Longtime music journalist Ben Vendetta has just published his debut work of fiction, a novel called “Wivenhoe Park” that’s set in the mid-’80s and follows an American Anglophile who relocates to the U.K. as the indie/post-punk scene blows up with bands like The Smiths, The Jesus and Mary Chain and more.
This week’s new releases include the brand-new Christmas album from Erasure (‘Snow Globe’), plus reissues of The Lords of the New Church’s three albums from the ’80s, a Songs For Slim compilation 2CD set featuring The Replacements, and a set of ’80s covers from Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs.
Tonight’s edition of “Dark Wave” on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave featured music by Killing Joke, Nitzer Ebb, The Psychedelic Furs, Cocteau Twins, Clock DVA, The Specimen Joy Division, Bigod 20, Ultravox, The Only Ones, The Sisters of Mercy, Gene Loves Jezebel, Bauhaus, The The, Gary Numan and more.
In the fall of 2010, the surviving members of Big Country regrouped, tapped Mike Peters of The Alarm to fill in for late frontman Stuart Adamson and proceeded to tour the world, and record and release a new album called The Journey. Three years later, though, Peters is out of the band.
Welcome to the Week in Rock, where we round up all of the headlines posted on this site over the past week. This week featured news of the death of Scruffy the Cat’s Charlie Chesterman, plus items on For Against, They Might Be Giants, Jimmy Somerville, Jane’s Addiction, Johnny Marr and more.
The Captured Tracks label next month will release a new limited-edition 3LP vinyl box set collecting the first two studio albums from Nebraska post-punk trio For Against — 1987’s Echelons and 1988’s December — plus In the Marshes, the band’s 1990 collection of demos recorded between those first two albums.
Hard to believe, but last night’s appearance by Nine Inch Nails on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was billed as the band’s first-ever network television performance. Trent Reznor and Co., in Los Angeles to play the Staples Center, performed a mini concert on Kimmel’s outdoor stage, with “All Time Low” getting aired on the show.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 