Rolling Stone's Top 10 Passive-Aggresive Moments in Rock [April 2, 2009]

Entertainment: Music Rolling Stone

*** Trent Reznor's April Fool's prank yesterday was essentially just another swipe at Chris Cornell, whose new album Scream is clearly not a NIN favorite. The hoax was amusing, but a pretty indirect way of getting his message across (why not just call up Cornell and read him your album review, Trent?). It also made us think back to some of rock's other moments of passive-aggressive behavior. *** Here's a top 10: *** Billy Corgan's 'Drummer Wanted' Ad: No personal statement about the departure of longtime collaborator Jimmy Chamberlin — just a note distributed by Smashing Pumpkins' publicist announcing an open call for drummers. *** Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me a River' Video: Rather than reveal how Britney broke his heart the traditional way, JT cast a Spears lookalike in the clip for his cheating song. 'You don't have to say what you did …' — now you don't! *** Trent Reznor's First Scream Slam: The Nine Inch Nails leader let Chris Cornell — and the rest of the Internet-using world — know how much he despises the Timbaland-produced album by Twittering, 'You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly YOU feel uncomfortable? Heard Chris Cornell's record? Jesus.' *** Van Halen Erase Michael Anthony From History: After announcing their reunion tour in August 2007, Van Halen appeared to have airbrushed original bassist Michael Anthony from the album covers posted on their Website, replacing him with Wolfgang Van Halen, who was born 13 years after their self-titled debut. *** The Pixies Break-Up Fax: Frank Black dissolved his iconic band in the summer of 1992 the most impersonal way possible (pre-email, that is) — a written note. 'I just wrote a fax and sent it and just skipped out without so much as an explanation, as I recall,' he has said. 'I didn't want to have a band meeting and discuss it.' *** Destiny's Child Drop Two Members Via Video: D-Child fans discovered Letoya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson were no longer members of Beyoncé's group when they saw two new singers in the video for 'Say My Name.' Interestingly enough, that's how Luckett and Roberson got the news, too. *** Guns n' Roses Ask 'Where's Izzy?': Stradlin didn't make it to the band's 1991 shoot for the 'Don't Cry' video, so keyboardist Dizzy Reed helpfully donned a T-shirt bearing the question, 'Where's Izzy?' *** 50 Cent Puts the Game in a Thong: At the height of their 2006 beef, the Game showed off photos of G-Unit dressed like the Village People. 50 retaliated by releasing a mixtape fronted by a Photoshopped image of Game in a g-string. *** Courtney Love Blasts Billy Corgan on Myspace: Before Twitter, MySpace was Courtney Love's favorite forum, and she took to it in July 2008 to send the Smashing Pumpkins leader a note about missing daughter Frances Bean's birthday bash: 'My child sobbing, due to you, is unacceptable.' *** Prince Fends Off Fans … in Song: When Prince fans rabble-roused about the star's clampdown on unauthorized use of his songs and images online, the Purple One responded by registering the domain Princefamsunited.com (he's since pulled it down) and posting a seven-minute fan-dissing funk jam called 'PFUnk.' Missing: * LaTavia Roberson * Letoya Luckett