American Idol: The Definite A to Z Guide

American Idol is more than just a television show. It’s an institution. Nearly a decade old, American Idol has not only been a huge smash hit on television but it has revolutionized the music business. In fact, it’s the biggest thing to hit pop music in the 21st century. Before you watch the show again, listen to music from current or past contestants, or see the finalists perform live, you need to peruse our definitive American Idol: A to Z Guide.

Auditions
Thanks to the audition process, American Idol is really two shows in one. During the audition phase, held in select cities around America, it’s all about catering to people with no shame. Since they seldom show the finalists during the audition rounds you know that whoever is getting a lot of face time early in the season won’t be around at the end. After the audition process is over, the show becomes a bona fide talent contest. If the contestants are lucky enough, and they make it all the way to the top ten, they qualify to go on the American Idol Live! tour. This year, the trek has more than 40-dates including a July 26 American Idol Live! performance in San Diego and an Aug. 21 American Idol Live! show in Philadelphia.

Brian Dunkleman
He’s now the answer to a trivia question: who hosted the first season of American idol along with Ryan Seacrest? Answer: Brian Dunkleman. The forgotten co-host left the show after season one because he didn’t like the way the contestants were being treated and the way certain dramatic events were staged. Some believe he would have been fired had he stayed. Dunkleman has publically stated that leaving A.I. was the worst decision of his life.

Chris Daughtry
Chris Daughtry finished fourth in the fifth season of American Idol. He then used his new found fame to start a rock band. The band, called “Daughtry,” released their first album in 2006. It went to number one and out sold the debut album from the winner of season five, Taylor Hicks, by more than four million copies. Billboard named Daughtry’s self-titled premiered the number one selling album of 2007. By the way, in the fifth season, Daughtry finished behind Katharine McPhee (nothing wrong with that) and Elliott Yamin (who?).

David Cook
The real test of an American Idol’s staying power isn’t how well their first post-A.I. album does but the success of their second. As for David Cook, winner of the seventh season of American Idol, his sophomore effort did very well. The Loud Morning dropped in June of 2011. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 and number one on the internet. The lead single, “The Last Goodbye,” was written by him and the great Ryan Tedder.

Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres was supposed to be an American Idol judge for five seasons but ending up judging the hopefuls for just one (the ninth). For those keeping score she replaced Paula Abdul. Ellen left Idol because she didn’t like telling karaoke singers they were in fact karaoke singers. Then again, Ellen probably heard her share of criticism when she was trying to make a name for herself as a comic and didn’t want to do the same to other young wannabes.

Fantasia
Fantasia won the third season of American Idol. After winning the reality competition she went on to achieve the dream of every Idol winner—she had her own reality show on a basic cable network. “Fantasia For Real” debuted on VH1 in January of 2010. In all seriousness, Fantasia impressive resume includes a platinum record, a number one single, and walking the boards on Broadway as Celie in The Color Purple.

Geographical Bias
Kris Allen won the eighth season of American Idol and hails from Arkansas. He’s one of the many examples of how American Idol has a strong bias towards the country’s southern states. Seven out of the show’s first ten winners have been from the South. Someone somewhere crunched the numbers and found that nearly half of all the finalists come from, or have a connection to, the southern part of the United States. No geographical bias on the Idols’ upcoming tour. Look for the American Idols in Toronto on Aug. 16, the American Idols in Newark on Aug. 28, and the American Idols in Atlantic City on Sept. 7.

Hollywood
“You’re going to Hollywood!” is what every American Idol hopeful wants to hear. The catch phrase is used to inform the wannabe singers during the audition phase that he or she is on to the next round held in Hollywood, California. Once in Holly-weird, the singers perform by themselves and in groups. Starting in season 10 an additional round was added that had the prospective Idols crooning in Las Vegas.

Iovine
A lot of people don’t realize is what makes Idol so entertaining, besides the singing of course, was Simon Cowell. He judged the contestants from the perspective of a record executive whose job it is to sell records. That’s interesting. Thankfully, after Cowell left, Jimmy Iovine picked up the slack. Whether you like it or not, music is a business and hearing Iovine, chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M records, break down the contestants makes for must-see-tv.

