This week’s installment of Slicing Up Eyeballs on Strangeways Radio featured brand-new music from Bauhaus’ David J and Lee Ranaldo of Love and Rockets, plus old favorites from Ian McCulloch, Talking Heads, Violent Femmes, The Lucy Show and Clan of Xymox, plus Fujiya & Miyagi covering New Order.
The Wedding Present this morning announced the release of its eighth studio album, the 10-track Valentina, which was recorded in France, California and England throughout 2011 and will be released worldwide in March in conjunction with the band’s previously announced South By Southwest appearance and North American tour.
Former Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie has assembled an ad-hoc supergroup featuring The Dresden Dolls, former Bad Seeds multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish to perform the Femmes’ classic 1983 self-titled debut album at the MONA FOMA Festival in Tasmania on Friday.
The reunited New Order — Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert , 2000s-era guitarist Phil Cunningham and Bad Lieutenant bassist Tom Chapman — has added headlining dates in Melbourne and Sydney to its March tour of Australia. Additionally, New Order is set to play New Zealand on Feb. 27.
The Cure this morning confirmed headlining slots at three European festival performances this summer — Hultsfred Festival in Sweden and Hurricane and Southside festivals, both in Germany over the same weekend — with a promise of ‘lots more to come,’ according to the band’s official site.
This week’s new releases include reissues of 10 albums by Public Image Ltd., plus John Lydon’s 1997 solo album, as well as reissue of the first three Modern English albums, a digital-only Bauhaus live album and the long-awaited debut by Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters, aka Ministry’s Al Jourgensen and guests such as Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick.
Morrissey is expected to announce a 10-date April tour of Japan later this week, followed by concerts in Thailand, the Philippines and New Zealand — and he may be planning some performances in South America in February, too.
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 