After teasing something since last week, New Order today announced it will debut “Be a Rebel,” the group’s first new single in five years, on BBC’s Radio 2 on Tuesday morning, music that comes as the band should have been on a hugely anticipated, but now delayed, U.S. tour with Pet Shop Boys. Hear a sample here.
The Dead Milkmen this month will release their first new music in three years, a cover of Heaven 17’s classic banned-by-the-BBC debut single “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang,” which will be issued as a transparent-red 7-inch vinyl single and digitally. Full details right here.
Wayne Hussey has enlisted current and former members of The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Cult, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus and The Smiths for an all-star remake of The Mission’s 1988 anthem “Tower of Strength” to benefit “key workers dealing with COVID-19 globally.” Full details right here.
Midnight Oil this week will release the reunited band’s first new music in 17 years, a song called “Gadigal Land” that is the first single to debut from the group’s forthcoming mini-album The Makarrata Project that was recorded in collaboration with “our First Nations friends.” Full details right here.
Former Mighty Lemon Drops guitarist David Newton’s project David Newton & Thee Mighty Angels has been absent from the record racks for the better part of the last decade, but the group returns today with the premiere here at Slicing Up Eyeballs of a new single featuring Art Brut frontman Eddie Argos,
Matt Johnson this week announced he’ll release a new 7-inch by The The for Record Store Day next month, a single called “I WANT 2 B U” that finds the musician writing and recording with the “quirky Omnichord instrument” for the first time since he used in on 1983’s “This Is the Day.” Hear a short sample here.
As promised, former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe today followed up the October release of his debut solo single “Your Capricious Soul” with a second single, “Drive to the Ocean,” released on his 60th birthday. Like its predecessor, this single also benefit a climate action group. Hear it right here.
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 