News …

Gary Glitter planning his next album from Vietnamese prison cell – International Herald Tribune / Associated Press

British vicar claims “web terrorists” drove 13-year-old emo fan to suicide – Metro U.K.

Is it really Glastonbury if there isn’t any mud? Weather forecasters predict wind, no mud, for the music festival – The Times Online U.K.

Upcoming Nelson Mandela b-day bash to honor the anti-apartheid campaigner’s long and distinguished life – CNN

British trade group calls for new rules exempting small businesses from music licensing fees – Out-Law.com

Beck “pre-releases” new album on 10,000 digital jukeboxes via TouchTunes Network – BusinessWire / TouchTunes / press release

Views …

R.E.M. in Atlanta – “The boys from Athens, Ga., put on a phenomenal show at Lakewood here in Atlanta on Saturday night.” – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Reverend Horton Heat in Boise – “The Rev calls his music ‘country-fed punkabilly,’ so it made perfect sense when he tore through blazing covers of songs by Black Sabbath, Stray Cats and Nirvana back-to-back-to-back.” – Idaho Statesman

Newsboys in El Paso – ” … brought a lot of praise, a little preaching and plenty of rock ‘n’ roll to Abundant Living Faith Center, Monday night.” – El Paso Times

Stevie Nicks in Boston – ” … took a twirl and a tour through a catalog more than three decades deep, and nearly as wide.” – The Boston Globe

Josh Ritter in Chicago – “Not only did Ritter and his band deliver a tight, rocking set, the singer seemed so genuinely thrilled to be there that it would have been difficult not to join in on his glee.” – San Francisco Examiner.com

Emmylou Harris in Virginia – “At Wolf Trap on Sunday night, the voice of the newly minted Country Music Hall of Famer was as soothing as ever, gliding effortlessly through a two-hour survey of one of the most eclectic and rewarding catalogues in country/folk/bluegrass/rock.” – The Washington Post

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

Arthur Brown is 64

Jeff Beck is 64

Colin Blunstone is 63

Mick Fleetwood is 61

John Illsley (Dire Straits) is 59

Derrick Simpson (Black Uhuru) is 58

Astro (UB40) is 51

Andy McCluskey (O.M.D) is 49

Curt Smith (Tears for Fears) is 47

Glenn Medeiros is 38

Solange Knowles is 22