Rock News Two: The week in pop music

BRIT AWARDS

Gorillaz are up for six awards in next month's Brit Awards ceremony. That's according to Bigmouth Music News, which reports Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue each are nominated in four categories.

Dido also received four nominations initially but that number dropped to three after the Official U.K. Charts Company, which hands out the Brit Awards, determined she didn't meet the eligibility requirements for the Best Newcomer award.

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Sting.

The awards will be presented Feb. 20 in ceremonies that'll air the next day on ITV.

The nominees:

-- Best British Male Artist

Aphex Twin

Craig David

Elton John

Ian Brown

Robbie Williams

-- Best British Female Artist

Dido

Geri Halliwell

PJ Harvey

Sade

Sophie Ellis Bextor

-- Best British Group

Gorillaz

Jamiroquai

Radiohead

Stereophonics

Travis

-- Best British Album

Craig David, "Born To Do It"

Dido, "No Angel"

Gorillaz, "Gorillaz"

Radiohead, "Kid A"

Travis, "The Invisible Band"

-- Best British Newcomer

Atomic Kitten

Blue

Elbow

Gorillaz

Tom McRae

Mis-Teeq

So Solid Crew

Starsailor

Turin Brakes

Zero 7

-- Best British Single

Atomic Kitten, "Whole Again"

Bob the Builder, "Mambo No 5"

Daniel Bedingfield, "Gotta Get Thru This"

DJ Pied Piper, "Do You Really Like It"

Geri Halliwell, "It's Raining Men"

Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"

Hear'Say, "Pure and Simple"

Robbie Williams, "Eternity/Mandalay"

S Club 7, "Don't Stop Movin'"

So Solid Crew, "21 Seconds"

-- Best British Video

Basement Jaxx, "Where's Your Head At"

Coldplay, "Trouble"

Dido, "Thank You"

Elton John, "I Want Love"

Fatboy Slim, "Weapon of Choice"

Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"

So Solid Crew, "21 Seconds"

Robbie Williams/Kylie Minogue, "Kids"

Robbie Williams, "Supreme"

Travis, "Sing"

-- Best British Dance Act

Basement Jaxx

Craig David

Faithless

Fatboy Slim

Gorillaz

-- Best International Male Artist

Bob Dylan

Dr Dre

Ryan Adams

Shaggy

Wyclef Jean

-- Best International Female Artist

Alicia Keys

Anastacia

Bjork

Kylie Minogue

Nelly Furtado

-- Best International Group

Daft Punk

Destiny's Child

Limp Bizkit

REM

The Strokes

-- Best International Album

Alicia Keys, "Songs In A Minor"

Daft Punk, "Discovery"

Destiny's Child, "Survivor"

Kylie Minogue, "Fever"

The Strokes, "Is This It"

-- Best International Newcomer

Anastacia

The Avalanches

Linkin Park

Nelly Furtado

The Strokes

-- Best Pop Act

Blue

Hear'Say

Kylie Minogue

S Club 7

Westlife

SUPER BOWL XXXVI

Paul McCartney will lead "a tribute to the spirit of everyday heroes" during the pre-game show for Super Bowl XXXVI, set for Feb. 3 at the New Orleans Superdome.

"As a sports fan, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the Super Bowl, and as a musician, I am honored to add my voice to the message of tribute that this year's Super Bowl will carry," the former Beatle said in a statement.

Other musical artists taking part in the Super Bowl festivities this year include Mariah Carey, who'll sing "The Star-Spangled Banner"; Mary J. Blige and Marc Anthony dueting on "America the Beautiful"' and U2 performing during the halftime show.

GRAMMY AWARDS

Producers of the upcoming 44th Annual Grammy Awards say Jon Stewart will return as host. The host of MTV's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" earned excellent reviews for his work on last year's Grammy show. This year's telecast is scheduled for Feb. 27 on CBS.

ALL-STAR BENEFIT

Artists Against AIDS Worldwide -- the organization that recently produced an all-star remake of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" to promote the campaign against AIDS in Africa -- is planning an all-star, Good Friday concert in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Executive director Leigh Blake told UPI she expects several of those who took part in the "What's Going On" project to be involved. The record featured leading pop artists such as Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Destiny's Child, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, Eve, Nelly Furtado, Ja Rule, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keys, Aaron Lewis of Staind, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly, 'N Sync, P. Diddy, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Michael Stipe. It won an award for best collaboration at last month's VH1 Awards.

Blake -- a former journalist, film and music producer -- has made AIDS awareness her main focus, and recently began to develop an AIDS clinic in Kenya. She and Bono established the artists' group last year to provide "a creative outlet" for musical artists to work against AIDS.

The Good Friday concert is being produced by Play-Tone, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman's production company, and plans call for filming the event.

