Twenty eight years ago today, the first of what would turn out to be two multi-day US Festivals — envisioned by their organizer, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, as ‘Woodstock West’ — opened in blistering 110-degree heat at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernadino County, Calif.

Crowded House tonight posted video of the band, joined by Neil Finn’s son, Liam Finn, performing Neil Young’s classic ‘Old Man’ in Clearwater, Fla., on Wednesday night as a tribute to longtime Young sideman Ben Keith, who died two days earlier.

Fans at Crowded House’s third-of-three shows at New York’s Bowery Ballroom last night got a rare treat: David Byrne joined the band during its encore to perform the Talking Heads classics ‘Once in a Lifetime’ and ‘Road to Nowhere.’

Today sees the release of the sixth double A-side single from Peter Gabriel’s orchestral covers album ‘Scratch My Back’: his version of the Talking Heads’ ‘Remain in Light’ track ‘Listening Wind,’ backed by David Byrne’s take on ‘I Don’t Remember,’ off Gabriel’s third self-titled album.

Husband-and-wife team/former Talking Heads rhythm section Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth this week announced they’ll take the Tom Tom Club out on the road for the group’s first ‘lengthy’ North American tour in 10 years this fall in support of the forthcoming album ‘Genius of Live.’

Former Talking Heads leader David Byrne turns 58 today, and we mark his birthday with one of his quirkier solo projects: ‘Music for the Knee Plays,’ a 1985 brass-band-and-vocals album Byrne composed for Robert Wilson’s opera ‘the CIVIL warS.’

This week’s new releases include new albums from David Byrne & Fatboy Slim (’Here Lies Love,’ about Imelda Marcos) and Robyn Hitchcock (’Propellor Time’), plus expanded reissues from David Bowie, The Colourfield and Squeeze.

Round-up of headlines from last week while we were on vacation, including news about Paul Westerberg, Echo & The Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, Front Line Assembly, Nine Inch Nails, Talking Heads’ Christ Frantz, Duran Duran and more.

‘Ride, Rise, Roar’ — a new concert film documenting the creation and staging of David Byrne’s ambitious ‘The Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno’ tour in 2008 and 2009 — will receive its world premiere next month at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

This week’s new releases include Peter Gabriel’s new orchestral covers album, a live Pet Shop Boys CD/DVD, Niter Ebb’s first new record in 15 years and new reissues from Pixies, Bomb the Bass and 808 State.

[tweetmeme]David Byrne and Fatboy Slim next month finally will release Here Lies Love, the duo’s long-gestating, star-laden 22-track concept album about former Filipino first lady — and noted shoe hoarder — Imelda Marcos and her relationship, as a child, with one of her family’s servants.
Due out Feb. 23, the project — available both as a [...]

Record Rack: A weekly round-up of new albums, reissues and/or box sets due out Tuesday.
ARTIST: Echo & The Bunnymen
RELEASE: The Fountain
BACKSTORY: The long-running and beloved Bunnymen — original members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant, plus assorted sidemen — this week release their 10th studio album, preceded by first single “Think I Need It Too.” [...]