Monday night in New York City, Patti Smith sang and read poetry at Milk Studios for the opening of ‘Illumination: Who Are Poets,’ an exhibit by rock ‘n’ roll photographer Steven Sebring — and was joined onstage by Michael Stipe for an impromptu performance of R.E.M. smash ‘Everybody Hurts.’

It’s SoCal punk icon Mike Ness’ birthday today — he’s 49 — so to mark the occasion, here’s some vintage Social Distortion footage that captures most of the band’s March 22, 1986, concert at The Ritz in New York City.

This French TV report from sometime in 1987 features footage and interviews with both The Cure and Depeche Mode in the studio, as they work on their breakout albums ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’ and ‘Music For the Masses,’ respectively.

Over the past two weeks, Duran Duran has performed on ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,’ ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.’ Watch all of those performances right here.

Reunited synthpoppers Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark wrapped up their first U.S. tour in 20 years on Tuesday in Hollywood, and ex-KROQ/current 1st Wave DJ Richard Blade offers up this quick backstage tour at the Music Box.

A month before ‘In a Special Place: The Piano Demos for This Is The Sea’ is released in the U.K., Mike Scott sat down at EMI headquarters for this 12-minute interview about the making of The Waterboys’ classic 1985 album and the forthcoming demos collection.

Last night in Liverpool, Mick Jones brought his post-Clash outfit Big Audio Dynamite out of retirement for the original lineup’s first concert in 22 years, the opening night of a nine-date U.K. tour that will be followed by a pair of U.S. gigs and a slot at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in California next month.