Speaking to Slicing Up Eyeballs from a San Francisco recording studio last week, David J discusses his new mortality-themed album ‘Not Long For This World,’ his recent theatrical work, the ‘sense of completion’ he feels following the Bauhaus and Love and Rockets reunions — and his recent performances with an L&R tribute act.

With Depeche Mode returning to the studio in March, the first word of a timetable for the band’s 13th album has emerged: Martin L. Gore tells German magazine Sonic Seducer that the record will be released ‘no later than early 2013,’ according to fansite Home.

Since last we checked in, The Cure has added two more European summer festivals to its summer touring schedule — Rock Werchter in Belgium and Festival des Vieilles Charrues in France — and is promising that ‘five, six or maybe seven more’ confirmations are yet to come, according to a note on the band’s website.

The Cult roars back into action this May with a brand-new, 10-track album called ‘Choice of Weapon,’ co-produced by ‘Sonic Temple’ veteran Bob Rock and preceded by the rocker ‘Lucifer’ — which is available here as a free MP3 download. It’s the group’s ninth album overall and first in five years.

Wire next week will give wide release to last year’s tour-only live album ‘The Black Session – Paris 10 May 2011,’ a 13-track live set recorded last May at Radio France’s Paris studios in front of an audience as part of Bernard Lenoir’s series of live broadcasts. Stream the whole thing here.

It’s Madchester all over again as the Happy Mondays will reunite their original lineup this spring for an 11-date tour of the U.K. and Ireland — and backing singer Rowetta is even suggesting the group would like to open for The Stone Roses at that band’s massive Manchester reunion gigs this summer.

New Order — Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert , 2000s-era guitarist Phil Cunningham and Bad Lieutenant bassist Tom Chapman — continues to expand its 2012 touring plans, today announcing a four-date U.K. tour this spring in addition to its first confirmed European summer festivals.