Here’s a delightful clip that made the rounds over the weekend: A guitar-slinging busker is filmed singing Bronski Beat’s 1984 single “Smalltown Boy” on a Berlin sidewalk when none other than Jimmy Somerville himself, apparently out walking his dog, stops by and pitches it.
This week’s new releases include an expanded 2CD/1DVD reissue of David Bowie’s 7-month-old album ‘The Next Day,’ featuring five brand-new songs, plus an audiophile reissue of XTC’s ‘Nonsuch’ with multiple new mixes, and a new studio album, ‘Tres Cabrones,’ from The Melvins.
The Cure tonight performed what’s been billed as its final show of 2013, a headlining performance at New Orleans Voodoo Music Experience that saw Robert Smith and Co. drop yet another shocker on fans: the first-ever live performance of “Burn,” the band’s contribution to the soundtrack to 1994’s “The Crow.”
Perhaps now we know why The Governor has yet to re-appear on the new season of “The Walking Dead”: Actor David Morrissey, who portrays the power-mad villain on the AMC zombie series, is the voice behind the unabridged audiobook of Morrissey’s “Autobiography,” the singer revealed late Sunday.
Tonight’s edition of “Dark Wave” on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave paid tribute to the late Lou Reed, with music by him and the Velvet Underground, and covers of his songs by Joy Division, Gang of Four, David Bowie, Jane’s Addiction, Christian Death, Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order and more.
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 course, of Lou Reed’s death, plus items on Morrissey, Paul Westerberg, The Wild Swans, David Bowie, Skinny Puppy, Simple Minds, Erasure and more — plus the Top 100 albums of 1988.
Morrissey’s year of medical maladies continues, with the former Smiths frontman today announcing that he was treated and discharged from Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for a concussion (his second in a year), whiplash and an arm injury — although Moz didn’t bother to explain what happened to him.
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 