing soundtrack to the whole maddening mess was provided, of course, by MTV News' Woman of the Year, Lady Gaga.
We tried to be everywhere for you this year, covering all the major events and news stories, offering the first peeks at videos and listens to the hottest albums while spending way more time than we would like to think about monitoring celebrity Twitter accounts. But, after careful consideration, we've boiled down the "Top 9 of '09" events that rocked our world this year.
Here's the countdown:
9. Miley Cyrus Quits Twitter
Where were you when you heard the news? No, not about MJ, but the bombshell that MTV's #5 Woman of the Year, Miley Cyrus, took leave of Twitter after months of furious updating. Her 2 million followers were stunned and complained that the micro-blogging service "sucks without Miley," but she softened the blow somewhat by posting a YouTube video in which she rapped her reasons for leaving.
8. Brüno Lands On Eminem
Not quite as earth-shattering but equally eye-opening was the surprise crash landing gay Austrian fashion correspondent Brüno made into Eminem's lap at the MTV Movie Awards in May. After nearly four years out of the spotlight, Eminem made his return to the limelight just in time to shake hands with Brüno's backside in one of the most talked-about awards show moments of the year, if not all time.
7. Lady Gaga Makes Her Mark
Nobody owned the airwaves and screens in 2009 like Lady Gaga. The high-concept dancing queen had one of the year's top-selling albums with The Fame and made a statement at every awards show on which she appeared, with high-tech costumes, theatrical performances and bizarre masks that failed to hide her sparkling persona. She saved some of the best for last with the November MTV debut of the mind-bending "Bad Romance" video, which featured razor-blade sunglasses and sparks-spewing underwear.
6. "New Moon" Fever Strikes
Aside from Gaga, the other obsession we couldn't shake in 2009 was the breathless wait for the release of the "Twilight" sequel "New Moon." From the slow reveal of the trailer to the details of the movie's smash opening weekend, we took you behind the scenes for every step of the journey, though even we couldn't unravel the truth behind the alleged relationship between co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
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MTV'S "TOP 9 OF '09" Top 9 of '09: Phenomena Top 9 of '09: Scandals Top 9 of '09: Twitter | |
5. Tiger Woods Falls From Grace
Celebrity scandals don't get much bigger than the Titanic Tiger Woods Meltdown. The world's #1 golfer and the highest-paid athlete in the history of the planet saw his closely guarded, private world blown to smithereens this year when a mysterious early-morning Thanksgiving car crash opened up a clown car worth of alleged girlfriends (14 at last count) claiming that they had been intimate with the married father of two. The cavalcade included a pair of porn stars, a former Playboy model, club hostesses, swimsuit models, a pancake-house waitress, a Trashy Girls Lingerie model and a pair of cougars. Woods announced he was taking a break from golf to try to repair his marriage, which appeared headed for divorce.
4. Barack Obama Becomes President
January started off the year with a positive bang, as former Illinois Senator Barack Obama became the country's first black president. MTV News was there on that cold winter morning when Obama took the oath of office on President Abraham Lincoln's bible (twice, actually) and was serenaded by the likes of U2, Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé, and we partied down that night at the Be the Change inaugural ball with Fall Out Boy, Kanye West and a special appearance by the new president himself.
3. Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift Onstage
It should go without saying, but it's never a good thing when the president calls you a "jackass." Yet that was Kanye West's fate after the rapper bum-rushed country cutie Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards with the now infamous rant, "Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!" The tipsy MC was asked to leave the event shortly thereafter, and despite a number of public and private apologies, he became the butt of innumerable jokes, parodies and skits at awards shows and on late-night talk programs. Following the deluge of bad press, MTV News' #7 Man of the Year took a breather from the spotlight, while our #2 Woman of the Year cemented her status as one of the year's breakout stars with her top-selling Fearless album and a slew of artist-of-the-year awards.
2. Chris Brown Assaults Rihanna
They were the glamorous R&B couple who seemed to have it all: love, success, beauty and talent. But in February, it all came crashing down when singer Chris Brown brutally assaulted former girlfriend Rihanna in a rented Lamborghini on the eve of the Grammy Awards. Brown avoided trial by pleading guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to 180 days of labor service and five years' probation, while Rihanna went into seclusion after graphic photos of her battered face were published. Both singers released new albums in late 2009, with Rihanna having modest success, while Brown appeared to be struggling to regain his pre-arrest footing.
