Placebo - new music on the way

Good news for Placebo fans - new material is on the way!  In a posting on their official website, Placebo revealed they're "in a good creative place these days and ideas are flowing." The band is expected to release something new before the end of the year, with a full new album to be released around this time next year.   

Placebo also announced they've partnered with Mercedes-Benz for a series of live intimate gigs to coincide with the launch of the new A class car.  The band will play five FREE live intimate shows (in Paris, Rome, Zurich, Hamburg, and Madrid) and tickets will be distributed to fans through online contesting.  

Read the full update from Placebo here.

"Bruise Pristine"

"Bigmouth Strikes Again" (Smiths' cover)

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Ash - 20th Anniversary + limited edition EP

Ash are gearing up to celebrate their 20th birthday and they've announced a couple of special things to coincide with their Big Day.  The band will release a new limited edition EP on 12'' vinyl and as a digital download on their birthday, June 16th.  Ash will announce full details regarding the release next week.  

Ash have also announced a birthday gig in Belfast at the Belfast Oh Yeah Music Center (venue was named after them!) on June 15th, and tickets for the show go on sale tomorrow.  Ash has previously announced other U.K. dates and some festival appearances.  Check out their full tour itinerary here.

"Jack Names The Planets" (live in Stockholm, 2007)

"Girl From Mars"

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Primavera Sound Festival - Webcast

The Primavera Sound Festival kicks off today in Barcelona, Spain.  The three day festival features sets from The Cure, Afghan Whigs, Mazzy Star, The Chameleons, Archers of Loaf, Spiritualized, and more.  There WILL be a live webcast that kicks off later today, and many of the sets will be webcast on the official YouTube channel here.  According to the channel, the webcast kicks off around 11 am Eastern Time (4 pm GMT), but the Primavera website lists the webcast kicking off at noon ET/5pm GMT.

Click here to view the current schedule of set times and keep in mind that the schedule may get changed.  Because the linked webpage lists the set times as GMT + 1, NOT in ET, I converted the set times to Eastern Time below:

May 31:

1:30 pm: Archers Of Loaf

2:40 pm: Afghan Whigs

3:50 pm: Mazzy Star

5:00 pm: Wilco

7:30 pm: Refused

9:15 pm: Spiritualized

June 1:

12:50pm: Chameleons

1:50 pm:  Rufus Wainwright

3:00 pm:  Afrocubism

4:10 pm: The Cure

6:50 pm: The Drums

8:00 pm: The Rapture

9:00 pm: Death In Vegas

June 2:

12:10pm: Sharon Van Etten

1:00 pm: Veronica Falls

5:00 pm: Saint Etienne

7:30 pm: Wild Beasts

9:10 pm: Neon Indian

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Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Blue Stahli remix)

Blue Stahli has remixed the classic Beastie Boys track "Sabotage" and is offering it up as a free download.  A collection of other tracks from Blue Stahli are available to download for free here.  To catch up with Blue Stahli, head over to Facebook or Twitter.

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Martin Atkins - Band Smart

Martin Atkins is about to release another book about the music industry called Band:Smart, and has set up a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the project.  Atkins has lined up over 100 music industry insiders and offers up plenty of advice on what (and what not) to do to succeed in the biz.  Find out more about Band:Smart on Kickstarter here.  

Atkins has written two other books on the music industry - Welcome To The Music Business...you're FUCKED! (grab a free download here) and Tour:Smart.  For those unfamiliar with Atkins, he was previously in Public Image Limited, Killing Joke, and Ministry (as well as other WaxTrax/Ministry related side projects) so it's fair to say he knows quite a bit about the music biz!

Atkins is throwing a free party on Monday, June 4th at the Double Door in Chicago to celebrate Band:Smart.  All donations from the party (there's an Invisible Records auction and Bleeding Heart Bakery will be selling goodies) will go to help fund the book.  Details on the June 4th event are available here.

Watch the trailer for Band:Smart below, donate to the Kickstarter campaign here, and catch up with Atkins here.

Killing Joke "Money Is Not Our God"

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English Beat - Reissues + The Complete Beat

The English Beat are re-releasing their entire catalog with extra material this summer in the U.K. and in North America.  The band's three classic albums I Just Can't Stop It, Wha'ppen, and Special Beat Service will each be re-released as 2 CD/1DVD sets in the U.K. on June 25th.  Each deluxe version comes along with bonus material such as 12'' mixes, live radio sessions, music videos, live performances and more. Click the links to view tracklistings and pre-order through Amazon UK: I Just Can't Stop It, Wha'ppen, Special Beat Service.

