Long one of rock’s most unique and iconoclastic frontmen, Mark E. Smith — the only constant member of The Fall — turns 55 today, and to celebrate, we, for the second straight year, offer up this hour-long documentary called ‘The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of Mark E. Smith’ that aired on the BBC back in 2005.

Martin Gore isn’t the only Depeche Mode member who’s been busy during the band’s downtime: Frontman Dave Gahan has lent his well-known voice to electronic project Soulsavers for that group’s fourth album, ‘The Light the Dead See’ — and he’s already talking about making more music and touring with the group.

It’s Bruce Springsteen week over at “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” and last night saw Elvis Costello stop by the show to help celebrate the release of the Boss’ new album. Backed by The Roots, Costello played Springsteen’s “Brilliant Disguise” on air and stuck around for a web-only performance of “Fire.”

After a decade of inactivity, The The is back with its second album in just two years, another film score, this time for the documentary ‘Moonbug,’ about photographer Steve Pyke’s journey to document America’s space pioneers, bandleader Matt Johnson announced today on the group’s newly revamped website.

Twenty years ago tonight, U2 opened its ZOO TV Tour in Lakeland, Fla. — debuting a high-tech stage show that not only redefined the Irish rockers, but changed the way arena and stadium tours have been staged ever since, incorporating dazzling visual imagery and extending the performance space out into the audience.

Not sure how this one escaped our notice, but it’s better late than never: On Sept. 21, 2010, ChameleonsVox — the band featuring frontman Mark Burgess and drummer John Lever of post-punk favorites The Chameleons — stopped by the studios of Seattle’s KEXP radio to perform a four-song, on-air set.