andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Move aside, guitar, there’s a new Hero taking over the video game world: the turntable.

Video game creator Activision has released the much-anticipated massive set list for the DJ Hero video game, which comes out on Oct. 27, according to CHARTattack.

The game features 93 exclusive mixes by some of the industry’s top DJs, including Cut Chemist, DJ Shadow, and the late DJ AM. On the game these DJs slice up songs by artists such as Daft Punk, The Killers, Jay-Z, Public Enemies, and the Beastie Boys.

DJ Hero aims to expand on the technology used in video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The game will use a turntable controller to help immerse players into DJ culture. It will give aspiring DJs the chance to learn DJ techniques including sampling, crossfading, and scratching.

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DJ AM, also known as Adam Goldstein, was found dead in his NYC apartment earlier today, according to TMZ. Early reports say that drug paraphernalia was found around his body when he was discovered. Last year, Goldstein and Travis Barker survived a plane crash that killed four others on board.

Once the news broke about his death, Shanna Moakler tweeted “My deepest condolences for DJ AM, you were a great artist and will be severely missed. My thoughts and Prayers to his family and friends.”

Story developing…

DJ AM is seeking $20 million in damages following a fiery plane crash last September that seriously injured him and Travis Barker and killed four others.

The celebrity disc jockey (real name Adam Goldstein) filed suit Friday against the plane’s manufacturer, Learjet, and several other companies.

AM is seeking $10 million for medical expenses, lost earnings, profits and economic damages, while the other $10 million is related to non-economic losses including mental and physical pain.

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Los Angeles is in store for something special on New year’s Eve.

After a horrifying plane crash on September 19, and weeks in a hospital and rehabilitation, Travis Barker and DJ AM are set to take the stage for the first time since, at New Year’s Eve Party at the Lot in West Hollywood, California.

“I’m ready to get back on stage with AM and continue to rock the house,” Barker said in a statement. “I’m very excited to bring in the New Year in my hometown of L.A.”

According to MTV News, their performance will also be streamed live on the Internet via New Year’s Nation’s official site, and will be broadcast at other Nation parties across the U.S.

The Barker/AM duo last performed together at a T-Mobile sponsered event in Columbia, South Carolina on September 19, just hours before boarding the private jet that crashed and killed four, including Barker’s assistant, “Little” Chris Baker, and his security guard, Charles “Che” Still.

Travis Barker is finally bidding goodbye to the Los Angeles burn centre where he has been recovering from injuries sustained in a plane crash last month.

The former Blink-182 drummer was released from the Grossman Burn Centre, which had been treating him for second- and third-degree burns, on Friday.

The day before, Barker had blogged on his MySpace page about his eagerness to return home to his two children.

“I think I’m getting out of the hospital soon,” he wrote. “I can’t wait to get out of here and be home with the babes. The doctors say I’m healing up quickly.”

Barker will continue treatment at home and is expected to make a full recovery in the coming months.

Also expected to recover fully is the crash’s only other survivor, Travis’s friend and musical collaborator DJ Adam Goldstein, who is known as DJ AM.

Goldstein was discharged from hospital on Sept. 26 and appeared Wednesday at a Hollywood concert deejaying for Jay-Z, his first performance since the Sept. 19 crash in South Carolina.

The National Transportation and Safety Board is still investigating the crash, which killed four people.

Travis Barker has spoken out for the first time about last month’s plane crash that injured the former Blink-182 drummer and his friend DJ AM and killed four others.

In an interview with Us Weekly, Barker said he is “just grateful to be here at all” after suffering severe burns in the accident.

“I hate planes,” Barker said. “My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened … well, I’m just thankful to be alive!”

The musician and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM (real name Adam Goldstein) were on a small plane that crashed on takeoff Sept. 19 at the main airport in Columbia, S.C.

The other four members of the aircraft — two pilots and Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, and bodyguard, Charles Still — were killed.

Barker was recently released from the hospital and is now being treated at a burn centre in Los Angeles.

“I am doing the best I can possibly be,” he told the magazine. “I’m so anxious to get out of here. … I’ve just been in surgery after surgery. I have third-degree burns basically from my feet up to my waist and both hands. One of my hands has second-degree burns and one has third-degree burns.”

The drummer said he was looking forward to getting back to work and his family. “I’m trying to have a quick recovery and play the drums again and be able to hold my kids again,” he said.

Meanwhile, friends of Goldstein, who was also recently released from the hospital, are putting on a benefit concert in California Tuesday in the DJ’s honour.

Mark Ronson, Cut Chemist and other acts will perform at the event, with all proceeds going to memorial funds for the crash victims.

Doctors have said they expect full recoveries from Barker and Goldstein.

DJ AM is fortunate. And he has made it clear on Facebook.

After spending a week in the hospital, following the plane crash that took four lives and seriously injured Travis Barker and himself, DJ AM has been released from the Doctors Hospital in Georgia, and has let the Facebook community know by of his status that “Adam Goldstein is the luckiest guy alive.”

According to his Publicist, AM is returning back to Los Angeles.

“While he is deeply saddened by the events, he is thankful for all of the love and support he has been receiving from fans and friends worldwide,” the rep said. “We ask that you continue to respect his privacy as he rests and heals and mourns the loss of his friends.”

Former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM (Adam Michael Goldstein) were aboard a Learjet that crashed upon takeoff Friday night, reports E! News.

There were 6 passengers on the flight and while Barker and Goldstein survived, the other four passengers were killed.

A friend of Goldstein’s says that the DJ is “really, really badly burned” and confirms that “his face is very burned.” The sources adds, “More than 50 per cent of his body is burned and the worst is on his face.”

Barker is said to be burned “mostly from the waist down.” Both Barker and Goldstein are in critical but stable condition at the Joseph Still Burn Center in August, Ga.

One of the four passengers who died was Barker’s friend and business partner “Lil Chris” Baker. “He was the sweetest, nicest guy. He was like Travis’ right-hand man,” said the source.