J-Hud
Jennifer Hudson didn’t win American Idol. In fact, she came in seventh. However, she has something all the other Idols would kill for. She has an Academy Award. She won it for her role in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. Bottom line, you win an Oscar and you got it made (for life). Her other claim to fame is she’s married to WWE wrestler David Otunga. How cool is that? She can get free tickets to any WWE show she wants.

Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol back in 2002. Some will argue that she’s not only the first A.I. champ but she’s the best contestant ever. Since winning Idol, Clarkson has released five albums. Two have gone to the top of the charts and the other three have peaked inside the top three. She also has three number one singles. Kelly has made successful appearances on Saturday Night Live, X Factor, Phineas and Ferb, and The Voice. She was also in one of the worst movies of all-time, From Justin to Kelly (2003).

Live!
Every year, after the television show is over, the top ten finalists embark on a concert tour of North America called “American Idol Live!” This year the tour begins on July 6 with an American Idol Live! show in Detroit, Michigan. The outing ends Sept. 11 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Highlights of the trek include American Idol Live! in Rosemont, Illinois on July 7; American Idol Live! in Los Angeles on July 23; and American Idol Live! in Dallas, Texas at the American Airlines Center on July 29. Expect each finalist to perform solo with the Idol winner singing last. There will probably be at least one group number.

Murdoch
Americans may have never had the chance to vote for an American Idol had it not been for Rupert Murdoch and his daughter Elisabeth. In 2001, network after network passed on American Idol. Murdoch, head of the company that owns the Fox Television Network, was talked into picking up the program by his daughter, Elisabeth (who was 33 at the time). She was a big fan of the British version of the show which was oddly enough not called “American Idol.”

Nielsen Ratings
American Idol premiered in June of 2002 and was the smash hit of the summer. The finale attracted 23 million viewers—future Idol finales would exceed 30 million viewers. Bottom line, American Idol is the most watched television show in the history of the Nielsen Ratings. It’s the only television show that can lay claim to being number one for eight straight seasons. The program was once known as the “Death Star” because other networks would schedule shows in Idol’s time slot that they didn’t care if no one watched. Sure, A.I.’s ratings have declined in recent years but it’s still one of television’s most watched programs.

Overtime
If you record a sporting event on your DVR you always record the show that’s immediately on after it in case the game runs long. The DVR works off of a clock not the actual conclusion of a program. Since most A.I. viewers are not sports fan they probably have no idea this technique even exists. That means that through the show’s run trusting DVR-users have missed some big moments. The finales of season six, seven, and eight, as well as the 2010 Idol Gives Back, all went into overtime. Meaning, DVRs failed to captured the coronations of Jordin Sparks and David Cook, Adam Lambert singing “Mad World,” and Tim Urban getting the boot.

Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul was the “nice” judge. She was especially pleasant when sitting next to Simon Cowell. She was also the “train wreck” judge. Paula often appeared either high or just plain off her rocker. Some viewers held weekly contests to see what kind of drugs she was on. What really amazed us was how many contestants gushed over meeting her (and they seemed sincere). Really? You’re that excited to meet the singer of “Straight Up?”

Qualifications
To qualify for American Idol you must be between 15 and 28 years of age. You must be a legal U.S. resident. And you can’t be under contract with either a recording or a talent company by the semi-final round. The eligibility requirements to appear on A.I. have changed over the years and could change in the future. Detractors will point out that nowhere in the qualifications does it say you have to know how to sing.

Ryan Seacrest
A few years into American Idol it was clear that Ryan Seacrest was the “Dick Clark” of his generation. Now, 11 years into the show, Dick Clark might have been the Ryan Seacrest of his generation. There’s no one better at being a TV presenter than Ryan Seacrest. Born on Christmas Eve in Dunwoody, Georgia, Seacrest is not only the host of A.I. but he’s an advocate for the finalists. He stands up for the kids when they can’t and questions the judges when they deliver rather dubious evaluations.

