Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley will hit the road together in support of their joint album Distant Relatives, due out May 18th, making stops at Bonnaroo and Gathering of the Vibes along the way. Plus, Charlotte Gainsbourg surrounds her Coachella performance with a bunch of April shows on both coasts and Colbie Caillat plots a summer-long tour around her appearances at the roving Lilith Fest. Full dates for all three treks below.

Damian Marley & Nas
May 2 West Palm Beach, FL @ Sunfest
May 21 Arcata, CA @ Arcata Community Center
May 22 Eugene, OR @ Cuthbert Amphitheater
May 23 Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo
May 25 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
May 26 Santa Barbara, CA @ University of California
May 28 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
May 29 Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
May 30 Valley Center, CA @ Open Sky Theater
May 31 Los Angeles, CA @ UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival
June 2 Santa Fe, NM @ Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre
June 8 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
June 9 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Outdoor Amphitheater
June 11 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 12 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
June 13 Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
July 31 Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburg Waterfront
Aug. 1 Bridgeport, CT @ Gathering of the Vibes Festival

Charlotte Gainsbourg
Apr. 11 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theater
Apr. 12 – Victoria, BC @ Alix Goolden Hall
Apr. 14 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe
Apr. 15 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Apr. 17 – San Francisco, CA @ Palace of Fine Arts
Apr. 18 – Indio, CA @Coachella
Apr. 21 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
Apr. 23, 24 – Montreal, QUE @ Olympia
Apr. 25 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall

Colbie Caillat
Apr. 6 – Augusta, GA @ First Tee Golf of Augusta
Apr. 10 – Indio, CA @ Fantasy Springs Resort
Apr. 15 – Spartanburg, SC @ Converse College
Apr. 16 – Montgomery, AL @ Riverwalk Amphitheater
Apr. 17 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
Apr. 19 – Knoxville, TN @ The Valarium
Apr. 22 – Waco, TX @ Baylor University
Apr. 24 – Cape Girardeau, MO @ Southeast Missouri State University
Apr. 27 – Ridgefield, CT @ The Ridgefield Playhouse
Apr. 28 – Salisbury, MA @ Tupelo Music Hall
Apr. 29 – Lancaster, PA @ American Music Theatre
May 1 – Memphis, TN @ Tom Lee Park
May 30 – Sun Valley, ID @ Sun Valley Pavilion
June 12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ EnergySolutions Arena
June 13 – Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival
June 15 – Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
June 17 – Vienna, VA @ Filene Cener
June 18 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre
June 19 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 21 – Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion
June 22 – Portsmouth, VA @ Ntelos Wireless Pavilion
June 24 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
June 27 – Calgary, AB @ McMahon Stadium
June 28 – Edmonton, AB @ Northlands Spectrum Racetrack
July 1 – Vancouver, BC – Pitt Meadows Airport
July 2 – Ridgefield, WA @ The Amphitheater
July 3 – Quincy, WA @ Gorge Amphitheatre
July 6 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay
July 23 – Louisville, KY @ Churchill Downs
July 24 – Bessemer, AL @ Alabama Adventure
Aug. 19 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug. 20 – Memphis, TN @ Mud Island Amphitheatre
Aug. 21 – Sedalia, MO @ Missouri State Fair Grandstand
Aug. 22 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre
Aug. 24 – New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena
Aug. 26 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Theatre
Aug. 27 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Aug. 28 – Bee Cave, TX @ The Backyard
Aug. 30 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sandia Casino
Aug. 31 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sept. 1 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden
Sept. 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre

Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, the eccentric Dallas soul singer’s follow-up to 2008’s New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War, leads this week’s pack of new releases. While Part One found Badu dipping into electronic sounds, “Part Two revives Badu’s romantic side, and at its best it places her on a sun-splashed day in 1972,” Jody Rosen writes. “On the gorgeous “Window Seat,” [Check out the NSFW video here] her supremely mellow voice is awash in jazzy Fender Rhodes keyboards and loping funk-soul grooves.” Despite other highlights like “Turn Me Away (Get Munny)” and “Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long,” Part Two only garnered a three-star review from RS, as Rosen writes, “Problem is, Badu seems so taken by hazy texture — and so determined to play the weirdo — that she’s neglected to write many actual songs.”

