Chrissy Amphlett — the sultry lead singer of Australian rockers Divinyls, who released four albums in the ’80s before hitting it big with their risque smash single “I Touch Myself” — died in New York on Sunday following a long battle with cancer, according to Australian media reports.
This week’s new releases include a brand-new two-track single from Paul Weller (“Flame-Out! b/w “The Olde Original”), the first album since 1981 from UK Decay, a remix collection from Gary Numan and live albums both new and old from Peter Hook & The Light and The Monochrome Set.
Tonight’s edition of “Dark Wave” — the Sunday night “darker side of alternative” show on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave — celebrated the birthday today of Robert Smith, with selections from The Cure, plus Smith solo tracks and associated music by The Glove, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Tim Pope and more.
Welcome to the Week in Rock, where we round up all of the headlines posted on this site over the past week. This week featured posts about Johnny Marr, New Order, The Call, Game Theory’s Scott Miller, Dinosaur Jr, Dead Can Dance, Billy Bragg, Edwyn Collins, The Stone Roses, Paul Weller, Lloyd Cole and more.
The Call — best known for ’80s radio hits “The Walls Came Down,” “I Still Believe” and “Let the Day Begin” — reunited for the band’s first concerts in 20 years over the past two nights, performing in San Francisco and Los Angeles with Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club filling in for his late father.
For this week’s “120 Minutes” Rewind, we take a trip back to 1988 for an “120 X Ray” segment on the legendary XTC, filmed during the band’s recording sessions for Oranges & Lemons, which would be released the following year. In this clip (via MrPhilrand), we get a bit of insight into the recording process.
Röyksopp on Saturday will release a red-vinyl 10-inch for Record Store Day in the U.K. that features a live cover of Depeche Mode’s “Ice Machine,” the B-side to the band’s 1981 debut single “Dreaming of Me.” The Röyksopp cover is part of the band’s upcoming installment of the compilation series Late Night Tales.
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 