There is something both grotesque and yet very boyish about Marilyn Manson, the same shock rocker who took the time to sing, “This is Halloween” a tribute to the fantasy film The Nightmare Before Christmas. He is a shock rocker from hell who still takes the time to laugh at the absurdity of his own performance art. (Though you’ll rarely see him laughing in public and breaking character)

In fact, Brian Hugh Warner, a.k.a. Marilyn Manson, started out as a music journalist. It was only when he invented his Goth character Marilyn Manson (by combining two iconic American images: Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson) that he found his niche audience. Eventually, Manson received mainstream attention (and more than a little controversy) for his outrageous clothing, his hardcore lyrics and his outrageous live concerts.

Since his less-than-Satanic beginnings, (the original band name was “Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids”!) Manson has achieved great strides in the music industry with such popular albums as Smells Like Children and Antichrist Superstar. Three of the band’s albums have gone platinum and three more have gone gold. In between awesome concerts, Manson has been up to some rather bizarre shenanigans. He launched his own Mansinthe line of Swiss absinthe, and found time to date all sorts of beautiful actresses, including Evan Rachel Wood. Manson proved he was an old romantic at heart, by proposing to Wood during a Paris stage performance. So, it didn’t work out, but come on, a proposal in Paris is as touchy-feely romantic as a guy can get!

One of the most peculiar statements Manson has made is that he wants to de-emphasize music and explore a filmmaking career. He once told the press, “I just don’t think the world is worth putting music into right now. I no longer want to make art that other people–particularly record companies–are turning into a product. I just want to make art.”

Not that we want to burst Marilyn Manson’s bubble. As far as we’re concerned, he’s still a black magic-practicing maniac and a bad influence on your children (because that’s what sells!). So believe all the urban legends, you know, the ones that suggest Manson buys human skeletons and human skin masks, that he collects Nazi memorabilia, and that’s he’s just evil personified.

So if you’re evil and you know it clap your hands…and come see Marilyn Manson’s shock rock, glam metal show in person!

If Jay-Z and Kanye West weren’t sure what fan reaction would be to their collaborative album “Watch the Throne,” any doubts have not only now been squelched, but the two are talking about making another album — and soon too!

The two hip hop icons were out on the road for most of last year promoting their album by the same name; and it seemed that just when they wrapped up one leg they would announce another. The next leg is the European leg; and while it’s not as extensive as many artists like to make the overseas trek, the two will be performing 12 shows in some of the biggest venues around the globe, including the notorious O2 Arena, which will open the tour on May 20. From there they’ll be around Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, and two shows to be played in Paris.

During the show, songs from “Watch the Throne” are some of the most loved performed by the two. But they each also get their own solo time on the stage to flaunt their stuff and showcase their own music off their solo records.

And there’s more “Throne” news than just the new leg of the tour. Jay-Z also spilled the beans to MTV last December that we shouldn’t be surprised if there’s another collaboration album this year. Jay-Z says that the two are “in a great place creatively,” and that a solo effort from each also isn’t out of the question. He also continued to say, “You might see a Jay, then Kanye, and a Throne album out next year.”

Could fans really be so lucky?

Ringo Starr, often known as “the forgotten Beatle,” is making sure that people know he’s still making music, and he’s going to bring it to as many of them as he can on his new tour with the All Starr Band. The tour is going to be promoting his new album “Ringo 2012,” which was released at the end of last month; and as for the tour, there are already plenty of stops, and even more coming.

The tour is set to kick off with two nights at the luxurious Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on June 14 and 15. From there, Ringo and his band will travel to New York, Hollywood, Orange Beach, Atlanta, Nashville, and tons of other stops around the U.S. After releasing the first 13 dates, Starr had said in a press release that more would be released; leaving many Canadians to hope that the tour would include more northern dates. Unfortunately though, no more Canadian dates were announced and the kickoff dates are the only ones Ringo will play in Canada

This isn’t the first time that Ringo has traveled with his All-Starr band, but it will be the first time for many of the members in it. While Todd Rundgren and Richard Page have both tagged along before to support Ringo on his tour, this time he’s also bringing Steve Lukather and Gregg Rolie, better known as Santana to many. Gregg Bissonette and saxophonist, Mark Rivera, will also be along for the ride.

To find out whether or not the All-Starr band is going to be in a city near you, check out the full list of tour dates and Ringo Starr tickets here.

