Manic Street Preachers have announced details of their first North American shows in 10 years, kicking off in Seattle on September 21. - Source

Journal For Plague Lovers is enigmatic, engulfed, enraged. - Source

The band believe 'Journal For Plague Lovers' should be seen as an album only... - Source

'Journal For Plague Lovers' track-listing is released and set to feature lyrics by missing guitarist Richey James Edwards. - Source

The band are to use lyrics written by the missing member on their new album. - Source

I bear nothing but contempt and ill-will towards the pope (or any other religious leader for that matter), but on what other day would I have an excuse to post this song from James Dean Bradfield's superb solo album The... - Source

We can hear the car horns in Miami from here -- today's big news in the real world is Fidel Castro's resignation as Cuba's #1 Commie. In related news: Drinks are most definitely on Raúl Castro tonight. The music angle? Torr brings it by taking a look back at Fidel-era Cuba's "Western rock band" history, coming up with "that time in 2001 when the Manics played the Karl Marx Theater in Havana." Head here for some links to video clips.

That's a mighty distinction for the Manics to hold; covering Rihanna's "Umbrella," though? That puts them in the slightly larger subset of them-and-the-rest-of-2007. But, here goes! From a forthcoming NME comp:

Also falling under the umbrella of Rihanna news, the Barbadian diva plans another live, Time-like reprise of her Monster Jam -- this time with Klaxons, at tomorrow night's BRIT awards ("It's an electronic version with guitars on it, with a twist of 'Golden Skans'").

Finally: damn that is an awesome tag set. - Source

Digital Spy reports: *Oasis and Blur have reportedly been lined up to appear in a Britpop special of The Weakest Link. The show's bosses have contacted Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Damon Albarn and Alex James to appear in the episode of the gameshow, according to the Daily Star. "If we can pull this off it would be unbelievable," commented a BBC source. "Noel admits he's a Weakest Link fan." Other stars that bosses want to have on the show include Jarvis Cocker, Elastica's Justine Frischmann, Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield & Suede's Brett Anderson.  Source

NME has announced plans today for a new War Child charity record to follow in the footsteps of the acclaimed "Help" record of several years ago. Bands who have agreed to participate are to go into studio between now and the first week of September to lay down a cover of their choice, provided it was a former UK #1 song. The disc will be released in October to coincide with the 50th birthday of NME and the anniversary of the first UK pop music chart. Bands already confirmed to appear include: OASIS, MANIC STREET PREACHERS, STEREOPHONICS, BADLY DRAWN BOY, STARSAILOR, FEEDER, JIMMY EAT WORLD, BASEMENT JAXX, and MS. DYNAMITE, with more to be announced as the project nears completion.

Ian Brown will be remixing the next Manic Street Preachers single, "Let Robeson Sing". NME reports that he's going to bring in Aziz Ibrahim and Inder Goldfinger to help, and Brown will provide the vocals.