I think it's best not to comment much on this eternally ongoing public drowning, except to wonder how, exactly, the people involved finally decided that NOW was the right time to take steps? Maybe they don't get the internet.

Or in this case, rap. Bill Cosby, increasingly stern and scolding in public of late, is fixin' to make a hiphop record. Umm, yikes.

Though he's best known as an electronic, dance music, songs to sell Volkswagens and refrigerators by kind of guy, Moby has not forgotten his (however distant) roots as an occasional street performer. He hit the streets in London the other night with singer Joy Malcolm, and let it all hang out for passing change.

Moby, who began playing just after 5pm this evening, started off with well known tracks, such as 'Honey', 'Natural Blues' and 'Why does my heart feel so bad', but soon began to run out of material because he, and singer Joy Malcolm had not rehearsed.

He continued: "It was good. we did not announce anything and I did not even tell any of my friends in the UK, so it was very impromptu.

"We ran out of actual singles, so we started improvising and playing the Blues. Joy started making up lyrics - she's fearless."

The international star, who sold 9 million copies of his hit album 'Play', said today's gig was little different from his days in America, playing guitar outside - except for the miserable weather.

He said: "In New York during the summer we used to spend out time outside drinking beer and strumming on the guitar and the only downside today was trying to play guitar in the cold, which is quite painful.

Well, there's no denying a certain inspiration behind the formula, but will Gone Country, a reality show in which the above defiantly-non-country contestants (along with several more, including Julio Iglesias, Jr., Carnie Wilson, Sisqo, and others) get down to work with a Nashville songwriter with the goal of co-writing and recording a country song. The best one will be chosen by host John Rich, crammed down the maw of country radio promotion and given a shot to see if, indeed, any old fool—even a non-redneck—can do it.

Go behind the scenes here.

Slyly inserted into this NME news release about (very exciting) Paul Simon live shows in April at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, is the further news that Starbucks' Hear Music will be releasing Live 1969, an album chronicling Simon and Garfunkel's last tour, in support of the Bridge Over Troubled Water album. Given the tensions that existed between Paul and Art at the time, and the brilliance of the songs from that period, it should be a real eye and ear opener. It comes out March 11. The tracklist is below:

‘Homeward Bound’

‘At the Zoo’

‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)’

‘Song for the Asking’

‘Scarborough Fair/Canticle’

‘Mrs. Robinson’

‘The Boxer’

‘Why Don't You Write Me’

‘So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright’

‘That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine’

‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’

‘The Sound of Silence’

‘I Am a Rock’

‘Old Friends/Bookends Theme’

‘Leaves That Are Green’

‘Kathy's Song’

Looks like the writer's strike will take a little tiny break for the sake of helping the musicians and pop stars of the world not look like complete morons while dressing up in dubious formalwear to give one another some trophies. It might take some doing.

In other "news," Danny Wood (not a wizard, literal or otherwise, nor a guitarist, nor a producer, though apparently once a child pop idol) claims that the rumors of a New Kids On the Block reunion have been greatly exaggerated. I hadn't hear those rumors. Had you?

It counts as news that Jimmy Page, the literal wizard guitarist/producer of the immortal Led Zeppelin, says that he wants to do a world tour, that their recent London reunion show felt great, and that they may get down to it as soon as September, when Robert Plant will be finished promoting his side project with Allison Krauss. Truly hardcore fans are already camping out for tickets.

There's nothing like an isolated vocal track of a classic song to let you know just how sharp the chops of a given performer are. Well, this is Van Halen and David Lee Roth's finest hour, and, well, you can hear for yourself. Courtesy of WFMU, world's greatest radio station.

Here's one who actually started as a "singer" and whose father was in the Mamas and the Papas, but still... put your hands together (or somewhere) for Bijou Phillips!

His blogg'ry was a wonderland, but doe eyed guitar hero John Mayer shall blog no more, because, well, he doesn't want to. Not even the archives remain. Only this quote, from French military theorist Colonel Ardant du Picq: "There is danger in theoretical speculation of battle, in prejudice, in false reasoning, in pride, in braggadocio. There is one safe resource, the return to nature."

And by nature, he clearly means the tour bus and the luxury hotel suite.