With Adele‘s first performance back since her throat surgery, a highly anticipated performance by Taylor Swift, and L.L. Cool J playing the role of host, the 2012 Grammy Awards were already something that had everyone talking. But with the sudden and tragic death of Whitney Houston on Saturday afternoon, the tone had to drastically change. And while the usual celebration and lively performances could still be found at the awards show on Sunday night, they were definitely intermixed with some very somber tones.

After Bruce Springsteen opened the show with his lively rendition of “We Take Care of our Own,” LL Cool J stepped out onto the stage. Not wanting to waste a minute before paying his respects, he announced that he wanted to open the show with a prayer for Whitney Houston. It might be some time before anyone sees a stadium filled with the biggest celebrities to bow their heads in prayer at the same time again. None of it was lip service though; as the prayer continued and the camera spanned the crowd, many were seen wiping tears away for Whitney. The somber mood would be seen again throughout the night, but until then there were still some high notes to hit.

One of those was one of the most highly-anticipated moments of the evening, Adele’s performance — her first since September of last year, and since having Lasik surgery on her vocal chords. That voice was unmistakable though, as the sweet soulful notes of “Rolling in the Deep” filled the Staples Center. She looked a little bit terrified as the camera zoomed in on her belting out the powerful acoustic notes, but as the song grew to its powerful chorus, so did Adele’s confidence, and she was off and running. Throat surgery? What throat surgery? Adele brought down the house and Gwyneth Paltrow said it best when she introduced the star, “We’re so glad to have her back.”

Shortly after Adele’s comeback performance, Taylor Swift had one of her own. Oh, Swift has never gone anywhere, releasing her third studio album, Speak Now, last year. But she did get back at critics very clearly with her performance of “Mean,” in which she switched up the last line to now say, “Someday I’ll be singin’ this at the Grammy’s….and all you’re ever gonna’ be is mean.” Another huge performance that got everyone on their feet, and had Taylor once again looking around at her audience (this time huge A-listers instead of fans,) and seeming to be in awe that the applause was for her.

But the saddest moment was yet to come, and everyone was waiting for it. It came after the annual tribute to the biggest stars in music that had passed away over the year. It’s a tribute the Grammy’s prepares every year to pay their respect, but it did have a more personal feel this year with Whitney’s passing still so fresh. As the montage ended, with a picture of Ms. Houston closing it out, the crowd was silent and a spotlight appeared on the stage. There stood Jennifer Hudson, all on her own, for the memorial that everyone was waiting for. No pressure.

Jennifer Hudson didn’t show pressure. What she did show was an incredibly upset young woman, who was trying as best she could to hold it together so she could pay her respects to one of her idols. And she did it flawlessly. Belting out one of Whitney’s most recognizable songs, “I Will Always Love You,” Hudson changed the last line of the song singing instead, “Whitney, we will always love you.” The memorial, and the song, was kept short; but with not a dry eye in the house after Hudson sang, no one could have handled too much more of that.

To close out the awards, Nicki Minaj followed current trends by bringing an alter-ego onto stage with her to perform in an exorcism; an odd choice for a Grammy debut. And of course, to close out the show, the big award of the night – Album of the Year. Just like she did in every other category she was nominated in, Adele took home that trophy too.

Bonnie Raitt fans are a patient bunch. At the beginning of her career they were spoiled with an album almost every year, until she dropped off to making a record every two or three years. But there has never been a lag like the one between her 2005 album “Souls Alike” and her upcoming album “Slipstream,” which will be released in April 2012 — making for a total of 7 years in between each. But Ms. Raitt is thankful for the patience her fans have shown and that’s why along with her 16th studio album, she’s also going on tour to promote it.

The tour will begin on May 1 on Newkirk, Oklahoma where it will then travel around the United States and Canada for a total of 31 performances. Notable stops along the way are the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 6; Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada on May 26; the Beacon Theatre in New York on June 20; and the show on June 24 in Hyannis, Massachusetts, which will wrap it all up.

“Slipstream” isn’t available in stores until April 20, but you can buy it before then on iTunes, Amazon, and anywhere digital music is sold. If you have to wait until it hits the shelves, you can get a sneak peek of it by listening to her first single from the album, “Right Down the Line” here, on “Rolling Stone’s” exclusive stream.