Is this for real?!: A p.r. guy claiming to be working on a Pre) Thing CD bombed the ‘Net with a hilarious e- mail after he said he got laid off when the band’s main guy, Rust Epique, died. At one meeting, a psychic was brought in. “Everyone joined hands and did a seance to talk to Rust!”, he claimed. “I mean come on, that’s just rock bottom!”

Diamonds and pearls: Prince played “Sweet Thing,” the Rufus/Chaka Khan hit, on Monday at an intimate Webster Hall party for the release of his new record, “Musicology.” And his purple highness strummed the opening riffs of “Proud Mary,” the first song he ever learned, in a solo set.

Nashville 2, New York 0: Shout out to to Joshua Tyler (super-slamming, soul-pop singer, ex-Mini-king) and Kris Woolsey (of the rockin’ Cardinal Woolsey), two Loser’s Lounge regulars who are moving with their families to Nashville. These two singers performed their last shows at the Fez on Wednesday, and it was bittersweet.

Thunderstruck: Morrissey persuaded David Johansen to reunite the New York Dolls for London’s Meltdown Festival, which he’s curating. To replace the late guitarist, Johnny Thunders, Johansen recruited Izzy Stradlin (pictured), the ex-guitarist of Guns N’ Roses.