SamboraBlog

Up in It

Dave Grohl digs Jessica Simpson, Proof digs Jessica Biel

By STEVE BALTIN

The Foo Fighters stepped in to play the MTV Movie Awards Saturday night, pinch-hitting for Nine Inch Nails, who canceled after their battle with the network over using an image of President Bush as a stage backdrop. On the red carpet, Dave Grohl's thoughts were with Trent Reznor. "I respect Trent a lot musically and otherwise," he said. "I kind of feel like we're doing the same thing, but without the banner. If you listen to the lyrics of 'Best of You,' you can read into that, and it says just as much as a picture of the president. I figured we'll do it musically instead."
Being backed up on the busy carpet did have its advantages, as Grohl -- who followed Jessica Simpson (and hubby Nick Lachey) -- got to enjoy the scenery. "As all the cameras were taking pictures of her, I was right behind her going, 'Yeah!'" Grohl said. "But her father came up and reprimanded me. [Shifts into a Joe Simpson voice]: 'I saw that!'" . . .

Another Jessica walking the carpet -- Jessica Biel -- caught a member of D12's eye. "Man, I will do anything right now to prove to her that I would be faithful for the rest of my life," Proof said after watching the young actress pass by. Once his jaw went back into place, Proof mentioned that he has some heavyweight musical guests on his solo debut, dropping July 26th. "I've got 50 Cent, Slum Village, Nate Dogg, Method Man and B-Real. I'm gonna rock out with my cock out!" Hear that, Jessica? . . .

Count Dave Navarro among the other members of Reznor's fan club. "He's like the only guy that I get crush-y around," the former Jane's Addiction guitarist said at Nine Inch Nails' Vegas show. "I've been on tour with him, and I've known him forever. He will always have that [rock star] vibe. I don't care if he's fucking ripped -- like he is now -- or a scrawny little skinny guy, there's just something about him." Fellow NIN faithful, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn, and Mike Einziger of Incubus were also in awe. "This is the best concert I've seen since the Go-Go's when I was six," said Einziger. Also on hand for Reznor's coronation were Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Robbie Robertson . . .

Interpol and Louis XIV shared a stage, designed to look like Andy Warhol's Factory, at a soiree in L.A. for the new Sony PlayStation. Amanda Peet, Ludacris, Charlize Theron and a talkative Wes Scantlin of Puddle of Mudd were in the house. "I love Interpol," said Scantlin, who'd flown in that day from a fishing trip in Florida. He also revealed that he recorded a song for the upcoming Santana album and is well into writing the new Puddle record. "I've got about twenty songs written so far," he said. "But I never stop writing" . . .

Rocker Jason Sinay got the thrill of his young career at L.A.'s Joint. While doing a version of Neil Young's "Powderfinger," he spotted its creator in the audience. "I almost passed out," Sinay said. Thankfully, he managed to stay conscious, as he and Young ended up jamming for thirty minutes, twenty-five of those on "Down by the River" and the other five on "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" . . .

A possible explanation why New York's Stage Deli pulled that Fat Joe sandwich (grilled turkey, fried eggs and melted cheese, etc.): Brutha likes veggies! While gearing up for the June 14th release of his All or Nothing album, Joe was getting himself a custom-made salad at the nearby Bread Market Cafe. "Gotta eat healthy," he said, patting his stomach . . .

Finally, Pink was spotted hanging at the notorious Spider Club in L.A. The singer wasn't giving up much on her new album, but she was happy to talk about her new hobby. "I tattoo myself -- I learned at his shop in Vegas," she said, pointing to her boyfriend. "I apprenticed there." As for a possible name for her long-awaited next album, Pink suggested, cracking up, "I Don't Care If You Forget About Me . . . No, I'm kidding."

(Posted 6 09, 2005)