1. Michael Jackson Dies
There are few moments in life when you can remember exactly where you were when you heard the news. Michael Jackson's death on June 25 was one of them. MTV News' Man of the Year was on the cusp of what might have been the comeback of the century when he died of cardiac arrest at age 50 in a rented Los Angeles mansion after taking a lethal dose of a surgical anesthetic. The world grieved, celebrated his storied career and watched teary eyed as his 11-year-old daughter bid an emotional farewell at his memorial ceremony. Fans didn't forget the King of Pop, flocking to screenings of a documentary, "Michael Jackson's This Is It," cobbled together from his final rehearsals, which grossed more than $100 million internationally on its opening weekend.
Adam Lambert, Usher, More Stars Share Their New Year’s Resolutions
December 30, 2009
'[My resolution is] to not make any resolutions,' actress Emily Blunt says.
By Jocelyn Vena
Adam Lambert
Photo: Jeff Vespa/ WireImage
With a new year comes a new start, a chance to change. Want to know what Adam Lambert, James Franco or Ciara are looking to improve on in 2010? MTV News has rounded up some of the best celebrity resolutions.
"My New Year's resolution is just to let go of the things in the past and accept those things that are new," Usher told "Access Hollywood." Meanwhile, fellow singer Ciara added, "Stay more focused and continue creating new goals. I haven't broken it down just yet. I do know I want to make next year a better year."
"American Idol" star Adam Lambert is going to try to keep things in perspective in 2010. "I think my New Year's resolution is just to stay positive and enjoy the moment."
"My resolution is to quit texting and use my cell phone in emergencies only," "Hills" star Holly Montag said. "It takes you out of the present moment and is one of my biggest distractions in life!"
Kim Kardashian tweeted some sage New Year's advice: "If you gained a few pounds over the holidays ... Time to get back in shape for the new year!"
James Franco wants to be more environmentally friendly in 2010, hoping to walk more instead of driving. Franco's "Spider-Man" co-star Tobey Maguire said, "When you make movies you travel all over the world and don't get to see the people you love as much as you would like. My resolution is to make time to see them more. They are what's really important in this world."
Emily Blunt, however, had a different idea. "To not make any resolutions. Whenever I make them, I wind up ultimately breaking them," she said. "I think a lot of people are that way, so I am going to try and avoid inevitable disappointment next year and just not make any."
Join the stars of "Jersey Shore" and Adrienne Bailon for MTV News' "Top 9 of '09" — which counts down the year's biggest stories, from Michael Jackson to Eminem and everything in between — airing New Year's Eve at 11 p.m. on MTV.
Related Videos Related ArtistsBryce Dallas Howard ‘Intimidated’ By ‘Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond’ Role
December 30, 2009
'If I mess it up, it's like literary blasphemy,' she says of originating a Tennessee Williams heroine.
By Amy Wilkinson
Bryce Dallas Howard
Photo: MTV News
"Spider-Man 3" actress Bryce Dallas Howard doesn't usually get nervous before starting a new film. But she isn't usually playing a Tennessee Williams heroine either. Howard recently told MTV News that her role in the independent film "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond," which opens Wednesday (December 30) in New York and Los Angeles, left her a little on edge.
"I don't know what it is, but in the past, I haven't been a part of things that I can get really nervous or intimidated [about]," Howard said. "I just have blinders on and go for it. This was the first time I was a little concerned before doing it, because I was like, 'Oh my goodness. It's originating a Tennessee Williams heroine. If I mess it up, it's like literary blasphemy. It would be tragic.' "
The film, based on a previously unproduced screenplay by Williams, follows Howard's 1920s Southern debutante Fisher Willow as she falls in love with poor country boy Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans). Fisher convinces Jimmy to be her escort to society functions, and as the title suggests, she loses a teardrop diamond earring at one of the fetes, triggering a series of accusations and lies. Ann-Margret and Ellen Burstyn also star.
A surprising aid to Howard's portrayal of the flighty socialite was a bit of post-baby weight from giving birth to son Theodore in 2007. "I had actually just had a baby and was quite voluptuous," Howard explained. "It was really great, because [director] Jodie [Markell] was like, 'It's perfect!' Because this character is meant to have quite a presence and quite literally a weight to her. So it was kind of a good time in my life to physically play a character like this."
Howard can next be seen in the third "Twilight" saga film, "Eclipse," taking over the role of vampire Victoria originated by Rachelle Lefevre. The film opens June 2010.
