Music Notes: Memorial service pays tribute to the King of Pop, NIN's final tour dates

- Michael Jackson's public memorial was held today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where 20,000 people were gathered inside. TV stations and websites aired the service, which was watched all over the world. Performers — including Mariah Carey, Usher, John Mayer, and more — paid tribute by performing some of Jackson's most memorable hits. Friends and family members shared poignant and funny anecdotes about their times with the King of Pop. As the service drew to an end, Jackson's daughter Paris Michael-Jackson, spoke during one of the service's more heart-wrenching moments. "I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much," she said, while crying. [Associated Press via Yahoo!]

- Despite saying that Bonnaroo would mark the end of live Nine Inch Nails performances in the US, it looks like NIN will play some more "intimate" shows in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago in late August. [SPIN]

- Get a free download of The Cribs' new song with Johnny Marr here! It's only available through tomorrow, July 8, until 5 a.m. EST. [SPIN]

- Placebo have announced North American tour dates. More here. [Brooklyn Vegan]

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Music Notes: Muse album release date, Modest Mouse to tour

Early edition of Music Notes today — I'm still in the recovery stages of whatever I caught last week, but I plan on attending a Regina Spektor show tonight. Review to follow.

- Muse have announced the release date for their next album The Resistance, via their website. The album is set to come out on Sept. 14 (so let's assume that's Sept. 15 for those of us in the US). [Muse.mu]

- Modest Mouse will tour, starting this August in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jim Fairchild (formerly of Grandaddy, currently of All Smiles) will fill in for Johnny Marr. [Pitchfork]

- Blink 182 will play a new track, "Up All Night," while on tour. [Billboard]

- There's a nice Best of Bonnaroo gallery over at SPIN. [SPIN]

- Rolling Stone has coverage too. [Rolling Stone]

- Kings of Leon plan to launch their own record label. [NME]

- Kristen Stewart (Twilight) has been meeting with Joan Jett in preparation for portraying the rock icon in The Runaways. The NME quotes Stewart as saying, "I'm just listening to her music all the time. I'm trying to just make myself aware of the time period and what she was going through. It's one of the most immense responsibilities to play a real person. Her story's important. It's an incredibly triumphant feminist story really." [NME]

- Aw, here's an appropriate picture to match that last item. [Jezebel]

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Music Notes: Phil Spector sentenced, De La Soul talk new music/Gorillaz

Semi-early edition of Music Notes today! But there's plenty to read:

- "Wall of Sound" creator Phil Spector has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of actress Lana Clarkson. He's also been sentenced to four years for the personal use of a gun. Spector does have plans to appeal the decision. [MSNBC]

- De La Soul recently worked on a 10-track mix of new material, Are You In?, which was commissioned by Nike. The group has also started work on their next actual album, You're Welcome, which should come out next year. It seems they'd like to get a guest appearance from Damon Albarn (Gorillaz, Blur). De La Soul actually worked with Albarn while rapping on Gorillaz' "Feel Good Inc." De La Soul members have already contributed to two tracks on the next Gorillaz album (release date TBA), and De La Soul's Posdnuos told Entertainment Weekly, "From what we've heard, it sounds amazing. To me, quite honestly, it sounds better than the last album." Exciting times! [Entertainment Weekly]
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- Morrissey has canceled the rest of his UK tour dates, based on doctor's orders that tell him not to sing. Fans have been advised to hold on to tickets and wait for gigs that may get rescheduled. As someone who went through the cancellation fiasco the first time she saw Morrissey two years ago, I can say that holding on to the tickets isn't a bad idea (I was able to see him a couple of months later). But if you've seen Morrissey one or more times at this point, it might be better to spring for other concerts the next time he announces a tour. This is sadly not a new thing. [NME]

- Meanwhile, Mozzer's former bandmate Johnny Marr has revealed that The Cribs' new album is due out this September. [NME]

- The forthcoming DJ Hero, an offshoot of the Guitar Hero franchise, will feature music by Jay-Z and Eminem. A limited edition of the game will come with the artists' new greatest-hits CDs and could also feature unreleased tracks. A DJ stand and metal traveling case will also be included. The two rappers are going to serve as consultants. [USA TODAY]

- Nice little Q&A with Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 here. [SPIN]

- Singer-songwriter Kurt Vile has signed on with Matador Records, home to Jay Reatard, Cat Power and Yo La Tengo to name a few. His new album Childish Prodigy is due in the fall. [Pitchfork]

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