• Chris Brown, Rihanna Reconcile in Miami
• U2 Launch Horizon Promo Blitz
• Kanye Unleashes Controversy on Storytellers
• News Ticker: Jonas Bros., MGMT, Snoop
• Bret Michaels Loses Two Girls on Rock of Love

Top stories from the last three days:

• Bono Previews U2’s Innovative New Tour
• Axl Rose Calls Slash a “Cancer”
• Are More Reunions Due After Faith No More?
• American Idol Top 12 Expands
• The Beatles’ “Revolution 1 (Take 20)” Surfaces
• No Doubt To Reunite on Gossip Girl
• Chris Brown Gone From Bone Deep Promo
• Spears Extends Restraining Order Against Former Manager, Ex-Boyfriend
• Video: Phish Perform “Fluffhead”
• Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Poison To Tour
• U2 Spider-Man Musical Broadway Bound
• Beastie Boys Finishing Up “Weird” New Album
• Watchmen Composer Bates Talks Influences

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

With their new album out tomorrow, U2’s promotional blitz for their five-star No Line on the Horizon begins tonight as the band performs the first of five consecutive gigs on The Late Show with David Letterman. After the long struggle of recording Horizon, U2’s promo appearances are pure fun, the Edge tells Rolling Stone. “In some ways, it’s a relief from the intensity of trying to finish the album,” he said. “It’s a holiday.”

The band is expected to wrap up their Letterman residency with a not-so-secret show at New York’s Fordham University on Friday, March 6th. Rumor of U2 coming to campus began when professors at the Bronx university were told to cancel their morning classes for security reasons. Don’t get too excited U2 fans: WFUV reports that you’ll need a student ID to get in. (And no worries, we previewed U2’s upcoming tour last week — stay tuned to Rolling Stone for much more on the band in the next issue, on newsstands this week!) Earlier Friday, the band will also appear on Good Morning America.

There’s also talk on the U2.com message board that the band has planned a secret show in Boston. The band does have a history of bustinhg out small, gonzo shows to coincide with the release of a new album: remember their brief concert under the Brooklyn Bridge in the days leading up to How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb? (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 say “speed bump” in our recaps. Here’s our take on episode seven:

Sixty Minutes of Rockin’ Reality in Three Sentences: After another week off (this time it was the Oscars), Bret’s girls head to Alabama to compete in the Truck Stop Games. Events include a beer-belly flop, a stripper-pole showdown and some sort of hotdog hand-off (not as dirty as it sounds). When the truckers judging the contest make a slightly unfair, boob-related ruling in favor of the Green Team, Bret takes the runners-up onto his bus for some special alone time that gets so icky thanks to Ashley, new recruit Kami splits the next morning. (more…)

Kanye West’s VH1 Storytellers aired Saturday, February 28th, and provided the rapper with a venue to perform his greatest hits and talk candidly about everything except the actual songs. “You know, I’m like supposed to talk about what some of these songs mean, and some of this stuff is so personal to me, and some of stuff I’ve been through is so real,” West said following “Flashing Lights.” “In the format, I’m supposed to break down certain things… certain things are hard for me to talk about, and I’m sorry VH1 for that.”

Instead, West used the four minutes of instrumentation that followed each song as a place to rattle off whatever popped into his head, which included butchered movie quotes (”I get my quotes from movies because I don’t read”), musical influences (including Tenacious D, as we learn during “Robocop” — watch it, above) and a whole bunch of controversial statements — some of which did not make the show’s final cut.

“Michael Jackson, amazing. Michael Phelps, amazing,” West said during “Amazing,” with each name drawing a loud cheer from the Sony Studios crowd. However, when the rapper said “O.J. Simpson, amazing. Is he not, what he did, was he not amazing though,” the crowd just sat dumbfounded, and probably for a good reason. It’s like West intentionally tries to make himself a lightning rod for controversy, as even comments edited out of the telecast dissing Radiohead and supporting Chris Brown became a big story last week. (more…)

Photo: Soul Brother/FimMagic

• Is the tween rock fad over? The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience barely reached half its box office estimate, selling $12.7 million in tickets to place second behind Madea Goes To Jail. Following last year’s one-weekend-only release of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour, which raked in $31 million, experts predicted the JoBros would make $25 million, according to the New York Times‘ Carpetbagger.