Check out everything we've got on "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Related PhotosSusan Boyle Tops Billboard For Fifth Week, With Mary J. Blige At #2
December 30, 2009
SuBo has sold nearly 3 million albums so far, almost matching Taylor Swift's Fearless total.
By Gil Kaufman
Susan Boyle's <i>I Dreamed a Dream</i>
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment
Wherever she was, Susan Boyle probably had a very good Christmas. The singer, who has gone from an unknown to one of the biggest pop stars on the planet in the past six months, will make it a clean sweep next week when her debut, I Dreamed a Dream, will close out the year on the Billboard albums chart with a fifth straight week at #1.
MTV's #8 Woman of the Year has had a stranglehold on the top position since her album's release last month, and even though business was down 23 percent during the holiday week, she still managed to move another 510,000 copies, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, which pushed her five-week sales total to a hair under 3 million.
Boyle has been on such a run that her totals in just under a month and a half almost equal the 2009 figures for the year's sales champ, Taylor Swift's Fearless. Boyle had a bit of competition, though, from another diva, Mary J. Blige, whose upbeat Stronger will hit the #2 slot, thanks to sales of 330,000. The only other top 10 debut was the first album from Lil Wayne's Young Money crew, We Are Young Money, which will land at #9 on sales of 142,000. Those figures likely would have been much higher had the album been bundled with Weezy's Rebirth disc, as originally planned. Wayne's album was moved to February two weeks ago, though an accidental shipment from Amazon.com to a few hundred customers has resulted in the entire album leaking online.
After hitting #2 in its first week, Alicia Keys' The Element of Freedom dipped 33 percent to #4 on sales of 280,000, while the rest of the top 10 remained mostly static. Tenor Andrea Bocelli held on to #3 with My Christmas (284,000), Swift was down one to #5 with Fearless (224,000), MTV's Woman of the Year Lady Gaga held firm at #6 with The Fame (169,000), Justin Bieber moved up to #7 with My World (157,000), Carrie Underwood slipped three to #8 with Play On (153,000) and Michael Bublé fell a few to #10 with Crazy Love (137,000).
With the Refill reissue, Eminem's Relapse had a giant 83-spot leap to #11 as sales jumped 713 percent to 128,000. Rihanna's Rated R crept up three spots to #18 (91,000) as the album steamed toward half a million in sales after five weeks, while former boyfriend Chris Brown fell three to #31 after three weeks, as sales for Graffiti inched up to 60,000.
Things were not so great for R&B loverman Robin Thicke, whose star-studded seduction suite Sex Therapy: The Experience got the cold shoulder in week two, as sales dropped 50 percent to 61,000 and the album slid nearly 20 spots to #30. And in the battle of "American Idol" top finishers, runner-up Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment continued to dominate with sales of 62,000 (#29) as winner Kris Allen's self-titled debut fell another five spots to #55 (30,000).
Boyle looks to dominate into the new year, as no major releases were scheduled during the last week of 2009.
Related Photos- MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year: #8 Susan Boyle
- Susan Boyle's Snazzy New Look
- MTV News' 2009 Women Of The Year: #2 Taylor Swift
Avenged Sevenfold Manager Recalls James ‘The Rev’ Sullivan’s Final Days
December 30, 2009
'He was somebody who just had a warmth,' Larry Jacobson says of the late drummer.
By Gil Kaufman
Avenged Sevenfold's Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan
Photo: Mychal Watts/ WireImage
According to his manager, in the week before his sudden death, Avenged Sevenfold drummer James "The Rev" Sullivan appeared to be in good health and spirits. The 28-year-old rocker, who was found unresponsive in his Huntington Beach, California, home on Monday, attended a friend's wedding reception a few days before his death and seemed to be healthy and happy, said the band's manager, Larry Jacobson.
At the wedding, Jacobson told the Orange County Register, Sullivan talked about the Lasik eye surgery he'd recently undergone and the new car he just bought. "He was somebody who just had a warmth and an easy smile and a laugh, and he was as smart as they come," said Jacobson, who added that Sullivan referred to him as a second father. "You could sit and talk to him about anything."
Friends and family gathered Monday night to share their memories of the tattooed hard rocker with a gentle soul. Sullivan said the mood at the event ranged from "deep and somber to smiles and laughs as they began to reminisce about the experiences everybody had with him. ... He was a loving son and a loving brother — like no one you'd ever seen, and talented beyond people's perception."
