Random Music News for September 18, 2014

Well, Scotland? What will it be?

1. September 23 has been declared David Bowie Day in Chicago. Insert cliched “Let’s Dance” remark on your own time.
2. A possible big deal for Babs.
3. Metallica plans to release 27 live albums. Nice, but they still have a long way to beat Pearl Jam. And let’s not even discuss the Grateful Dead.
4. One in eight albums sold last year were British.
5. Stream (legally!) some of John Peel’s legendary record collection here.
6. Let’s not forget that the 2014 Polaris Music Prize Gala is coming up Monday. Stream a playlist of the Long List at Songza. (Just enter “Polaris 2014” and you’ll find it.)
7. The Church of U2. Seriously.
8. Aretha Franklin surprised us with an album announcement yesterday.
9. Joy Division has joined Twitter. I wonder what Ian will have to say? No, wait…
10. Pioneer Electronics likes the DJ world so much, it’s spinning off a new company.
11. The Band and Jeff Healey will be enshrined in Canada’s Walk of Fame.
12. A massive (117-song) Bruce Cockburn box set is coming.
13. And then there’s huge Rush 40th anniversary set coming November 11.
14. Queen…vodka? Yep.