Next month, the new 700-page biography of The Smiths by music writer Tony Fletcher finally comes out in the U.S. — the book, which promises “the complete story” of the iconic band, hit stores in the U.K. in early September — and publisher Crown Archetype has given us a dozen copies to give away to Slicing Up Eyeballs readers.

A new 700-page biography of The Smiths by music writer and biographer Tony Fletcher will be published in the U.K. next week — but not in the U.S. until December — and promises, through “extensive research, dozens of interviews and unprecedented access,” to tell “the complete story” of the iconic Manchester band.

Our latest link round-up is all Manchester: The Smiths’ Andy Rourke will appear on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave all weekend, plus New Order has announced a New Zealand concert next year, The Stone Roses have booked festival slots in Norway and Portugal, and Peter Hook will play Joy Division songs in the UK next May and June.

For fans who’ll be in the Los Angeles area this weekend, this year’s installment of the Smiths/Morrissey Convention — set for Sunday at The Music Box in Hollywood — features an added attraction: an actual member of The Smiths.

Today’s collection of interesting stuff, including interviews with The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, Lou Barlow of Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr and Gang of Four’s Jon King, plus some stripped-down, a capella New Order.

Exactly 28 years ago today, The Smiths took the stage for only their third concert — and only their second with the final Morrissey/Johnny Marr/Andy Rourke/Mike Joyce lineup — opening for Factory Records funk band 52nd Street at New Order’s infamous Manchester club The Hacienda.