Random Notes 2012

Eminem joins 50 Cent on stage at the Austin Music Hall during 50's performance at the Shady Records showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 16th, 2012.

When Tom Morello took the stage at the Swan Dive in Austin on Friday night, he chose to convert what otherwise would've been just another SXSW-only showcase into a true Occupy gathering – an event which he described as "Occupy SXSW," and which he organized in conjunction with Occupy Austin. Morello informed the crowd – which primarily consisted of SXSW badge holders – that, just outside the bar, a "people's stage" had been erected to broadcast the show on the street for Occupy protestors and the general public at large.

-Benjy Eisen

Lenny Kravitz meets with British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton inside the McLaren Mercedes garage before a practice session at the Albert Park circuit for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne Australia on March 16th, 2012.

Danny Brown gives Rolling Stone an impromptu photo session backstage at Warner Music Group's Warner Sound Showcase during SXSW in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012.

Neon Hitch decorates her bandmates with paint before performing at Warner Music Group's Warner Sound showcase at La Zona Rosa during SXSW in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012.

Theophilus London hanging out backstage before performing at Warner Music Group's Warner Sound showcase at La Zona Rosa during SXSW in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.

Hanson performs with Arlo Guthrie during the Woody Guthrie Centennial Concert at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 10th, 2012.

Neko Case, Miley Cyrus and Kid Cudi arrive at "The Hunger Games" Los Angeles Premiere at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on March 12th, 2012.

Young women in tears outside of J&R Music World waiting for One Direction's visit in New York City on March 12th, 2012.

Rainn Wilson, best known for playing Dwight Shrute on The Office, smashes a guitar at The View from Inside Rainn Wilson's Brainstem during SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival at Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas on March 10th, 2012.

Judd Apatow and Dave Matthews attend the John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit at John Varvatos Los Angeles on March 11th, 2012.

Alice Cooper and James Van Der Beek attend the John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit at John Varvatos Los Angeles on March 11th, 2012.

Bruce Springsteen performs from the balcony of The Apollo Theater at SiriusXM's celebration of 10 years of satellite radio concert in New York on March 9th, 2012.

Young Jeezy's surprised fans got a chance to hang out with the rapper at Ubiq Life in Philadelphia on March 8th, 2012.

Great Britain's Prince Harry is greeted by Rita Marley, the wife of Bob Marley during a visit to a youth community center in Kingston, Jamaice on March 6th, 2012.

A wax figure of Lady Gaga stands in the soon-to-be-finished Berlin Brandenburg airport in Schoenefeld, Germany.  The figure was presented as the airport's "first passenger" by Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and will be on display in Germany until March 15th, 2012 before returning to London.

David Guetta poses with his wife Cathy Guetta and Carlos Ghosn of Renault-Nissan during the presentation of the new ultra-compact Renault Twizy in Geneva, Switzerland on March 6th, 2012.

A crowd gathers to view the exhibition launch of  "Bob Dylan, L'Explosion Rock" at Cite de la Musique in Paris on March 5th, 2012.

Roger Waters meets with President of Chile Sebastián Piñera at La Moneda Palce in Santiago Chile.  Waters visited Piñera to discuss education issues and perform The Wall at the Estadio Nacional on March 3rd, 2012.

Bruce Springsteen wrapped up his week on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon by joining the host, disguised as Neil Young, for a cover of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It." As the sole guest on last night's third anniversary show, Springsteen also sat down with Fallon for a two-part interview and played a set of his own songs, including "Death to My Hometown" and "Jack of All Trades," from the new album Wrecking Ball, as well as "The E Street Shuffle."

Springsteen had dueted with Fallon's Neil Young impersonation before, on their November 2010 cover of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair."

Israeli President Shimon Peres and Lyle Lovett backstage together at ABC’s The View.  Israeli President Shimon Peres was a guest on the show, and Lyle Lovett performed on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012.

Noel Gallagher poses with his Godlike Genius Award at the NME Awards 2012 at Brixton Academy in London on February 29th, 2012.

Mitt Romney shakes the hand of Kid Rock during a campaign event at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan on February 27th, 2012. The GOP candidate, who has been using Rock's song "Born Free" as a rally song, personally recruited the Detroit rocker for his campaign, driving to his Michigan home to ask for his support.  

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at NBC Studios in New York on February 27th, 2012.

William Shatner is joined by Brad Paisley to perform a surprise duet during a performance of "Shatner's World: We just Live In It" at the Music Box Theatre in New York on February 27th, 2012.

Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen were honored with the PEN New England Awards for Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston on February 26th, 2012.  Here, Keith Richards hangs backstage with Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen to show his support.  

While Jennifer Lopez looked stunning arriving at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, she was careful to avoid a wardrobe malfunction with her plunging neckline on the red carpet. 

Lance Bass, Dave Grohl, and JC Chasez joke around together and grab a quick iPhone shot at the 20th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on February 26th, 2012.

Claire L. Evans of Yacht gets up close and personal with a fan in the crowd at The Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on Sunday, February 26th, 2012.

Backstage with Nickelodeon's The Fresh Beat Band, Twist (Jon Beavers),  Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl,  Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), Marina (Tara Perry), and Shout (Thomas Hobson), at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on February 19th, 2012. 

Jimmy Fallon imitates Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam as he sings about Jeremy Lin on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in New York on February 23rd, 2012.  A video of the performance can be seen here.

Katy Perry goes cross-eyed at the launch of her new false eyelash range by Eylure at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, California on February 22nd, 2012.

Former SNL comedian Will Forte sings 'Emotional Rescue' by The Rolling Stones at Stones Fest 2012 at Webster Hall in New York on February 22nd, 2012.

Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas DJs alongside Florence Welch at the Universal Music BRIT Awards after party hosted by Bacardi at the Soho House Pop Up in the Tate Modern in London on February 21st, 2012.

Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick performs with the Chicago Blackhawks house band during a game against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center in Chicago on February 21st, 2012.

Before Bret Michaels took the stage for a performance on February 20th, 2012, he met the most popular and hairiest of Busch Gardens’ Animal Ambassadors team, Harry the sloth.  Who do you think has the best hair?

Cyndi Lauper turns her camera on the fans as she makes her way through the crowds to her Mardi Gras float in the Krewe of Orpheus Parade on Monday, February 20th, 2012 in New Orleans.

Lana Del Rey performs at a dinner following the Mulberry Autumn/Winter 2012 Fashion Show during London Fashion Week at the Saville Club on February 19th, 2012.

Beyonce signs a ball for a fan at an NBA Basketball game between the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 20th, 2012.

Alice Cooper and Master Sergeant Dempsey of the Arizona National Guard drop the puck before the start of the Phoenix Coyotes vs. Dallas Stars hockey game at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona on February 18th, 2012.

Steve Aoki crowd surfs while playing a special set for the Electric Area channel at the SiriusXM studio in New York on February 17th, 2012.