With Morrissey’s libel case against the NME slated to go to trial in a month, the music weekly today apologized to the singer, writing, ‘We wish to make clear that we do not believe that he is a racist; we didn’t think we were saying he was and we apologise to Morrissey if he or anyone else misunderstood our piece in that way.’

Well, it’s once again Morrissey’s birthday — insert “Unhappy Birthday” joke here — and the perpetually glum Smiths frontman is 53 today. To celebrate, we thought we’d dig up our favorite photo of him (yes, that’s Moz and Rick Astley), and then post a dozen Smiths and Morrissey concerts for your viewing pleasure.

Thirty years ago tonight, The Haçienda — the famed Manchester nightclub opened by Factory Records, New Order and Tony Wilson — opened its doors to the public. Check out clips of New Order playing there, plus full sets from The Smiths, The Stone Roses and The Chameleons.

Our latest collection of links includes sad news about the passing of former Crowded House drummer Peter Jones, plus an interview with Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan about Soulsavers, news of Morrissey’s libel suit against the NME proceeding to court this summer, and a mix of David Bowie covers from Strangeways Radio.

When The Housemartins split in 1988, the band vowed never to reunite. That remains as true, according to bassist Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, who this morning told a BBC radio interviewer that it would take an equally unlikely reunion of The Smiths to spur his bandmates into action.

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.