News Roundup: The White Stripes, Johnny Marr, Weezer, Elvis Costello

Jack White’s Third Man label is dipping into its archives. Head over to their subscription service, the Vault, to download curios like alternate versions of The White Stripes’ 1998 debut single, “Let’s Shake Hands”, and the B-side, “Look Me Over Closely”. According to a press release, this is “the first time ever that the band has released any outtakes from any past recordings throughout their 10-year career.”

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who recently moonlighted in Modest Mouse, has joined British all-brothers band The Cribs. Marr, who fell in love with the group after hearing their song “Hey Scenesters,” tells Pitchfork: “It feels just like the way I usually feel, except I’m playing some songs that I wrote last year and that are in my life now. That’s what I’m playing to people, but I was pretty much always the same. That’s probably why it works– because I didn’t really have to change one bit.”

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo will join pop sensation Katy Perry in the studio to write some songs. Look for them to appear on a future Katy Perry project. Said Cuomo in an interview, “We’re writing together next week. Can’t wait!” Cuomo wrote with hip-hop producer Jermaine Dupri for his band’s upcoming album, Ratitude. According to this recent interview, his list of artists he’d like to collaborate with includes Brian Wilson, Karen O, Pete Townshend, Jeff Lynne, Kara DioGuardi, Spike Jonze, Nate “Danja” Hills and the Killers’ Brandon Flowers.

Starbucks vice president of brand content Chris Bruzzo has responded to the lawsuit being brought against the company by Carly Simon for failing to promote her latest album,This Kind Of Love . Bruzzo tells Rolling Stone: “We’re very disappointed that Carly has decided to file this suit because we worked very hard and put a lot of time, and energy, and effort from the music team and thousands of stores behind giving this album its best shot in finding its audience. In fact, we went to kind of extraordinary lengths to work with Carly and her management to make this album do as well as we had hoped it would do.” Starbucks also released a statement, saying, “We would have preferred to work this out with Ms. Simon, but it appears we are headed for litigation.”

Elvis Costello has announced the upcoming guests for the second season of his brilliant TV show, Spectacle. Filmed at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, the new season will feature performances and conversations with Bono and the Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Neko Case, Nick Lowe, Levon Helm, Ray LaMontagne, and Richard Thompson. The show begins airing December 9 on the Sundance Channel.

On December 3, Christie’s will hold The Country Music Sale, the first sale dedicated to the creation, history and evolution of Country Music. The foundation of the sale is the property from the estate of Texas Swing Band leader, songwriter and Country performer Hank Thompson. There will also be a host of items associated with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Snow, Hank Williams, June Carter, Conway Twitty, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagner, Joe Maphis, Luther Perkins, and John Hartford.

Property up for auction will include musical instruments, stage outfits (by Nudie, Nathan Turk, or Manuel) and hand-written lyrics and charts.