Madonna Joins Rock Hall

John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen also among 2008 inductees

(NEWSER) - Madonna will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, the Associated Press reports. The shape-shifting pop star will formally enter the Hall at the annual ceremony on March 10 in New York, along with fellow inductees John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five. More»

Struggling Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to open annex in Soho

(NEWSER) - Cleveland lobbied to be the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to bring tourists to town, but a dip in visitors has led the museum's worried organizers to turn to New York for help. Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined singer Billy Joel yesterday to announce the opening of an annex to the hall in Soho in November, Forbes reports. More»

And more sometimes surprising stories behind the songs

(NEWSER) - Inspired by Taylor Swift, who regularly pens songs about her real-life boyfriends , the New York Daily News lists six stories behind six classic songs. Most come from new book The Girl in the Song by Michael Heatley and Frank Hopkinson:

• Billy Joel, “Uptown Girl”: Contrary to popular belief, this song is about Elle MacPherson, not Christie Brinkley. Joel dated MacPherson before Brinkley.
• Bob Dylan, “It Ain’t Me Babe”: The singer had an affair with Joan Baez in the ‘60s—and then penned this song as a kiss-off to her. She returned the favor with “Diamonds and Rust.”

Material Girl looks back on success, talks Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga

(NEWSER) - Madonna is still making headlines 25 years after telling Dick Clark she planned “to rule the world” on American Bandstand. She looks back at the past three decades with Rolling Stone, revealing her first “provocative performance” as a seventh grader, her life as a “geek” in high school, and her worst fashion moment—“the purple lipstick, fluorescent-green sweater combo.” The Material Girl also offers up her thoughts on today’s stars: More»

Memorabilia displayed in city he loved

(NEWSER) - A new exhibit of John Lennon memorabilia includes a bloodied hospital bag holding the clothes he wore the night he was shot to death, reports the Guardian. The bag is the most jolting display of the new show launched by Lennon's widow at the Manhattan annex of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "John came back to me in a brown paper bag. I want the world to know that," said Yoko Ono. More»