Pioneering synthpop outfit turned stadium rockers Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tonight in a pandemic-necessitated virtual ceremony, with Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher meeting up in a Zoom call to accept the honor. Watch the video right here.
Trent Reznor’s speech inducting The Cure into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year was one of that ceremony’s highlights, and he’s back this year not as a presenter but as the face of inductees Nine Inch Nails. Reznor and NIN entered the Rock Hall tonight via a virtual ceremony. See it here.
Matador Records will release a new limited-edition Gang of Four vinyl box set in December called 77-81 that will collect the band’s first two albums, singles, a previously unreleased live set from 1980 and 26 never-before-issued outtakes, demos and rarities from the era. Full details and tracklist right here.
Former Oingo Boingo frontman and famed film composer Danny Elfman today debuted his first solo music in 36 years — and first rock music since his band’s 1994 swan song — in the form of “Happy,” a characteristically twisted song he’d meant to debut at his planned performance at this year’s Coachella festival.
If you’ve been listening to the new all-star remake of The Mission’s 1988 anthem “Tower of Strength” and trying to figure out exactly who sings what and who played which instrumental parts, it’s all spelled out in this new lyric video released today. Check it out right here.
ustralian rockers Hoodoo Gurus have begun work on a new studio album they plan to release next year, but have offered fans an early taste of their new music in the form of an uncharacteristically political single called “Hung Out to Dry” that goes after President Donald Trump. Check out the new song right here.
Dinosaur Jr will make a return to live music with a pair of limited-capacity, socially distanced outdoor concerts — one a “drive-in” show with fans in cars, the other with attendees in spaced-out “grids” — in New England next month, the band announced today. Full details and ticket information right here.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 