For the Wu heads out there, the Clan’s Ghostface, Raekwon and Method Man have teamed up for Wu-Massacre, their first disc under the obvious moniker Meth Ghost Rae. While the album doesn’t reach the same heights as Tony Starks’ Fishscale or the Chef’s 2009 masterpiece Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, the decades together have given an infectious camaraderie to this elite group of rappers that makes Wu Massacre a great listen while you wait for next real Wu LP. “Ghostface Killah is weirder, Raekwon is gruffer, Method Man is zanier, and here the three kings of Staten Island hip-hop return to their classic-Wu roots like nothing’s changed since 1995 but the sports references,” Jon Dolan writes in his three-and-a-half star review.

Usher returns this week with Raymond v. Raymond, an album that sounds like it’s about his divorce but is instead about Usher getting back into playa mode. “On 2008’s snoozy Here I Stand, a then-married Usher sang about devotion, domesticity and freaking the wifey (and only the wifey),” Christian Hoard writes in his three-star review of Raymond. “Since then, however, Usher’s marriage imploded — a development that’s good for the single ladies of metro Atlanta but yields mixed results on his sixth studio disc.” While the album does feature some standouts like “Papers” and “Lil Freak,” Usher can’t keep the momentum going over the whole of Raymond v. Raymond.

For more on the best new discs in stores this week, check out Rolling Stone’s Album Reviews section now.

Just when we were growing fond of calling LCD Soundsystem’s upcoming album “TBA,” James Murphy and Co. revealed today on their DFA Records site that the band’s third album will have a proper title, This Is Happening. Accompanying news of the title was Murphy’s Twitter announcement, “Well, we finally made a cover…,” which is that sideways portrait up top of Murphy dancing. The cover image features a stylistic motif reminiscent of David Bowie’s Lodger, and as listeners will discover when This Is Happening is released on May 18th, those two albums share some musical similarities as well.

Happening’s default first single “Drunk Girls” is streaming now on LCD’s official site. (We say “default” because it’s the only one of the nine songs on This Is Happening that clocks in under five minutes.) “Drunk Girl” itself — which kind of sounds like Lodger’s “Boys Keep Swinging” fused with Velvet Underground’s “White Light/White Heat” — earned a four-star song review from Rolling Stone in our new issue hitting stands tomorrow.

As for the album’s title, This Is Happening will undoubtedly be joining other great albums like Michael Jackson’s This Is It and Galaxie 500’s This Is Our Music on the pantheon of great This Is albums. (Plus, it’s a whole lot better than M. Night Shamalyan’s The Happening.) As Rolling Stone reported yesterday, LCD Soundsystem will perform at both this summer’s Reading and Leeds festivals in the U.K., plus fests like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Sasquatch! and Camp Bisco here in the States.

Related Stories:

• LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy on Scoring His First Soundtrack for “Greenberg”
• LCD Soundsystem Debut “Greenberg” Track “Oh You (Christmas Blues)”
• James Murphy Opens Up About “Crazy” May LCD Soundsystem LP

Photo: JanesAddiction.org

One of the worst-kept secrets in rock is no longer hush-hush: thanks to news posted on guitarist Dave Navarro’s Twitter, we can officially report that Guns n’ Roses/Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan is in the studio working with Jane’s Addiction on the reunited group’s next album. Navarro posted a photo on his Twitter today of Jane’s in action, with Duff alongside Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins. “Another day of writing and creating in the studio with Jane’s Addiction!” Navarro wrote.

Chart Jane’s Addiction’s history in photos.

As Rolling Stone reported earlier this month, original Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery quit the band after the group’s tour of Australia. Avery had previously told fans that while he would perform the last few tour dates with Jane’s, he was not taking part in studio sessions for their new music. McKagan was immediately rumored to be filling in for Avery in the studio, and while Jane’s Addiction never made a formal announcement, even McKagan’s buddy Slash knew Duff was working with Jane’s when Rolling Stone asked about the state of Velvet Revolver. “I think Duff [McKagan] is doing something with Jane’s Addiction right now so we’re all sort of all over the place doing whatever until we can all regroup,” Slash said.

Jane’s live: check out photos from the band’s NIN/JA tour.

