John Seabrook's New Yorker profile[1] of Dr. Luke, the producer behind hit songs from Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Britney Spears and many other Top-40 staples, may have come under fire for its controversial first sentence[2] -- "Unlike Dr. Dre, that other faux-medical badass beatmaker, Dr. Luke is a white guy" -- but the piece offers far more intrigue than those 15 words. Like this anecdote, which Complex.com first pointed out[3] , about Miley Cyrus, "Wrecking Ball" and a "$10,000 toilet."


Seabrook notes that while Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, is able to churn out hit songs at a pace that far surpasses even The Beatles (according to the New Yorker piece[4] , Dr. Luke had "as many No. 1s in 2010 as the Beatles had in any single year"), his radar isn't always perfect.


"With 'Wrecking Ball,' for example, Gottwald wasn't sure it was a smash, and he wagered against it, telling Cyrus that he would buy her a Numi toilet like his, the ultimate in potty technology (it has a Bluetooth receiver that can stream music from a smartphone), if he was wrong," wrote Seabrook in the piece (the full article is not online)[5] .


Dr. Luke, of course, was wrong -- "Wrecking Ball" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September[6] , the first time a Cyrus track earned that honor -- meaning he now owes Cyrus the prestige piece of plumbing.


"I'll be thinking of him every time I go," Cyrus told The New Yorker[7] .


Presuming Dr. Luke hasn't yet made good on his debt, Amazon might be a smart place to start. The site lists the Numi toilet cost at $6,653.30, but is offering a 25-percent discount from that price at the moment. (As of this posting, however, there were only three left in stock[8] .)


The Dr. Luke profile is one of those must-read affairs that everyone who enjoys pop music should seek out. In addition to the Cyrus toilet bet, Dr. Luke also discusses his current work relationship with Ke$ha ("I haven't heard from her in a while"), his past as a guitarist for the "Saturday Night Live" house band, and the origin of his name. "It is not true, as legend has it, that the name derives from his mixing of Adderall and Ritalin with coke and MDMA to create the perfect studio cocktail that keeps you working through the night," wrote Seabrook. Noted.


The article abstract can be found here at the New Yorker website[9] . The full piece is available on newsstands now. A great breakdown of the piece, with many other highlights, can be found over at Complex.com[10] .


[via Complex.com[11] ]



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  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Hayden Panettiere showed off her huge diamond engagement ring as she returned to the Trump Soho Hotel on October 9 in New York City.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Kris Jenner flashed a big smile as she left an office building in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 9, the day after announcing her separation from husband Bruce Jenner.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson posed at the European premiere of "Captain Phillips" on the opening night of the 57th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9 in London.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    A sparkling Kate Hudson shined in a disco ball broken glass dress for a photo shoot in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 8.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Miley Cyrus signed copies of her CD "Bangerz" at Planet Hollywood in New York City Oct. 8.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Lea Michele met Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison of "Glee" for lunch at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 8.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Jessica Alba was seen outside Breakfast Television and the CBC building, promoting her 'The Honest Company' baby products in Toronto on Oct. 8.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Jude Law signed autographs for fans outside the BBC Radio One studios on Oct. 8 in London.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Abbie Cornish attended the MIPCOM party during MIPCOM 2013 in Cannes, France on Oct. 7.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Stacy Keibler hit the road on the Can-Am Spyder, celebrating with an early birthday ride in the open air in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 7.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Khloe Kardashian and Rapper The Game arrived at Tru Night Club in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 7.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Zooey Deschanel filmed a scene on the beach for her hit show "The New Girl" in Malibu, Calif., on Oct. 7.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Hilary Swank and her boyfriend Laurent Fleury were seen holding hands after a tennis practice in a local park by the Hudson River in Downtown, Manhattan on Oct. 7.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Jackie Chan and Nicole Kidman attended the opening ceremony of the 10th Huading Awards on Oct. 7 in Macao, China.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Miley Cyrus performs live on NBC's "Today" show in Rockefeller Center on October 7, 2013 in New York City