Simon
There are two “Simons” attached to American Idol. Simon Fuller created the show and Simon Cowell served as judge from 2002 through 2010. While Cowell was called rude and caustic, his comments were almost always right on. It’s just that people don’t like to hear the truth. Regardless, Simon’s bluntness and apparent insensitivity inspired every subsequent talent show to have their own “Simon Cowell” like judge.

Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks was the winner of season five. He was crowned Idol thanks to the “Soul Patrol” but they immediately went on hiatus once the season ended. Taylor’s first post-Idol album did okay, but his second tanked. In 2008, just two years after winning Idol, he landed the role of Teen Angel in a Broadway revival of Grease. In 2009, he joined the show’s national tour company. Sadly for him, he’s the antithesis of winners like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

Underwood, Carrie
Carrie Underwood is one of the biggest stars American Idol has ever produced. The country music singer won the fourth season of American Idol and then went on to sell a bunch of records and win a bunch of awards. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and named the reigning “Queen of Country” by Billboard magazine in 2012.

Voting
While it’s now quite common, American Idol was one of the first shows that depended on the votes of viewers and not the whims of producers (allegedly). As the show went on, it allowed viewers to vote for their favorite contestants not only by phone but by text messages and on the internet. Far more people vote for the American Idol than vote for an American President. Of course, you can vote as many times as you want for your favorite A.I. contestant but only in Chicago can you vote multiple times for the Commander-in-Chief. Just how many votes are cast per week on American Idol? It’s not uncommon for bean counters to count half a billion votes.

Walt Disney’s American Idol Experience
It’s not a ride but an experience. The American Idol Experience is found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park in Buena Vista, Florida. The attraction is an actual singing competition where contestants (who qualify under the rules of the show) audition for a chance to perform on stage. If they reach the main stage, they sing in front of judges and vie for votes from a studio audience. An actual winner is crowned and the grand prize is a golden ticket which allows them to go to the front of the line at any “real” American Idol audition.

Xbox360
American Idol is a commercial juggernaut. Besides the television show there are albums, tickets to the American Idol Live! tour, and video games. You can play Idol 011 and Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol (Encore and Encore II) on the Xbox 360. So if watching the show isn’t enough, buy an Xbox360 and pretend to be on American Idol in the comfort of your own living room.

Youngest
The winner of the sixth season of American Idol, Jordin Sparks, holds two prominent A.I. records. First, her single “No Air” is the best-selling single from any American Idol champion or contestant ever. Second, and the reason she’s filed under “Y,” is Sparks is the youngest winner of American Idol ever. She won the competition at just 17 years of age. Another interesting fact about Sparks, her father, Philippi Sparks, played cornerback in the NFL for the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.

Zero
Zero. As in the number of seasons judge Randy Jackson has missed. Zero. As in the number of non-Journey fans that knew Randy Jackson before he joined A.I. Besides being in Journey from 1986 through 1987, Jackson has also played bass for numerous big named artists including Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, and Mariah Cary. Furthermore, he’s the executive producer of America’s Best Dance Crew, a Grammy Award winner, a type 2 diabetes suffer, and a former record executive of 12 years. Thanks to his stint on Idol, Randy Jackson is also a household name.

One of the greatest, most-lasting tourism campaigns in history is surely “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” It’s catchy and cunning in its wink to the naughty behavior that Sin City is known for. The latest round of commercials introduces a website on which people can report their friends for breaking the code of silence. Again, catchy and cunning.

Yes, there are quite a few things to do in Vegas that you might not want your parents or spouse or kids to know about. Even something as potentially innocent as gambling can become a loaded gun if the right person points it at you. Say nothing of the myriad strip clubs and cabaret shows you might want to patronize.

