Patti Smith playing St. Andrew's Hall

The legendary Patti Smith will be playing a show February 19th at St. Andrew's Hall. Tickets go on sale this Friday, December 18th at 10am through livenation.com

Chris Feinstein, RIP

Chris Feinstein, bass player for Ryan Adams' band the Cardinals, was found dead in his home in Manhattan. The cause of death is unknown at this time and no other details have been revealed. Feinstein was 42 years old.

Velvet Underground interview

Velvet Underground reunited for an interview which took place earlier this week at a New York Library. Here's the video:

Morrissey

Morrissey canceled yet another concert. Last night's show in Indio, California was canceled last night after having "blown out his voice." No word on whether he'll be rescheduling the concert. Meanwhile Moz is expected to appear on Lopez Tonight December 9th.

Audio interview with Ian McKaye

Check out an audio interview with Ian McKaye:

The Sound of Young America

Pogues frontman on reality tv

According to NME, Shane McGowan from the Pogues and his girlfriend Victoria will appear on a new tv series in the U.K. later this month. The program is called Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own, and it's all about the growing vegetables. Let's hope this makes it onto youtube...

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will release a new cd titled Beat the Devil's Tattoo on March 9th. The band's fifth studio cd features new drummer Leah Shapiro. Check out the tracklisting here. BRMC launches a North American tour in February, however so far the tour itinerary doesn't include a Detroit date.

Mr. T fashion show from the 80's

Mr. T (yes, that Mr. T) sez "Table the Label!!!" Definitely a WTF moment...

Morrissey, shoe designer

Morrissey and Paul McCartney's daughter Stella are collaborating on a line of vegan (leather free) shoes. Stella told the Daily Mail, "We are still in the early stages but the shoes could be launched next year."

Here's a link to the story via the Daily Mail. Be sure to scroll down the page past the tawdry gossip article on Chris Martin and Gwyenth Paltrow's marriage to read the shoe story.

Elizabeth Fraser--the Guardian interview

Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins granted a rare interview to the Guardian. In the interview, Fraser talks about the Cocteau's split, why she pulled out of the band's anticipated Coachella reunion, her relationship with bandmate Robin Guthrie, Jeff Buckley's death, and more. Read the lengthy interview here.

Fraser is set to release her solo single, "Moses" tomorrow in the U.K., and it looks like it will be available as an import vinyl single on December 15th. Check out a sample of the single here.

INXS--Jon Stevens

Jon Stevens, who briefly fronted INXS after Michael Hutchence's death, recently underwent open heart surgery after finding out one of his arteries was 99% blocked. Read about his ordeal (and see a picture of his scar from the surgery) here.

Liam Gallagher, fashion maven

The autumn and winter collection from Pretty Green, Liam Gallagher's clothing line, is now available. Check it out here.

Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols have recorded the Christmas classic, "Little Drummer Boy." The band is offering a free mp3 download of the song here.

the Stooges

The Stooges will be playing their 1973's classic Raw Power in its entirety next year at a festival in New York. The All Tomorrow's Parties festival will run Labor Day weekend (September 3-5) and will also feature Mudhoney, the Scientists and more. Tickets for the ATP party are on sale now.

Pixies

The Pixies will appear on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon this Tuesday night. The band promised to play "Debaser" as the first song. The show plans to televise a second song from the Pixies, and the band has agree to allow fans to choose the second song. Read more about that here, and don't forget to tune in Tuesday to check it out.

Messiah--Temple of Dreams

Messiah "Temple of Dreams" was a huge Club X song back in the day. I played it this morning on Time Warp, and due to popular demand, here's the video:

Dukes of Stratosphear

XTC's alter ego, Dukes of Stratosphear, will release a career-encompassing limited edition boxset in December. The Complete And Utter Dukes will include the band's two releases (the 1985 ep, 25 O'Clock, the full length 1987 disc Psonic Psunspot) both on vinyl and cd, plus a 7 inch of Andy Patridge's "Tin Toy Clockwork Train", and Colin Moulding's demo of "the Affiliated" Besides the music, you also get a special 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and "play notes" which can be redeemed for a Dukes of Stratosphear t-shirt. For more info and to see the contents of the boxset click here. The collection will be available December 8th but you can order it now here or here.

Bryan Ferry

A new Bryan Ferry CD/DVD collection, Best of Bryan Ferry, will be released in the U.K. on Monday. The cd features 19 singles and 2 bonus tracks (an alternate piano version of "A Fool For You" and a cover of the Drifters/Dusty Springfield song, "I Don't Want to Go On Without You"), while the dvd* compiles Ferry's promo videos, television performances and more. The collection will be available as an import--most online retailers will carry it starting December 1st.

*not all import DVDs will play on North American DVD players. You may want to check your DVD player before ordering to see if it is compatible.

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Autobahn by releasing an 8-cd boxset, The Catalogue, on November 23rd. The boxset features 8 newly remastered cds from Kraftwerk: Autobahn, Radioactivity, Trans Europe Express, the Man Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop, the Mix, and Tour De France. Read more about the release and preorder here.

