THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

... with R.E.M.!  Live in Germany circa 1985, more complete than what has previously turned up on the Tube. Songs include "Feeling Gravity's Pull," "Harbourcoat," "Sitting Still," "Maps & Legends," "Fall On Me," "Green Grow The Rushes," "Driver 8," "Hyena," "So. Central Rain," CCR's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain," "Can't Get There From Here," Roger Miller's "King Of The Road," "Seven Chinese Bros.," "Auctioneer," "Old Man Kinsey," "Little America," "Pretty Persuasion, " "Theme From Two Steps Onward," Aerosmith's "Toys In The Attic," and Television's "See No Evil." Plus, previously unlinked here: "Second Guessing," "Ghost Riders In The Sky," "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville," "We Walk/ Behind Closed Doors" and "Paint It Black." 

KATHLEEN EDWARDS played a Tiny Desk Concert at the offices of NPR.

ANDREW BIRD, Live from the Greene Space.Unpluggedy.

PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED played the Boiler Room in London; you can watch or listen to the gig on demand.

SCREAMING FEMALES are advance streaming Ugly.

HERMAN DUNE is advance streaming the Monument Park EP.

HUSKER DU, Live at First Ave, Aug. 28, 1985 (zip) (alternate zip) Recorded for SPIN,iirc. (Thx, Mike.)

TRANSLATOR is "Everywhere That I'm Not," including the "Where Are They Now?" file.

LOS CAMPESINOS!: Gareth talks to PopMatters about how a recent breakup affected the newest record, the role that depression plays in his lyrics, and why touring is a weird thing to do.

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS: Patterson Hood talks to Birmingham Box Set about about bassist Shonna Tucker's recent departure from the band, Dexateens' bassist Matt Patton joining the current tour, Spooner Oldham, Muscle Shoals, the Alabama Shakes and the rise of the Alabama scene. (Thx, LHB.)

REGINA SPEKTOR tells NME her upcoming LP represents eight years of songwriting.

THE BEST of 2012 (So Far): Drowned in Sound playlists top songs of the first quarter. The A.V. Club looks ahead.

JIM MARSHALL, founder of Marshall Amplification and creator the Marshall stack and the amp which goes to "11," has died at 88.

CUTOUT BIN: From Elvis Presley to Sonic Youth, from the Yardbirds to Weezer, from the Bangles to Foghat, plus Wilson Pickett, Joan Jett, the Beatles, Mountain and more  -- this Friday's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide release is American Reunion, currently scoring 51 percent on the ol' Tomatometer. The 3-D reengineered Titanic opened Wednesday, with 86 percent.

KIM KARDASHIAN... and Kanye West? She claims she's not close to dating again.

SNL: Losing Andy Samberg, Jason Sudekis and Kristen Wiig?

JAMES BOND's new girlfriend in Skyfall will be played by Greek actress Tonia Sotiropoulou.

"THE SITUATION" has left rehab.

KEVIN BACON & KYRA SEDGWICK: Not just married, but distant cousins. Six degrees?

DINER: An Oral History, with director Barry Levinson, producer Mark Johnson, cast members Kevin Bacon, Steve Guttenberg and Paul Reiser, and critics.

TERROR in the USA: Terrorism charges were refiled in military court against 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-conspirators.

OSAMA BIN LADEN was in close contact with Hafiz Saeed, the wanted chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and helped plan the 2008 Mumbai attack, according to a report in the Hindustan Times.

IRAN: Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the elite Qods Force, indicted by the Justice Department for his alleged role in the plot to blow up the Saudi Arabian ambassador at a cafe in Washington DC, has turned his attention to Syria. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister raised new doubts about the resumption of international talks over its disputed nuclear program, saying the location may not be Turkey - as previously agreed - and suggested Iraq and China as possible alternate hosts.

IRAQ: The government postponed a reconciliation conference. Vice President Tariq al Hashemi, who is wanted for terrorism charges, has arrived in Saudi Arabia.

BABY PYGMY HIPPO takes her first swim.

DEADLY GROIN-BITING TICKS threaten this summer's Euros.

SNAKE on a PLANE: An Australian pilot said he was forced to make a harrowing landing reminiscent of a Hollywood thriller after a snake popped out from behind his dashboard and slithered across his leg during a solo cargo flight.

EASTER BUNNY arrested after his shift.

VAN SHE drops a video for "Idea of Happiness."

DINOSAUR FEATHERS is advance streaming Whistle Tips.

HEARTLESS BAST^RDS stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic for a session.

THOMAS DOLBY played World Cafe Live; you can stream the gig on demand.

THE MILK CARTON KIDS stopped by World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

THE LUMINEERS play a set of gently rolling acoustic numbers live on KEXP.

SOUNDGARDEN: "Live To Rise," from The Avengers soundtrack, is the band's first new studio effort in 15 years.

BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW release a mysterious new song called "Spraypaint."

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT: That "Out of the Game" stars Helena Bonham-Carter may be the least strange thing about the clip for this jaunty number.

THE MAGNETIC FIELDS: Stephin Merritt talks to The Awl about songwriting.

JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE talks to the WSJ about his latest album, "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now."

NEIL YOUNG is developing a high-res digital audio format.

ROBIN GIBB: Cancer-free.

INDIE-ROCK COMPOSER-PERFORMER: The financials.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & JESSICA BIEL pulling out all the stops for a big summer wedding, allegedly.

RHIANNA has warned her management team she won't be kept apart from ex Chris Brown or be held back by their rules.

RYAN GOSLING saved a British woman from being hit by a taxi.

ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO is having a baby boy.

WHITNEY HOUSTON's autopsy reveals a "spoon with a white crystal-like substance on it" and a "white powdery substance" were found in her hotel room.

ZOOEY DESCHANEL looks a lot like her mom.

BARRY WILLIAMS (a/k/a Greg Brady) is a dad again. (Met him once. He complimented my tie.)

JEREMY RENNER on The Avengers, Bourne, privacy, Thai knife fighting and more at THR.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON is featured in a new clip from the Avengers movie.

TERROR in the CAUCUSUS: Security forces killed five terrorists, including two suspected suicide bombers, at a checkpoint in Nazran in Ingushetia.

TERROR in FRANCE: Investigations began of 13 members of the banned group Forsane Alizza on suspicion of terror activities that included plotting to kidnap a Jewish judge in Lyon.

SYRIA: Rebels abandoned efforts to hold territory in major cities and towns after a series of defeats. Government troops entered rebel areas, hunted down activists, and torched and bulldozed homes. Nevertheless, Assad's uncle said Assad was unlikely to hold onto power much longer.

EGYPT: Members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood began a week-long charm offensive in Washington on Tuesday, meeting with White House officials, policy experts and others to counter persistent fears about the group's emergence as the country's most powerful political force. Meanwhile, the presidential hopeful of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has promised to give religious clerics power to review legislation to ensure it is in line with Islamic law.

BIG CAT, small pot.

MAYBE THE DOG ate your Masters' tickets.

THE DOG SCOUTS OF AMERICA have badges and campouts, cookie drives and troops in 22 states.

A PYTHON gets cagey when its cage is cleaned.

DALE EARNHARDT JR JR drop a video for "We Almost Lost Detroit" than may strike some as optimistic.

OF MONSTERS AND MEN stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.

BEN KWELLER stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.

TOMMY STINSON played World Cafe Live; you can stream the gig on demand.

ELVIS COSTELLO: Hear three classic tunes from his live LP.

EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS drop "That's What's Up" ahead of Here.

SAD BABY WOLF (Ex-Shins) cover Neutral Milk Hotel's "Everything Is."

THE DOORS: An official, 3 1/2 minute video for "L.A. Woman."

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS: Patterson Hood talks to Weld about calling a timeout, the music biz and more. (Thx, LHB.)

KIM FOWLEY, rock impressario behind The Runaways, is profiled by the L.A. Times.

EXENE CERVENKA & JOHN DOE are formally releasing their first studio recordings together since 1993 next week.

THE SONS OF THE BEATLES are set to form a band together, according to reports.

KATE WINSLET, post Titanic: "Leo's fatter now, and I'm thinner."

JESSICA ALBA got several new tattoos.

MINKA KELLY & WILMER VALDERRAMA: Hmmm.

LARA FLYN BOYLE is melting... melting...

JASON BIGGS talks to the HuffPo about nude scenes, self-pleasuring and his insane Twitter account.

COMMUNITY showrunner Dan Harmon apologized for airing Chevy Chase's angry voicemail.

ROCK OF AGES has a trailer online.

TERROR in FRANCE: Investigations began of 13 members of the banned group Forsane Alizza on suspicion of terror activities that included plotting to kidnap a Jewish judge in Lyon.

EGYPT: In the poor provinces, Egyptians adhere to centuries-old rules of law and order, a system of honor killings and blood money.

IRAN: The United States would not be safe from retaliation if Iran is attacked by Washington, the Iran newspaper quoted a senior Revolutionary Guards commander on Tuesday as saying.

GUINEA PIG: Support animal, pet, or legal experiment?

BABY AARDVARK: Aawww...some pic.

ZINC NEUTERING will allow dogs to keep something extra.

A 220-LB CALF is not a good backseat driver. Especially in a Honda.

DUM DUM GIRLS are "Coming Down" in a mellow (for them) and Yoko-esque fashion.

NEW RELEASES from Robert Pollard, Paul Van Dyk, Ravens & Chimes, Lumineers, Ian Anderson and more are streaming this week via Spinner.

DELTA SPIRIT played World Cafe Live; you can stream the whole gig on demand.

FIRST AID KIT played a Tiny Desk Concert at the offices of NPR.

GLEN HANSARD played a SXSW set for KUT, including Springsteen's "Drive All Night" with Jake Clemons.

SLOW CLUB unleashes "The Dog" and "Where I'm Walking" for a nin-vintage Twofer Tuesday, Plus, Rebecca Taylor yuks it up with the San Francisco Examiner. Bonus: "Two Cousins," because of the two.

