MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Kiss

Just when you thought it was safe to wear your red baseball cap backwards again, Fred Durst and his Woodstock-riot-inducing, "Nookie"-motivated band of brothers are back up in this mug like it's the summer of '99 all over again.

Behold, "Why Try," taken from Limp Bizkit's forthcoming album, Gold Cobra. If it seems like it was just yesterday that Courtney Love was making headlines by blaming Durst & Co. for ruining rock in the late '90s, that's because it was yesterday (basically). Like some kind of conjuring spell, Love's onstage dissing of Limp seems to have brought about this return. So let's take a listen to the evidence.

"Why Try" features the atonal guitar stylings of Wes Borland, the "rapping" of Fred Durst and a heavy-hitting, pit-inciting, nihilistic chorus that asks (and answers) the existential question, "Why try? You gonna die." It all sounds a bit like ... well, like Limp Bizkit. With perhaps a little Eminem thrown in for good measure.

Gold Cobra will uncoil later this year, with rumored appearances from Wu-Tang's Raekwon, Kiss' Gene Simmons and rumored song titles like "Douchebag," which is about bullies. While threatening, it's less grim than Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.

Check out "Why Try"? below.

+ Listen to Limp Bizkit, "Why Try."

Tags Courtney Love, Fred Durst, Gene Simmons, Kiss, Limp Bizkit, Raekwon, Song You Need To Know, video, Wu-Tang Clan

During a unit on the '60s, my high school sociology teacher brought in a set of photographs that he'd taken at our school as a new teacher, 40 years before. Each one came with an exaggerated story about cigarettes in the bathroom, girls being sent home for going bra-less and the like.

The photo that made the biggest impression on the class was of a hulking weirdo in a flannel shirt and what looked like shop glasses. Despite his tough-looking shoulder-length hair, he was the biggest goon we'd ever seen.

But Mr. Lemon told a different story. Apparently this guy had been the biggest deal in his class by a long shot, and spent four years being chased by all the ladies. We were blown away. How could a few decades have changed people's taste SO much?

Well, check out this 26-year-old video, in which KISS -- one of the biggest bands of their time -- manage to stop all MTV programming and pull an exclusive segment, just by taking off their make-up for the first time. That was 1983. Amazing how fast things change, eh? Can you imagine such a thing making you scream? More importantly, can you imagine what your kids are gonna think when they get a look at Bill Kaulitz? WEIRD!

With no further ado, we open the MTV Vault and travel back in time with (deceased original VJ) J.J. Jackson, to see KISS, unmasked!

Tags Bill Kaulitz, J.J. Jackson, Kiss, Tokio Hotel, vintage-video

(Credit: Kristina Sisti)

Far from the sordid world of 3OH!3's beer pong exploits, we find Crooked X, the wholesome teenagers from Oklahoma who made it big as a metal band. In case you've forgotten, you can refer back to old Buzzworthy posts that trace their progress from unknowns playing backyards, to superstars opening arena shows for KISS.

Now Crooked X is taking another step toward immortality with the action-packed video for their latest single, "Gone." In it, the band hits the road and greets their raving fans -- shaking hands, autographing body parts, and generally rocking out. Looks like they learned a trick or two opening for KISS!

Watch Crooked X -- Forrest, Jesse, Josh and Boomer -- giving it all they got in "Gone!"

Tags Crooked X, Kiss

Teen rock wannabes of America and the world... your prayers CAN be answered! The proof is in the delicious vanilla pudding that we call Crooked X. As Buzzworthy's been telling you for weeks, these hard-rocking underage Oklahomans are on a whirlwind trip to the top, with stops along the way that include a gig opening for KISS in an olympic stadium. Not bad, huh?

Because these things just (unfortunately) don't happen every day, MTV has had camera crews stalking these boys' every move since back when they were playing garage sales and bonfires. And the resulting Rock 'N Roll Dream documentary finally officially premiered Tuesday night.

Boomer, Forrest, Jesse and Josh invite you along as they creep their way into the spotlight, meeting rockstars like Bret Michaels and Gene Simmons as they go, fueled by nothing more than pure, sweet love of music. Watch now and vicariously live Crooked X's Rock 'N Roll Dream.

