Archive for Anniversary

Six previously unreleased Morrissey tracks finally will see the light of day this fall when EMI releases a 20th anniversary reissue of the ex-Smith’s iconic early-career singles compilation ‘Bona Drag.’

The highly influential debut album from German synthpop outfit Propaganda — 1985’s ‘A Secret Wish’ — will be reissued yet again later this month, this time appearing in a 25th anniversary 2CD edition featuring six previously unreleased tracks plus the rare 20-minute cassette mix of ‘Duel.’

Electro-pop icon Gary Numan today announced he’ll celebrate the 30th anniversary of his solo debut ‘The Pleasure Principle’ this fall with a 16-date North American tour that will include nightly performances of the 1979 album in its entirety as well as selections from his in-the-works ‘Splinter’ record.

Having already played more than 40 concerts on their wildly successful ‘Doolittle’ 20th anniversary tour, the Pixies will bring the show back to the U.S. for an 11-date run in September, hitting cities the band skipped last fall.

With its new album delayed until fall, landmark postpunk act Killing Joke this week announced it will issue ‘In Excelsis,’ an EP culled from the same sessions, later this month — and released ‘Endgame,’ a free MP3 that marks the first new music from the band’s original lineup since 1982’s ‘Revelations.’

Last night, bassist Peter Hook marked the 30th anniversary of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis’ death by performing the band’s 1979 debut ‘Unknown Pleasures’ in its entirety — plus assorted other Joy Division and Warsaw songs — at his Manchester club FAC251 The Factory.

R.E.M. will mark the 25th anniversary of their third album, ‘Fables of the Reconstruction,’ this summer with the third installment in the band’s ongoing reissue series, a double-disc re-release featuring 14 previously unreleased demos — including one never-before-heard song.

Synthpop act Heaven 17 will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its debut album ‘Penthouse and Pavement’ by performing the record in its entirety during an eight-date U.K. tour this fall that’s being billed as ‘part art installation and part concert.’

As Norwegian pop trio a-ha marks its 25th anniversary with a worldwide farewell tour, Rhino Records on Thursday announced plans to reissue the band’s first two albums — 1985’s ‘Hunting High and Low’ and 1986’s ‘Scoundrel Days’ — in deluxe 2CD sets brimming with B-sides, mixes, live cuts and unreleased material.

Synth pioneer and former Ultravox singer John Foxx is marking the 30th anniversary of the release of his solo debut ‘Metamatic’ with a new 2CD/1DVD retrospective called ‘Metatronic’ — as well as a special “analog” concert in London next month with guest DJ Gary Numan.

The folks at Beggars Archive this week announced a May 17 release date for The Charlatans’ 2CD ‘Some Friendly: Expanded Edition,’ timed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Manchester act’s chart-topping debut.

Revived Brit rockers The Godfathers will play London this June on the exact date of their first gig in 1985, in addition to an extensive, just-announced 25th anniversary U.K tour set for late April and May and a string of summer festival dates.