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Jon Lord of Deep Purple has died at the age of 71. The co-founder and keyboard player with the metal pioneers passed away today (July 16) after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer and was surrounded by his family at the London Clinic.

Tom Petty is a man of many guitars, most of which seem to make an appearance on stage at some point in tonight’s proceedings. Here’s a red Fender, a blonde Rickenbacker, a white Gibson, back to the Fender, and on. It seems fitting, I suppose: Petty’s first show in the UK for 13 years is very much about craft and musicianship.

Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch has been found dead at his Nashville home. He was 66. According to police, the musician died of an apparent suicide. Local news network WKRN reports that Welch's wife found him dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest at 12.15pm local time on June 7. Police spokesperson Don Aaron said that a suicide note was recovered and added that Welch had recently been suffering from 'health issues'.

All Tomorrow's Parties is set to return to its original venue, Pontins in Camber Sands, after Butlins in Minehead ended its contract with the festival.

Even the longest journeys can end up taking you full circle...

The Flaming Lips have re-recorded 1999's "Race For The Prize" for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team. The band pay tribute to their hometown NBA team in the new version of the song, which was originally on their acclaimed album "The Soft Bulletin". The bandmembers repeatedly chant "Thunder up!" over the song's main refrain, while the verses end with the lines: "They'll keep fighting/For Oklahoma!" You can watch a video featuring the new version below.

In tribute to the late Band legend, who died in April 2012, this week’s archive feature is a fascinating piece from October 2009’s Uncut (Take 149) – Barney Hoskyns travels to Levon Helm’s Woodstock barn for one of his Midnight Rambles, a musical hogroast-cum-celebration of the drummer’s life and legacy. “To me,” says Helm, “it’s just rock’n’roll…” ________________________________

Damon Albarn is set to perform at a poetry festival in London next month.

The Afghan Whigs have performed in public for the first time since they split in 2001.

Damon Albarn has halted work on new Blur material, producer William Orbit has told NME.