Here's some of the strangest music news the Internet had to offer this week:

Pope Benedict XVI has signed up with Snoop Dogg and Ashlee Simpson's record label to release an album called Alma Mater -- beating Kanye West to the punch, perhaps? [USA Today]

In a week when the big news was the death of Michael Jackson, some of music's biggest stars were still making headlines: Chris Brown pled guilty to assaulting Rihanna, Marilyn Manson discussed $200K drug budgets, and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.Am's entourage exchanged words -- and, allegedly, fists -- with gossip b

Good news for penny pinchers: this year's installment of the Virgin Mobile Festival is completely free -- and the lineup kicks ass!

Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand strutted and strummed their way through a grand performance at Seattle's Moore Theatre Monday night, opening their 19-date national tour.

Who knew smoking banana skins had the same therapeutic effect as taking Prozac? Amy Winehouse. After all, she's on top of all the new drug crazes. [Daily Star]