The Replacements are now a year-and-a-half into their unexpected reunion, and the rally doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Billboard reports that the band have recorded several songs and that they're planning to head back into the studio when their "Back by Unpopular Demand" tour wraps up. Also in the works for the band are a documentary, an authorized biography, and two vinyl box sets spanning their Twin/Tone and Sire years. One new song they've been playing live is called "Whole Foods Blues."

The surviving members of the Grateful Dead are reportedly planning a fall tour with John Mayer as frontman, in place of the late Jerry Garcia—though the band still swear that this summer's shows in Chicago with Trey Anastasio will be the last they'll ever play under the Grateful Dead name. (Billboard)

Jeff Lynne, the Electric Light Orchestra leader who's also had a successful career as a producer and songwriter—notably collaborating with Tom Petty and George Harrison, Lynne's Traveling Wilburys bandmates—now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lynne says he's almost finished with a new E.L.O. album. (Billboard)

A New Jersey judge has rejected a father's claim that his ex-wife exhibited poor judgment as a parent in bringing the couple's 11-year-old daughter to a Pink concert. "In this day and age, it is easy for parents to put off important bonding experiences with their children until a tomorrow which simply never comes," responded Judge Lawrence Jones. "The positive value of this experience is not diluted in any fashion merely because there may have been some incidental curse words or allegedly suggestive themes during some of the songs at the concert." (Rolling Stone)

Songwriter Sid Tepper has died of natural causes at age 96. Tepper is best-known for the songs he wrote for Elvis Presley, including "G.I. Blues" and "The Lady Loves Me." (Billboard)

Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys says he'll "get extra weird" on a new solo project: a new album by Auerbach under the name the Arcs will be released this summer, and Auerbach says an initial single will come out as a 7" next month. (Consequence of Sound)

Jim James has harsh words for today's country music. "I feel like modern country is deliberately dumbing down the human race," the My Morning Jacket frontman told Rolling Stone. "They're deliberately making people take glory in being uneducated and racist, and it's just sad."

At an M.I.T. lecture, Killer Mike of Run the Jewels said the music industry needs more labels owned by people of color. "We need more Rocafellas, we need more Bad Boys," he said, referring respectively to the labels founded by Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs. (Billboard)