Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst performed at a rally held by US presidential hopeful Barack Obama in Iowa yesterday (January 1).

Yeah, we know. Excellent's turning into a dead horse and we havent updated the site in weeks. What can we say, sometimes life gets in the way.

Sadly, it takes a tragic event to get us back in the posting mood.

Factory Records founder TONY WILSON has died of a heart attack.

Imagine one man... ONE guy... who in 58 short years:

- Championed punk rock and arguably was the catalyst for punk to explode in the UK
- Created a record label where the artists had complete creative & financial freedom
- Signed Joy Division
- Was a moving force in Joy Division staying together after Ian to become New Order
- Signed the Happy Mondays - Created the Hacienda club and effectively created the Madchester explosion

And, well, he could be a bit of a prat, too -- but he'd be the first to tell you.

With a career of unbridled highs and flamboyant lows, Tony Wilson was one of the most exciting things to happen to music, PERIOD.

Stop reading this and go watch "24 Hour Party People" (the movie loosely based on his life) right now.

RIP, Tony. We'll miss ya.

Yeah, yeah... I know it's been awhile...

But holy crow, THE VERVE are back together!

In a statement, the band -- and the ORIGINAL line-up of the band at that, including once-estranged guitarist Nick McCabe -- say they're getting back together "for the joy of the music."

A winter tour is planned, and word is that new material is being recorded for perhaps a new album!

Whoa!

If you want a solid, evil dose of hilarity, check out THIS THREAD on a local Denton, TX music forum.

The story goes like this: A band called The Yearbook plays on a bill in April with some local Denton bands at a small, non-paying venue. Irked at their lack of payment at the end of the night, The Yearbook heist a small practice amp that isn't theirs and sell it at a nearby pawn shop for gas money.

What The Yearbook didn't know is that the amp belonged to a beloved Denton musician with a LOT of friends. After discovering the amp in the pawn shop, the Denton kids checked receipts and figured out who stole/pawned it.

Thus begins the Denton smear campaign against The Yearbook. Forum posts... Photoshopped pics... Myspace bulletins urging other venues NOT to book The Yearbook. More accusations of the guys from The Yearbook stealing tip money and generally being douchebags...

And finally ending up with admissions, apologies, and a FedEx cash payment for the amp by the band.

It still hasn't stopped the Denton kids from trying to make sure that The Yearbook does NOT play your town. Read the thread from the beginning and check out the fun. And you can see The Yearbook's Myspace page here.

Some very sad news. San Fadyl, drummer for indie stalwarts THE LADYBUG TRANSISTOR, died at his home in Switzerland on April 25th following a severe athsma attack. He leaves his wife and newborn baby. Our thoughts and prayers to the entire Ladybug family, a nicer band you couldn't ask to meet. The group has set up a memorial blog here for fans.

COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE have called it a day via an internet posting from Tom Bellamy. Bellamy relates to fans that he has decided to leave the band, and the rest of the boys have decided to pack it in to pursue other interests. The split is said to be on good terms.

Thom Yorke has been throwing hints around on RADIOHEAD's website that new material is coming along swimmingly. Recently the band posted a snippet of new audio, and Thom's just laid down a blog informing that at least a CD's worth of material has been created thus far...

The title says it all, really. Our favorite Little Band That Could, OF MONTREAL, are making their national television debut Thursday night on Late Night w/Conan O'Brien!

What a day for news for old school folks like us.

First up... We already know that the HAPPY MONDAYS are reforming for select dates this spring/summer, including this year's Coachella Festival in Indio, CA. What we were NOT expecting was today's exciting news, which is that the Mondays have recorded a NEW ALBUM. That's right, there will be a spankin' new Happy Mondays record later this year. The band have inked an international deal with Sanctuary Records.

Even MORE intriguing is the lineup for this weekend's Versus Cancer charity fundraiser this weekend in Manchester. The show, organized by The Smiths' Andy Rourke, is promising surprises by the truckload... what we DO know is that the headliners are nothing to sniff at: a "semi-acoustic" set from Noel Gallagher, The Charlatans, Echo and the Bunnymen, Bernard Butler, David McAlmont, and the biggest gig thus far from the Electric Milk Band (which features Gaz from the Mondays alongside Oasis original member Bonehead!)

Sound good, eh? Well, there's more. Festival insiders are not only confirming that New Order's Peter Hook will be joining Echo and the Bunnymen onstage, they are ALSO confirming that estranged Stone Roses' Mani and Ian Brown will be performing together. Add to that a finale being described as mind-blowing... Roses reunion? Or a monster Charlatans-Oasis-Roses mega-jam? Either way, it'll be one hell of a gig...

That's right, it's official. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN are reforming for Coachella (and a European fest or two) this spring. What you didn't know is that playing drums on these gigs will be none other than LOZ COLBERT (ex-Ride). Jim Reid confirmed it to Tripwire today. Holy wow. It just gets better & better...