Meanwhile, fans in the U.S. can look forward to the band's five disc collection The Complete Beat (pictured above), which features all three studio albums, non-album bonus tracks, and two full cds with 12'' mixes, live tracks, and more (pretty much everything on the UK deluxe releases except for the DVD portion).  U.S. fans who would rather just own the band's biggest hits without all the extra material can opt for the single disc greatest hits collection, Keep The Beat.  The Complete Beat and Keep The Beat will be released on July 10th.  Click the links to pre-order through Amazon: The Complete Beat, Keep The Beat.

Fans interested in The Complete Beat can also order the collection through Shout Factory and receive a signed booklet and The English Beat: Live at the US Festival '82 & '83 on CD/DVD while supplies last. 

Don't miss The English Beat on the road this summer.  The tour includes a Detroit-area date June 22nd at Soundboard/Motor City Casino.

"Mirror In The Bathroom"

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Crocodiles - Endless Flowers

Crocodiles return with their new album Endless Flowers on June 5th. Take a listen to a full stream of the album on Rolling Stone. Don't miss Crocodiles on their upcoming tour. The Detroit area show is June 24th at the Magic Bag in Ferndale.

"Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)"

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The Machine Room - Smalltown Boy

The Machine Room have covered the classic Bronski Beat song, "Smalltown Boy."  Take a listen to the cover below.

If you haven't checked out The Machine Room's awesome four song ep, Love From A Distance, remedy that immediately and catch up with the band here.

"Your Head On The Floor Next Door"

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Noel Gallagher - Happy Birthday!

It's Noel Gallagher's birthday today. Watch some video of the Chief in action - like a fine wine, Noel has gotten even better with age!

The best version of "Don't Look Back In Anger" ever (fyi, if you click the red bubble, the graphics disappear):

"Wonderwall" and "Whatever" live, 2010

Live from Amsterdam, 2011

Collection of footage from the infamous Oasis MTV Unplugged episode (Liam too "sick" to perform)

Excellent Noel Gallagher interview, part I

Excellent Noel Gallagher interview, part II

Oasis, Live at Wembley, 2008

"Tomorrow Never Knows" (Noel, Gem, and Johnny Marr)

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Jeff Buckley, R.I.P.

Jeff Buckley died on this day in 1997 in Memphis.  Watch the BBC documentary on Buckley, Everybody Here Wants You, as well as another film on the making of Buckley's classic album Grace below:

Everybody Here Wants You

The Making Of Grace

"Last Goodbye"

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Soundgarden - Sonisphere 2012

Soundgarden played their first European show in years last Friday at the Sonisphere Festival in Madrid. Watch some video from the band's set below. Soundgarden continues on the European Festival circuit tomorrow with a show in Paris. The band's full tour itinerary is posted here.

"Searching With My Good Eye Closed" (show opener)

"Rusty Cage"

"Spoonman"

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The Cure - Pinkpop 2012

More great video of The Cure has emerged from Saturday's show at the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands, including an interview with Robert Smith.  Enjoy the video below and watch more video from the show here.

Interview with Robert Smith:

Live video - the follow videos are from the webcast & televised broadcast. It appears that some songs from the live set were edited out of the telecast, so I've posted video from both the webcast and broadcast below (note the tracklistings):

Friday I'm In Love/Doing The Unstuck/Trust/Want/Wrong Number/One Hundred Days/Disintegration/Lovecats/Close To Me

Lullaby/Friday I'm In Love/Doing The Unstuck/Want/Wrong Number/Close To Me/Sleep When I'm Dead/Why Can't I Be You

Lovecats/Close To Me/Let's Go To Bed/Sleep When I'm Dead

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Morrissey - Live in California

Watch some video from a couple of recent stops on Morrissey's tour

"Panic" (May 26th show in Stockton, California)

"How Soon Is Now?" (May 26th show in Stockton)

"Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me/Everyday Is Like Sunday" (May 27th show in San Diego, California)

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Happy Birthday, Siouxsie Sioux!

It's Siouxsie Sioux's birthday today!  Celebrate with her today with some video from her career.

Here's a link to a full concert recorded in 1983 Royal Albert Hall in London (featuring Robert Smith), and here's bootleg audio of Siouxsie's first concert recorded at the 100 Club in 1976.

"Hong Kong Garden"

"Switch" (television appearance, 1979)

Live in Milan, 1982

"Dazzle"

"This Wheel's On Fire"

"Fury Eyes" (The Creatures, Club MTV, 1990)

The Creatures interview, 1998

Short interview from Q Awards, 2011

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The Cure - Pinkpop 2012

The Cure kicked off their summer festival tour with a headline gig at the Pinkpop festival in the Netherlands.  The band ripped through a 29 song set and debuted their new guitarist Reeves Gabrels, who will be on the road with the band this summer.  Read a (translated) review of the show and watch some video from the show below.

"Push"

"Bananafishbones"

"Lovecats"

"Want"

"Friday I'm In Love" (from television broadcast--starts at ~ :40 in)

"A Forest"

"In Between Days"

"The Walk"

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Happy Birthday, Wayne Hussey

Happy Birthday to Wayne Hussey! Hussey was in Sisters of Mercy for a brief period, then went on to form The Mission U.K. Celebrate Hussey's birthday with some video of the man in action:

"Deliverance"

"Tower Of Strength" (live, 1995)

"Never Let Me Down Again" (Depeche Mode cover, 2002)

"Wasteland" (live, 2005)

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Happy Birthday, Paul Weller

Happy Birthday, to Paul Weller!

The legendary Weller, aka The Modfather, formed The Jam in 1976, abruptly ended the band (while still at the top of their game) in 1982, and went on to form another great band, the groove/soul-vibey project, The Style Council. In 1992 he launched his proper solo career with the release of his debut solo album Paul Weller, and he's still at it--he just released a new album, Sonik Kicks.

Weller is a true music visionary--he's enjoyed quite an amazing career and was honored with NME's Godlike Genius Award in 2010. Watch some video from Weller's remarkable career:

The Jam - Reading Festival, 1978

The Jam- "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight"

The Jam - Live in Paris, 1981

Style Council "My Ever Changing Moods" (from children's tv program)

Paul Weller - Live BBC Session, 2008

Paul Weller - Godlike Genius 2010 (intro by Jarvis Cocker, Mick Jones, Bobby Gillespie + live performance)

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A Place To Bury Strangers - You Are The One + live video

A Place To Bury Strangers are set to drop their new album Worship next month.  Yesterday they premiered the video for their song, "You Are The One" (via Spin)

Warning: the video is NSFW (nudity, violence)

Download the single "You Are The One" and watch a recent interview with A Place To Bury Strangers here. The full album, Worship, drops June 26th and you can pre-order at Amazon U.S. or Amazon U.K.

Watch some fan shot footage of their May 13th show at the Cockpit in Leeds and here's a review of the show which included an uber rock n' roll amp/guitar smashing moment (video of that below!)

WARNING - the video below contains amp/guitar smashing!

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Morrissey - Live in Tuscon

Morrissey played a show in Tuscon last night - before he launched into "People Are The Same Everywhere" he told the crowd "I no longer see the point of having a president." Watch video of his comments below (note guitar player Boz Boorer is rocking a green dress.)

Morrissey intros "People Are The Same Everywhere"

Take a look at video of Morrissey talking about watching Wendy Williams and Fox News before playing "People Are The Same Everywhere" at his show in Hawaii on Sunday.

"Shoplifters Of The World" (Tuscon, 5/23)

By the way, if you're a Smiths fan and you live in or near the London area, be sure to check out the new photo exhibit Manchester: So Much To Answer For when it opens next month. Win tickets to the exclusive launch party (featuring a guest DJ set by Smiths' drummer Mike Royce) details here.

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Noel Gallagher - Live in Japan

Noel Gallagher played a show in Japan earlier today at the Aichi Arts Center in Nagoya. Watch his performance of "Whatever" from the show:

"Whatever"

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The Smiths' photo exhibit - Manchester: So Much To Answer For

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the formation of The Smiths, a photo exhibition Manchester: So Much To Answer For opens next month at Proud Camden in London.  The exhibit opens June 1st, runs through July 15th, and features an impressive collection of photographs of The Smiths and the city of Manchester taken by Kevin Cummins.  Cummins is a renowned photographer who spent 10 years as chief photographer at NME, and over the years has shot many exceptional bands--Joy Division, The Clash, The Stone Roses, and of course, The Smiths.  

Cummins spent a lot of time with the Smiths during their career--he took their publicity stills, traveled the world with the band, and filmed many of their live gigs.  Manchester: So Much To Answer For not only documents the Smiths and their exceptional career, but also features photos of Manchester - depicting the city's rise, fall, and aftermath. The exhibit is without question a MUST-see for Smiths' fans, and it's free! 

The exhibit opens June 1st, but an exclusive launch party for Manchester: So Much To Answer For takes place the evening of May 31st.  The launch event kicks off at 6pm with a private viewing of the exhibit, then directly afterwards the party continues with live music all night, including a guest DJ set by Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce (he'll DJ from 9:35 - 11:35).  And you can WIN tickets to this awesome launch party!  Here's how:

To win tickets to the party send me a tweet that reads "Manchester So Much To Answer For" or send an email to hangthedjmag (at) gmail.com to enter.  The winners will be chosen on May 30th and will be contacted via Twitter or email. 

Details on Manchester: So Much To Answer For:

Location:

Proud Camden

The Horse Hospital

Stables Market

Chalk Farm Road

London NW1 8AH

Dates: June 1 - July 15th

Times: 11 am - 5pm (Mon - Sun)

Entry: Free

Visit the official Proud Camden website for more info on the exhibit and launch party.  Visit Kevin Cummins' official site to view his portfolio. Some other photos from the collection have been posted here.

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Ultravox - Brilliant radio interview

Ultravox are preparing to release their new album Brilliant, which drops May 28th.  On Monday, Midge Ure appeared on BBC Radio 2 with Simon Mayo to discuss the new album, what's been going on with Ultravox, and even offers up a few cooking tips (he appeared on Celebrity Master Chef a few years ago.)  Take a listen to the interview below and pre-order Brilliant from Ultravox here.

Part 1 (banter begins at :50, actual interview starts ~ 3:45)

Part 2

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The Stone Roses - Live at Warrington Parr Hall

The Stone Roses shocked and delighted fans today by announcing an impromptu FREE gig at the 1100 capacity Parr Hall in Warrington, England.  The band announced the show via Twitter, Facebook, and their official site a few hours before the show and fans were instructed where to go and what to bring in order to receive a wristband for the concert. 

The Stone Roses kicked off their hour-long set with "I Wanna Be Adored," and ended with "Love Spreads."  Stunningly, they didn't dust off "I Am The Resurrection," and there was no encore.  Liam Gallagher was in attendance and was clearly impressed by the show.  He sent out the following two tweets while at the show: "Stone Roses are back" and "speechless."

Read NME's review of the show here and view some pictures from the gig here. The setlist is posted below:

01.  I Wanna Be Adored

02.  Mersey Paradise

03.  Sally Cinnamon

04.  Made Of Stone

05.  (Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister

06.  Where Angels Play

07.  Shoot You Down

08.  Tightrope

09.  Waterfall

10.  She Bangs The Drums

11.  Love Spreads

I'll update with video as it becomes available.  So far, only a short clips of a few songs, and some fan interview video have been posted online:

"I Wanna Be Adored"

"Made Of Stone"

"Waterfall"

Audio taped at band's soundcheck:

Interviews with fans waiting for tickets

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Happy Birthday, Philip Selway

Happy Birthday to Philip Selway, best known as Radiohead's drummer.   Selway is also busy with other projects--he released a solo album, Familial, in 2010 and over the years has spent a good deal of time helping out the suicide prevention group Samaritans.  Celebrate Selway's Big Day with some video:

Full Radiohead concert from 2001 on Later...with Jools Holland

Another Radiohead performance filmed for Jools Holland in 1995

Earlier this week, 8-bit versions of two Radiohead albums - OK Computer and Kid A - surfaced.  So far no official comment from the band about the 8-bit versions (they were created by a Radiohead fan), but considering Thom Yorke is rocking an Atari shirt in the Jools Holland/2001 concert posted above, it's highly likely he and the band will love these

OK Computer (8 bit)

Kid A (8-bit)

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Garbage - Live In New York City

If you missed the live webcast of Garbage's Webster Hall show in Manhattan yesterday, you can watch the full concert below.  The show was nearly two hours long and included some great live commentary from Shirley Manson - she introduced the band (something Garbage rarely does) and there was also a heartfelt tribute to the late Gary Kurfirst, who was instrumental in the launch of the band's career. 

