Michael Jackson's Bassist

Alex Al… never heard of him? Well even if you haven’t, he has a pretty cool name, so that warrants a blog entry in itself.

But no in all seriousness, you may not know him, but if you’re one of the thousands that have checked out MJ’s concert movie, “This is It,” you’ve at least seen him. He was Michael Jackson’s (RIP) bassist. He also writes and produces music, and as if MJ wasn’t a big enough deal, he’s also worked with the likes of Christina Aguilera and Usher.

I recently did a sit-down interview with him at a music studio out in Burbank.

Before I continue… I must say, if I haven’t already, that I love music.

So, waiting around in a music studio? Heaven! I love the music industry and if I could find a way to combine my loves -music and television news (*cough*MTVNews*cough*,) I’d be absolutely content professionally (well at least til age 30.)

Anyway, I roamed around the halls, took photos of various posters of artists who have worked there (part of me squealed when I discovered Eminem had done work here,) and discovered that the band in the studio next door were rehearsing for… *gasp!* The Backstreet Boys.

OK so back to AA (Alex Al.)We chat for a minute on cam (err…15 or so to be exact,) he tells me random Michael Jackson stories (MJ used to pray in Jesus’ name during every practice, the last thing AA said to MJ was “man we’re here for you, we just love you,” and that he found out about his death while sitting in traffic on the 101 on the way to rehearsal at Staples…) and then we end up chatting off cam for quite a while because he says that he can genuinely tell that I love music (I take this as a compliment.)

I discover that he and a handful of other talented musicians are part of George Lopez’s band for his upcoming late night show – super cool, right? It kinda explains why this make-shift parking spot was outside…

I expected a better "Reserved Spot" sign

George Lopez's future band rehearsing

After our side chat, Alex Al kinda makes my day– he wanted to take a picture with ME! Yes. Not the other way around. He had said something about how I was gonna be a big deal someday? Haha, clearly I was flattered.

Anyway…it was a fun convo. The future of Alex Al? I can’t say. As far as our new friendship? Who knows. I’ll be looking for him when I see “This is It” and well, if I ever catch an episode of George Lopez’s new show.

SK and AA… future BFFs??

Eminem. Jay-Z. Same Stage. "Renegade."

Jay-Z. Eminem. Together…on the same stage. Yes, it happened weeks ago, but I’ve been on blogging hiatus and instead of recapping older events and going chronologically, I’d rather talk about the most exciting one.

June 1st. 2009.

So basically it’s the launch of “DJ Hero,” a new videogame like Guitar Hero…well, without the guitars. DJ AM is the face of the game, so obviously because of his A-list status, the party is… poppin’.

In fact, a lot of the big celebs skip the carpet entirely and just chill inside. Sightings? Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher, Tobey Macguire and others hanging in the VIP balcony area (later I find out Christina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson and others are up there,) plus…Rihanna chillin downstairs… where all the other ballers are (yes, ballers. Literally. Ron Artest and Grant Hill, just to name a few.)

Anyway. The show itself was SO sick. I learned about Jay’s problems (apparently he has 99 of

Jay-Z: My President is Black

them,) Eminem’s game-winning strategy (he just loses himself in the moment,) and that neither of them are afraid to say what’s on their mind (any given time of day…they’re like renegades or something.) DJ AM and Travis Barker did their set before Em and Jay took the stage.

In terms of red-carpet fun? See for yourself. Sure there were tons of “fun” moments that didn’t make it on air…but I’m too lazy to recap all of it. Here are some bullet points.

• Travis Barker skips all TV media but he’s willing to talk to us?! Too bad I was so caught off guard I asked really generic questions
• DJ AM… He winked at me. More specifically, he winked when I probed into the Eminem/Bruno Movie Awards incident. Was it staged? A wink was all I needed…
• Was it a wink, or a blink? Well Blink-182′s Mark Hoppus and Fallout Boy’s Pete Wentz walked the carpet…together! Which makes our ridiculous banter about them being a couple and having a child all the more believable (ok not really, two guys CAN’T give birth.)
• I end up rapping with the girlfriend of one of the stars of “Mad Men.” It didn’t make the cut. We bonded over our love for “Forgot about Dre.”
• I told Baron Davis (LA Clippers) that I saw him rap at Opera/Crimson (the lounge/club) once. He laughed. We then bonded over NBA video games. I think I was the only one on the carpet excited to see him.
• Vanessa Minillo talks about her love for Rockband. I’m not sure if she got the memo… this is a Guitar-Hero sponsored event… :-/  (I also convinced her that her and I go WAY back)

WATCH BELOW!

Afterwards? H.Wood…only my favorite socializing spot in LA. Spotted? Leonardo Dicaprio, Nikki Hilton, and E from Entourage (I think he gets that a lot.)

At least that was the case on Tuesday April 28th… as LG and Heidi teamed up to launch their Klum-backed “Rumor 2″ cell phone.

I covered the party for TV Guide…held at the Andaz Hotel on Sunset. The last time I was there for a party, there were Ed Hardy brand bottles of water. This time? Something fancy in a glass bottle.

Celebrity observations? Heidi Klum’s rock of a wedding ring…enormous. Beautiful. Shiny. She doesn’t look pregnant. But she is. She hasn’t straight up said it, but Seal confirmed it someone recently, and Project Runway star Christian Siriano confirmed it for me that night (FYI, he’s doing a line of maternity wear, and of course, has given some threads to the woman he refers to as “Tranny Klum.”)
Christina Aguilera… total star power. You know you’re famous when you can walk by all the tv/print media, and no one dares to even ask a question for fear that you’ll snap at them for even having the audacity to try.
Vanessa Hudgens. Famous for being Mrs. Zac Efron. Pretty. Arrived with HSM bestie Ashley Tisdale.
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy. Yes, they did press. Surprising for a celebrity couple. Though to be honest, think their star power doubled once they started dating. America is fascinated with celebrity relationships. And well, their relationship is interesting. They seem to totally be in sync. In a weird way. In a Taco-Bell-feeding sorta way.
Twilight’s Peter Facinelli? Adorable. He even suggested he’d hang out with Twilight fans camping outside the set in Vancouver, and make smores with them.
Bachelor/Hollywood 411′s host…Chris Harrison at the party?! Definitely the highlight of my night.

Since the theme of the night was a “Rumorous Night,” the theme of my piece was… what else? Rumors. Though not everything made the TV cut, here are the highlights: