Steve Strange, the Blitz Kid, frontman of synthpop group Visage — best known for its Top 10 hit “Fade to Grey” — and key figure in the New Romantic movement of the late ’70s and early ’80s died today of heart failure at a hospital in Egypt, the reunited Visage announced via Facebook. He was 55.
Just a year after the release of the old-songs-resurrected set Change Becomes Us, U.K. post-punk legends Wire return with another brand-new album, their 13th overall, which they’re simply calling Wire. The band has announced U.K. and U.S. tours to support the record, and have offered up the first taste of the LP.
While The Jesus and Mary Chain are busy this year looking back on their debut Psychocandy as it marks its 30th anniversary, frontman Jim Reid is also looking forward, vowing to complete the new album that he and his brother William have been working on since reuniting in 2007.
The Dead Milkmen will head to the West Coast this spring — the important thing here is that we get to the part where you ask them how they’re gonna get there — for a seven-date tour that will take them from Vancover, B.C., down to San Diego playing shows in support of their recently released new album Pretty Music for Pretty People.
Paul Weller’s forthcoming album Saturn’s Pattern will be released in the U.S. this spring by Warner Bros. Records, the former Jam leader announced today, debuting the video for first single “White Sky” and rolling out a 10-date North American tour this June.
Men at Work frontman and singer-songwriter Colin Hay returns next week with Next Year People, his 12th solo album and first in nearly four years, a 12-song collection “full of quizzical, curious and cynical, yet open-hearted, songs” that we’re thrilled to premiere today at Slicing Up Eyeballs. Stream the full record here.
Exploring the legacy of ’80s college rock, the Slicing Up Eyeballs Music Hour airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Pacific on Strangeways Radio. If you caught this week’s episode, pop over to the Strangeways message board to leave requests for future shows.
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 