• A politician using an artist’s music without permission isn’t only America’s problem: MGMT are suing French President Nicolas Sarkozy after the UMP Party used “Kids” in a few videos. The UMP Party initially offered a gesture of compensation (one euro) to the band, which was promptly rejected, the BBC reports. “This offer is disrespectful of the rights of artists and authors. It is insulting,” MGMT’s lawyer said. Ironically enough, Sarkozy demands tougher penalties for online piracy and file sharing.
• Snoop Dogg has joined the Nation of Islam, the rapper told the BBC at a Saviors’ Day event in Chicago. “I’m already in the Nation, that’s why I’m here,” Snoop said. “I’m an advocate for peace, I’ve been in the peace movement ever since I’ve been making music.”
• Oasis have canceled their April tour dates in Shanghai and Beijing, Yahoo reports. No reason was given for the cancellation of the shows, which would have been Oasis’ first in China. However, an April 7th show in Hong Kong remains on the schedule.

Photo: Kravitz/FimMagic

Three weeks after an alleged pre-Grammy dispute between Rihanna and Chris Brown resulted in the “Umbrella” singer suffering from “horrific” wounds and Brown’s arrest, the couple reportedly reconciled this past weekend at Diddy’s Miami house, Us reports. Rihanna hadn’t seen Brown since the February 8th incident, laying low in California and Mexico, but according to sources, Brown began calling Rihanna on her 21st birthday, the same day the photo of a battered Rihanna leaked out.

“They’re together again. They care for each other,” a source from the Brown camp told the magazine. “While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves.” The pair haven’t been photographed together yet, but shots of Brown jetskiing near Miami’s Star Island have emerged.

As Rock Daily reported, Brown began taking anger management classes last week in an effort to repair his image, but a reconciliation with Rihanna is perhaps the only way the 19-year-old R&B star can save his career after being dumped from commercials, radio stations and the promotion of his upcoming film Bone Deep in the wake of his arrest. (more…)

Photo: Wargo/WireImage

• Chris Brown enrolled in anger management classes as the fallout from his alleged altercation with Rihanna resulted in Brown’s role getting “erased” from the promotion of his upcoming film. Despite the backlash, Ne-Yo insisted Brown is “still my homeboy” while Kanye West showed some support for the beleaguered R&B singer.

• Slumdog Millionaire and Sean Penn were the big winners at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, as were Styx after being randomly referenced in an acceptance speech. Plus, Rolling Stone movie critic Peter Travers wrote about what sucked and what didn’t at this year’s ceremony. Our personal Oscar highlight? The Jimmy Eat World covers at the Prince afterparty.
• After a decade of waiting, Faith No More revealed plans to reunite for a European tour. Rock Daily also analyzed what other long-shot reunions might happen, and we dedicated our Rock List to 1980s Hard Rock Singles like their “We Care a Lot.”
• The Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger went to Washington for a hearing in front of the antitrust subcommittee. The hearing soon became a battle over the Chicago music scene, while Van Halen, Shakira and Seal all voiced their support of the merger. Who doesn’t support the merger? Bruce Springsteen fans, even after Ticketmaster settled that ticketing fiasco with the Attorney General of New Jersey.

Photo: Mazur/VF/WireImage

We are grinning ear to ear, ready to show you the week in photos. Apparently Madonna and Gwen are psyched too, as this picture from last Sunday’s Oscar party illustrates. Did you know that after this pic was taken, Maddy used those biceps to lift Gwen completely over her head… and both of them still looked stunning?

Since there’s free food and cameras, the Oscars brought out no shortage of famous people. Prince threw a wild party to celebrate and — in the tradition of Prince afterparties — it may actually still be going on. Beyoncé and Hugh Jackman brought out their best Mr. Peanut costumes, and Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer couldn’t possibly be a cuter couple unless they started carrying around baby ducks wherever they go.

As for the other six days of the week: The White Stripes said goodbye to Conan, Kid Rock said goodbye to some pesky Mardi Gras beads, and Katy Perry said goodbye to all decorum at a wacky show in London.

• Random Notes: Jonas Brothers, Gwen Stefani, Usher and the Week in Rock

Photo: Mazur/WireImage

This week, hair metal staples Poison, stadium-rockers Def Leppard and classic power-poppers Cheap Trick announced they will be embarking on a huge arena tour this summer. In addition, alt-metal weirdos Faith No More confirmed that they too will be reuniting after 10 years for a trip around Europe. These four bands couldn’t be more different — Def Leppard’s Joe Elliot even takes great pains to distance himself from the frizzy locks of tourmates Poison, telling Rolling Stone, “If we’re hair metal, so are Led Zeppelin.”

