On two magical nights-- June 22, 2005 and September 12, 2006-- punk godmother Patti Smith and My Bloody Valentine genius Kevin Shields took the stage together at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Their collaboration was called the Coral Sea, and took both its name and inspiration from Smith's 1996 book The Coral Sea. The book and the performance served as tributes to the legendary late artist Robert Mapplethorpe, who was Smith's close friend. (He took the iconic photograph that appears on the cover of Smith's 1975 debut album Horses.) - Source

16 years! It's been a long time to wait. For some of you it's probably been a lifetime. All that ends this fall, though, confirmed via tonight's news that's caused music bloggers countrywide to faint face first into their keyboards: My Bloody Valentine will curate a New York edition of the estimable All Tomorrow's Parties concert series with an absolutely absurd lineup for one weekend this September. In addition to MBV's headlining set, ATP's claiming full album recreations from Built To Spill (Perfect From Now On), Tortoise (Millions Now Living Will Never Die), and Meat Puppets (Meat Puppets II), and just regular old sets from Shellac, Mogwai, Polvo, Fuck Buttons, Autolux, the Drones, Low, Wooden Shjips, Edan, Thee Silver Mount Zion Orchestra, and we'll wait for you to regain consciousness. - Source

Franz Ferdinand, Sex Pistols and Sigur Ros have been confirmed for Ireland's Electric Picnic 2008 festival. - Source

My Bloody Valentine, Mika, Babyshambles, Siouxsie and The Rumble Strips will perform at a one-off show in Madrid during the Benicassim festival on July 19. - Source

So many festivals, but only one can be Bestival. The UK event was curated by BBC Radio 1's Rob da Bank and takes place on the Isle of Wight from September 5-7. So far the lineup includes the above-mentioned MBV and Aphex Twin, along with the Breeders, George Clinton, Gary Numan, the Human League, Lee Scratch Perry, the Wedding Present, 808 State ... wow, this is getting very nostalgic, Rob da Bank. As far as the youngsters, BTW Fuck Buttons, Foals, the Count & Sinden, These New Purtians, and St. Vincent, among others, will be there. May not be the best lineup across the board, but it's a good one, and they definitely have the trippiest website. - Source

According to a brief discussion with Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett posted over at NME, My Bloody Valentine are coming to America. Coachella's April date was too soon, which is why they're debuting with summer festival shows at Roskilde, Ã~ya, in Paris, and at a spattering of ATP-sponsored gigs. And the US of A? To quote Tollett: "Don't worry--they'll come to America." Vague, but forceful. As far as the rumors that original drummer Colm O'Ciosoig wasn't going to take part in the reunion? The folks who started the rumor have taken it back. - Source

Start looking out your windows for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalyse, as KEVIN SHIELDS, former frontman of My Bloody Valentine, has re-surfaced with his first non-instrumental solo track since the days of "Loveless."

The reclusive guitarist was coerced by Sofia Coppola and the team behind her new flick, "Lost in Translation," to contribute new material for the soundtrack. The result is one new song with vocals, a couple more new instrumentals, and a My Bloody Valentine classic on the record.

NPR actually got Shields to sit down for a brief interview this week (gasp), and they've got it online to hear on their site. Check it out HERE.

For those of you unfamiliar with Shelds' work, well.. well, first off, you should be slapped silly until you head to the nearest record store and grab a copy of "Loveless." But anyways, this is officially a BIG DEAL, as the elusive Shields only seems to come out of his reclusion when Bobby Gillespie fires up the Primal Scream machine (Shields played live with the Scream on their last tour.) In certain circles, this would be bigger news than Richie Manic turning up in Iowa or Syd Barrett releasing an album of standards. Even though the track with vocals is only about three minutes long, it's gorgeous and just what the doctor ordered to start a lazy autumn.

This is probably a bit late, but my brother just found the current issue of Magnet (Mar/Apr 2002). Ride's on the cover and they talk about the 'History of Shoegazing'. They have small interviews with Andy Bell (Ride), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine), Neil Halstead (Slowdive/Mojave 3), Alan Magee and others. It's pretty interesting as they talk about what happened the the followup to MBV's 'Loveless'. Click the 'read more' link to see their list of shoegazing's defining albums.

PRIMAL SCREAM will tour the US this year! They have just signed a deal with Astralwerks and their latest album, XTRMNTR, will be released in early May. The tour should start in late spring and Kevin Shields from MY BLOODY VALENTINE will be joining them onstage.

An era is INDEED about to pass, as news reaches us today that CREATION RECORDS may soon cease to exist, and if it DOES continue on, it will do so without its founder, ALAN McGEE. McGee announced today that he is to step down as founder and president effective June 2000, to explore other business ventures. Under McGee's helm, Creation went from a bedroom-based operation to become one of the premier independent labels in the world.