Tags Bret Michaels, Crooked X, Gene Simmons, Kiss

In the latest chapter of awesomeness for Crooked X (aka, 15-year-old Oklahoma metal prodigies Boomer, Forrest, Jesse and Josh), MTV.com has launched a whole website dedicated to the band's mythological rise! Aside from aggregating such misguided Google ads as "Crooked Teeth Remedy," the site is home to photos, official videos, exclusive live performances, blog posts and more.

In one of the aforementioned exclusive videos, the boys go backstage to meet rock gods KISS, who practically bow at their feet. In another they board the tour bus of a larger-than-life '80s hair-metal hero ... Guess you'll have to watch to find out who. But more importantly than any of that hoopla, Crooked X show their softer side when they pitch in to help a group of Army moms raise money for the troops abroad. What a buncha sweethearts (with plenty of cheeks for pinching)!

Head over to crookedx.mtv.com, watch the exclusive clips and get stoked for the January 27 premiere of their MTV documentary, Crooked X: Rock N' Roll Dream.

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Tags Crooked X, Kiss

+ If you like "ogling celebrities," Hannah Montana makeovers and live performances of Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Break Heart," then Miley Cyrus' (super!) Sweet 16 was TOTALLY worth the ($250) price of admission! Otherwise, probably not. (Associated Press, MTV News)

+ More on the Danity Kane maybe-breakup! Will DK still be DK if they lose Aubrey (or Dawn! Or D. Woods!) to a solo career on tomorrow night's Making the Band finale?? (Remote Control)

+ Janet Jackson postpones three more shows as a result of the (as-yet undisclosed) illness that landed her in the hospital last week. We're officially concerned. (MTV News)

+ KISS has a new pair of shoes! Though, truth be told, we're still partial to these high-cut Tokio Hotel boots. (Vans)

+ Avril Lavigne has some semi-practical style advice for the babe on a budget! Well, assuming your budget is the size of Coco Chanel's. (Best Week Ever)

+ Oasis supposedly ripped off their new material from an "old-school Brit Chart powerhouse." And this time, it's not the Beatles! (Idolator)

+ Country album sales were reportedly down 16.7% through the end of the third quarter. And no, Jessica Simpson wasn't to blame. (Coolfer)

+ Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut album is all about (What else?) Jennifer Hudson. "It introduces Jennifer the person versus all the characters," the Dreamgirls/SATC actress explains. We look forward to meeting you, Jen! (MTV News)

Tags Avril Lavigne, Billy Ray Cyrus, Danity Kane, Janet Jackson, Jennifer-Hudson, Jessica Simpson, Kiss, Miley Cyrus, Oasis, The Beatles, Tokio Hotel

We can't stop laughing when we think about last week's visit to the Hard Rock here in Times Square to watch Plain White T's and Kiss' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley show off Hasbro's new Power Tour electric guitar for kids.

After sheepishly walking onstage, Plain White T's singer Tom Higgenson and guitarist Dave Tirio busted out their tiny toy axe and played their new single, "Our Time Now." And all things considered, they didn't do half bad. Then, Paul and Gene performed "Rock and Roll All Nite" with an itty, bitty plastic guitar … and it sounded pretty damn good. But we couldn't stop hoping that Mini Kiss would pop out onstage and join them … but, alas, they didn't.

But the best part of the night wasn't Kiss' impromptu, drag-free performance, it was actually listening to Paul talk about the Tooth Tunes toothbrush. (Apparently, when kids brush their teeth with this thing it plays a Kiss song.) Yup, the legendary Paul Stanley eagerly told the tiny tots in the front row all about better brushing habits. He especially wanted them to make sure they brush -- up and down, back and forth -- for a solid two minutes so they can hear the whole song pump through their little heads. Meanwhile, Gene stood by staring out over the audience, perhaps counting the dollars this endorsement is adding to the Kiss coffers.

We were kinda bummed they didn't throw a bunch of toothbrushes out into the audience … but at least Paul hilariously smashed his mini guitar at the end of their performance and gave it to a fan.

Tags Kiss, Plain White T's