Still, Las Vegas isn’t all about being bad and hoping you don’t get caught. Among the multitude of attractions are a slew of Cirque du Soleil shows, a bunch of wholesome (or semi-wholesome) comedy acts, a bevy of musical performances, and a whole array of touring Broadway productions.

One of the shows you could choose that might make you seem edgy based on the title alone would be Wicked – The Musical. Of course, it’s not that kind of wicked. It’s the witch kind of wicked.

A spin on the telling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked has been breaking box office records on Broadway since it arrived about six years ago. It’s national and international stagings and tours have followed suit. Now, Las Vegas hosts Wicked – The Musical as the inaugural production at Reynolds Hall in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Wicked is set for a six-week stand that begins on August 29 and runs through October 7. The cast includes Jackie Burns as Elphaba, Chandra Lee Schwartz as Glinda, and Mark Jacoby as The Wizard taking over roles originated by Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and Joel Grey, respectively.

Another possibility in the Broadway musical genre is the even more innocent Jersey Boys. During its initial staging at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Jersey Boys was anointed Best Show in Vegas for two years running by the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. That production closed on January 1, 2011, but a new, open-ended production at the Paris Las Vegas kicked off on March 6, 2012.

For those unfamiliar with the award-winning Jersey Boys storyline, the musical portrays the career of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons – their original songs serving as the musical numbers. The original Broadway production was given the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2006 along with a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Not too shabby for a boy band with a bunch of pop songs!

The moral of the story is this: Even though what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, you don’t necessarily have to partake in activities that would be embarrassing or troubling if others found out about them. You can have your fun and eat well, too, in Vegas. Then again, it’s not called Sin City for nothing…

So it’s not just corny glam rock bands from the ’80s teaming up for tours. Turns out, System of a Down has partnered with the Deftones to do a two-week run of dates this summer. SOAD just reunited last year, and this little adventure will be there first real stab at anything on the East Coast. Last year, they spread a few plays across the West and, earlier this year, they brushed off even more artistic dust at Australia’s Soundwave Festival.

The band is also working on a new album, not having released anything since Hypnotize in 2005. Meanwhile, front man Serj Tankian readies his third solo set, Harakiri, for a July 10 release. He self-produced the effort and had his touring band back him, including guitarist Dan Monti, bassist Mario Pagliarulo, and drummer Troy Zeigler – collectively known as The F.C.C. The first single, “Figure It Out,” should take its bow very soon. His previous releases are 2007′s Elect the Dead and 2010′s Imperfect Harmonies.

Harakiri Track List:
“Cornucopia”
“Figure It Out”
“Ching Chime”
“Butterfly”
“Harakiri”
“Occupied Tears”
“Deafening Silence”
“Forget Me Knot”
“Reality TV”
“Uneducated Democracy”
“Weave On”

On the heels of Hypnotize, System of a Down went on hiatus in 2006. The announcement of a reunion came in late 2010. Along with playing some shows last year, they also focused on writing songs for the new record. The combination proved, for Serj, to be “the busiest, most productive year of my life so far.” Of course, in addition to his solo work and the SOAD stuff, Serj also contributed to several other projects – a jazz record, an electronic record, and a full classical symphony called Orca – published Glaring through Oblivion, his third collection of poetry, and composed the music for the Prometheus Bound rock musical. And that’s not even counting his politcal activism.

For their part, the Deftones are currently in the studio working on the follow-up to 2010′s Diamond Eyes. That set was dubbed Rock Album of the Year by iTunes and Album of the Year by Kerrang!

The summer loving kicks off with System of a Down in Camden, New Jersey, on August 2 at the Susquehanna Bank Center. The guys stay in New Jersey and hit Holmdel’s PNC Bank Arts Center on August 4.

The following day, System of a Down takes Wantagh, New York’s Jones Beach by storm. Two more stops find SOAD and the Deftones in Washington, DC and Boston on August 7 and 9.

All but two of the SOAD/Deftones performances take place in the U.S. However, on August 11 and 12, the border gets hopped and the rockers rock Montreal and Toronto as part of the Heavy Metal Festival. After that, Detroit and Chicago host System of a Down in the remaining two shows of the tour on August 14 and 15, respectively.

