• ROCK NEWS

Last Update on March 11, 2010 03:14 EST

TOP 8 GUYS SING ON "AMERICAN IDOL"

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Big Mike made Kara cry. Michael Lynche's performance of "This Woman's Work" on "American Idol" brought Kara DioGuardi to tears. Simon Cowell told him it was the best performance of the live shows so far. Ellen DeGeneres was moved by Tim Urban so much that she ran over and gave him a hug. DeGeneres is also keeping up her banana analogy with Alex Lambert, calling him a "mushy banana" this week. Cowell told Lambert to relax by picturing Randy Jackson in a bikini. DeGeneres wasn't so kind to Andrew Garcia and his version of "Genie In A Bottle." She said the genie came out too late. DioGuardi picked on Aaron Kelly's "I'm Already There" because it's about a father calling his kids, but Cowell said DioGuardi's comment was "rubbish" and Kelly had emotion.

KISS COMPETE WITH KISS

LONDON (AP) -- Kiss believe their biggest rival is Kiss. Singer Paul Stanley says when they went back to wearing makeup on stage in the 1990s, fans wanted to see the show they remembered, but they had built it up so much in their minds, that show never existed. Stanley says Kiss live in their own shadow, but they're beyond that now. He says they've never sounded better and their shows have never been better attended. And what about the critics? Stanley doesn't care. He says, "You should see the house that bad reviews built. It's mine and it's pretty large."

<R. KELLY DEVELOPS NODULES

CHICAGO (AP) -- R. Kelly isn't making a peep for at least a month. Kelly has been working on an album and developed nodules on his vocal cords. A doctor has ordered him to rest his voice for a month. Kelly was supposed to start a European tour on March 22 but has had to postpone it.

PHIL COLLINS WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL SONGWRITING AWARD

NEW YORK (AP) -- Phil Collins will get a special award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He will be given the Johnny Mercer Award for his body of work in songwriting. Hall of Fame chairman Hal David says Collins "is among the most respected musical creators of our generation." Collins will get his award during a ceremony in New York on June 17.

MADONNA AND DAUGHTER PREPARE MATERIAL GIRL CLOTHES

NEW YORK (AP) -- Madonna is naming her new line of clothes for young women after a 25-year-old song. Madonna and Iconix will create the Material Girl collection for Macy's. Madonna's daughter, Lourdes , will help her design clothes for juniors including back-to-school apparel, shoes, purses and jewelry. The items will sell for less than $40. The Material Girl clothes will be out in August.

ROB THOMAS AND MELISSA ETHERIDGE WILL PLAY EARTH DAY EVENTS

UNDATED (AP) -- Rob Thomas and Melissa Etheridge are the first acts named as headliners for Earth Day events that will happen around the world. Thomas will perform in Atlanta and Etheridge in Los Angeles on April 18. Events are planned for Chicago, Minneapolis and New York, with the artist lineup still to be announced. Funds raised will benefit non-profit groups that bring clean drinking water to developing countries.

OK GO LEAVE LABEL, CREATE THEIR OWN

UNDATED (AP) -- OK Go have left their record label to go it alone. OK Go have left Capitol/EMI in what they call an amicable split. OK Go have announced the formation of their own label, Paracadute , which is Italian for "parachute." Singer Damian Kulash made the announcement in a video featuring the band's new "business partners": two dogs wearing shirts and ties, one of which kept trying to walk away. OK Go will be on tour this spring.

STRYPER EXPAND INTO VIDEO GAMES

NEWARK, Calif. (AP) -- Stryper are getting their own expansion pack for the "Guitar Praise" video game, the Christian equivalent of "Guitar Hero." Two mini-packs of five Stryper songs each are available for the game. Stryper has signed a deal with the game's maker for a line of new products