Arch MUSIC NEWS for 9/17/12

Arch Music News is compiled by Jay Philpott (Metro Networks, Inc)

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Roseville, California made it Sammy Hagar Day on Saturday as he opened his newest restaurant:  Sammy Hagar’s Beach Bar & Grill.  He says he chose the Roseville, California location for his restaurant because it’s “a really cool place” that has “history” and “soul.” Sammy hosted a soft grand opening celebration at his new business over the weekend. Saturday’s event included a performance from Hagar, while Roseville’s mayor gave Sammy the key to the city.  Hagar also used the event to raise money for local charities, and says he knows they brought in than 40-thousand dollars.

“American Idol” has now officially replaced Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez at the judges’ table. Fox confirmed on Sunday that rapper Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban have been officially added to the panel, following a summer full of rumors. The network’s reality programming chief, Mike Darnell, called Minaj “an unbelievably captivating international phenomenon who has made an indelible mark on rap and pop.” Likewise, he says Urban is “another great addition” to the show. The two newcomers mark “Idol’s” first judging representatives from the rap and country genres. Minaj and Urban will join previously announced judges Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson. Jackson is the only original judge sticking around for season 12, which is scheduled to start in January.

Lady Gaga has taken promoting her fragrance to a whole different level.  She hosted with an avant-garde performance art theme at the launch party for her perfume “Fame.” The event, which took place at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City last Thursday, started off with Gaga pretending to be asleep inside a giant perfume bottle. Fans were invited to come touch the singer on her hand without “waking” her. When she finally awoke, after two hours, fans say she apparently urinated in a champagne bucket in front of the audience before sitting down to have a tattoo applied to the back of her recently shaved head. Gaga shaved her head last week in tribute to her friend Terry Richardson’s mother’s passing. About 14-thousand viewers were also watching the launch party online. Guests included Yoko Ono, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

Last Friday marked what would have been Amy Winehouse‘s 29th birthday. To celebrate the day, the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which is also celebrating its first anniversary, announced that it has raised 373-thousand-dollars since it started. It also pledged to raise 810-thousand-dollars by the end of the year. The charity was set up by the late-singer’s father to provide support to disadvantaged young people.

Rihanna will be a “Vogue” cover girl for the second time.  She tweeted on Friday that she was on the set of her second “Vogue” cover shoot. The tweet read, “It’s a big day for me!!! I’m shooting my SECOND AMERICAN #VOGUE COVER.” She went on to say that celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz would be heading the shoot. Leibovitz photographed the singer when she first graced the cover of “Vogue” in April 2011. In that cover story Rihanna spoke about her body, fashion and her music.

Adele has made a whole career off her broken heart. However, an insider is saying that Adele’s new album may not be an ode to breakups, as her record-breaking “21″ was. The source says that being pregnant has had an impact on Adele’s songwriting, and she is excited about her baby. The singer announced that she was pregnant in late June, saying that she and fiance Simon Konecki were “over the moon” about the news. As the two prepare for their first child, Adele may have some other music ventures in the works. It has been rumored that the singer made a visit to Abbey Road Studios last week to record a song for the latest James Bond movie, “Skyfall.” Adele has not announced her due date, nor has she revealed any plans about her next album.