Blaming a promoter who ‘defaulted on the contract,’ Duran Duran today canceled a planned five-date South African tour that was scheduled to begin next Monday — and serve both as a debut of parts of the band’s forthcoming album ‘All You Need Is Now’ and mark ‘the start of an enormous global campaign’ to promote the record.

It’s not unusual, of course, for bands these days to set up on Twitter, but William Reid — one half of The Jesus and Mary Chain — wants to make it known that the seminal noise-pop group’s new @jamcofficial account is, well, official.

This week’s new releases include ‘Find the Torch, Burn the Plans,’ a new CD/DVD live set and documentary form Paul Weller; the U.S. release of ex-Dream Syndicate leader Steve Wynn’s ‘Northern Aggression’; and new CD singles from Pet Shop Boys and OMD.

Highlights of tonight’s episode of ‘Dark Wave’ on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave include more deep Depeche Mode album cuts, a double dose of The House of Love and a triple serving of The Smiths.

Just a quick reminder: Slicing Up Eyeballs will debut a brand-new weekly specialty show Tuesday night on Strangeways Radio, a commercial-free web outlet devoted to ‘taking alternative back.’

Last night, Primal Scream performed the first of two London gigs dedicated to the band’s seminal 1991 house-rock hybrid ‘Screamadelica,’ which will be commemorated in 2011 with a massive 20th anniversary box set and tours early next year of Australia and the group’s native U.K.

Gang of Four this week teased fans with a free three-track digital EP of unreleased material, including a re-recorded version of ‘Glass’ off the band’s 1979 debut ‘Entertainment!’ Download it here.