Watch the awesomeness below via MTV's The Hive:

Garbage

,

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Gary Numan - Live in Leicester

Watch some fan shot video from Gary Numan's Music Machine tour kickoff gig in Leicester last night:

"Cars"

"Bombers"

Numan recently performed a short session at a secret World War II air raid shelter in East London. Watch the professionally shot AllSaints Basement Session here.

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Afghan Whigs - Jimmy Fallon

Afghan Whigs performed "See And Don't See" on Jimmy Fallon last night, then played their classic "I'm Her Slave" as a web-exclusive.  Watch the web-exclusive performance below.

Afghan Whigs play their first show in 13 years tonight at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, then head overseas to play festival gigs, including stops at Pinkpop, I'll Be Your Mirror, Vox, and more.  Check out the band's full tour itinerary here.

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Liam + Noel: Texting BFFs?

According to a report in The Daily Express, the Brothers Gallagher (Liam and Noel) are once again in contact, and lawyers aren't even involved!  Both Liam and Noel were giddy as schoolgirls after their favorite football team Manchester City won the English Premier League title two weeks ago.  Their exuberance led to the breaking of the proverbial ice with a round of text messages:

“They were both over the moon when City won and messages were exchanged,” says a mutual pal. “It took something like that to break the ice and they’ve also been in touch since by text.”

I'm not sure it's accurate to say they're actually "talking" but hey, texting is at least a start. Read the full report here.

"Rock & Roll Star"

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Stone Roses - New music on the way!

A new report in the Guardian claims the Stone Roses have been working on some new material recently.  The source of the info is Chris Coghill, who has been working on a film about the band's legendary 1990 Spike Island gig.  Coghill, who played Bez from Happy Mondays in 24 Hour Party People, claims the Stone Roses have "at least three or four" new tracks recorded. 

The news shouldn't be all that surprising - during the band's press conference last October they announced they'd be releasing new material, plus in December they inked a deal with two record labels (Universal and Columbia.)  No word on when we'll hear these alleged new recordings, though perhaps they'll throw something new into their live set when their reunion tour kicks off next month.

Read the full report in the Guardian.

The Stone Roses  "Sally Cinnamon"

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Gary Numan - AllSaints Basement session

Gary Numan recently taped a live performance at a secret World War II air raid shelter in East London.  Watch the supercool AllSaints Basement Session below.  

Numan's tour kicked off tonight in Leicester and heads to Glasgow tomorrow.  The full tour itinerary is posted here.

"Are Friends Electric"

"The Fall"

"Dead Son Rising"

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Morrissey - Birthday Boy

Morrissey is turning 53 years old today!  Celebrate with some video below - kick off the festivities with the hour long documentary The Importance Of Being Morrissey.  Below that you can watch The Smiths -  Live At The Hacienda (filmed in 1983), Still Ill/Interviews, and a couple of full live concerts filmed over the past year (his recent show in Chile and last year's Glastonbury performance).  I also posted audio of his appearance on the BBC's Desert Island Discs program recorded in 2009.

The Importance Of Being Morrissey

The Smiths - Live At The Hacienda

The Smiths - Still Ill Interviews

Morrissey - Later with Jools Holland, 2004

Morrissey - Live at Glastonbury, 2011

Morrissey - Live in Chile, 2012

Morrissey - Desert Island Discs

"It's Not Your Birthday Anymore"

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A Place To Bury Strangers - Worship

A Place To Bury Strangers will return with their new cd Worship on June 26th.  You can pre-order the album in North America here and in the U.K. here.  The 11 track album features the new song, "You Are The One" which you can listen to below and download here.

The band were recently interviewed while in Barcelona. Watch the video interview below:

Don't miss A Place To Bury Strangers on tour. Dates are posted here.

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World Goth Day

It's World Goth Day!  Enjoy some songs/videos below.  It might also be a good time to purchase tickets for the Gothic Cruise in September.

