Rock News Two: The week in pop music

'THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK CITY'

Madison Square Garden will be the place to be Saturday evening as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, The Who and the Backstreet Boys take the stage for "The Concert for New York City."

The five-hour-long show --- which will air live on VH1 (beginning at 7 p.m. ET) -- is a one-night-only fundraising event to benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund supporting victims of the Sept. 11th attack and to honor the heroic rescue workers.

McCartney plans to perform "Freedom," a song he wrote in honor of American heroism.

Other artists scheduled to perform include Bon Jovi, Bono and his U2 bandmate the Edge, David Bowie, Elton John, Destiny's Child, Janet Jackson (live via satellite), James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge, Marc Anthony and Five For Fighting.

Other celebrities slated to appear include Harrison Ford, Selma Hayek, Will Farrell, Jim Carrey, Meg Ryan, Michael J. Fox, Susan Sarandon, David Spade, Julia Stiles, Denis Leary, John Cusack, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

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

Five thousand members of the New York Fire, Police and Rescue crews and their families will be in attendance as guests of honor.

(Web site: vh1.com)

PAUL McCARTNEY

During an interview with radio's Howard Stern earlier this week, Paul McCartney was unusually candid about his long-standing feud with Yoko Ono and Michael Jackson.

The New York Post quotes the former Beatle noting the three had played "hardball" in many business deals and that Ono and Jackson were famous for "never giving an inch" or compromising in business discussions.

The newspaper says most of McCartney's wrath was directed at Ono. He noted that it was he who was the object of Ono's desires before she switched her attentions to her late husband, John Lennon.

The relationship between Paul and Yoko apparently soured further when McCartney asked for permission to change writing credits on the song "Yesterday" from "Lennon/McCartney" to "McCartney/Lennon." Ono refused. McCartney has long contended that he conceived the song -- originally called "Scrambled Eggs," until it finally evolved into the classic we know today -- and had performed it before Lennon became involved.

(Thanks to UPI Feature Reporter Dennis Daily)

'UNITED WE STAND'

Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, 'N Sync, Ricky Martin, Rod Stewart, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Usher, Train, Goo Goo Dolls, Kiss, Al Green, Aaron Carter and James Brown are among the artists who'll perform during the "United We Stand: What More Can We Give?" concert Sunday at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

The folks at Clear Channel Entertainment say the eight-hour show will start at 1 p.m. (ET). All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Relief Fund, the Pentagon Relief Fund and the Salvation Army Relief Fund.

(Web site: cc.com)

'THE COUNTRY FREEDOM CONCERT'

George Strait, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, George Jones, Lonestar, Lee Ann Womack, Clint Black, Trisha Yearwood, Hank Williams Jr., Diamond Rio, Montgomery Gentry, Earl Scruggs and Sara Evans are among the artists who'll take the stage Sunday for "The Country Freedom Concert."

The three-hour show --- which will air live and commercial-free on CMT (8-11 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.

It's also a benefit for the Salvation Army Disaster Relief Fund.

In addition to the TV cablecast, Westwood One will relay the concert to its radio stations around the country. Radio stations in Scotland, Greece and England have also signed on to carry the broadcast.

'ALLIANCE OF NEIGHBORS'

Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi headlined a benefit concert Friday in Red Bank, N.J. The show at the Count Basie Theater raised 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.

AICP/AMP BENEFIT CONCERT

Kevin Bacon and the Bacon Brothers and Duncan Sheik were among the performers at a fundraiser sponsored by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) and the Association of Music Producers (AMP).

The benefit was held Thursday night in New York.

Following the performances, musician Mark Grandfield brought firefighters from FDNY Squad 18, 10th Street and Ladder Company 20, Lafayette, on stage. After honoring the firefighters --- who were among the first to be called to Ground Zero -- Grandfield began a spontaneous a capella rendition of "God Bless America," and was quickly joined by the audience of advertising, music video and commercial industry professionals.

AICP officials said they raised more than $50,000 for the American Red Cross New York City Disaster Relief Fund and the Twin Towers Fund

SNOOP DOGG

Snoop Dogg is back on tour after being charged with marijuana possession following a traffic stop in Ohio Wednesday.

The Los Angeles rapper -- whose real name is Calvin Broadus --- and two members of his entourage were charged with two misdemeanors after state troopers smelled burning pot on his tour bus and brought in a drug-sniffing dog. The charges carry fines up to $350 and 30 days in jail.

Police found six bags of marijuana in the luggage area of one of two buses that had been pulled over for doing 77 miles an hour in a 55 mph zone on Interstate 90 west of Cleveland just after midnight.

Snoop Dogg and his band were en route to Detroit after a performance in Cleveland.

The rapper was "very professional and very courteous" during his arrest, a state police spokesman told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Snoop Dogg's "Puff, Puff, Past Tour" is scheduled to appear in Chicago Saturday night.

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.

MADONNA

On the eve of the release of her much anticipated "GHV2: Greatest Hits, Volume 2," Madonna is being honored by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with its Diamond Award -- denoting sales of more than l0 million units -- for her first greatest hits package, "The Immaculate Collection."

"Collection" covered the first phase of the pop diva's career, from l982's "Holiday" to l990's "Justify My Love." To date, it has sold more than 22 million copies worldwide.

Meanwhile, "GHV2" (on the Warner Bros./Maverick Records label) covers Madonna's creative output from 1991 through this year, and includes such songs as "Erotica," "Secret," "Take A Bow," "Frozen," "Ray Of Light," and "Music." It's due in stores Nov. 13 and will be complemented by the simultaneous release of a DVD/VHS recording of the "Drowned World Tour," made during her performance in her hometown of Detroit. "Drowned World Tour" first aired on HBO in August.

