Jim Kerr reports that Simple Minds recently hit the studio to record tracks — including a ‘New Gold Dream’-era castoff — that are earmarked for both ‘an extensive compilation’ due out in early 2011 and what eventually will become the band’s 16th studio album.

Today is Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon’s 52nd birthday, and to mark the occasion — and with a tip of the hat to the current batch of reissues — we present this fabulous clip of DD playing its single ‘Notorious’ on an Italian television show in 1987. I

Today, Crowded House releases its new greatest-hits collection in the U.S., and to mark the occasion, the generous folks at EMI/Capitol are providing us with a copy of ‘The Very Very Best of Crowded House’ to give away to one lucky Slicing Up Eyeballs reader.

The reunited Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark today debuted the video for ‘Sister Marie Says,’ the second single off ‘History of Modern,’ the synthpop group’s first new album in 14 years.

U2 is set to release a new limited-edition, vinyl-only live EP next month called ‘Wide Awake in Europe’ — adapting the title and cover concept from 1985’s ‘Wide Awake in America’ — that will feature the debut of fan-favorite track ‘Mercy.’

Taking a break from the ongoing Crowded House tour, bandleader Neil Finn played a solo show at London’s Jazz Cafe last night, and as he’s wont to do, invited Johnny Marr onstage to perform several songs, including The Smiths’ beloved ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.’

Much-buzzed digi-punk duo Crystal Castles has tapped Robert Smith of The Cure to sing new vocals on ‘Not In Love,’ a cut off the band’s second self-titled album that will be released as a single Dec. 6.