We don’t blame you for not keeping up with music news over break. But now that you’re all caught up on sleep and Jersey Shore episodes, check out some of the info you may have missed.
On January 13, indie rocker Jay Reatard died in his sleep. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death. The Memphis resident was 29 years old.
Paul McCartney joined the semi-serious Facebook campaign of Rage Against the Machine … against Joe McElderry, the most recent winner of X Factor. The unlikely pairing aimed to propel RATM’s 90s hit “Killing In The Name” to the #1 spot on the charts instead of McElderry’s single. And they succeeded.
Lil Wayne’s album, Rebirth—whose release was pushed from Dec. 21 to Feb. 2—was mistakenly delivered to Amazon customers who pre-ordered it. The album will now officially debut a week before Wayne is sentenced for 2007 gun charges.
Ke$ha’s frighteningly infectious “TiK ToK” rode into the new year as #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Now, she probably brushes her teeth with a bottle of Cristal.
Philadelphia soul singer Teddy Pendergrass died from complications involving colon cancer at Bryn Mawr Hospital on Jan. 13. Pendergrass, who was 59, had been receiving treatment at the hospital since August.
Lady GaGa’s “Bad Romance” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first artist to have five consecutive #1 singles.
Simon Cowell bowed out as judge of TV behemoth American Idol to work on bringing his (incredibly similar) hit UK show X Factor to the US.
New Orleans rapper Mystikal was released from jail on Jan. 14 after serving six years for sexual battery.
Soundgarden gave their fans a fabulous gift to ring in the new year: on January 1, the band announced its reunion, following a 12-year hiatus.
Country-folk singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt, who had long suffered from depression, died from an apparent suicide attempt on Dec. 25 at age 45. He had been partially paralyzed since a 1983 car accident.
