Enjoy a dose of music news to kick off the weekend.

  • Surprise!  Kanye's all talk and no show and cancels his American tour with Lady GaGa.  But maybe you can catch him at Taylor Swift's next concert.

  • Radiohead's Thom Yorke announces his solo band will be making an early debut tonight in L.A.  The still-unnamed band also includes bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

  • New Jersey-based fans of The Boss will be treated to some of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's classic albums in full at a series of concerts being played at Giants Stadium.  Hungry hearts, consider yourselves fed.

  • Social Distortion is currently "road testing" new tracks on their U.S. tour from their upcoming album, tentatively slated for release in 2010.

  • Madonna's latest album, Celebration, takes the top spot on Billboard's Top 100 European Albums.  Does this mean she's going to bring back the faux British accent?

  • A biopic of the life of the Ramones is in the works, based on a book by Joey Ramone's brother.  If you see this flick, feel free to beat on the brat in the theater who refuses to turn off her cell phone.

  • Kylie Minogue kicked off her first American tour this week in Oakland, Calif.  And you thought Beyonce and Lady GaGa were the only pop singers who could pull off a shiny leotard.

  • Michael Buble released his video for "Haven't Met You Yet" from his upcoming Crazy Love album, which drops Oct. 9.  What are you waiting for, Michael?  You'll never meet me if you're shopping at the wrong grocery store.

  • Paramore is postponing concerts scheduled through Oct. 9 due to lead singer Hayley Williams' laryngitis.  Refunds are available at point of purchase, as are vouchers for chicken soup in honor of Williams.  OK, there's no soup.

  • A new Jay-Z song, "Crispy Benjamins," is going to be released in late 2009, according to a press release.  The song samples Regina Spektor's "Chemo Limo".  Hey, it's no crazier than his collaboration with Little Orphan Annie in "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".

  • A previously-unreleased T.I. song, "Hell of a Life", was posted online by Nah Right with the promise that a music video for the song will be posted next week.  A song by T.I. called "Hell of a Life"?  Insert obvious prison joke here.

  • Bob Dylan is releasing a Christmas album Oct. 13 called Cherry Cherry Christmas. Because when one thinks of Christmas carols, one immediately thinks of Bob Dylan.

  • The Bravery have released their video for "Hatefuck" from their forthcoming Stir the Blood album, set to release on Nov. 10.  It was only a matter of time until someone put those two words together.

  • Supergroup Them Crooked Vultures kicked off their U.S. tour last night in Austin, Tex., to stellar reviews.  But wouldn't panning a group consisting of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) be illegal in the rock 'n roll community?

  • Devandra Banhart has plans for a project with Wu-Tang Clan mastermind GZA.  Indie folk rock fooling around with rap-rock surprisingly has the potential to produce one sweet lovechild.

This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 7, 2009.