Alien Sex Fiend "Dead & Buried"

Bauhaus "Third Uncle"

Sisters Of Mercy "This Corrosion"

Siouxsie & the Banshees "Spellbound"

The Cure "Pornography"

Christian Death "Sick Of Love"

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Sleigh The U.K. - Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself + Jesus Jones

The Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself, and Jesus Jones will be hitting the road together for a short run of the U.K. in December. In a press release all three bands exchanged glowing words for each other, revealing that they're still good friends after 20 years and are excited to play these shows together.  

All three bands are still active - earlier this year Pop Will Eat Itself released a new album titled New Noise For A Sadist, Jesus Jones are releasing a new compilation in July, and The Wonder Stuff released a cover of "Save It For Later" for Record Store Day and will return with their new album Oh No...It's The Wonder Stuff in November.

Dates for the Sleigh The UK tour are listed below and tickets are available here.

12/19 - O2 Academy Shepard's Bush Academy

12/20 - O2 Academy Liverpool

12/21 - O2 Academy Leeds

12/22 - O2 Academy Birmingham

The Wonder Stuff "Save It For Later"

The Wonder Stuff "Don't Let Me Down, Gently"

Pop Will Eat Itself "Can U Dig It"

Jesus Jones "International Bright Young Thing"

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Gary Numan - interview

Gary Numan is preparing to hit the road for his tour and to help promote the gigs he sat down with the Arts Desk for an informative, and lengthy (it's an awesome five pages long!) interview.  Numan talked about his career, videos, religion, his last album Dead Son Rising, the death of drummer Cedric Sharpley, and even his relationship with Trent Reznor.  Numan was also asked about not wanting to take credit for being a electronic pioneer and developing breakthrough electronic sounds:

"...I did find that synth by accident. I’m not proud of that - I’m proud of how quickly I saw its potential and did something about it. It wasn’t as if I’d been at home and thought, what we need is electronic music and I’m going to make it happen. I’d have been really proud of that. I’m proud of the way I used that synthesiser. There were a number of people doing it at the time, most of them before I did. I saw an interview with Andy McCluskey [of OMD] and he thought of me as this Johnny-come-lately."

Visit the Arts Desk website to read the full article.

Numan will release his DVD Machine Music - The Best Of Gary Numan on June 11th.  Watch the trailer for the release below and for more info visit Numan's official site.

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The Stooges - Live in Spain + Iggy solo record

The Stooges played the Territorios Sevilla Festival in Spain on Saturday night.  Watch some fan shot footage from the set:

"No Fun" (Iggy can still swing that microphone!)

"Raw Power"

Iggy and the Stooges play the Rock Coast Festival in Spain on Thursday, and will be on the Euro festival circuit later this summer.

Meanwhile, Iggy Pop just self-released his album Apres, which features another round of mostly French covers. If you haven't heard Iggy crooning in French, the video below taken from a 2009 French television appearance will give you an idea of what to expect on Apres.

"Ne Me Quitte Pas"

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Happy Birthday, Kevin Shields

My Bloody Valentine genius/mastermind Kevin Shields was born on this day.  It'd be an understatement to say that MBV fans are having the best year ever, what with three reissues finally having seen light of day, and the promise of new material coming later this year. Plus, Shields has been doing a few interviews to promote the reissues, giving fans insight into what's been up with the band.

Raise a glass in honor of Mr. Shields today, because whatever you happen to be listening to musically is most likely influenced in some way by his genius.

"How Do You Do It"

"Good For You"

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Robin Gibb, R.I.P.

Rolling Stone and other news sources are reporting that Robin Gibb died earlier today after a long battle with cancer.  Gibb was 62 years old. 

"Tragedy"

"Too Much Heaven"

"More Than A Woman"

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New Order interview + Hooky plays Joy Division

Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris from New Order were recently interviewed by Sabotage Times for an in depth discussion on the history of Joy Division and New Order.  If you're a fan of either band, you'll likely find it a great read.  The full article Ian Curtis, Blue Monday & Sock Water: New Order Interviewed is posted here. 

Meanwhile, ex-New Order bass player Peter Hook has been on his Unknown Pleasures/Closer tour.  On Friday (the anniversary of Ian Curtis' death) Hooky played a gig in Manchester and you can watch some fan shot footage from the show below.

