We’re going to start with some news items about The Clash, a controversial show by an opera star, a Hollywood haunt come back to life, an invasion of The Great White Way and a hip-hop artist who can’t get paid.

And we’ll follow that with reviews of the original rapper, a visit from an Icelandic export, a celebration of a great musical collaboration, the much-maligned James Blunt and The Dandy Warhols.

Ready? Let’s do this then.

News …

Long live The Clash! Mick Jones talks about the legendary band – Telegraph

Not everyone was happy about Placido Domingo‘s show at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico – Associated Press via MSN Travel

A famous Los Angeles nightspot gets a new lease on life – Los Angeles Times

Well it had to happen sometime; there’s just too much money to be made to avoid it. Tweens invade Broadway in the new musical “13” – MTV.com

Poor R. Kelly. Even when he wins, he loses – Associated Press

Views …

Lou Reed improvises in L.A. – Los Angeles Times

Iceland’s Sigur Ros are falsetto fabulous in Seattle – Seattle Times

Byrne plays Eno (and Byrne) in San Jose – The Mercury News

James Blunt opens his world tour in Wales – Wales Online

The Dandy Warhols have still got it – The Mercury News

They Say It’s Their Birthday … (Or so says Associated Press)

Al Martino is 81

Kevin Godley (10cc) is 63

Kieran Kane is 59

John Mellencamp is 57

Ricky Phillips is 57

Tico Torres (Bon Jovi) is 55

Yo-Yo Ma is 53

Michael W. Smith is 51

Simon Cowell is 49

Charlie Marinkovich (Iron Butterfly) is 49

Dale Watson is 46

Ann Curless (Expose) is 45

Toni Braxton is 41

Thom Yorke (Radiohead) is 40

Leeroy Thornhill is 39

Damian Kulash is 33

Taylor Hicks is 32