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Iain Burgess, a studio engineer renowned for his role in the ’80s Chicago punk underground and a major influence on and mentor to Steve Albini, died Thursday morning in France of a pulmonary embolism stemming from liver and pancreatic cancer, Albini’s Electrical Audio studios reports.

Sonic Youth and The Breeders are among the acts announced today for the third installment of All Tomorrow’s Parties New York, set for Labor Day weekend and already featuring full-album performances by Iggy & The Stooges (Raw Power) and Mudhoney (Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles).

New York gets another crack at two hot tickets: The Specials have added a second NYC date and a-ha a third to their very brief U.S. tours this spring. The reunited 2 Tone ska act plays Terminal 5 on April 20, while the Norwegian pop trio has added a third and final show at the Nokia Theatre on May 8.

Tears For Fears will play a one-off concert in Los Angeles next month as the band rehearses for its upcoming tour supporting the reunited Spandau Ballet in Australia, bandmember Curt Smith announced yesterday.

Postpunk juggernaut Killing Joke — its original lineup back in place for the first time since 1982’s Revelations — will release its 13th album, Feast of Fools, in April and embark on a 30th anniversary tour of Europe and North America beginning that same month.

With Social Distortion at work on its follow-up to 2004’s Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll, drummer Adam “Atom” Willard (ex-Rocket From the Crypt) has posted a two-minute clip of footage he filmed of the L.A. punk vets doing a bit of pre-studio rehearsal.