But all of them made great unforgettable rock singles in the Eighties. Go round and round in your mind, discern what made you feel the noize, and pour some sugar on our comments section. Tell us your pick for best hard rock single released between 1980 and 1989, and we’ll be back (possibly in black) on Monday with the results. For now, our picks:

• Guns N’ Roses - “Welcome To The Jungle”

• Motörhead - “Ace Of Spades”

• AC/DC - “Back In Black”

• Living Colour - “Cult Of Personality”

• Van Halen - “Hot For Teacher”

Photo: BOUYS/AFP/Getty

As they do every Friday, our fearless interns navigated into the sordid depths we call our comments section to unearth the most thought-provoking statement from the Rock Daily readers. Following last weekend’s Oscars ceremony, our readers lamented Sean Penn’s win over Mickey Rourke, argued whether Slumdog Millionaire was deserving of its dominance and even played the role of Red Carpet Fashion Police. Yet, it was TheVM who took home the Academy Award for Best Comment for this:

Some of you seem to be under the impression that Oscar night is about films. It isn’t. It is simply a mechanism for Hollywood to do what it enjoys more than any other single thing in the whole world…self-congratulate. Does your annual workplace Christmas party serve any nobler purpose? Did you get this emotionally involved in who won Accountant of the Year?

It sounds trite, but if you really want to celebrate film, go to more of them, buy more of them, and for god-sakes MAKE more of them.

Excellent advice, VM. We expect to see you in line for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience this weekend. As for the rest of you, just don’t go to any of the films Peter Travers put in his Scum Bucket.

Signed memorabilia donated by members of bands like Van Halen, KISS and Velvet Revolver are going to auction to help raise funds for Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Kevin Corrales, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia last April. Among the items up for bid is a drum head signed by Eddie, Wolfgang and Alex Van Halen, a Silverton guitar signed by KISS’s Paul Stanley and a guitar signed by Velvet Revolver’s Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner. Additional items include a drum head autographed by Rush drummer Neil Peart.

“Several of rock & roll’s royalty immediately stepped up,” sheriff’s Deputy Mike Ascolese, who organized the fundraiser with Deputy John Maio, told L.A.’s Daily News. (more…)

Photo: Ufberg/WireImage

As they’ve done since 2005, the Allman Brothers Band will headline two nights at the fifth annual Wanee Music Festival in Live Oak, Florida, on June 5 and 6th. This year’s Wanee fest is especially noteworthy as it coincides with the band’s yearlong 40th anniversary extravaganza, which includes a 15-night run at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Helping the Eat A Peach rockers celebrate at Wanee are Gov’t Mule, the Doobie Brothers, Toots and the Maytals, the Drive-By Truckers and many more jam-happy artists spread over the fest’s two days. Plus, the Derek Trucks Band will perform a special midnight set on Friday night and the Wailers will perform Exodus in its entirety. Tickets go on sale March 7th. Check out the full Wanee lineup below: (more…)

Photo: Natkin/WireImage

For nearly 10 years, Faith No More fans have mourned the demise of one of the most influential and under-appreciated rock acts of the 1990s — all with the firm understanding that there would be no return. And, well, they’ve never really been given much reason to believe a reunion could ever come to pass, with frontman Mike Patton insisting time and time again in interviews that a reunion wouldn’t be happening on his watch. So imagine the shock this week when fans learned that the band had signed on for a strictly European reunion run.

(Get reacquainted with Faith No More with our career-spanning photo gallery here.)

Unfortunately, Patton’s publicist says Mike, like the rest of the band, will not be talking to the media about the reunion trek, perhaps because it’s one of those monumental reunions that will succeed with or without press. But eight years ago, Patton was talking about Faith No More, telling me he just didn’t think a reunion was in the cards.

“It’s a band I was in, and I had a great time,” Patton said. “It’s not that I’m ashamed of it or anything. I think we made some great music. I just don’t believe in trying to relive that.” (more…)

Rock Daily will be at the Radio City Music Hall this weekend to catch David Byrne’s Everything That Happens tour, featuring the fruits of Byrne’s collaboration with producer Brian Eno. Thus, this week’s Flashback visits Byrne’s oddball interview on the Space Ghost Coast 2 Coast show, with the Talking Heads singer laying down the blueprint on how to act awkwardly when a TV host asks you questions. Just replace the superhero in the white jumpsuit with David Letterman and it’s like the Joaquin Phoenix interview all over again.

Check back Monday for our review of the Byrne show, but until then, click the jump for some vintage 1980 Talking Heads as the band performs “The Great Curve” live in Rome: (more…)

Photo: Mazur/WireImage

Axl Rose’s second official post-Chinese Democracy interview hit the Internet today as the Guns n’ Roses frontman talked with Spinner about his new album, why the group’s original lineup dissolved and why he’ll never reunite with Slash. Even though the interview was conducted by Rose’s good friend and Guns road manager Del James, the questions definitely aren’t softball and, as usual, Axl doesn’t hold anything back.

As Rose clearly stated in his message board rants and Billboard’s interview earlier this month, he really has no intention of ever reuniting with Slash. “There’s zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash other than by ambush, and that wouldn’t be pretty,” Rose tells James, adding later that, “Slash either should not have been in Guns to begin with or should have left after Lies. In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided—and the less anyone heard of him or his supporters, the better.” (more…)