This isn’t the first time Jane’s Addiction have recruited a high-profile bassist to fill in for Avery: Back in 1997, after Navarro joined Red Hot Chili Peppers, the guitarist convinced RHCP bassist Flea to fill the vacancy when Jane’s reunited in 1997 for a tour and a pair of new tracks on Kettle Whistle. Porno For Pyros’ Martyn Lenoble and the Panic Channel’s Chris Chaney — who appears on 2003’s Strays — have also filled in on bass for Jane’s Addiction. Avery, who was Jane’s bassist from 1985 to 1991, rejoined the band 17 years later in 2008.

Related Stories:

• Bassist Eric Avery Officially Leaves Jane’s Addiction
• Reunited Jane’s Addiction Still Face Rocky Road, Says Farrell
• Jane’s Addiction Reunion Gig (With Eric Avery) Confirmed

Pharrell Williams is the force behind Kidult.com, a new online venture aimed at teenagers.

Christina Aguilera is back to flaunting her wild streak on “Not Myself Tonight,” the lead single from her upcoming “Bionic” album.

It doesn’t take much to get the Eminem rumor mill churning, and the rapper did just that on Tuesday with a mysterious post on his Twitter account.

Rapper/composer Blitz The Ambassador may be fairly new to the game, but he’s got the smarts of a veteran when it comes to branding.

The Paramore singer recently filmed herself singing Lady Gaga’s hit and decided to share it with the masses.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for band merch — and the weirder, the better. I love it when groups get creative and think outside the black T-shirt box. I was particularly impressed by the following wacky pieces of band merch. Start stretching, because you and your credit card are in for quite a workout. Plus, check out more consumer goodness after the jump!

1. Metric water bottle ($14): Dancing up a storm works up quite a thirst. Thankfully, Metric offers these handy — and eco-friendly — water bottles so you can hydrate while you express your “Stadium Love.”

2. The Avett Brothers skull flower slip mat ($10): Do you get all emotional every time you think of The Avett Brothers? Me, too. That’s why I thought this slip mat was so unique. Not only can you spin Ave Bros. on the 1’s and 2’s, but you can channel their lovelorn musical energy when you’re taking a break from the wheels of steel, too. All Avett, all the time.

3. Never Shout Never custom-beaded bracelet set ($15): By offering me this friendship bracelet, Christofer Drew totally wants to be my bestie, right? Right? RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT? [Bugs eyes, puts hands on hips, starts to breathe heavily in and out.]

4. Black Eyes Peas knuckle ring ($24.95): Good thing BEP tour manager Polo Molina wasn’t wearing this little piece of hardware when he allegedly punched Perez Hilton in the kisser. That would’ve left quite a mark.

5. Lady Gaga bubbles ($5): Sure, the label says that these magical bubbles are supposed to erase the line between audience and performer — or some kind of pretentious jargon like that — but I really think that Gaga is just expressing her love for Don Ho. “Tiny bubbles … in the wine … make me feel happy … make me feel fine.”

Global hip-hop sensations Wale and K’Naan will be kicking off their tour on Wednesday, March 31 in New York City and you’ll be able to follow every minute live on MTV.com. Don’t forget to set your alarm so you can watch the exclusive livestream of Wale and K’Naan’s concert from the Filimore East, which will be broadcast on March 31st, at 9:30 PM EST on MTV.com.

Check out a teaser video of the concert below — and see you at 9:30 on Wednesday!

Click here to RSVP for the MTV.com livestream with Wale and K’Naan on Facebook and don’t forget to invite your posse.

(Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

We knew Katy Perry had been hard at work on her new album, but we had no idea how hard she’s been working. In a recent interview with MTV News, Perry reveals her follow-up to One Of The Boys will be ready for a summer release. That’s, like, really soon — which makes us really excited.

During the conversation, Perry also talks a bit about what we can expect from the album, and name-checks a couple influences and styles that impacted her creative inspiration during the recording process. We speculated a while back on who we’d like to see Perry work with, but now that soon-to-be Mrs. Brand has opened up about the sound of her new album, we can totally imagine what it will sound like!

Here are a couple hints, as per Perry. Check out more after the jump.

+ Ace of Base, “The Sign”
Perry told MTV News that the album will recall a time when kids used to roller-skate to the perfect dance pop of Ace Of Base, saying, “It’s going to be one of those records that is everybody’s favorite guilty pleasure.” Let’s see if she can top this guilty pleasure.

+ Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
Perry has also name-dropped ’80s pop goddess Cyndi Lauper as an influence. Let’s hope there’s something as colorful and jubilant as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” on the album.

+ Weezer, “El Scorcho”
Perry teamed up with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo on her new album, too. Maybe they’re cooking up something along the lines of the off-kilter rock hook a la “El Scorcho”?

+ The Game, “Hate It Or Love It”
According to Katy, her new album could very well feature some “West Coast rappers.” Snoop or Dre might be the obvious choices, but what about someone like The Game?

Phantom Planet, “California”
With Perry proudly claiming, “I’m a California girl,” her new album will inevitably be inspired by the Golden State, right? If that’s true, then there’s gotta be a California anthem on there!

On Thursday, April 1, MTV will debut the newest video from Green Day for the song “Last Of The American Girls,” off their 2009 punk opera 21st Century Breakdown.

However, if you feel like you physically can’t wait another 48 hours for the clip, don’t go getting all postal on us. Thankfully, we’ve got a 30-second sneak peek to tide you over!

Check out the teaser below and make sure to tune back here on Thursday, April 1, for the full video of Green Day’s “Last Of The American Girls.”

After hearing the absolutely scorching, scandalous, Nicki Minaj-assisted single “Little Freak,” our anticipation for Usher’s new album, Raymond vs. Raymond, is at a fever pitch. Well, the album is finally released today, and we’ve got a great companion video for you to check out.

In this “Shameless Plug,” Usher tells us 5 things about his new album, including how Raymond vs. Raymond comes at both a pivotal time in both his professional and personal life. Possibly alluding to “Little Freak,” Usher says that the album’s lustier songs are balanced out by moments of real vulnerability. He also notes the various artists he collaborated on the album with, including T.I., Diddy and Will.i.am.

Check out the interview below and learn all about one of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2010. Raymond vs. Raymond is available now.

The Black Keys set some spring dates in support of their upcoming album Brothers, including a slot opening for Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden. Plus, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs, co-starring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, will embark on an April trek to showcase their new album Women and Country and this year’s Mountain Jam festival in Hunter, New York, will feature two nights of Gov’t Mule and a 70th birthday celebration for Levon Helm. Full tour dates and Mountain Jam lineup below.

The Black Keys
Apr. 8 – Iowa City, IA @ University of Iowa
Apr. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Yuri’s Night Bay Area
Apr. 17 – Live Oak, FL @ Wanee Music Festival
Apr. 18 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
Apr. 19 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
May 20 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
June 2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
June 3 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
June 4 – Kansas City, MO @ The Crossroads
June 8, 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
June 10 St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
June 11 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
July 27, 28 – New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage

Jakob Dylan
Apr. 9 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
Apr. 10 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
Apr. 13 – Louisville, KY @ Brown Theatre
Apr. 15 – Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre
Apr. 16 – S. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Apr. 17 – Albany, NY @ The Egg
Apr. 19 – Northhampton, MA @ Calvin Theatre
Apr. 20 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Apr. 21 – New York, NY @ Town Hall
Apr. 22 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
Apr. 23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Apr. 25 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Apr. 26 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
Apr. 27 – St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theatre –
Apr. 28 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Pabst Theatre
May 12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
May 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

Mountain Jam
June 4-6 – Hunter, NY

FRIDAY
Gov’t Mule
The Avett Brothers
Les Claypool
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Dr. Dog
The New Mastersounds
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
The London Souls
Gandalf Murphy & SCD
Natural Breakdown
Elmwood
Tamarama
Alabaster Brown
Dean Batstone
Kari Spieler
Join the Jam Contest Winner

SATURDAY
Gov’t Mule
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band
Yonder Mountain String Band
Drive-By Truckers
Toots and the Maytals
Dark Star Orchestra
Dave Mason
The Whigs
The Duke & The King
Lettuce
Sonya Kitchell
Company Of Thieves
Jerry Joseph & Wally Ingram
Zach Deputy
Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band
The Brew
Simone Felice
Van Ghost
Bret Mosley
Son Of Bill
IS

SUNDAY
Levon Helm & Friends 70th Birthday Celebration (with very special guests)
Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Matisyahu
Jay Farrar (of Son Volt)
ALO
One eskimO
Justin Townes Earle
Allison Moorer
The Bridge
Mojo Myles Mancuso
These United States
The McLovins
Jamie McLean Band

This Wednesday, we’ll say farewell to the Greatest Guitarist of All Time who’s currently on our cover and welcome a new star — or stars. Your first look at the epic cover photo from our next issue is right here (and trust us, it’s epic). So who’s in the shot? We’ll take your best guesses in the comments — check back tomorrow for another clue, and don’t forget to visit RollingStone.com Wednesday morning for a sneak peek at the new issue.

