Italian techie Giuseppe Acito has programmed a group of Lego Bionicle robot figures to play music on instruments including pocket synths and a smartphone. He can program performances by the "group," which he calls the Tao Mata Band. Accompanying the robots on synth and vocals, Acito used his minions to create a uniquely apt cover of Kraftwerk’s 1978 song "The Robots." (Consequence of Sound)

New Velvet Underground documentary planned

Director Todd Haynes (Carol, Far From Heaven) has revealed that he's working on a documentary about the Velvet Underground. "They're the most influential of bands," says Haynes, who says the documentary will include footage shot by Andy Warhol as well as other experimental filmmakers in the band's orbit. Participation by the surviving band members has not been confirmed, but Haynes says he hopes to interview John Cale and Moe Tucker for the film. (Rolling Stone)

Trump divides Journey

Last week, singer Arnel Pineda, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, and bassist Ross Valory visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump. All the musicians are current members of Journey but one band member was not there, and is not happy about the chummy summit: guitarist Neal Schon, the only founding member who's still with the group.

Posting on Facebook, Schon says he had no prior knowledge of the visit and that he's disappointed his bandmates associated Journey's brand with the controversial leader. (Billboard)

"Thriller" to go 3D

The estate of Michael Jackson has announced that the rumors are true: a 3D version of Jackson's game-changing "Thriller" video is in the works, and will premiere later this summer at the Venice Film Festival. The new release was created under the supervision of John Landis, who directed the original video and says this will be the first time the film has been restored from the original negative.

An added bonus for the millions who rented the video on VHS: the documentary Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, which was included on the "Thriller" videotape but has been out of circulation since 1990, is also being screened in Venice. No plans for further release or screening of either film have yet been announced. (Billboard)

Johnny Marr to feature on Hans Zimmer live album

One of this year's least likely rock stars has been Hans Zimmer. The 59-year-old film composer (Dark Knight trilogy, The Lion King) recently went on tour, playing excerpts from his film scores with a 72-piece band including Johnny Marr (formerly of the Smiths), who played on Zimmer's original Inception score. Now, the tour will be documented in a live album released on CD, vinyl, and DVD; Live in Prague hits stores Nov. 3. (Pitchfork)

Man sings Pearl Jam while being arrested

An unnamed man known to the internet simply as "Pearl Jam Guy" has gone viral with his a capella performance of the band's 1991 song "Even Flow." Why? Because he chose to serenade police officers with the song while he was being arrested, as documented on the A&E series Live PD. "Eddie Vedder, live or die bro," says the man as he's being taken into custody. "That's my religion." (NME)