Billboard Bits: Lips/Stripes, Roger Daltrey, James Iha

The Flaming Lips came to the rescue of the Witnness festival in Kildare, Ireland, replacing the White Stripes on the main stage last night (July 13). The Stripes had to cancel at the last minute after frontman Jack White broke his finger in a minor car accident in Detroit (apparently, the car’s airbag caused the damage).

In tribute, the Lips played their gig attired in White Stripes-inspired red and white outfits. They also began their set with a cover of the group’s hit “Seven Nation Army” and performed a new song called “Thank You Jack White for the Fiber Optic Jesus That You Gave Me.” As usual, the band was joined on stage by about 20 people dressed in animal costumes, beneath which were members of Irish bands the Divine Comedy and Snow Patrol, as well as several prominent media figures.

— Nick Kelly, Dublin

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Having already proved he can survive four decades of the rock’n’roll lifestyle, Who lead singer Roger Daltrey will now try his hand at the more dangerous lives of historical explorers. As the star of the History Channel’s new weekly show “Extreme History with Roger Daltrey,” the strapping vocalist/actor will travel to various locations to demonstrate survival techniques used by explorers and historical figures to overcome harsh terrain, unexpected climates and scarce food sources.

The show will premiere Oct. 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Initial episodes include “Surviving the Colorado River,” “Surviving the Wild West” and “Surviving the Lewis and Clark Expedition.” Daltrey will catch and eat rattlesnakes, mountain climb using one hand, forge weapons and tools and rope cattle, among other feats. Other planned episode topics include “Surviving an 1812 Battleship,” “Surviving the Life of a Viking” and “Surviving the Life of a Caveman.”

— Troy Carpenter, N.Y.

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Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha has joined A Perfect Circle and will be on board for the band’s upcoming U.S. tour, a spokesperson confirms. Iha replaces Troy Van Leeuwen, who left APC to join Queens Of The Stone Age. He does not contribute to APC’s next Virgin album, “Thirteenth Step,” due Sept. 16.

Iha has kept a low profile since the demise of Smashing Pumpkins, devoting much of his time to running the New York recording studio he co-owns with members of Ivy. The artist guests on Fountains Of Wayne’s new S-Curve album, “Welcome Interstate Managers.”

— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.