"Transmission/Disorder/Isolation"

"Love Will Tear Us Apart"

"Ceremony/Shadowplay"

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Duran Duran - Look! Hear! 1981 + A Diamond In The Mind

In 1981 Duran Duran appeared on the British television show Look! Hear! to perform "Planet Earth" and "Careless Memories." Watch both performances from the episode (which also included a search for a Space Invaders champion!) below:

"Planet Earth" starts around ~ 50 seconds in

Forward in to ~ 2:00 to watch "Careless Memories"

And the very end of "Careless Memories"

FYI, a video with just the songs from the broadcast has previously been uploaded here, though the quality isn't quite as good.

Duran Duran are preparing to release their live set, A Diamond In The Mind, on CD/DVD and Blu-ray this summer.  The collection was captured at their show in Manchester last year and will be available as a standard CD, DVD, and Blu-ray.  A deluxe triple pack edition featuring the CD, DVD, and Blu-ray in an 8 panel digipack with bonus features will also be available.  A Diamond In The Mind drops in the U.K. on July 2nd and in North America on July 10th.  Fans in other countries should visit the band's official site for more release dates.  

Duran Duran kick off another round of touring next month, dates are posted here.

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New Order - Rolling Stone interview

On the anniversary of Ian Curtis' death yesterday, Rolling Stone posted a New Order article that was originally published in 1983.  If you're a fan of Joy Division or New Order, you'll find it a great read - the article was published right after the release of New Order's second album Power, Corruption, and Lies and it's interesting to travel back in time to when New Order was a new band.  

Bonus: Rolling Stone referred to New Order as the "thinking man's Human League" plus there's a fabulous quote from Tony Wilson (Factory Records' founder) on signing Joy Division:

"Joy Division came onstage and played two numbers. And I thought to myself that the reason they're different is that they're onstage because they have something to say. The other bands are onstage because they want to be musicians. It's as different as chalk and cheese."

One final highlight--drummer Stephen Morris was talking about the band's hobbies and offered up: "Bernard likes to go for drives in his car and has a home computer..."  Hey, stop laughing!  Remember it was 1983, and though many people might have owned an Atari system (or maybe Pong), most didn't own home computers until the late '80s.

Read the full Rolling Stone article New Order: Life After Death here.

"Ceremony" Ian Curtis tribute video

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Jack White - live from Hangout

Jack White rocked it out during last night's appearance at the Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Watch some footage of the show below before it gets pulled down by Third Man.

"Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground" + "Missing Pieces"

"Seven Nation Army" (encore)

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NME - Ultimate Musical Icon shortlist

NME's 60th anniversary Ultimate Musical Icon readers' poll is heating up.  In April music fans began choosing their favorite from a list of 60, and now the pool of contenders has been narrowed to the top eight - John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Morrissey, Kurt Cobain, Liam Gallagher, Amy Winehouse, and Alex James.  Vote in the Ultimate Musical Icon quarterfinals here. 

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Crocodiles - acoustic gig in London

Crocodiles played an acoustic gig in a nightclub bathroom in London last month!  Per the band, "people kept coming in to caca, hence us looking periodically distracted." Watch the performance below (don't worry, it's just video of the band playing - no toilet shots!)

Setlist:

01. Sunday (Psychic Conversations #9)

02. Stoned To Death

03. My Surfing Lucifer

Crocodiles drop their new album Endless Flowers June 5th, then they hit the road for their North American tour (includes a June 24th date at the Magic Bag in Ferndale.) The full tour itinerary and ticket info is posted here.

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Garbage - Jimmy Fallon

Garbage played "Automatic Systematic Habit" on Jimmy Fallon last night.  Watch the performance below. 

Garbage are taking the next couple of nights off, but their tour resumes Tuesday in New York City at Webster Hall. MTV's The Hive will webcast the full NYC show live starting at 9pm ET. Not Your Kind Of People, the band's fifth studio album, is out now.

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Afghan Whigs - See And Don't See

Post updated - listen to stream of "See And Don't See" below & download it now here for free! 

The Afghan Whigs are back with a new song - it's a cover of Marie "Queenie" Lyons' 1970 song "See And Don't See."  The track is streaming now on Rolling Stone, but you'll be able to download your free copy today starting at noon ET from the band's official website.  

Don't miss Afghan Whigs' grand return to broadcast television next Tuesday as the band performs on Jimmy Fallon!

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