Tenacious D Prep New Album
Comedy rockers Tenacious D are in the process of writing their first album in four years. Frontman Jack Black says the duo are halfway through writing the record, which is not connected to a film and is planned for release in late 2011. [Paste]

Japan Bassist Dies at 52
Mick Karn, bass player for the British new wave group Japan, has died of cancer. The Cyprus-born musician also performed with Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading and Bauhaus' Peter Murphy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Japan achieved their great success in...Japan. [Guardian U.K.]

HMV to Shut Down 60 Stores in UK
Music retail giant HMV is planning to close 40 of its stores along with 20 branches of its sister bookshop franchise Waterstone's in the U.K. over the course of 2011. Both stores have suffered plummeting profits in the last few years. [BBC News]

Titus Andronicus Loses Bass Player
Ian Graetzer, a founding member of the New Jersey indie-punk band Titus Andronicus, has announced his departure from the group. Lead singer Patrick Stickles has clarified on the band's blog that Graetzer has departed on good terms and is planning on pursuing other projects. [Brooklyn Vegan]

MORE: Daily Digest: Muse to Perform in Outer Space?; Guns N' Roses Hint New Song is Imminent

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories