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.

Today’s roundup of interesting stuff, featuring a look at The Cure’s ‘Disintegration,’ a new R.E.M. interview, a downloadable 17-song intro to The Fall, and a look back at New Order’s rare cover of the reggae track “Turn the Heater On.”

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.

It’s Bernard Sumner’s birthday today — he’s turning 55 — and to celebrate, we present this somewhat rare New Order concert film called ‘Pumped Full of Drugs’ that was released on VHS in the U.K. in 1986.

The folks at 24 Hour Service Station, who are putting out Peter Hook’s Freebass project here in the U.S., will provide three lucky Slicing Up Eyeballs readers with a copy of the band’s debut CD, ‘It’s a Beautiful Life.’

Slicing Up Eyeballs recently chatted with Peter Hook about his upcoming tour of the U.S., during which he’ll perform Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’; the acrimonious split of Freebass; and his plans to re-record classic Joy Division tracks for a new EP.

Check out the video for ‘Don’t Know What Love Was,’ the new collaboration between former New Order/current Bad Lieutenant frontman Bernard Sumner, Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard of electropop act Hot Chip and DJ/producer duo Hot City.