News Ticker: Beck, "Rock Band 3," Phil Collins, Kings of Leon

• Beck's next Record Club project will feature St. Vincent, the Liars and Os Mutantes, Pitchfork reports, though it's unclear which classic album they've tackled.

• If you've already mastered Rock Band 2, there's good news on the horizon: Rock Band 3 will be out in time for the 2010 holidays. A statement on the game's Facebook page promises the new title will "innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again." Green Day: Rock Band will arrive June 8th.

• In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis next week, Phil Collins will be honored at June 17th's Songwriters Hall of Fame gala in New York with the Johnny Mercer Award.

• Kings of Leon's Tap Tap Revenge game Kings of Leon Revenge is being unleashed today for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game features 10 songs including "Use Somebody," "Notion" and "Sex on Fire." Check out a preview on YouTube.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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