Former Soft Cell singer Marc Almond this summer will release ‘Variete’ — his first new album of “self-written songs” in a decade and possibly his last — before embarking on the ’30 Year Celebration: My Hits and A Sides’ U.K. tour later this year, which are ‘likely to be his last British concerts for some time.’

Today we observe another dark-hued milestone, as goth queen Siouxsie Sioux — aka Susan Janet Ballion, erstwhile leader of The Banshees and The Creatures — turns 53.

Details are scarce, but Elvis Costello fans have two releases to look forward to in the coming months: a new compilation called ‘Pomp & Pout: The Universal Years,’ due out this summer, and a brand-new studio album, ‘American Ransom,’ expected in the fall.

Industrial mainstays My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult will revisit their late-’80s, early-90s tenure on Chicago’s trailblazing Wax Trax! Records with a new compilation this summer and tours with Psychotica and Lords of Acid.

Last night at London’s Royal Albert Hall, former Jam bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton reunited on stage for the first time since 1982 to play three songs together during the second night of Weller’s five-gig residency.

As promised, Robert Smith this week started streaming The Cure’s live performance of ‘Disintegration’ — recorded at Dallas’ Starplex Amphitheatre on 1989’s Prayer Tour — on the band’s microsite for the new reissue.

This week, Beck’s Record Club — featuring St. Vincent, Liars and Os Mutantes — brings us its cover of INXS’ ‘Never Tear Us Apart,’ the lighters-in-the-air power ballad that served as ‘Kick’s’ fourth hit single.

The directors of the upcoming documentary ’40 Nights of Rock & Roll’ managed to drag former Replacements leader Paul Westerberg out of semi-seclusion last week to play some songs and talk rock at Minneapolis’ Target Field — and here’s a video teaser to prove it.

With Bono’s recovery from back surgery expected to take at least eight weeks, U2 today canceled its first-ever Glastonbury appearance and pushed this summer’s North American leg of its massive 360° Tour to sometime in 2011.

Admittedly, The Cure’s ‘Disintegration: Deluxe Edition’ may be a bit much for casual fans — particularly wading through so many instrumental demos — but to anyone who has spent the past 21 years exploring the depths of this album, the new reissue is a marvel to hear.

This week’s new releases include The Cure’s ‘Disintegration: Deluxe Edition’ (CD and vinyl in Europe, iTunes in the U.S.), Modern English’s first new album in 14 years, a 2CD reissue of Marc Almond’s ‘Open All Night’ and The Wonder Stuff’s re-recording of ‘Hup.’

Late-’70s Los Angeles punk outfit The Germs’ final performance with original frontman Darby Crash — recorded just four days before the singer’s suicide via heroin overdose — will be released on CD next month for the first time.

Reunited British pop-rockers Squeeze will deliver a new 14-track best-of this summer featuring ‘all their classic hits re-recorded in a way so painstakingly faithful to the originals that they challenge you to spot the difference,’ according to a statement from the band.