From CMT.com, no less:

Tim McGraw is a co-writer on Def Leppard's new single, "Nine Lives." He wrote the song with band members Phil Collen, Joe Elliot and Rick Savage for inclusion on the British band's upcoming album, Songs From the Sparkle Lounge. McGraw's tour manager, Robert Allen, is the brother of Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen. McGraw sat in on Def Leppard's Hollywood Bowl show in 2006. "We didn't start with any preconceived notions about the song," McGraw said. "Each of us brought something different to the table, and we drew on each others influence to finish it out. They are simply one of the best rock bands ever, and it was a great time working together."

Hysterical!

Former Beatle drummer and occasional solo artist Ringo Starr still can't get no respect. Booked to perform the title song from his new album Liverpool 8 on morning chat show Live with Regis and Kelly, Starr and his collaborator ex-Eurythmic Dave Stewart were informed once they got in the studio that the song would have to be abbreviated to 2.5 minutes or less. They refused to truncate the song. The producers were all "yes!" Ringo was like "no!" And then Starr walked.

Well played, Ringo. Later for Regis and Kelly!

Citing evolution (which translates loosely to "a desire for infinite free publicity"), good ol' Sean Combs is fixin' to change his name AGAIN:

P. Diddy has indicated that he would like to be known as “Sean John” – the title of his signature aftershave.

According to the Daily Star he said: “I have always evolved and taken a different name each time. Right now I want to be Sean John because that’s where I am right now.”

Plus, you know, Coca-Cola was taken.

From DigitalSpy:

50 Cent has denied rumours that he will help Michael Jackson with his live comeback shows.

The rapper was linked with the veteran popstar after reports emerged suggesting Jackson was planning a residency at London's O2 arena. However, the hip-hop star has insisted he hasn't been contacted about it and argued that nobody could offer Jackson advice on creating great live shows.

He told MTV: "Help him with his live shows? Now who could help Michael Jackson with a live show?

"You’re talking about one of the greatest entertainers ever, man. I don’t even have to say anything about that one."

According to this big ol' LA Times piece (advancing his 5-night run of benefit shows at Staples Center), Garth Brooks, the man who proved that SoundScan was the only way to know which country artists were bigger than Color Me Badd or whatever, thinks that illegal downloaders (especially of ringtones based on his songs) should get tickets, like the ones you get for speeding. It's not the worst idea in the world. Going to see Garth Brooks five nights in a row? That might be.

From HuffingtonPost:

LOS ANGELES — Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker sued the Rockstar energy drink company Wednesday, accusing it of wrongfully using his picture.

The Superior Court lawsuit said the Rockstar Web site published a photo of Barker "holding a can of one of Rockstar's beverages, and identifying him and his endorsement by name" without his consent.

The lawsuit claims invasion of privacy, unfair competition and misappropriating his likeness to promote the product. Barker is "a prominent figure in the rock music world," according to the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified punitive and statutory damages.

Calls to the Rockstar Beverage Corp. were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Not that he's wrong to sue if they really used his likeness without consent and blah blah blah, but two quotes I wish accompanied this item:

1. "A rep for Rockstar said, 'We didn't know he was a real rockstar! We just thought he was one of the infinite 35-year-old teenagers who dress all "punk" for no discernible reason.'

2. "A rep for Rockstar said, 'We just assumed that a member of Blink-182 would endorse literally anything.'"

There's something about this headline, to say nothing of this picture, or this person, or this world of phony musicians acting like actual ones, that makes me cringe and laugh at the same time, like when you burp and a little bonus fluid comes up.

Randy Jackson: There Would Be No Chris Daughtry If There Wasn't American Idol.

AND IT'S NOT AN APOLOGY!

Certain headlines have the power to make you feel like taking stock of your life. It's just possible that "Zac Efron Has Emergency Appendectomy" will prove to be one of them.

Also, just in time for High School Musical 3!!!

You can call it just being a good guy. You can call it butting in. Or you can call it the eagerness of a celebrity who knows how to get himself some blog headlines, but John Mayer stuck up for his ex-semi-girlfriend Jessica SImpson, vilified of late by Dallas Cowboys fans for dating—and thereby jinxing—one of their players, on his blog.

"I have never known anyone to have more pride in their home state and their upbringing in it than Jessica Simpson has in Texas," he said.

"All witty barbs, blogs, and fashion policing aside, that girl loves Texas more than you know. It's one of her most defining traits as a person. So please don't try and take that away from her.

"I just thought it would mean something coming from the guy who has the absolute least to gain from this. And if I'm out of line in having written it, too bad. I can spare a Wednesday's worth of bad press if it means sticking up for a good soul."

Aaaaannd, you know, maybe a quick one while he's away.