A Few More Things: New Order, Hugh Laurie & Flaming Lips

New New Order

Next month New Order will play its first shows since 2006.

Co-founder Peter Hook, who left the band in 2007, will not be there. Although the bassist won’t take the stage, BBC 6 Music reports that Gillian Gilbert will perform on keyboard and guitar. Gilbert, who is married to drummer Stephen Morris, last performed with New Order in 2001. Along with Gilbert and Morris, the lineup also includes Bernard Sumner on vocals and guitar, Phil Cunningham on guitar and keyboard, and Tom Chapman on bass.

The shows take place Oct. 17 in Brussels, Belgium, at Ancienne Belgique, and Oct. 18 in Paris at Le Bataclan. Proceeds from the performances will benefit artist and film producer Michael Shamberg, who has struggled with a debilitating illness since 2005. Shamberg produced several of the New Order’s music videos including “True Faith,” “Touched By The Hand Of God” and “Regret.”  

Click here for the story from BBC 6 Music.

Hugh Laurie In The U.S.

This fall brings the return of the medical drama “House” as well as a few U.S. tour dates from the bluesman otherwise known as Dr. Gregory House.

Hugh Laurie is touring in support in support of his debut album, Let Them Talk. The record, which was released in April on Warner Bros, includes a selection of standards and lost blues classics. Laurie is featured on vocals and piano. Guests on the album include Irma Thomas, Tom Jones, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint.

After playing several shows in Germany and the United Kingdom this spring, Laurie will now show off his skills in the U.S.

He’s playing Los Angeles’ The Mint Sept. 30, followed by an Oct. 1 set at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

For more information, click here for Hugh Laurie’s website.

The Lips Want To Sing About You

The Flaming Lips’ latest venture in a long list of recent shenanigans is the time-consuming task of recording a six-hour song.

The band recently announced that fans can get a shout out in the song by donating $100, which will go towards the Central Oklahoma Humane Society and the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Frontman Wayne Coyne made an appearance on Oklahoma City’s KFOR-TV earlier today to talk about the tune.

“Well, it’s one song that goes for six songs,” Coyne said. “It’s not like 20 songs put together.”

To get your name mentioned somewhere in the track, click here to make a donation through the special website the Lips have set up.