A Few More Things: Lou Reed, 3 Doors Down, CMT Music Awards & More

Guitarist and back-up vocalist Matt Roberts is splitting with 3 Doors Down after 16 years with the group. An announcement on the band’s website explains that Roberts has “dealt with health and circulation problems” during the past few years, and that constant touring has only made those issues worse.

“3 Doors Down will always have a special place in my heart and it saddens me to take this time off,” Roberts said in a statement. “But my health has to be my first priority.”

Lead singer Brad Arnold issued his own statement, saying, “Matt is our brother and he will always be a part of this band and he will always be welcomed back with open arms.”

Roberts and Arnold formed 3 Doors Down with bassist Todd Harrell. The band now includes Chris Henderson on guitar and Greg Upchurch on drums.

Velvet Underground Spider

Lou Reed now has his very own namesake genus of velvet spider as a tribute to his years fronting The Velvet Underground.

The genus was named Loureedia after an international group of biologists discovered “one particularly enigmatic” species of velvet spider that lives underground belonged to a new genus, according to Sci-News.com.

A photo of Loureedia annulipes from Tel Krayot, Isreal, shows a spider with black and white stripes on its legs and orange markings on its black and white abdomen.

Sci-News.com reports that most velvet spiders are rarely encountered as they keep hidden or live underground. The spiders, which have a dark and shiny appearance, live in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as one species in Brazil.

David Bowie and Neil Young are a few other rockers who have had spiders named after them.

Spoon vocalist/guitarist Britt Daniel, Wolf Parade vocalist/guitarist Dan Boeckner and New Bomb Turks drummer Sam Brown have teamed up as a new band called Divine Fits.

The band will put out its as yet untitled debut album later this year on Merge. Information about the release date as well as live shows will be “announced as they are confirmed,” according to a statement on the record label’s website.

Less than a week before news about Divine Fits was revealed, Handsome Furs announced it was breaking up. The indie rock duo featured Boeckner and his wife, Alexei Perry.

Divine Fits have set up a website here and a Twitter page here.

CMT Music Awards & CMA Awards Updates

The 2012 CMT Music Awards has added performances from Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and Hank Williams Jr.

Previously announced performers include Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.