[Updated: 5:48 P.M.]
NEWS:
- Fashion Star ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Dead at 40
The innovative Brit dressed Lady Gaga, Bjork, Karen O, Courtney Love, and other musicians. [SPIN]
- PHOENIX Announce Spring Tour
French pop-rock band return in support of their Grammy-winning release Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. [Pitchfork]
- JULIAN CASABLANCAS Plots Solo Tour
Strokes frontman will support his solo debut, Phrazes for the Young, with Spring trek. [Julian Casablancas]
- KILLERS Cancel Gigs, Address Breakup Rumors
The Las Vegas band scraps Australian shows due to “illness of a close family member.” [SPIN]
- WALKMEN Sign to Fat Possum, Record New Album
The band will produce the follow-up to You & Me themselves, while Chris Zane serves as engineer and mixer. [Pitchfork]
- FIONA APPLE Record New Song Written by ‘Tweens
She & Him, Cold War Kids also work with kids on charity album. Click here for details! [SPIN]
- JOHN MAYER Apologizes for Racial Slur
Plus: Find out which female star the singer-guitarist considered sexual “crack cocaine.” [SPIN]
- WEEZER Solicit Fan Remixes of ‘Raditude’ Song
The mix-master with the best version of “Love is the Answer” gets to write a song with Rivers Cuomo. [Indaba Music]
- NO DOUBT, STROKES, KINGS OF LEON Auction Custom Goods for Haiti
Conor Oberst, Mars Volta, Fleet Foxes and more also contribute to the cause. [Crafts For a Cause]
- LADY ANTEBELLUM, LIL WAYNE Top Album Chart
Nick Jonas and Rob Zombie also debut in the Top 10 this week. [Billboard]
- Air Forces Pulls Super Bowl Ad After WHITE STRIPES Complain
Military branch says the TV ad’s soundtrack was unintentionally similar to the duo’s “Feel in Love With a Girl.”[MTV]
- New STROKES Record Expected in September
“We’re just running around like kids in a candy shop,” says drummer Fab Moretti. [SPIN]
- KANYE WEST Kisses JAY LENO
Rapper gives the host a goodbye smooch during Leno’s final episode before his late night comeback after the Olympics. [TMZ]
- MEGADETH Reunite with Original Bassist
David Ellefson rejoins the group for their month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour. [Kerrang]
- BRIGHT EYES to Release New Songs
Four new tracks — written with fellow Nebraskans Neva Dinova — drop March 23 on a reissue of One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels. [Pitchfork]
MP3s & VIDEOS:
- LISTEN: New UNKLE Song with BLACK ANGELS
Hear the first taste of the seminal electronic act’s forthcoming album, Where Did the Night Fall. [SPIN]
- WATCH: YEASAYER Rock Fallon
Brooklyn band play “Ambling Alp,” off their new album Odd Blood. [Hulu]
- LISTEN: SHE & HIM Play New Song Live
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward unveil “Thieves” for a BBC broadcast. [Stereogum]
- LISTEN: New BROKEN BELLS Song
Danger Mouse and Shins frontman James Mercer leak “Vaporize,” a track off their self-titled debut, due March 23.[MySpace]
- WATCH: WILCO Cover NEIL YOUNG Live
Jeff Tweedy and Co. play Buffalo Springfield’s “Broken Arrow” in Portland, OR. [Stereogum]