Before 2009 came to a close, the year that infamously took Michael Jackson also claimed the lives of several others. Among them were 45 year-old songwriter Vic Chesnutt, Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, former Birthday Party guitarist Rowland S. Howard, original Organized Konfusion DJ Omega Supreme, Big Brother & the Holding Company’s James Gurley, Remy Zero drummer Gregory Slay, and trilingual singer/songwriter Lhasa de Sela.

Peter Gabriel’s newest record, Scratch My Back, will feature orchestral covers of songs by other artists. The tracklist includes Gabriel’s take on Radiohead’s “Street Spirit,” the Arcade Fire’s “My Body is a Cage,” and Paul Simon’s “The Boy in the Bubble.” [Billboard.com]

Speaking of Radiohead, guitarist Ed O’Brien says the band will return to the studio this month to work on a follow-up to In Rainbows. “We are most definitely a different band,” he writes on the band’s website, “which should therefore mean that the music is different too and that is the aim of the game. Keep it moving.” Meanwhile, Thom Yorke is writing material alongside Phillip Glass and Damian Rice for a new documentary on Tibet. [Spinner.com]

U2’s supersized 360° Tour was 2009’s most successful jaunt, grossing over $120 million and besting the closest contender, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, by $25 million. The band returns to the road in 2010 for a slew of additional concerts, including a headlining performance at Glastonbury. [RollingStone.com]

Neko Case, Noah and the Whale’s Tom Hobden, and Paul McCartney have all contributed to the upcoming solo release from Travis’ Fran Healy. To show his gratitude toward Sir Paul, Healy and his wife decided to adopt a vegetarian diet. The songwriter is currently blogging about the culinary experience on his website. [Guardian.co.uk]

Twelve years after the release of Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, the two rappers can be seen together in the music video for “History,” a collaborative track from Mos Def’s 2009 release The Ecstatic. [Pitchfork.com]

Glee will begin airing its acclaimed episodes in the U.K. next month. Let’s see those jazz hands, England! [Guardian.co.uk]