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Morrissey Refutes Smiths Reunion Rumors; Killers Plan B-Sides Album

Devout fans of seminal rockers the Smiths best reach for the tissue box, for the sobbing is about to escalate: Morrissey has confirmed that in fact a Smiths reunion is not in the future. According to a statement, which seeks to derail rampant “rumor mongers,” the “one thing the future will not bring is a Smiths reunion tour.” The statement continues, claiming Morrissey was approached by numerous promoters and offered up to $75,000,000 to perform alongside axeman Johnny Marr for a tour in 2008 and 2009. The offers, which the Mozzer rejected, did not include either Smiths drummer Mike Joyce or bassist Andy Rourke.

Further adding to the tear shed, Morrissey has also confirmed that his latest tour, which includes residencies in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, will be his last “for the foreseeable future” and that he plans to “go out with some great memories.”

Killers Prep B-Sides Album

Fans of Las Vegas-based indie rockers the Killers are in for a treat, for Brandon Flowers and crew are prepping a collection of B-sides previously unreleased in the U.S. for an album, tentatively dropping to store shelves before year’s end. “In England we have a lot of B-sides that people in America would never know about because we don’t have singles here,” Flowers told Billboard.com. “So we have about 15 of these songs that people have never heard, and we wanted to stick them on something for people to get to have them all together.” Some of the songs set for inclusion include, “All the Pretty Faces” (“When You Were Young” B-side), “Shadowplay,” a Joy Division cover featured in Anton Corbijn’s Ian Curtis biopic Control, “Move Away” from the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack, and a cover of Mel Tillis’ “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.”

In addition, the Killers will return to their festive yuletide moods this year with yet another holiday jingle, following up last year’s tune “A Great Big Sled,” which raised over $100,000 for charity. “We’re also going to do another Christmas single for the Red Campaign,” Flowers said. “We’ve written ‘Don’t Shoot Me Santa,’ which will hopefully be available on Dec. 1.”

Decemberists Offer Junior boys, Diplo Remixes, Tour

Yep, you read the headline correctly! Library-lovin’ Portland, OR-based lit-rockers the Decemberists will release The Perfect Crime #2, an EP featuring remixes of the namesake track courtesy of thugalicious artists Diplo, Junior Boys, and A Touch of Class. The EP, possibly dispatched to balance the band’s symphonic respect with a little street cred, will also deliver the previously unreleased tune “The Perfect Crime #2.5.1” when it hits digital music stores as a download and independent retail stores on vinyl.

But that’s not all, the minds of the Decemberists have yet another treat of their sleeves: A tour! “The Long and Short of It” fall outing, set to kick off in Chicago Oct. 28, will feature multi-night stands in an assortment of cities nationwide, including New York, Boston, and San Francisco, and will offer alternating gigs featuring either the “Long of It” or “Short of It,” which a press release states: “‘Long’ evenings will focus on the band’s epic, progressive compositions. ‘Short’ nights (while no shorter in set length, we promise) will highlight their more succinct, pop-leaning material.” Now the pressing decision is whether you subscribe to the Decemberists “epic” or “pop-leaning” selections. It’s a tough one.

The Perfect Crime #2 EP tracklisting:

1. “A Touch of Class Robs the Bank” Remix
2. “Diplo’s Doing Time” Remix
3. “Junior Boys” Remix
4. The Perfect Crime” #2.5.1

Decemberists tour dates:

10/28, Chicago, IL (Vic Theater/”Long of It”) *
10/29, Chicago, IL (Vic Theater/”Short of It”) *
11/1, New York, NY (Terminal 5/”Long of It”) *
11/2, New York, NY (Terminal 5/”Short of It”) *
11/3, Boston, MA (Orpheum/”Long of It”) *
11/4, Boston, MA (Orpheum/”Short of It”) *
11/6, Winston-Salem, NC (Millennium Center/”Long of It”) *
11/7, Winston-Salem, NC (Millennium Center/”Short of It”) *
11/9, Washington, DC (9:30 Club/”Long of It”) *
11/10, Washington, DC (9:30 Club/”Short of It”) *
11/11, Washington, DC (9:30 Club/”Long of It”) *
11/12, Washington, DC (9:30 Club/”Short of It”) *
11/15, Columbus, OH (Lifestyle Communities Pavilion/”Long of It”) *
11/16, Columbus, OH (Lifestyle Communities Pavilion/”Short of It”) *
11/18, Milwaukee, WI (Riverside Theater/”Long of It”) *
11/19, Milwaukee, WI (Riverside Theater/”Short of It”) *
11/23, San Francisco, CA (The Fillmore/”Long of It”) *
11/24, San Francisco, CA (The Fillmore/”Short of It”) *
11/25, San Francisco, CA (The Fillmore/”Long of It”) *
11/26, San Francisco, CA (The Fillmore/”Short of It”) *

* w/ Laura Veirs

Thermals Plot Tour

Sub Pop’s punk trio the Thermals will continue their assault on fans’ ears this fall with a tour heavy in tunes from the band’s acclaimed LP The Body, the Blood, the Machine. The 14-date outing, unrolling in Vancouver, British Columbia Oct. 16, will remain north of the border for a handful of shows before crossing into the good ol’ US of A and hitting cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Washington, DC.

The Thermals tour dates:

10/16, Vancouver, BC (Richard’s on Richards)
10/18, Calgary, AB (Broken City)
10/19, Edmonton, AB (Velvet Underground)
10/20, Saskatoon, SK (Amigo’s)
10/21, Winnipeg, MB (Royal Albert)
10/22, Minneapolis, MN (Triple Rock Social Club)
10/24, Chicago, IL (Logan Square Auditorium)
10/25, Pontiac, MI (The Eagle Theater)
11/2, Philadelphia, PA (First Unitarian Church)
10/26, Cleveland, OH (Beachland Ballroom)
10/27, Toronto, ON (Horseshoe Tavern)
10/28, Montreal, QC (Club Lambi)
10/30, Cambridge, MA (Middle East Downstairs)
11/3, Washington, DC (Black Cat)