Record producer and engineer Stephen Street — who worked on three albums by The Smiths before producing and co-writing Morrissey’s solo debut ‘Viva Hate’ — will be the guest on this week’s episode of the ‘Sound Opinions’ radio program, billed as ‘the world’s only rock ‘n’ roll talk show.’

To commemorate Depeche Mode songwriter Martin L. Gore’s birthday — he turns 49 today — we present this rare solo performance of one of his best-loved songs, ‘Enjoy the Silence.’

Blaming the ever-popular ‘visa issues,’ reunited 2 Tone ska kings The Specials today pulled the plug on their free concert next month in New York City’s Central Park — but announced plans to ‘return to the U.S. in early 2011 for additional dates.’

Fans at Crowded House’s third-of-three shows at New York’s Bowery Ballroom last night got a rare treat: David Byrne joined the band during its encore to perform the Talking Heads classics ‘Once in a Lifetime’ and ‘Road to Nowhere.’

Twenty-two years ago, Robert Smith sat for a half-hour BBC2 documentary about The Cure that aired Aug. 8, 1988, as one of 10 installments of the series ‘That Was Then… This Is Now.’

With their North American tour now underway, Crowded House stopped by ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’ last night to plug their new album ‘Intriguer’ with a performance of that disc’s ‘Twice If You’re Lucky.’

Former XTC figurehead Andy Partridge this week releases ‘Powers,’ a 12-track, limited-edition album featuring ‘aural sculptures’ inspired by the late sci-fi book-jacket artist Richard M. Powers. Hear audio samples from the album.