Rock News: Music's high and low notes

'THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK'

Bono and his U2 bandmate the Edge, as well as David Bowie, Elton John, Destiny's Child and Janet Jackson have been added to the line-up of artists who'll appear on "The Concert for New York" this Saturday.

They join previously announced performers Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, The Who, Backstreet Boys, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge, Marc Anthony, Five For Fighting and India.Arie for the show, which has been expanded to five hours to accommodate all the celebrities who have come forward to lend their support. The concert will now begin at 7 p.m. (ET) and air live and commercial-free on VH1 from New York's Madison Square Garden.

Paul Shaffer of "The Late Show with David Letterman" will serve as musical director.

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 New York Fire, Police and Rescue crews and their families will attend as guests.

(Web site: vh1.com)

MORE ON 'THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK'

Tickets to "The Concert for New York" have been sold out since Oct. 8, but seats for the all-star event are still available on eBay's "Auction for America" (ebay.com).

VH1 and Madison Square Garden donated 250 pairs of tickets to "Auction for America" -- an area of eBay's Web site where users can buy and sell goods specifically for the purpose of raising money for the victims and families of the Sept. 11 attacks. Tickets can be purchased in pairs (beginning at $1500) at ebay.com.

'ALLIANCE OF NEIGHBORS'

Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi will headline a benefit concert this Friday in Red Bank, N.J. The show at the Count Basie Theater will raise funds for the Alliance of Neighbors of Monmouth County Inc., which helps the local families affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Also on the bill -- Phoebe Snow, Aztec Two-Step, Garry Tallent, Max Weinberg, Randy Moore, Joe Ely, Joan Jett, Asbury Park-based Highway 9 and former Elvis Presley band members D.J. Fontana, Sonny Burgess and Jerry Sheff.

The concert will air live on the cable network CN8 (8 p.m. to midnight ET). Additional funds will be raised both on-line through allianceofneighbors.org and by calling a toll-free number during the CN8 telecast.

CN8's broadcast will feature the second of two scheduled concerts this week at the Count Basie Theatre. The first performance is scheduled for Thursday but won't be televised. But Event organizers and the participating musicians decided to air the second concert on CN8 to be sure to reach as many Monmouth County residents as possible.

In addition to the two evening shows, event organizers have opened up Thursday's sound check to the families of the more than 160 Monmouth County victims.

(Web sites: allianceofneighbors.org, cn8.tv)

LIMP BIZKIT

Limp Bizkit -- Fred Durst, DJ Lethal, Sam Rivers and John Otto --- taking to the road for a series of guitarist auditions and "fan parties."

The idea is to stay close to their fans. "It's just a great chance for us to be with our fans," Durst said. The parties will be different in each city. "We could be at a club, at your house, at the mall, at your high school, who knows," he added.

The guitarist auditions will offer the opportunity for talented young players from across the country to join one of the largest rock bands in the world. "All I have to say is if you got it ... bring it on!" said Durst.

Details of when and where will be posted on the band's Web site.

Limp Bizkit's upcoming album, "New Old Songs," hits stores Dec. 4 and features re-mixes of their top songs by master producers The Neptunes, Timbaland, P Diddy, DJ Priemere, Butch Vig, DJ Lethal, William Orbit, and others. The CD also features guest performers Xzhibit, Everlast, Eve, 8-Ball, Bubba Sparxxx, and E-40.

BEYONCE KNOWLES

Beyoncé Knowles, who fronts the R&B sensation Destiny's Child, may make her feature film acting debut in "Austin Powers 3: Goldmember," the third installment of Mike Myers' swinging series of spy spoofs.

FilmStew.com reports that Knowles is in final talks to join the cast, which now includes Oscar-winning actor Michael Caine as Austin Powers' father.

"Goldmember" continues the never-ending battle between Powers, the groovy '60s secret agent, and his nemesis, Dr. Evil, the embodiment of evil film villain clichés. Myers plays both roles, and will also play the new villain, Goldmember -- a riff on the James Bond villain, Auric Goldfinger, played by Gert Fröbe in the 1964 Bond movie, "Goldfinger."

Knowles made her acting debut this year, co-starring with Mekhi Phifer in the MTV movie "Carmen: A Hip Hopera."

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

STEVE VAI

Renowned guitarist Steve Vai is documenting his career with a 10-CD compilation titled "The Secret Jewel Box."

The deluxe black box, lined with red velvet, will feature compartments for 10 CDs and a 100-page booklet. The first three CDs of the series --- "Elusive Light & Sound," "Alcatrazz: Disturbing the Peace" and "Frank Zappa: FZ Original Recordings, Vai Archives Vol.2" --- will be released Oct. 31 (suggested retail price: $65.98).

Those who purchase the box will be notified when the remaining seven CDs -- which may be purchased separately -- are ready. The 100-page booklet will be sent out after the last CD is produced to those who have collected all the CDs.

The series includes soundtracks, rarities, outtakes and oddities, out-of-print albums, Vai's recordings with Zappa and with his early bands Alcatrazz and the Classified, and acoustic piano interpretations of Vai songs.

(Web site: vai.com)

BARBRA STREISAND

Barbra Streisand is putting out her first new holiday album in 34 years.

"Christmas Memories" (on Columbia Records) is her first full-length studio album since 1999's platinum-selling "A Love Like Ours" and her first new recording since her 1999-2000 New Year's Eve millennium performances captured on "Timeless -- Live In Concert."

"Christmas Memories" was recorded this past summer and mixed -- except for "It Must Have Been The Mistletoe" and "Grown-Up Christmas List" -- by David Reitzas at Grandma's House in Malibu, Calif. The majority of the album was recorded live, in the studio, with a 90-piece orchestra.

The CD hits stores Oct. 30.

(Web sites: barbrastreisand.com, columbiarecords.com)

JERRY HALL

A man who was convicted of stealing more than $10,000 worth of property from the suburban London home of Mick Jagger's ex-wife, Jerry Hall, has been jailed for three years.

David Bryce was accused of stealing candlesticks, jewelry and other items -- including computer equipment -- while Hall's 2-year-old son and the boy's nanny were sleeping nearby. Police used fingerprints found on the recovered candlesticks in making their case.

Published reports indicate that the 33-year-old antiques dealer had been previously convicted for more than 40 offenses, dating back to 1980. Among the charges were theft and dealing in stolen property.

(Thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)