Mozzer grazed by a flying bottle...

Morrissey cut short a show last night after only two songs. Apparently someone in the crowd whizzed a bottle at him and Mozzer had enough, said "goodnight" and left the stage. The crowd was notified a few minutes later that the show was canceled and refunds would be provided. Read more about the drama here.

Pixies!

The Pixies have kicked off their North American Doolittle tour. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Doolittle, the band is offering a free live Doolittle ep to fans. Click the link below to enjoy!

utah saints

Ed's Redeeming Qualities

Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols will be hitting the road next month for a handful of tour dates. Unfortunately they are not planning on stopping in the D. Check out the dates here.

The Damned--tour canceled

The Damned tour in the U.S. has been canceled, including the Detroit date which was scheduled for this Saturday at St. Andrew's Hall. Refunds should be obtained at point of purchase. According to a posting on the band's website:

Due to circumstances beyond our control, THE DAMNED regret to announce the cancellation of all of their October / Halloween U.S tour dates.

As of today, the band’s U.S. Visas were still not approved, thus forcing the immediate cancellation of the entire tour.

Refunds should be obtained at point of purchase

Cure reissues coming next year

Robert Smith has revealed that the Cure's 1989 cd Disintegration will be reissued next year as a three cd set. The first disc will contain the all the original material from Disintegration, the second disc will contain 20 songs (b-sides, demos, previously unreleased tracks recorded in 1988 & 1989), and the third disc features 12 live tracks from 1990. This box set does not have an official release date, however it is expected in 2010.

Smith also briefly mentioned in the posting on his blog that more Cure reissues will be available in 2010. Clicky here to read Smith's blog and tracklisting for the Disintegration boxset.

Pixies live

Here's video from the Pixies' Doolittle tour...

Ian Brown

Ian Brown (ex-Stone Roses vocalist) just released his 6th solo album, My Way. Brown recently was interviewed by British paper the Guardian and discussed his best and worst Stone Roses moments, ex-bandmate John Squire, the Oasis split and more. Read the article here.

Kim Deal buys stuff

Thanks to Dan for the link...

Bad Lieutenant

Here's the video to the first single from Bernard Sumner's new project Bad Lieutenant.

Jim Carroll, R.I.P.

Jim Carroll died of a heart attack on September 11th at his home in Manhattan. He was 60 years old.

Spider from Mars, spider from Malaysia?

A big yellow spider has been named after David Bowie. Heteropoda davidbowie is native to Malaysia and is said to be endangered. Peter Jager, German spider specialist, decided to name the spider after Bowie to bring some attention to endangered spiders.

Read more about this fascinating story here.

Oasis--viral video

For those that haven't seen it yet...

Noel Gallagher leaves Oasis

The official statement from Noel Gallagher:

“Dearly beloved, it is with a heavy heart and a sad face that I say this to you this morning.

As of last Friday the 28th August, I have been forced to leave the Manchester rock’n'roll pop group Oasis.

The details are not important and of too great a number to list. But I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. And the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.

I would like firstly to offer my apologies to them kids in Paris who’d paid money and waited all day to see us only to be let down AGAIN by the band. Apologies are probably not enough, I know, but I’m afraid it’s all I’ve got.

While I’m on the subject, I’d like to say to the good people of V Festival that experienced the same thing. Again, I can only apologise - although I don’t know why, it was nothing to do with me. I was match fit and ready to be brilliant. Alas, other people in the group weren’t up to it.

In closing I would like to thank all the Oasis fans, all over the world. The last 18 years have been truly, truly amazing (and I hate that word, but today is the one time I’ll deem it appropriate). A dream come true. I take with me glorious memories.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I have a family and a football team to indulge.

I’ll see you somewhere down the road. It’s been a fuckin’ pleasure.

Thanks very much.

Goodbye.”

– Noel Gallagher

Morrissey vinyl box set

Two Morrissey 7-inch boxsets will be released in the fall, however Morrissey is not pleased. Apparently Morrissey was not consulted in the selection of the singles, and furthermore does not approve of these releases. Read Mozzer's official statement regarding the releases here.

The 7-inch singles included in Morrissey, 7 inch singles, '88-'91:

Suedehead
Everyday Is Like Sunday
the Last of the Famous International Playboys
Interesting Drug
Ouija Board, Ouija Board
November Spawned a Monster
Piccadilly Palare
Our Frank
Sing Your Life
Pregnant For the Last Time

The 7-inch singles included in Morrissey, the HMV/Parlophone singles '91-95:

My Love Life
We Hate it When Our Friends Become Successful
You're the One For Me, Fatty
Certain People I Know
the More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get
Hold On to Your Friends
Interlude
Boxers
Sunny

Morrissey, 7 inch singles, '88-'91 will be released October 12th
Morrissey, the HMV/Parlophone singles '91-95 will be released November 2nd

John Hughes, RIP

As you've no doubt heard, 80's film king, John Hughes, died Thursday from a heart attack. If you were a fan of Hughes and his films, you may find this blog entry interesting. It was written by someone who was penpals with Hughes in the eighties.