(Web site: wbr.com)

MORE ALBUM RELEASE NEWS

-- Lit's new album "Atomic" was released Tuesday. The CD is the follow-up to Lit's platinum-plus album "A Place In The Sun." During the summer, fans got a taste of "Atomic" with the song "The Last Time Again" when it was featured on the film soundtrack of "American Pie 2." Another Lit single, "Lipstick and Bruises," is currently No.11 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart.

-- Prince's new album "The Rainbow Children" is now available exclusively for download in its entirety to NPG Music Club members. Last April, Prince gave fans a taste of "The Rainbow Children" when he released the first track, "The Work: Pt. 1," as a cyber-single on Napster.

-- Incubus's new album "Morning View" hits stores next Tuesday. It's the band's fourth full-length album. The CD was written and recorded at a mansion in Malibu, Calif.

-- "Goddess In The Doorway," Mick Jagger's first solo album in 8 years, is slated for release Nov. 20. The CD marks the Virgin Records label debut for the Rolling Stones frontman as a solo artist and his first such outing since 1993's "Wandering Spirit." Guest artists on the 12-track collection include Lenny Kravitz, Bono, Rob Thomas, Pete Townshend and Joe Perry, among others. The first single, "God Gave Me Everything," was co-written and produced with Kravitz.

-- 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.

-- 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." The CD hits stores Oct. 30.

LENNY KRAVITZ

A deal between Virgin Records, Roxio Inc. and the Digital Media Company means that fans will be able to download and burn onto CD the soon-to-be-released Lenny Kravitz music video "Dig In." The promotion with Virgin Records authorizes fans who own Roxio's Easy CD Creator software to download and burn the music video from MTV.com or VH1.com on Oct. 30.

At those Web sites, they'll be prompted to enter their e-mail address and postal code to receive a license to download the music video. Users who do not own Roxio software will be allowed to download the Kravitz video to their PC, but the license and video will expire and will not be playable after 30 days.

"Lenny," the first album of new material in nearly three years from Kravitz, is scheduled for release by Virgin Records on Oct. 30.

(Web sites: MTV.com, VH1.com, digitalisland.com, roxio.com)

TORI AMOS

Fans of Tori Amos can catch a rare inside look at a dress rehearsal performance online in the "Strange Little Webcast."

This special, Internet-only show -- accessible at warnerbros.com for the next 90 days -- features Amos alone at the keyboards for the first time in seven years. Among the selections she performs are songs from her current (Atlantic Records) album, "Strange Little Girls" -- including "Time" and "Enjoy The Silence."

"Strange Little Girls" was released on Sept. 18 and debuted at No.4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. All the songs on the album were written by men -- including Neil Young, the Stranglers, Eminem, Depeche Mode, Slayer, Lou Reed and John Lennon/Paul McCartney -- but are performed by Amos from the female perspective.

Amos is currently on tour. The road trip wraps up in San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 20.

GRAMMYS IN L.A. AGAIN

For the third consecutive year, the Grammy Awards will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Recording Academy President/CEO Michael Greene announced Thursday that the awards will be televised live on CBS on Feb. 27, 2002.

Greene made the announcement at a news conference attended by Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn, CBS president/CEO Leslie Moonves and recording artists Mary J. Blige, Dave Koz and Tyrese. He also announced a new long-term deal with CBS to telecast the show.

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

PATTI LABELLE

BET will honor Patti LaBelle Saturday with the 2001 BET Walk of Fame Award. The singer will be feted during a gala event at the BET headquarters in Washington, D.C. Featured artists paying tribute to LaBelle will include Luther Vandross, Jill Scott, Brian McKnight, Faith Evans, Gerald Levert and the former members of Labelle -- Sarah Dash and Nona Hendrix. Actor and comedian Robert Townsend will host.

The celebration --- which will be taped for airing Oct. 30 (at 9 p.m. ET/PT) on BET -- benefits The College Fund/UNCF (United Negro College Fund).

(Web site: BET.com)

NASHVILLE PUSSY

Nashville Pussy had to buy its new Web-site domain name from a Chattanooga, Tenn., madam who runs an online sex chat room.

It seems the Internet address NashvillePussy.com was already being used by a site designed for ladies to offer their favors online. The band bought the name from the woman for an undisclosed sum of money.

"It was a pleasure to do business," said Nashville Pussy singer Blaine Cartwright.

"We expect some residual traffic from their old customers," said guitarist Ruyter Suys. "Stick around, boys, surf on in and try a taste of something else, some Southern fried chicken with a lot more sauce."

"We pander to a different crowd," added Cartwright. "Actually, it's probably the same crowd!"

The band --- which took its name from a Ted Nugent song lyric --- is taking to the road next month. The first leg of the tour will end with a New Year's Eve show at The Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles.

ANTHRAX (THE BAND)

Visitors to anthrax.com can find information about the deadly bacteria -- but not because the Web site was set up for health reasons. It's the home page of the veteran heavy metal band Anthrax, which says it won't change its name after using it for nearly two decades.

"People ask me how I feel about this," writes singer Scott Ian on the site. "It sucks. I'm scared. Confused. Stressed. I'm sad that we live in a world where humans would do this to each other. When I learned about anthrax 20 years ago there was never any thought or talk about bio-warfare. ... I just wish this would go away. I would feel the same even if my band weren't called Anthrax."

The site offers facts about the disease, links to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and news reports about the current outbreaks. There's also an official news release titled "ANTHRAX (the band) vs. ANTHRAX (the disease)."

(Thanks to UPI's Joe Warminsky in Washington)