Known for his walloping, machine-gun drums on songs like "Burn It Down" and his taste for tongue-in-cheek gothic songwriting on songs like the mass-murder epic "A Little Piece of Heaven," Sullivan was a kind soul not afraid to express his emotions, according to Jacobson.
"He was expressive. He'd tell you how he felt about you — you didn't wonder, because he'd put his arm around you," he said. "He knew how to tell his friends he loved them."
An autopsy performed Tuesday was inconclusive, prompting the Orange County Coroner's Office to order further tests to determine the cause of death.
Prior to forming in Huntington Beach a decade ago, Avenged Sevenfold's members were close friends growing up, and Jacobson said that close bond has made Sullivan's death even harder to take. "Never in my life have I seen a relationship like that," he said. "And I think the relationship the four have right now will help them get through this traumatic time."
The group has been working on its fifth album, and it was unknown at press time how it would proceed with the sessions in light of Sullivan's passing.
Related ArtistsAvenged Sevenfold Drummer James ‘The Rev’ Sullivan Autopsy ‘Inconclusive’
December 30, 2009
Authorities have ordered additional tests, which are expected to take several weeks.
By Gil Kaufman
Avenged Sevenfold's Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan
Photo: Soren McCarty/ WireImage
Authorities have ordered additional tests after an initial autopsy on Avenged Sevenfold drummer James "The Rev" Sullivan was inconclusive. According to The Associated Press, the autopsy seeking a cause of death for the 28-year-old rock drummer, who was found unresponsive in his Huntington Beach, California, home Monday, did not turn up definitive evidence of what caused his sudden demise.
Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino told the AP on Tuesday that the county coroner's office has ordered toxicology, microscopic and laboratory tests to help determine what caused Sullivan's death. The tests are expected to take several weeks.
Police said Monday that Sullivan appeared to have died of natural causes.
"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan," the band announced on its Web site. "Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy's family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time. Jimmy you are forever in our hearts. We love you."
Sullivan was one of the co-founders of the group, which came together in Huntington Beach, California, in 1999 and won the Best New Artist award at MTV's VMAs in 2006, thanks to their hard-driving metal sound, which mixes in elements of emo and punk.
Sullivan, known for his propulsive drumming, backing vocals and creative songwriting, was honored by a number of his metal kin, who praised his abilities and nature.
Related ArtistsBlack Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, More To Perform On New Year’s Eve Specials
December 30, 2009
Robin Thicke, Kris Allen and more stars will grace your TV if you decide to stay home on December 31.
By Jocelyn Vena
Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, Fergie and Apl.de.ap
Photo: Mario Castillo/Jam Media/LatinContent/Getty Images
It's New Year's Eve and you'd rather stay home than brave the crowds at a party — fair enough. Luckily there are a handful of TV specials airing in the hours before midnight that should keep a homebody entertained until the ball drops to ring in 2010.
Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin are set to team up for their aptly named CNN show, "New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin." The pair worked together last year and are set to be joined by Lance Bass for the broadcast, which takes place in Times Square and starts at 11 p.m. The show will also feature holiday messages from U.S. soldiers stationed abroad.
MTV News will have its own NYE special, "Top 9 of '09." The show kicks off at 11 p.m. on MTV and counts down the nine biggest stories of the year, everything from Michael Jackson to Eminem. Hosts will include Adrienne Bailon, the casts of "Jersey Shore" and "The Buried Life" and Shailene Woodley and Josie Loren from ABC Family.
"Billboard's New Year's Eve Live" airs on Fox at 11 p.m., with Carmen Electra serving as host to musical acts like "American Idol" alums Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta. Sean Kingston is also set to perform at the show, which will feature archival clips from past Billboard Music Awards to take you on a trip down memory lane.
Carson Daly will host "NBC's New Year's Eve With Carson Daly," airing at 10 p.m. The special will include performances by Rihanna and Jay-Z as well as Green Day. The cast of "Hair" will also perform live from Times Square.
Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Robin Thicke, Keri Hilson, Selena Gomez, Colbie Caillat and Orianthi will all be on hand for Dick Clark's "New Year's Rockin' Eve," co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Fergie. The show kicks off at 10 p.m. on ABC and will be live in both Las Vegas and New York City.
Join the stars of "Jersey Shore" and Adrienne Bailon for MTV News' "Top 9 of '09" — which counts down the year's biggest stories, from Michael Jackson to Eminem and everything in between — airing New Year's Eve at 11 p.m. on MTV.
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