WYWA: The Pretty Reckless’ Christmas EP, Courtney LaPlante’s Video Game Theme Song, And More
We are smack dab in the middle of October. I hope your month of Spook has been filled with chills and thrills, with minimal spills. I’m taking a break from my horror marathon to bring you all the music news you may have missed with this week’s While You Were Away. Catch up on news from Spiritbox, The Pretty Reckless, My Dying Bride, and more.
My Dying Bride part ways with singer Aaron Stainthrope
My Dying Bride have officially parted ways with founding singer Aaron Stainthrope. The band broke the news on social media, saying:
“My Dying Bride have decided to part ways with vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe.
Please understand that this decision does not come lightly, hence our initial and painful silence while we gathered our thoughts and carefully considered our response to the disengaged, eerily abandoned state we suddenly found ourselves in.
Our collective decision to move forward without him is not something we thought we would ever be forced to say, but to ensure a continued legacy for what we hold dear to our hearts, we simply have to move past this. Whilst change can be difficult, we are doing our best to bring this new chapter forward with powerful positivity.”
Stainthrope, who co-founded the band in 1990, left the band last year due to rising tensions with guitarist Andrew Craighan. Now, the split is permanent.
Read the band’s full statement below.
The Pretty Reckless announce Christmas EP ‘Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas’
It may be the month of spooky, but The Pretty Reckless are already gearing up for the holiday season. The band have announced a new Christmas EP entitled Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, out October 31st.
The six-track EP includes a cover of “Where Are You Christmas?” from the 2000 film How The Grinch Stole Christmas, which featured Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who.
“Revisiting Where Are You Christmas? 25 years later feels like coming home to a part of myself I hadn’t seen in a long time,” Momsen says. “I was just a child when I first sang it, and I never could’ve imagined the way the song, and the film, would stay with people for so long and unknowingly shape my career path as an adult.
“Recording it now, with all the life I’ve lived in between, I hear it through a different lens… but the heart of it is the same. It’s about wonder, hope and holding on to the magic – something I think we all need more than ever.”
Stream the song below and pre-order the EP here.
Former Lostprophets singer, Ian Watkins, killed in prison attack
Ian Watkins, former Lostprophets singer and convicted child sex offender, has been killed in prison. He was 48 years old. The West Yorkshire Police confirmed on Saturday (October 11) that the singer was attacked by a fellow inmate at Wakefield Prison and died from his injuries.
“At 9:39 am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner,” a police statement said. “Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.”
A prison source told The Sun: “He was targeted by another inmate who shanked him in the neck. Guards were nearby and raced to the scene pretty quickly – but there was nothing they could do, and they could not save him.”
Watkins was serving a 29-year prison sentence, with a further six years on license. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to 13 sex offenses, including attempted rape of a baby.
Hear Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante on ‘Ties That Bind’ theme song
Riot Games has shared the 2XKO theme song, “Ties That Bind,” featuring Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante on vocal duty.
The track is described as “a powerful and anthemic soundscape that crescendos into an epic, soaring finale for players.” LaPlante’s bandmate Josh Gilbert handled co-production. Listen to the song below.
2XKO is a new 2v2 fighter from Riot Games. Early access for PC gamers is available now.
Tours on sale this week
Bring Me the Horizon will embark on a spring North American tour with Motionless in White, The Plot in You, and Amira Elfeky. The “N. American Ascension Program 2” tour kicks off April 28th in Toronto and runs through a May 16th headlining appearance at the Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Get tickets here.
No Doubt have announced their Las Vegas residency at the Sphere, marking their first extended run of shows in almost 14 years. The shows start May 6th and will run through May 16th. A fan ticket pre-sale starts Wednesday, October 15th. Remaining tickets will go on sale Friday, October 17th. Get details here.
The Offspring have expanded their “SUPERCHARGED” tour into 2026, featuring support from Bad Religion. Shows start January 16th in Bakersfield, California, and wrap up on February 24th in Halifax, Nova Scotia. See all the dates here.
Cyndi Lauper‘s farewell tour extends into 2026 with her newly announced Las Vegas residency. “Cyndi Lauper: Live in Las Vegas” takes place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace from April 24th through May 2nd. Tickets available here.
