The second episode of DirecTV’s new performance and discussion show ‘Guitar Center Sessions’ — capturing the short-lived Jane’s Addiction lineup with Duff McKagan — premieres next weekend, and the series has posted this video of the band doing an unplugged ‘Jane Says’ as a preview.

In what could be the first taste of the next Erasure album — or perhaps just a throwaway — Vince Clarke has posted a new instrumental called ‘Symphony’ on his official website and is asking fans to download the track and make their own music video.

It’s long been expected that the next installment in U2’s ongoing reissue campaign would be the band’s landmark 1991 album ‘Achtung Baby,’ and today we received some confirmation — via indie rocker/producer John Vanderslice, of all people — that such a release is in the works.

A crisp studio recording of The Ocean’s Blue’s ‘City Traffic,’ a never-before-released concert favorite by the late-’80s/early-’90s jangle-pop outfit, surfaced on YouTube this summer accompanied by a homemade music video.

Gang of Four this week announced it will release ‘Content’ — its first all-new studio album in more than 15 years — early next year on CD, vinyl and as part of an ‘Ultimate Content Can’ that includes lyrics, artwork, a scratch-and-sniff booklet and ‘vials of band members’ blood.’

The pioneering German avante-garde industrial act Einstürzende Neubauten will embark on a 30th anniversary tour of Europe and North America this fall, playing full-length concerts in each city it visits as well as presenting a second night of films, side projects and audience Q&As.

On Nov. 1, the Pet Shop Boys will release a new best-of disc called ‘Ultimate Pet Shop Boys,’ billed as a ‘comprehensive greatest hits collection’ loaded with 19 singles appearing in chronological order, spanning 1984’s ‘West End Girls’ to ‘Love Etc.,’ the first single off the band’s 2009 album ‘Yes.’