Photograph by David LaChapelle

After years of speculation over his sexual orientation, Ricky Martin has come out of the closet in a posting on his official website (via TMZ). In a lengthy note to his fans published in Spanish and English, Martin says writing his memoirs got him “very close to my truth” and that hiding his sexuality any longer would “indirectly diminish the glow that my kids here born with,” referring to his twin sons, who were born in 2008 to a surrogate mother.

“These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed,” he writes, addressing inevitable questions about why he didn’t reveal his sexuality earlier.

In an August 1999 Rolling Stone cover story, Martin spoke about past loves and rumors that he wasn’t straight:

You know, the bigger you get, the more people talk about you. You’ve been frank about saying your music appeals to everybody, men and women. Maybe as a result of that there’ve been some rumors flying around about your sexuality.
Well, this is show business. It’s a lot of fantasy. You can fantasize whatever you want to be. You can fantasize however you want to [laughs]. Go for it. Be free about it. I’m not too concerned with what people say about me. You can think whatever you want. I know what I am, my beliefs, what I like and don’t like. As I just said, I have the need someday to have a family. And that’s something I’m going to go for. The people I care about know me. I’m happy.

Martin also told RS about a past girlfriend named Rebecca: “I need a woman who really knows how to take care of herself. She has a lot of class, and she’s brilliant, which turns me on. Rebecca is a very talented, focused woman who knows what she wants. The mother of my kids [laughs].”

The singer wraps today’s news post pride and relief. “Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution,” he writes. “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”

Photograph by Candice Lawler for RollingStone.com
With the future of Fall Out Boy uncertain, Patrick Stump headed to this year’s SXSW Festival in support of his new musical endeavors, namely his upcoming solo album. Though reluctant to call it a “solo project,” Stump’s debut disc, due out this summer, is a solo project in every possible way: Stump is writing all the songs and performing all the instruments single-handedly. Talking to MTV, Stump admitted that the album’s direction had changed since the revelation that Fall Out Boy might be on the verge of breaking up.

Check out Stump and many more SXSW acts’ in Rolling Stone’s Texas Takeover: Rockers Reenact Great Moments in Lone Star State History gallery.

“A lot of people pointed to the ‘funkiness,’ and that’s definitely something that is a part of my writing — but there’s been a lot of really trying things that have happened in my personal life,” Stump told MTV. “And I’ve ended up having a lot of writing to do, that took on a more … cathartic thing. I could’ve told you a month ago that it was going to be more of a funk record, but now I don’t really know.”

Stump’s love of funk is no secret: When he visited the Rolling Stone offices in 2009 for an intimate acoustic performance, he was quick to bust out a rendition of Prince’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Prince’s Musicology was also listed among Stump’s favorites albums of the 2000s in our Rolling Stone poll. However, as Stump tells MTV, new songs like “Spotlight” and “The Bad Side Of 25″ deviate from Stump’s original plan by instead dealing with the deaths of his uncle and his collaborator T-Bone Wolk.

For now, Stump is keeping things simple. “I want to get a band together, and I want to practice, I really want to go out and play shows. And I’m hoping that people like the record enough so I can go do some small theaters and stuff.”

Related Stories:

• Pete Wentz Hints at End of Fall Out Boy in Blog, Twitter Posts
• Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump Performs Prince, “Folie” Songs
• Wentz on Fall Out Boy’s Status: Twitter Needs “A Sarcastic Font”

For 22-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa., rapper Wiz Khalifa, the sold-out crowd that turned up for his Friday night (Mar. 26) show at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza symbolized one thing: vindication.

Phish will give its first television performance since reforming in 2009 on May 13, as part of a Rolling Stones tribute week on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.”