Rock News: Music's high and low notes

TOP ROCK TOURS OF 2001

U2 was the top touring act of 2001 with a North American gross of $109.7 million. That's according to touring trade publication Pollstar, which reports the Irish rockers also raked in the second largest yearly gross of all time, trailing only the Rolling Stones'1994 Voodoo Lounge tour, which grossed $121.2 million.

'N Sync, which placed No. 2 last year, once again was runner-up with a gross of $86.8 million, followed by Backstreet Boys (No. 17 last year), Dave Matthews Band (No. 3 in 2000), and Elton John/Billy Joel. (John without Joel also placed No. 28 with another $13.3 million, while Joel remained "retired" as a "solo" artist.)

'N Sync attracted the most fans with 1.725 million concertgoers, while U2, Backstreet Boys, Dave Matthews Band and Aerosmith were the only other artists drawing more than a million fans. U2 and Madonna were the only acts to sell out all their concerts.

Madonna had the highest average rock ticket price of $123.91, with many tickets priced at $250. The John/Joel package was the only other tour with an average of more than $100 per ticket. At the other extreme of Pollstar's Top 100 acts of 2001 was Poison (No. 94), having the lowest average ticket price of $16.32.

Ticket prices have continued to increase to an average of $43.86, or about eight percent over last year's $40.74 for the Top 100 acts.

Looking ahead to 2002: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Elton John/Billy Joel have put tickets on sale. There has also been rumblings about a return from the Rolling Stones, the Who, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Dave Matthews Band and 'N Sync will follow the lead of U2 and ditch the flashy stadium tour in exchange for arenas and amphitheaters next summer.

Pollstar's Top-20 Grossing Tours of 2001:

1.U2, $109.7 million (80 shows)

2. 'NSync, $86.8 million (43 shows)

3. Backstreet Boys, $82.1 million (98 shows)

4. Dave Matthews Band, $60.5 million (51 shows)

5. Elton John/Billy Joel, $57.2 million (31 shows)

6. Madonna, $54.7 million (28 shows)

7. Aerosmith, $49.3 million (64 shows)

8. Janet Jackson, $42.1 million (57 shows)

9. Eric Clapton, $38.8 million (46 shows)

10. Neil Diamond, $35.4 million (46 shows)

11. matchbox twenty, $28.4 million (89 shows)

12. Rod Stewart, $27.2 million (66 shows)

13. Jimmy Buffett, $26.9 million (32 shows)

14. Andrea Bocelli, $26.8 million (15 shows)

15. Ozzfest 2001, $26.4 million (31 shows)

16. Sade, $26.2 million (41 shows)

17. Tim McGraw, $24.9 million (45 shows)

18. Britney Spears, $23.7 million (31 shows)

19. James Taylor, $23.0 million (61 shows)

20. Tool, $20.4 million (63 shows)

MARIYLN MANSON

A judge in suburban Detroit has reduced a criminal sexual conduct charge against Marilyn Manson from a felony to a misdemeanor. It's one of two charges stemming from a July 30 incident in which the controversial rocker allegedly rubbed his crotch on a security guard's head during a show.

The online news provider Sonicnet.com reports Clarkston, Mich., Judge Gerald E. McNally said he wasn't convinced the offense warranted a felony charge and lessened it to a misdemeanor disorderly persons charge, according to an Oakland County District Court spokesperson. A second charge of misdemeanor assault and battery still stands. If convicted on both counts, Manson faces up to 90 days in jail, according to assistant prosecutor Ken Frazee.

Manson's attorney, Walter Piszczatowski, was prepared to show the court a videotape of the incident that occurred at the DTE Energy Music Theatre, where Manson allegedly approached 25-year-old Joshua Keasler, spit on the man's head and proceeded to rub his G-string-clad genitalia about Keasler's head and neck. However, the judge was able to make his decision on the matter without seeing it, Piszczatowski said.

Though Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, was present in the courtroom, he did not testify.

On Sept. 21, Manson pleaded innocent to felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and misdemeanor assault and battery in the case. Friday's hearing was the result of an adjournment from the originally scheduled Nov. 9 date.

Earlier this month, a second man, from Minnesota, claimed to have also been victimized by Manson's stage act and filed a $75,000 civil suit against the rocker. A date for that hearing has yet to be set.

GEORGE HARRISON

He might soon be known as the late SIR George Harrison.

The British tabloid News of the World reports the former Beatle will be included among those being granted knighthoods on The Queen's Birthday List next June, according to Underground.com. Queen Elizabeth's New Year's knightings were compiled prior to Harrison's death Nov. 29. This would be the first time such an honor has been awarded posthumously.

Harrison was awarded an MBE along with the rest of the Beatles in 1965.

LIMP BIZKIT

The members of Limp Bizkit are planning open guitar auditions in January and February at Guitar Center stores in 23 cities around the country. Each event is a "pre-audition for the chance to jam with the band," the rockers say.

Limp Bizkit is also setting up a Web site to accept submissions of original songs and guitar playing. "If the band likes what they hear, the person has the chance to be flown to nearby tour stops for an audition," the band's record label says.

More information is available online at LimpBizkit.com.

(Thanks to UPI's Mike Cooper in Atlanta)

BRITNEY SPEARS

Many parents cringe at the name Britney Spears. After all she is barely out of high school, but her demeanor, song lyrics, costumes -- what little she wears -- and other aspects of her personal life are not exactly the thing most would like their teenage girls to emulate. Or, for that matter, their teenage boys to notice.

Now the New York Post says if you don't like her pushing of the envelope so far, you might want to lock your kids up so they don't find out about her upcoming movie. The publication says the new flick, "Crossroads," forgets there was any envelope to push in the first place. In it, Spears reportedly dances in her underwear -- and not in the style of Tom Cruise in "Risky Business," gets drunk and then becomes a non-virgin with some help from an ex-con.

One reporter, writing in a Seattle newspaper, quipped: "No word on whether they'll be releasing action figures to accompany the film."

(Thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)