Rock News: Music's high and low notes

MADONNA

Madonna will be trodding the floorboards of a West End stage in London this May.

Allstar.com reports the singer/actress will star in "Up for Grabs," a comedy by David Williamson. The production -- a satire on the world of art -- will preview on May 9 and open May 23 at Wyndham's Theatre.

Madonna's theater experience includes a stint on Broadway in David Mamet's "Speed the Plow" and a limited run of David Raab's "Goose and Tom Tom" at the Lincoln Center in New York. Her films include "The Next Best Thing," "Evita" and "Dick Tracy."

DANIEL ASH

The start of former Bahaus and Love and Rockets frontman Daniel Ash's American tour has been postponed following a car accident.

Ash, his tour manager, his manager and bass player Patina were on their way to the show at the Velvet Jones in Santa Barbara, Calif., when the accident took place, Undercover Music News reports. Patina wasn't wearing her seatbelt and was thrown from the car. She's said to be in critical condition.

Ash and the managers were not hurt. They've asked that people pray for Patina's recovery.

The Santa Barbara gig was canceled, as has been the tour's March 12 date at the Xcape Club in Salt Lake City. The road trip was in support of Ash's new album, which hit stores Feb. 5.

'THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TOUR': THE ALBUM

Coming March 26 to a music store near you: "The Pledge of Allegiance Tour Live Concert Recording."

For seven weeks in September-October 2001, System Of A Down and Slipknot joined forces for the inaugural "Pledge Of Allegiance" metal touring festival. Other artists on the road trip included Mudvayne, American Head Charge, and No One.

The album captures the highlights of the Oct. 9, 2001, show at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. With the exception of the two Mudvayne tracks, which were taken from the DVD/VHS "L(ive) D(osage) 50 -- Live In Peoria", all of the tracks on the album were recorded live as they happened that autumn night in Illinois.

(Web site: columbiarecords.com)

THE CORRS

A live homecoming performance of Irish pop siblings The Corrs is featured on "VH1 Presents The Corrs Live In Dublin," premiering March 14 (at 9 p.m. ET/PT).

Taped Jan. 25 at Ardmore Studios outside of Dublin, the special features the family quartet -- Andrea Corr, Sharon Corr, Caroline Corr, and Jim Corr -- performing some of their most popular hits, such as "Breathless" and "So Young," together with classic songs such as Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," accompanied by a full orchestra.

Guests include U2's Bono, who duets with Andrea Corr on Ryan Adams's "When the Stars Go Blue" and on "Summer Wine," made famous by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. The Rolling Stones' Ron Wood contributes his trademark guitar stylings to The Corr's cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" as well as an encore rendition of the Stones' "Ruby Tuesday."

VH1 will repeat the show on St. Patrick's Day (at 1 p.m. ET/PT).

On March 12, 143/Lava/Atlantic Records will release the "VH1 Presents The Corrs Live In Dublin" companion album.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Lenny Kravitz, Jimmy Buffett, Melissa Etheridge, Teena Marie, Bonnie Raitt, Teddy Pendergrass, Counting Crows, Bobby Womack, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Taj Mahal and Marcia Ball are among the top attractions scheduled to appear at this spring's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The 33rd annual fest will also feature two Grateful Dead-related bands -- Phil Lesh & Friends and Bobby Weir's Ratdog -- as well as such accomplished jam bands as Gov't Mule, Galactic and String Cheese Incident.

The fair is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, April 26, 27, 28, and Thursday through Sunday, May 2, 3, 4, 5. It'll again be held at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

(Web site: nojazzfest.com)

(Thanks to UPI's John Swenson in New York)

GOO GOO DOLLS

The Goo Goo Dolls will headline the Pioneer Rock & Roar Concert at the Plaza Resort & Spa as part of the Primedia Spring Break Tuner Bash in Daytona Beach, Fla. The free concert will be held March 22 (at 8 p.m. ET) on the Plaza's main pool deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The Goo Goo Dolls -- featuring John Rzeznik on guitar, Robby Takac on bass and Mike Malinin on drums -- will release its eighth album April 9 (on Warner Bros. Records).

BEACH BOYS' AL JARDINE

Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine's Good Vibrations Band, featuring Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson, will perform at the Beverly Hills Ball 2002 on March 18 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Jardine's band will open the evening that will honor Fred Hayman, Wolfgang Puck and Sidney Sheldon and feature Larry King and Merv Griffin.

Jardine started the Beach Boys with brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, and Mike Love in 1961. After the Beach Boys split up, Jardine picked up where they left off -- creating a new band, Good Vibrations, that expresses the Beach Boys' musical legacy. Brian Wilson's two daughters, Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson, along with Jardine's sons, Matt and Adam, and a number of original Beach Boys back-up members are featured in the group. A new CD -- "Al Jardine, Family and Friends," recorded live at the MGM Grand -- was recently released and will be available at the event.

PETER PAUL AND MARY

Peter Paul and Mary are planning a North American tour to mark their 42nd anniversary as a trio. The road trip is scheduled to begin March 21 in Newark, N.J.

Tour dates:

March 21: Newark, NJ

March 22: Easton, PA

March 23: Trenton, NJ

April 4: Cleveland, OH

April 5: Lansing, MI

April 6: Lincoln, NB

April 11: Detroit, MI

April 12: Bloomington, IN

April 13: Kalamazoo, MI

June 21, 23: New Orleans, LA

July 20: Manchester, VT

July 24: Highland Park, IL

July 25: Denver, CO

Aug. 2: Atlanta, GA

Aug. 3: Westbury, NY

Aug. 4: Gilford, NH

Aug. 8: Bethlehem, PA

Aug. 9-10: Vienna, VA

Aug. 23: San Raphael, CA

Aug. 24: Saratoga, CA

Aug. 25: San Diego, CA

Sept. 19: Seattle, WA

Sept. 20-21: Cerritos, CA

Oct. 24: Gainesville, FL

Oct. 25: Jacksonville, FL

Oct. 26: West Palm Beach, FL

Nov. 7: Melbourne, FL

Nov. 8: Sarasota, FL

Nov. 9: Clearwater, FL

Nov. 14: New Brunswick, NJ

Nov. 15: Schenectady, NY

Nov. 16: Bloomsburg, PA

Peter Paul and Mary's last CD, "Songs Of Conscience & Concern," was released in 1999. They're currently at work on a new album, to be released in early 2003.