In more Ping news, Fred Wilson, principal at Union Square Ventures, opines on his blog “A VC: Musings of a VC in NYC” about Apple’s new social network. “In summary, Ping is not very social and it is not really about music,” he writes. “It is about music purchases and celebrities.”

In this multi-part series, record producer Michael Beinhorn blogs about the making of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ seminal 1987 album “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.” The pain, drugs and amazing music, despite record industry obstacles. In this post, the band crashed an A&R meeting and dances naked!

Buzz is high on Dr. Dre’s new album “Detox” which is due out by the end of this year. Two tracks have already “leaked” online. The super producer says, while he has written music in tribute to his late son Andre Young Jr., who died of a drug overdose in 2008, he won’t include it on “Detox.”

Well, Ping isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, yet. There are Facebook/Apple problems (you can’t import friends). And, as far as music goes, it’s elitist. Hypebot reports that artist profiles are “invitation only,” which is a smack in the face to DYI and indie artists.

Looks like Google will have its music operations open just in time for the Christmas holiday. Google Music is expected to be a formidable competitor to iTunes with its cloud based download store.

Greenpeace says Facebook is polluting the environment with coal thanks to its new large data center in Prineville, Oregon. Facebook says the facility is being built with “energy efficiency” in mind, even though it gets 58% of its power from coal instead of the national average of 50%. Greenpeace launched a campaign on Facebook called “Unfriend coal.” The Comet says, “Go green!”

Will wonders never cease? Kanye took to Twitter to apologize to Taylor Swift again for his shocking mic grab an insults at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards. He also proclaims to be getting his ego in check and tweets about about his song for Taylor.

Music exec Jonathan McHugh grooves in the summer moonlight to New Orleans’ Night Tripper Dr. John during the Twilight Concert series at the Santa Monica Pier.

It’s official. Kara DioGuardi is no longer part of the “American Idol” franchise. Fox finally issued a statement confirming what many have been expecting—that the songwriter will not return as a judge next season.

Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren have teamed up for a musical tribute to Germany’s Love Parade victims. The DJs will release a song together titled “Remember Love” to raise money for the families of those who tragically died during the stampede.

Good news to gamers who want to rock out to “Sensual Seduction.” Snoop Dogg has become the first solo rap artist to be featured in Rock Band. The video game will feature eight tracks from the hip-hop star, including “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Ridin’ In My Chevy.” We dig!

Partner site LessThan3 – a group of electronic dance music enthusiasts – lend their insight into all of the bleeps, bloops and trumpet toots that make up Dutch house music. In this “Dirty Dutch” dance music revolution, there seems to be one DJ/producer leading the way, and that man is Afrojack. Also check out LessThan3’s super cool site redesign!

First the Sex Pistols get their own perfume and now the Rolling Stones have their own branded version of Monopoly. It’s all so, how should we say it, rock and roll?

The alternative rockers ended their 2008 tour, after playing 354 shows in support of their 2008 self-titled debut, at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The Comet was lucky enough to be there to witness the seminal show which featured the Calder Quartet, and paid tribute to their East L.A. origins with a local girls choir, high school marching band and mariachis. The event was filmed for a DVD which premiered last night. Check out the film’s trailer:

Have you ever dreamed about coming to work dressed as Freddie Mercury? Well, today is your lucky day! The Mercury Phoenix Trust, which raises funds to fight HIV AIDS, will celebrate the star’s life with a fundraising event, Freddie for a Day, Sept. 3.

Rocker Phil Varone Suggests an Anti-Movie Revolution in his blog “A Captive Audience.” Don’t you dare go to a movie or use Netflix this Labor Day Weekend! Phil will find you!

Katy Perry, whose “Teenage Dream” record topped the albums chart this week, also lands at No. 1 on the Ultimate chart with second single of the same name. Meanwhile, Taio Cruz moves down to No. 2 with “Dynamite” and Eminem hangs on to No. 3 with “Love the Way You Lie.”

Two organizations, operated by Phish fans, have raised and distributed a combined $1 million for charity—the Mockingbird Foundation, which supports music education for children, and the Mimi Fishman Foundation, benefiting various vision-related, women, children and animal charities.