News Roundup: 3/8/2011

Got an appetite for debt reduction? Former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is opening a financial planning firm named Meridian Rock. McKagan, who writes the “Duffonomics” column for Playboy.com and holds a finance degree from Seattle University, hopes to fill his client list with fellow musicians. [Spinner.com]
After selling an estimated 100 million albums as a solo artist and nearly 150 million as a member of Genesis, Phil Collins has officially retired from the music business. Despite speculation that negative reviews, poor treatment by the press, and health problems (including nerve damage in his hands) were involved in the decision, Collins attributes the retirement to his desire to spend time with his two young sons. [Reuters.com]
A/V Roundup: Katy Perry gives a shout-out to fellow pop starlet Lady Gaga during an acoustic cover of “Born This Way,” Glee star Darren Criss performs Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs” on Live with Regis and Kelly, Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard previews one song from his band’s upcoming album and another from the Russell Brand film “Arthur,” and the Strokes play “Under Cover of Darkness” on Saturday Night Live. [Billboard.com, ConsequenceOfSound.net, TheAudioPerv.com]