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Selena Gomez stopped to get some gas before heading to a dance studio in Tarzana, Calif., on Oct. 6.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Keith Urban announced the world premiere of The URBAN Guitar Collection -- debuting live on HSN Nov. 3 -- on Oct. 4 in Tampa, Fla.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Katherine Heigl and husband Josh Kelley looked smitten after lunch at Bubby's restaurant in TriBeCa, NYC, on Oct. 4.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf filmed their new movie 'Fury' in Oxfordshire, England on October 4.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Kim Kardashian posted a photo on Oct. 4 of her daughter, North, who is almost four months old.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Newly engaged Naya Rivera attended the Latina Magazine 'Hollywood Hot List' party at The Redbury Hotel in Hollywood on Oct. 3.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Controversial celebrity photographer Terry Richardson released a series of risque photos of Miley Cyrus on Oct. 3. In them, Cyrus is seen licking a mirror, smoking, and stripping.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Penelope Cruz stunned at a special screening of "The Counselor" at Odeon West End in London on October 3, just two and a half months after welcoming baby girl Luna.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Christina Milian looked beautiful as she stepped out for dinner in West Hollywood, Oct. 3.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Julianne Moore was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Oct. 3 in Los Angeles.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Newlywed Chrissy Teigen, wearing knee-high brown leather boots with a grey top and blue denim hot pants, hailed a taxi in NYC on Oct. 3.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Gwyneth Paltrow filmed a Hugo Boss commercial in downtown Los Angeles on October 3.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Amanda Seyfried and her denim cutoff shorts took Finn for a walk in New York City on October 3.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Cate Blanchett was peach perfection at the New York Film Festival Gala Tribute held in her honor Oct. 2 in New York.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Kerry Washington looked fierce as she headed in for 'The Late Show with David Letterman' taping in New York City, Oct. 2.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Bethenny Frankel did some paddle boarding in the Hudson River in New York City on Oct. 2.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    A bespectacled Katy Perry was seen leaving Colette's store on October 2, in Paris, France.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Khloe Kardashian was spotted filming "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" outside Katsuya Restaurant on October 2, in Encino, Calif.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Jennifer Hudson made her way to a taping 'Good Morning America' in Times Square, NYC, Oct. 2. She looked incredible in a tight red dress and black peeptoe booties.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Julianne Hough spotted chatting on her phone while out and about in New York City, October 1.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts spotted on the set of 'While We're Young' in New York City, October 1.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    A newly blonde Ashley Greene attended the screening Of Xlrator Media's 'CBGB' at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles, Oct. 1.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Ashlee Simpson was seen leaving Vignette Lounge in Hollywood on Oct 1.




  • Celebrity Photos: October 2013


    Sarah Michelle Geller posed outside 'Late Show With David Letterman' in New York City, October 1.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Kimye stepped out for dinner in Paris Sept. 30, and Kim stunned in a tight leather skirt paired with a casual white top.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis arrived on a flight at LAX airport in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Liam Hemsworth was seen out and about in New York City on Sept. 28.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Reportedly pregnant Gwen Stefani stepped out in Studio City, California September 27 after dropping off her son Zuma at school .




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham arrive in London September 27, debunking all speculation that they have broken up.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Rihanna wore all black as she touched down in Adelaide, Australia on Sept. 26.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Rooney Mara carried her little black dog as she made her way out of LAX in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 26.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Gerard Butler grabbed his bag and made a hurried entrance into LAX Airport in Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 25.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Paula Patton and Robin Thicke attend the "Baggage Claim" premiere held at the Regal Cinemas in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 25.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    New parents Fergie and Josh Duhamel stepped out for dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif.,, on Sept. 25.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Sandra Bullock's hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre celebrating the release of her new film "Gravity" in Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 25.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Chris Pine and Anna Kendrick filmed "Into The Woods" at an English Castle on Sept. 25.