Drummer Jon Brookes, who co-founded Madchester survivors The Charlatans in 1989, “passed away peacefully” this morning at age 44, nearly three years after collapsing onstage in Philadelphia from a seizure stemming from a previously undiagnosed brain tumor, the band announced “with great sadness” today.

For fans disappointed that the online debut of the late John Peel’s record collection didn’t feature actual music off those platters or broadcasts by the legendary British DJ, here’s the real deal: a streaming collection of 458 episodes of Peel’s show that totals 846 hours and spans the years 1967 to 2004.

Two weekends ago, Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess brought to life a “virtual cafe” called Tim Peaks Diner at the UK’s Kendal Calling 2012 festival and invited some of his favorite musicians to play. Here we see Burgess and Aztec Camera’s Roddy Frame backing up Edwyn Collins on his1995 solo hit “A Girl Like You.”

This week’s new releases include the first new albums in decades from Public Image Ltd. and the hit ’80s lineup of Ultravox, plus a new four-disc Colourbox box set and expanded reissues of Sugar’s classic 1992 debut ‘Copper Blue’ and The Charlatans’ 1997 album ‘Tellin’ Stories.’

This week’s round-up of Slicing Up Eyeballs headlines includes news about My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Depeche Mode, The Cult, The Charlatans, Duran Duran and Men Without Hats — plus a new Peter Gabriel live CD giveaway.

The Charlatans this spring continue their somewhat haphazard reissue campaign by following up expanded editions of 1990 debut ‘Some Friendly’ and 1999’s ‘Us and Us Only’ with a double-disc re-release of 1997’s ‘Tellin’ Stories’ — which will be followed by four performances of the album in the U.K. this June.

The buzz about a possible reunion of The Stone Roses built over the weekend, with no official denial from the band’s members and seeming confirmation from friends such as Shaun Ryder and Tim Burgess — plus fresh rumors that not only are the Roses mounting a series of concerts, but recording a new album as well.