EXCLUSIVE: Adam Lambert Previews Tour, Elaborates On Missing 'Idol' Finale

In an interview with “The Ralphie Radio Show”, Adam Lambert elaborated on his absence from the season finale of “American Idol”, shedding more light on why he didn’t appear or perform on the show with other “Idol” alums.

“I didn’t skip a rehearsal because I wasn’t invited to a rehearsal,” Lambert reiterated, posting a similar message on his Twitter account. The AOL blog Popeater claimed “Idol” producers scrapped Lambert at the last minute because of an alleged no show, which the singer is vehemently denying. “There was nothing to skip.”

While both Lambert and his camp have issued statements, “Idol” is silent, perhaps fueling any other speculation as to what happened. But the former runner-up believes there’s no need for the show to speak on the subject.

“It wasn’t a big deal, there was nothing to it,” Lambert dismissed. “They invited their winners to sing to Simon (Cowell) and then I think a last minute decision was made that the people that were in the audience, that were past contestants would join. So it was kind of like this last minute thing. That’s why I wasn’t there, because I didn’t know… it wasn’t a slight at all, it was a last minute decision and I was really busy rehearsing for my tour.”

Lambert confirmed that he was also sick; however it was tour preparation that kept him from the show.

The tour kicks off June 4 in Wilkes Barre, PA – and the singer says the start in Northeastern PA was semi-calculated.
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“It’s so green here, we love it!” he joked about the area. “We were here before, with the Idol’s tour, and the audience was great. We thought we could relax here for a couple days and put our finishing touches on the tour and get it ready.”

The high demand for tickets even surprised Lambert – Wilkes Barre’s show on Friday at the F.M. Kirby Center sold out in 10 minutes. More dates have been added – and the singer revealed that a third batch of dates will also be announced, extending the “Glam Nation” tour through September.

“It is very family friendly,” Lambert also clarified – as I’m sure he’ll be hampered by those questions for the immediate future after his controversial performance at last year’s American Music Awards. “It doesn’t go to the level that the AMA performance went to, if anyone’s worried about that… if you felt that that was un-tasteful (sic), this is tasteful.”

Lambert is still asked about the award show, and still stands by his performance, characterizing it as “pretty solid.” But even the pop star admits the experience turned in to a good lesson for him.

“I learned that people were like, ‘Okay, we’re not ready for that yet,’” he admitted. “But it was just me being sexy, doing what my favorite pop stars have done and then I got heat for it.”

The “Idol” star noted that people may have been taken aback as well because it was his first TV performance outside of the competition, where he never expressed himself as much. But regardless, Lambert put the performance, and its critics, behind him.

“That was almost a year ago. We’re moving forward. That was one performance, one song, and now we’re on to the next.”

VIDEO: Orianthi Performs Inside The Mall at Steamtown

97 BHT presented Geffen recording artist Orianthi inside The Mall at Steamtown on Wednesday, June 2 for an intimate, acoustic performance. Special thanks to IGA, Cinnabon and Starbucks Coffee.

EXCLUSIVE: Orianthi Explains RedOne Collab, Talks Axes With John Mayer

Australian guitarist Orianthi has jammed with the likes of many: Michael Jackson, Carrie Underwood, and even Alice Cooper last week on the finale of American Idol. But here’s a collaboration you may not have foreseen – producer RedOne.

“I guess it was just put together,” explained Ori of the partnership – which yielded the track “Addicted to Love.” The song is one of four bonus tracks that will appear on the re-release of Orianthi’s album, Believe (II). “Yunno it was really cool, and (we had) a lot of fun in the studio.”

If you’re unaware of RedOne, he’s a big time music maker who is behind a lot of Lady GaGa’s big hits (artists usually sing the producer’s name in the beginning of the song). Orianthi and GaGa are housed under the same label group – could that be a collab right around the corner?
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Believe (II) comes out this Tuesday.

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“That’d be really cool, hopefully,” responded Orianthi of the prospects of such a tandem. The singer/guitarist has yet to meet GaGa.

The Aussie made time for “The Ralphie Radio Show” before kicking off the “Glam Nation” tour, where she and former Idol finalist Allison Iraheta will support Adam Lambert. Ori is pumped about the tour, and apparently the show’s name gets her even more excited.

“The fact that it’s called ‘Glam Nation’ just gets me excited,” she said. “Just the whole like, glam and you know, I’m in to sparkles and extravagance and I’m just super excited about getting out there and rocking out.”

DAILY DOWNLOAD: Taio Cruz - 'Dynamite'

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Taio Cruz chatted about his second U.S. single from Rokstarr, "Dynamite", on "The Ralphie Radio Show." The party anthem was produced by Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco - and co-written by Max Martin. The three are pop music royality, producing and penning hits for everyone from Britney Spears to 'N Sync to Katy Perry.

EXCLUSIVE: Watch Out Ladies, Taio Cruz Will Spoil You With Candy

Sure he warns that he’ll break (break, b-break break) your heart on his hit single – but what Taio Cruz didn’t tell you is that he’ll spoil you first, with sweets galore.

“The only vice I have is sugar,” admitted Cruz, calling in to “The Ralphie Radio Show” from his hotel room in New York on the day his album Rokstarr was released in the states. “I just love things that are sweet… girls love me because I love chocolate, cake, sweets.”

Lure them in with candy, stomp their hearts into a bunch of itty-bitty pieces. Cruz created quite the formula there – however only the former happens in real life. The latter is only sung about on his chart-topping song “Break Your Heart” – however women seem to look past the potential heartbreak and on to the honesty of the record.

“I guess women kind of like a bad boy to an extent,” noted Cruz. “I’ve had loads of messages saying, ‘Will you please break my heart?’”
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Although I didn’t press about any personal heartbreak – I did bring up the troubles his song brought to Train, who couldn’t find the top of the iTunes chart with “Hey, Soul Sister” for weeks because of Taio’s debut in the states.

“(Laughing) Wow, that’s cool, that’s the first I’m hearing about that,” responded Cruz when I informed him of Train’s Twitter plea to the singer to relent the top spot on iTunes, if even for a minute. “I mean, I guess their call was answered somehow.”

The two may find themselves in a battle again soon – Train is headed back to radio with “If It’s Love” while Cruz follows up his first single with “Dynamite” and the Ke$ha-assisted “Dirty Picture.”