PERFUME GENIUS: Mike Hadreas is interviewed by Michael Stipe for the East Village Boys. (Thx, Chromewaves.)

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND was crowned the quintessential NYC band in Sound of the City's version of March Madness.

ADELE told a French radio station she will have a new single out by the end of the year, but her next album will take “a good two years” to record.

PETER BLAKE updates his Sgt. Pepper's cover to mark his 80th birthday.

THE 17 BEST SONGS of 2012 (So Far), according to the Village Voice's Maura Johnson.

ALEC BALDWIN, 54, got engaged to Hilaria Thomas, 28, over the weekend.

BRUCE WILLIS and his wife Emma Hemming welcomed a baby girl, Mabel Ray Willis, Sunday in Los Angeles.

ASHTON KUTCHER will play Steve Jobs in an indie biopic.

THE KARDASHIANS: Kris Humphries is refusing to divorce Kim Kardashian unless she gives him a “public apology” and admits “the entire wedding was staged by her and her family.”

THE RAZZIES were swept by Jack & Jill and its cast, led by Adam Sandler.

SPARKLE, Whitney Houston's final film, has a trailer online.

TOTAL RECALL remake has a trailer online.

TERROR in the USA: Patrick Nayyar, an Indian citizen and illegal alien residing in Queens, NY, was convicted of attempting to provide material support to the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.

PAKISTAN: Three of Osama bin Laden's widows and two of his daughters have been sentenced to 45 days in prison for illegally residing in Pakistan.

IRAQ:Vice President Tareq al Hashemi, who is wanted for terrorism charges, left Kurdistan for Qatar. The government said the March death toll was the lowest since the US invaded in 2003.

KITTEN WRESTLING: Let's go to the video.

ATTACKED BY A MOUNTAIN LION, saved by a bear.

SOMETIMES THE BEAR KILLS YOU, sometimes you kill the bear.

SHARK ATTACKS reach unprecedented levels in Western Australia. What say you, Police Chief Brody?

REGINA SPEKTOR dropped a video for "All The Rowboats" ahead of What We Saw From The Cheap Seats.

ALABAMA SHAKES are advance streaming Boys and Girls.

BONNIE RAITT is advance streaming Slipstream.

WILLIS EARL BEAL is streaming Acousmatic Sorcery.I can't decide whether I love this or hate it.

THE DANDY WARHOLS drop "Sad Vacation" ahead of  This Machine.

DIRTY ROJECTORS drop a new single, "The Gun Has No Trigger."

MAXIMO PARK drops the title track from The National Health.

ERIC LOWEN, a singer and songwriter who was half of Lowen & Navarro, the duo that wrote “We Belong,” a pensive, urgent lover’s plea that became a hit for Pat Benatar in 1984, died on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 60. The cause was complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

PAUL McCARTNEY talks to Fresh Air about his latest album, Kisses on the Bottom.

LEE RENALDO talks to Pitchfork about the Grateful Dead, Minutemen, Cat Power, and more.

15 GREAT ALBUMS, 15 years old.

THE JUNO AWARDS went to Feist, Dan Mangan, Bruce Cockburn, The Sadies and more...

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: The Hunger Games retained the box office crown with 61.1 million dollars.  Its 60 percent drop seems steep, but this second weekend falls somewhere betweenThe Dark Knight and the original Spider-Man (unusually strong holds) and the Twilight franchise and th final Harry Potter films (strong upfront demand followed by huge drops). The Games already have a 251 million domestic haul, making 400 million an achievable target.  Wrath of the Titans placed with only 34.2 million domestic, but 112 million worldwide, suggesting the studio won't lose on a 150 million budget. Mirror Mirror shows with 19 million against an 85 million budget, but the foreign rights were reportedly sold off to reduce the risk here.  21 Jump Street takes in another 15 million, showing legs without competition in the comedy genre.  The Lorax rounds out the Top Five with another 8 million of pure profit.

WHITNEY HOUSTON: TMZ reports cocaine was present in the late singer's Beverly Hills hotel room.

KATE WINSLET: Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" makes her want to vomit.

MINKA KELLY & WILMER VALDERRAMA: Not a couple.

CHEVY CHASE: On Community watch?

TRIPLETS: The Twins sequel would reteam Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as brothers Julius and Vincent, conceived experimentally, who discover they have third sibling... played by... Eddie Murphy.

TERROR in THAILAND:In the deadliest attack in several years, coordinated bombings in the cities of Yala in Yala province and Hat Yai in Songkhla province killed 14 and wounded 341. The car bombs exploded near restaurants, shops, and a crowded hotel.

TERROR in FRANCE: Police arrested 19 suspected Islamic extremists during raids in Toulouse, Nantes, and Paris. Among those detained are the leader and several members of the banned group Forsane Alizza.

AFGHANISTAN: The US said a former governor is responsible for ordering a suicide attack that killed two soldiers and another attack that targeted diplomats.

TITANOBOA, a snake longer than a school bus, appears in Grand Central Station.

GUINNESS the DOG receives a hero's medal and a pint of stout.

MALE GATORS are partial to the key of B-Flat.

THE SLOTH stays in the picture.