Random Music News for Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Back on this day in 1991, the first version of Linux was released. That has nothing to do with music news, but it’s interesting, no?

1. Are Drake and Serena a thing? If not, why were they spotted making out?
2. What’s with Avril Lavigne and her Tumblr posts?
3. Here’s a heartbreaking story about Celine Dion and her husband.
4. This is the 25th anniversary of the goofy Judas-Priest-songs-caused-suicide trial. (Via Tom)
5. The Koreas have agreed to shut down their broadcasting speakers across the DMZ, including the South’s insistence on playing lots and lots of K-Pop. Crisis averted. Maybe.
6. Interesting story about how Bruce Springsteen and “Born to Run” captured the decline of the American dream. (Via Andrew)
7. The MTV Video Awards have a new dedicated emoji. I won’t be using it.
8. Kirk Hammett of Metallica has an amazing collection of horror memorabilia–and it’s on display at SFO.
9. The story behind the Foo Fighters decision to troll the Westboro Baptist Church.
10. One Direction is doomed.
11. This song is trying to change the meaning of jihad.
12. Gavin, Gavin, Gavin. This isn’t going to help the divorce from Gwen.
13. Deconstructing Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songwriters list. There’s a problem.
14. If this survey is really happening, I’m very uncomfortable with it.
15. The return of Bikini Kill.
16. Sixteen musicians who take weird things with them on tour.
17. A hydrogen-powered iPhone? Maybe.
18. Mexico’s music market is up 11% in the first half of this year. Japan is up, too.
19. Justin Bieber’s people have banned him from appearing on live TV. Good idea.