Casey Calvert, guitarist for breakout emo sensations Hawthorne Heights, died Saturday night in his sleep just hours prior to the band's scheduled performance at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club. He was 26. Authorities, currently investigating the mysterious death, have yet-to-determine a cause.

"Today is probably the worst day ever," read a band website post. "It's with our deepest regrets that we have to write this. Casey Calvert passed away in his sleep last night. We found out this afternoon before soundcheck. We've spent the entire day trying to come to grips with this and figure out as much as possible. At this time we're not sure what exactly happened."

The post continues, requesting fans to not fuel rumors of drug use, run rampant on the Internet. "Just last night he was joking around with everyone before he went to bed. We can say with absolute certainty that he was not doing anything illegal. Please, out of respect to Casey and his family, don't contribute or succumb to any gossip you may hear. We don't want his memory to be tainted in the least. Casey was our best friend. He was quirky and awesome and there will truly be no others like him! His loss is unexplainable."

Jesus and Mary Chain Shape New LP

As you may remember, seminal shoegaze outfit the Jesus and Mary Chain reunited at the 2007 installment of Coachella and subsequently confirmed "there will be a new record," the follow to 1998's Munki. Well, now fans awaiting further details of this murky reunion set can rest assured, for the brothers Reid are prepping the opus for a tentative late spring/early summer release. But in a recent interview with Billboard.com, JAMC manager Kevin Oberlin states the prospect of a new album came as a surprise to him. "I originally started working on both Jim's and William's solo albums, and when I approached (promoter) Goldenvoice about getting Jim a solo gig at Coachella, they came back with an offer for the Jesus and Mary Chain," Oberlin revealed. "We thought having the band reunite for Coachella would help set up both of their solo albums, but the very next day after the show, Jim and William did an interview and said that they were going to do a new Mary Chain album."

"When we ended in '98, we hated each other," William Reid adds. "A lot of that was down to drink and drugs. Jim's completely sober now, and I don't drink during the shows. But there is a kind of wariness. We're both aware that we could snap at each other, but we're trying to hold it together. We love this band, and we love each other."

Currently, the Reid brothers are going through dozens of new songs -- all written separately -- selecting roughly 12 for the forthcoming album. One new track, "All Things Must Pass," which the band often plays live, will be included on the LP, as well as featured on the soundtrack to NBC show Heroes. "I would say it's an evolution," Reid said of the new songs. "It definitely sounds like the Mary Chain, but I guess you evolve as a person and a writer. You can't really stand still. If you do that, you're lost."

Though numerous labels aiming to distribute the forthcoming album have pursued the band, the Jesus and Mary Chain have yet to sign a deal.

My Bloody Valentine To Release New LP Digitally

Sure, NIN appear to be gearing up for digital distribution, while Oasis certainly aren't, but now is seems My Bloody Valentine will join the former and "do a Radiohead" by releasing their forthcoming LP -- the band's first in over 15 years, digitally via the Internet. "Kevin [Shields, frontman] is getting the band back together and they will go into the studio next month to work on the new record," manager Vinita Joshi told Billboard.com. "The plan is that they will release the album themselves via the Internet, but there will also probably be a vinyl release."

But unlike Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine will likely shun In Rainbows' donation box distribution scheme said Joshi. Furthermore, Joshi, speaking on the band's recently slated reunion gigs, confirms the entire Loveless lineup -- frontman Shields, singer/guitarist Bilinda Butcher, bassist Debbie Googe and drummer Colm O'Ciosoig -- will take the stage at the UK-based gigs, but states the rumors of a 2008 Coachella headlining slot are not confirmed. "If the band had been booked to play any summer festivals, I'd know about it," Joshi said. "We'll see how the summer shows go first."

Well, if not at Coachella, at least stateside fans can expect a U.S. tour in near future.

Silver Jews Unveil New Album Title

Silver Jews principal David Berman has named the follow up to 2005's Tanglewood Numbers and the title is… drum roll please… Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. The new record, for which a tracklisting a has yet-to-be revealed, will tentatively arrive sometime in April 2008 via Drag City, Pitchfork reports. A supporting tour will soon be announced.