Iron Maiden Plots 2012 North American Tour

Iron Maiden kicks off a two-month concert circuit of the United States and Canada on June 21 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte, North Carolina. The “Maiden England Tour” is patterned after their 1988 jaunt, “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Tour.” It’s also the first time the band has rocked North America since 2010. Opening for Maiden through July 21 is Alice Cooper. After that the job falls to Coheed and Cambria. The last show in which Iron Maiden concert tickets will be collected is scheduled for Aug. 18 in Houston, Texas.

With such a huge undertaking on the horizon, you might think Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson would be taking it easy, but that’s definitely not the case. The extremely talented heavy metal crooner opened an aircraft maintenance business in South Wales on May 1. Dickinson’s endeavor, called Cardiff Aviation Ltd., will create several new jobs and be based at the Twin Peaks Hangar in the village of St. Athan.

As most Maiden fans know, Dickinson is a licensed pilot. And not just for those little two-seaters, he can fly the big boys like a Boeing 757. Dickinson’s new aviation business got us thinking about other big-time rock and pop stars that could have had careers outside of the music business. To make our list really interesting we’ve eliminated charity work, anything to do with film and television, and those who’ve licensed themselves to death (Sean Combs, Jessica Simpson, and Jimmy Buffett). Basically, our list is about ten musicians who could have had lucrative careers even if they had never released an album or embarked on a tour.

Ten Musicians Who Could Have Had Successful Careers Outside of Music

Bruce Dickinson
Had the singing thing not worked out, Bruce Dickinson could have always been a novelist, a fencer, or an airline pilot. Dickinson began flying for fun in 1990s and eventually worked his way up to commercial pilot status. At one time he was a captain for UK airline. Throughout his aviation career, Dickinson has flown stranded travelers, soccer teams, and his band.

Look for the “Maiden England Tour,” with Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper, to come to Mansfield, Massachusetts on June 26; Toronto, Ontario on July 13; and with Iron Maiden and Coheed and Cambria to come to Mountain View, California on Aug. 3.

Dexter Holland
Like Dickinson, Dexter Holland is the lead singer of a rock band—The Offspring—and a pilot (he’s actually a flight instructor). However, Holland could have taken another career path, Molecular Biology. Holland was going for his Ph.D. in the subject when he decided to put down his microscope and pick up his microphone. He may not be “Dr. Holland” he does have a Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California.

Helen Reddy
Besides having three number one songs to her name—one of them being “I Am Woman”—Australian-born singer Helen Reddy served as the California’s Parks and Recreation Commissioner for several years in the early 2000s. After that, she returned to Australia and became a practicing hypnotherapist. Apparently, she’s trying to hypnotize patients into buying her records.

Jack Johnson
Surfing is not a lucrative career but your workplace is gorgeous and you never have to worry about a tan. Hawaiian born singer-songwriter Jack Johnson was a professional surfer… for a bit. When Jack was 17 he became the youngest invitee to ever make the finals at a famous surf competition in Oahu. Unfortunately, a week into “hanging ten” for a living, Johnson suffered a bad head injury and was forced to pick up the guitar.

Jeff Baxter
Jeff Baxter played guitar for Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers in the 1970s. Then, he did what most rockers do after retiring from music, he became a defense consultant for the U.S. military. His main area of expertise is missile defense systems (he’s completely self-taught). This is likely to keep you up at night: a dude who played on “Takin’ It to the Streets” has classified security clearance.

Neil Tennant
Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys is a real writer not a celebrity who “wrote” an autobiography or scribbled a screenplay. Before becoming a pop star, Tennant Anglicize Marvel comics for British readers and edited how-to books. In 1982, he went to work for a British teen pop magazine called Smash Hits. He started out as a news editor and a year later became assistant editor. Bottom line, Tennant is one of the few music journalists that are actually talented.

Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart once said there are only two things he knows how to do, sing and play football (soccer). In the early 1960s, Stewart was on a Third Division football club. For Americans that’s like playing baseball at the Double-A level. Stewart liked singing more than football and his slight build was not conducive for the pitch. Perhaps if he didn’t have rock and roll to fall back on, Stewart might have stuck it out and been on England’s winning 1966 World Cup team.

Sting
Like most musicians, Sting had a number of odd jobs before hitting it big. He was a construction worker, a tax collector and a bus driver. But he also went to University—as the Brits say—and became a teacher. The “Every Breath You Take” singer taught at St. Paul’s First School in Cramlington for a couple of years. Now we know where he got the idea for his song “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.”

Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby has actually blinded me with computer science. The British keyboardist formed his own company, Headspace, in 1993. They developed the “Rich Music Format” also known as the .RMF extension. The company was renamed Beatnik, Inc. and they now specialize in synthesizers for cellphones. Dolby also started a company that produces software related to the production of ringtones. In fact, a lot of ringtones you hear nowadays were actually created by Dolby.

Vanilla Ice
Drop that zero and get with the home improvement hero. Vanilla Ice’s reality show premiered in April of 2011 on the DIY Network. Yes, that’s right the DIY Network. Ice Ice Baby’s reality show is about renovating houses, and even more surprising, it’s been nominated for several awards. All that money V.I. earned in the 1990s was put to good use buying and flipping homes. He may no longer be a top emcee but he’s certainly a real estate mogul.

As Spring turns to Summer, more and more bands unveil tour plans. Among those that die-hard music lovers generally flock to see – Phish. The wildly popular jam band has announced even more 2012 dates, adding a second leg to their summer tour which kicks off on June 7 in Worcester, Massachusetts.

In addition to a stop at Bonnaroo and a three-night Atlantic City stand (technically, Phish plays Egg Harbor Township), the first leg of the itinerary also finds Phish in Cincinnati and other parts of the Midwest.

On June 24, Phish hits Cuyahoga Falls followed by June 28 and 29 in Noblesville where Phish plays the Klipsch Music Center.

Two Phish plays in East Troy preceed a July 3-4 double-header in Wantagh where Phish rocks Jones Beach. The first round ends on July 8 in Saratoga Springs with the next leg starting up on August 15 in Long Beach and running through September 2.

Indeed, Phish is known as a live band, a touring band, a really fun band. Their stage productions never fail to be inventive and entertaining. Whether incorporating trampolines or other props, Phish brings it. Every time. SPIN magazine anointed their last outing among the “25 must-see summer tours.” So, grab your Phish Tickets early and hit a show.

Here are some examples of what you might experience:

Phish’s Halloween shows are particular favorites. A number of times over the years, they have donned “musical costumes” and played entire works by other artists. In 1994, Phish offered The Beatles’ double White Album in its entirety with the exception of “Good Night.” That was rendered in its original recorded form as the set closer. The show is available as Live Phish Volume 13.

The following year, Phish performed Quadrophenia by The Who replete with a horn section. They tacked two special tunes onto the set list – a 40-minute rendition of “You Enjoy Myself” and a show-finishing “My Generation” after which they bashed their instruments in full homage to The Who. Live Phish Volume 14 captured all of the action.

The Talking Heads were chosen as the 1996 costume with Remain in Light the musical selection being documented as Live Phish Volume 15. After skipping 1997′s costume, Phish performed The Velvet Underground’s Loaded on the second night of a Las Vegas run for Halloween, 1998 and it was since released as Live Phish Volume 16.

At Phish’s 2009 Festival 8, eight different albums made the cut and became the names of the eight camp sites — Hunky Dory by David Bowie, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis, Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson, Oracular Spectacular by MGMT, Purple Rain by Prince, Kid A by Radiohead, and Exile on Main Street by the Rolling Stones. The last entry on the list proved to be the chosen Halloween costume.

For 2010, Phish went with Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus. Other Phish antics include the afore-mentioned trampolines, entering the stage on a flying hot dog (which has since been donated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and more.