Rock News: Music's high and low notes

'THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK'

Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel and Marc Anthony have been added to the all-star line-up for "The Concert For New York." They join previously announced artists Paul McCartney, The Who, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge and India.Arie in taking part in the four-hour live performance on Saturday, Oct. 20, (at 8 p.m. ET) at Madison Square Garden.

The concert will benefit the victims of the Sept. 11 attack on New York City and pay tribute to the spirit of New York and the heroism of the rescue workers who worked tirelessly to save others. Five thousand members of the New York Fire, Police and Rescue crews and their families will be in attendance as guests.

The show will be telecast live and commercial free on VH1 and will be simulcast on the VH1 Radio Network and Westwood One. All broadcasts will feature a phone number and Web address for charitable donations.

(Tickets for "The Concert for New York" go on sale Monday through Ticketmaster by phone, at its outlets or online at ticketmaster.com.)

'THE COUNTRY FREEDOM CONCERT'

George Strait, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn and Martina McBride are among the country artists who'll take part in "The Country Freedom Concert" on Sunday, Oct. 21. The show --- airing live on CMT (8-10 p.m. ET) from Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center -- will pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on America and will honor the efforts of the rescue workers who sacrificed their lives to save others.

The full artist line-up will be announced shortly.

All proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army. Toll-free phone lines and Web sites will be established for contributions.

NINE INCH NAILS

A new live album from Nine Inch Nails hits stores Dec. 4. "nine inch nails live: and all that could have been" (on nothing records) documents the band's sold-out "Fragility v2.0" concert tour.

The CD, produced by Trent Reznor, contains 16 songs and is the first-ever live album from NIN. Seminal NIN songs are featured, including "The Wretched", "Head Like A Hole," "Wish," "Closer" and "Hurt." A limited edition version of the CD will include a special bonus disc containing select NIN songs recorded live in a deconstructed fashion, as well as some brand new material.

Meanwhile, the DVD/VHS -- produced by Reznor with Rob Sheridan directing -- contains 18 songs, which recreate the Fragility concert experience from beginning to end, using video footage shot over the course of the entire U.S. tour.

The band's official Web site, nin.com, currently features the first trailer. Leading up to the release date, the site will offer sneak previews along with the latest news, images, streaming audio and video, contests, and more.

STEREOPHONICS

The Stereophonics have landed a coveted opening spot on U2's "Elevation Tour." This will be the British trio's first trip to the United States since their sold-out acoustic tour in February. They hook up with U2 starting Oct. 27 in New York.

U2/Stereophonics Tour Dates:

DATE CITY VENUE

10/27 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

10/28 East Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena

10/30-31 Providence, RI Civic Center

11/2 Philadelphia, PA First Union Center

The Stereophonics recently opened for U2 in a series of European dates. Their latest album, "Just Enough Education To Perform" (on V2 Records), has been certified double platinum in the United Kingdom.

(Web site: v2music.com)

VH1'S 'BEHIND THE MUSIC: AALIYAH'

VH1 will take a look at the all-too-brief life of urban pop star Aaliyah on the Oct. 14 episode of its "Behind the Music" series.

"Behind the Music: Aaliyah" (at 9 p.m. ET/PT) features rare and never-before-seen archive video, film and home movie footage, concert clips and songs -- plus new interviews with Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Blackground Records CEO Barry Hankerson, video director Wayne Isham and BET producer Kevin Taylor, as well as with Aaliyah's brother Rashad Houghton.

Aaliyah was killed Aug. 25 in a plane crash on Abaco Island in The Bahamas. She was returning to Miami after shooting a music video.

(Web site: vh1.com)

'SAY IT LOUD!'

VH1 explores the evolution and impact of African-American music in a five-part documentary that premieres this Sunday (at 10 p.m. ET/PT) and running through Thursday, Oct. 11.

"Say It Loud!: A Celebration of Black Music in America" covers jazz, blues, gospel and hip-hop through modern R&B and soul. It features interviews with Quincy Jones, James Brown, Queen Latifah, T-Boz, Smokey Robinson, George Clinton, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Macy Gray and Ray Charles.

On Monday, Rhino Records will release "Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America." The six-CD boxed set spans eight decades of black music on 108 tracks.