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Today’s Music News: Jeff Tweedy didn’t even know there was a new “Star Wars” movie coming out

by Staff

August 19, 2015

When Wilco released a surprise, free album titled Star Wars, many assumed that the band must be fans of the 1977 blockbuster. Au contraire, says Jeff Tweedy: he's not a fan, and in fact he didn't even know there was a new Star Wars movie coming out "until my lawyer told me." In an interview with Rolling Stone, Tweedy admits that "everyone advised me against" naming his band's album after one of the world's most intensely protected trademarks. So far, Disney—which now owns the Star Wars brand—is keeping mum on Wilco's album title, so the band are presumably crossing their fingers as they continue to work on their next album, which Tweedy says is already half-finished.

In the interview, Tweedy also talked about touring with Bob Dylan in 2013. Tweedy says that though he also admires fan-friendly music legends like Paul McCartney, he leans more towards "the more curmudgeonly" demeanor of someone like Dylan. "I felt very inspired just being in the presence of somebody that has that few f---s to give about anything."

In a rare televised interview, Morrissey sat down with Larry King on Tuesday night to discuss hot topics including the music industry, his cancer diagnosis, and his alleged groping by San Francisco airport security (the TSA has denied any wrongdoing). "He went straight for my private bits," said Morrissey about a security staffer who screened him, "and then he put his finger down my rear cleavage." (Pitchfork)

Matisyahu has been re-invited to a reggae festival in Spain, after earlier having his appearance cancelled due to his failure to declare his position regarding the possibility of an independent Palestinian state. It's not yet known whether the artist, who remains a practicing Jew although he's moved away from the Hasidic practices he was long known for, will accept the re-invitation to perform at the festival. "I support peace and compassion for all people," wrote Matisyahu on Facebook after the cancellation. "My music speaks for itself, and I do not insert politics into my music." (Billboard)

Brandi Carlile has released a new video for "Wherever Is Your Heart." The video also doubles as a preview of a forthcoming documentary about last year's acoustic Pin Drop Tour. (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday night in Inglewood, California, Mumford & Sons were joined by openers the Vaccines and Jack Garratt—as well as Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus—for a cover of the Eurythmics' 1983 hit "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." Watch video on Rolling Stone.

Lissie has shared her cover of "Happiness Runs" from a forthcoming Donovan tribute album. Gazing with Tranquility, out Oct. 16 on Minneapolis label Rock the Cause Records, will feature several local artists alongside national heavy hitters like the Flaming Lips and Sharon Van Etten. (Billboard)

The Grammy Museum's 2015 Architects of Sound Awards will included two prizes posthumously awarded to Frank Sinatra. The Oct. 21 award ceremony, to be hosted by Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg of the E Street Band, will coincide with the opening of a Sinatra exhibit at the L.A. museum. (Billboard)

Karen O has released a nostalgic new video for "Singalong" from last year's Crush Songs. (Pitchfork)

Lady Gaga has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Licktators, a UK ice cream maker that's released a "Royal Baby Gaga" flavor of ice cream made with breast milk; she previously sued the company in 2011 over a flavor of breast-milk ice cream titled simply "Baby Gaga." The ice cream maker is holding its ground. "We will not be bullied into removing content from social media relating to our product and subsequent media coverage," says a representative of the company. "However, we will send complimentary tubs of our ice cream to Lady Gaga for chilling out to, as a gesture of peace and goodwill." (Billboard)

This isn't the Licktators' first music reference: they also have "John Lemon," "Jiggy Pop," and "Choc 'N' Roll Rehab" flavors—as well as Blur's officially approved Magic Whip ice cream—though unlike the "Baby Gaga" flavors, none of the other flavors include breast milk.

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.