Turandot Puccini's publisher Tito Ricordi II decided on Alfano because his opera "La leggenda di Sakùntala" resembled "Turandot" in its setting and heavy orchestration. Alfano provided a first version of the ending with a few passages of his own, and even a few sentences added to the libretto which was not considered complete even by Puccini himself. After the severe criticisms by Ricordi and the conductor Arturo Toscanini, he was forced to write a second, strictly censored version that followed Puccini's sketches more closely, to the point where he did not set some of Adami's text to music because Puccini had
Death by Stereo also announced that Death by Stereo would release a split album with punk rock bank Love Equals Death. The album was to be titled "Love Equals Death by Stereo". Love Equals Death subsequently disbanded in 2006, and this project was cancelled. Rebbe left the band in mid-2008 to concentrate on his other projects. He was replaced by Jeff Clarke. Death by Stereo went into a period of relative inactivity after Rebbe's departure until the release of their fifth album. On October 28, 2008, in an interview with Rebeltheory.com , it was announced the new album will be titled "Death Is