Check out the latest installment right here — this week’s episode features items on Depeche Mode, Paul Weller, Missing Persons, Bill Rieflin of Ministry and R.E.M., Cold Cave and more.
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Bill Rieflin, the thunderous drummer who made his name in Chicago’s late-’80s/early-’90s industrial scene pounding out beats for Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface and more before manning the kit for R.E.M. over the last eight years of that band’s career, died on Tuesday of cancer, according to former bandmates. He was 59.

The Jesus and Mary Chain have begun rescheduling their canceled tour during which they were to perform 1987’s Darklands in full, announcing a trio of new U.K. dates in February 2021 and telling fans they are working hard to rebook a slate of European shows as well. Check out the new dates here.

A planned February performance in Los Angeles by British synthpop pioneers Heaven 17 was scuttled by visa problems and now Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware have been forced to postpone their first-ever North American tour in May because of the coronavirus. Full details right here.

This is a round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. May also include some other titles released in recent weeks. This week: Mojo Nixon, Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs, and Robert Forster.

“Dark Wave,” hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Matt Sebastian, airs 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. EDT every Sunday on Sirius XM satellite radio’s 1st Wave (Channel 33). The most recent two episodes also are available via Sirius XM’s On Demand service for online subscribers. Here’s the full playlist from tonight’s show.

Check out the latest installment right here — this week’s episode features items on The Pretenders, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, The Psychedelic Furs, Morrissey and U2’s Bono, plus a countdown of the top 10 albums by Depeche Mode as voted by Strangeways Radio fans. Watch the whole thing right here.

The House of Love today canceled what would have been the beloved indie-pop band’s first North American tour in nearly 30 years, saying the decision was made “with heavy hearts” and that the band hopes to reschedule the concerts “when the virus is contained.” Full details right here.

The Cruel World music festival lives on. Goldenvoice, the event’s promoter, today announced the inaugural Los Angeles-based festival with the ’80s-heavy bill — Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blondie and Devo — is being moved to Sept. 12 from May 2 over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Full details right here.

Paul Weller today gave fans the first taste of his 15th solo album On Sunset in the form of “Earth Beat,” an uptempo number featuring a guest turn by R&B singer Col3trane that previews a record being billed as part soul, part electronic and part orchestral. Hear the song right here.

The legendary Chrissie Hynde is reactivating The Pretenders for the band’s first album in four years and 11th overall, a collection of new music called Hate for Sale that she’s previewing with the new single “The Buzz” — which you can stream right here right now. Full details and tracklist on the new album.

The inaugural Cruel World music festival that boasted a bill topped by ’80s alternative stalwarts Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blondie, Devo and Echo & The Bunnymen appears to have been postponed indefinitely in response to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, but promoters have barely communicated anything to ticketholders.

A year ago, The Arkive — the archival wing of the Beggars Group — launched a 50-song curated playlist spotlighting some of the classic music as well as the deeper cuts released throughout the 1980s by its labels 4AD, Beggars Banquet, Situation Two and more. Check out the full 3½ hour playlist right here.