Westlife member Bryan McFadden is exiting the Irish pop act, which will continue on as a quartet. In a posting on its official Web site, the group writes, "This is the ideal moment for Bryan to leave Westlife. Bryan has come to a point in his life where he feels he can longer give Westlife the 100% commitment needed. He will be spending time at home developing other aspects of his life."

The news comes a week after the group's latest single, "Obvious," debuted at No. 3 on the U.K. singles chart. An extensive tour will begin March 29 in Belfast, about which the site stresses, "Westlife have often rehearsed as a four-piece so any adjustments are minor."

A new studio album is being eyed for the fall and will comprise "duets with A-list global superstars," according to the site.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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Bright Eyes and Neva Dinova have teamed up for the split CD "One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels," due April 20 via Crank!. Bright Eyes offers the cuts "I'll Be Your Friend," "Spring Cleaning" and "Black Comedy" featuring Dinova, and guests on the latter's "Tripped," "Poison" and "Get Back."

Through April 5, Crank!'s official Web site is running a contest to win 10 limited-edition 10-inch vinyl single editions of the release. Neva Dinova is currently on the road in North America; the group's March 18 show at New York's Knitting Factory is tipped to feature a surprise appearance by Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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Guitarist John McGeoch, who co-founded post-punk outfit Magazine in 1977 and went on to play in Siouxsie & the Banshees and Public Image Ltd. in the 1980s, died last Thursday. He was 48. Full details of his death have yet to surface.

"I was shocked and saddened to hear that John passed away in his sleep last Thursday," wrote Banshees bassist Steve Severin on his official Web site. "Although we hadn't worked together for a long time and I hadn't seen him for a couple of years he was always in my heart and often in my thoughts. Without a doubt [he was] the most inventive guitarist of our generation and my favorite Banshee."

In addition to his work on Magazine titles like 1978's "Real Life," and 1979's "Secondhand Daylight" and the Banshees' "Kaleidoscope" and "Juju," McGeoch played briefly with Generation X and Peter Murphy. From 1987 to 1992 he played alongside John Lydon for such PiL albums as "Happy?" and "9."

-- John D. Luerssen, N.Y.