(The above two items thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

BILL JOEL AND ELTON JOHN

Billy Joel and Elton John kicked off a continuation of their "Face To Face" performances last Sunday at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Early sales for the Billy Joel/Elton John "Face To Face" 2002 tour have set box office records, selling out 11 shows in four cities with additional shows added at each location and new cities being added to the itinerary:

Last year's 31-date "Face To Face" 2001 tour grossed $59 million.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

The Dave Matthews Band is hitting the studio before hitting the road again. Sonicnet.com reports the band will enter the studio to work on a follow-up to last year's "Everyday." No release date has been set for the still-untitled disc.

DMB will take a break from the recording studio to perform at the Winter Olympics for a concert celebrating the opening of Olympic Medals Plaza on Feb. 9. Then on April 4, the band will launch a 33-date tour in Washington, D.C.:

4/4 -- Washington, DC @ MCI Center

4/5 -- State College, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center

4/7 -- Boston, MA @ Fleet Center

4/8 -- Boston, MA @ Fleet Center

4/10 -- Philadelphia, PA @ First Union Center

4/12 -- Providence, RI @ Dunkin' Donuts Center

4/13 -- Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena

4/15 -- New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

4/16 -- New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

4/19 -- Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre

4/20 -- Ottawa, ON @ Corel Centre

4/21 -- Montreal, QC @ Molson Centre

4/23 -- Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills

4/24 -- Cleveland, OH @ Gund Arena

4/26 -- Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena

4/27 -- Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena

4/29 -- Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center

4/30 -- Ames, IA @ Hilton Coliseum

5/2 -- Selma, TX @ Verizon Wireless

5/4 -- The Woodlands, TX @ C.W. Mitchell Pavilion

5/5 -- The Woodlands, TX @ C.W. Mitchell Pavilion

5/7 -- Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center

5/9 -- Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion

5/10 -- Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center

5/12 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion

5/13 -- Chula Vista, CA @ Coors Amphitheatre

5/15 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

5/16 -- Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

5/18 -- Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

5/19 -- Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

5/21 -- Marysville, CA @ Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre

5/23 -- Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena

5/24 -- Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place

BUSH

Bush will be hitting the road starting in late February in support of its latest album, "Golden State," which was released last fall. Allstar.com says Atlantic Records wouldn't confirm any tour dates, but Ticketmaster is listing five shows in the United States. Canadian rockers Default will be the opening act in at least St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Bush tour dates:

Feb. 28 -- Denver, Fillmore Auditorium

March 2 -- Milwaukee, The Rave

March 3 -- St. Louis, The Pageant

March 19 -- Myrtle Beach, S.C., House of Blues

March 22 -- Orlando, Fla., Hard Rock Live

GREEN DAY, BLINK-182

Green Day and Blink-182 are planning a co-headlining North American spring and summer tour, according to representatives of both bands. Allstar.com says no dates have yet been announced, but details should be revealed soon.

The nine-week tour is expected to kickoff in mid-April and end in June. This will mark the first time the two California-based bands will have toured together. Although the two groups will be co-billed, Green Day will perform last at the shows.

As previously reported, Green Day is scheduled to play live at the Winter X-Games in Aspen, Colo., on Jan. 19, with the performance airing later on ESPN. The band also tours Japan from March 29 through April 4.

SEVENDUST

Sevendust is hitting the road later this month in support of its latest album "Animosity" (TVT). Billboard.com reports the band will kick off the month-long tour Jan. 26 in Royal Oaks, Mich., with former labelmate Gravity Kills, as well as Flaw, in tow.

Sevendust's third CD, "Animosity," was released in late November and debuted at No. 28 on The Billboard Top-200 album chart.

Gravity Kills will be touring in advance of its Sanctuary Records debut, "Superstarved," which hits stores March 19. The CD was recorded at producer Martin Atkins' Chicago studio.

Flaw will be touring behind its Republic/Universal debut, "Through the Eyes."

Tour dates:

Jan. 26 Royal Oak, Mich. Royal Oak Music Theatre

Jan. 29 New York Hammerstein Ballroom

Jan. 30 Boston Avalon

Jan. 31 Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club

Feb. 1 Philadelphia Electric Factory

Feb. 2 Clifton Park, N.Y. Northern Lights

Feb. 4 Lackawanna, N.Y. Sideshow Music Hall

Feb. 6 Cleveland Agora Theatre

Feb. 7 Cincinnati Bogart's

Feb. 8 Chicago House of Blues

Feb. 9 Milwaukee Rave

Feb. 11 Rockford, Ill. Midway Theatre

Feb. 12 West Des Moines, Iowa Val Air Ballroom

Feb. 13 Fargo, N.D. Playmaker's

Feb. 15 Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado Music Hall

Feb. 20 Anaheim, Calif. House of Blues

Feb. 21 Hollywood, Calif. Palace

Feb. 22 Phoenix Web Theatre

Feb. 23 Tucson, Ariz. Rialto

Feb. 26 New Orleans House of Blues

FU MANCHU

Fu Manchu is taking to the road. The "California Crossing The U.S." tour -- in support of the band's new album "California Crossing" -- will begin in Los Angeles Jan. 29 and wind up back on the West coast in mid-March. Injected and Headstrong will open all dates through March 3.

The album is being released Feb. 5.

"We're excited to get back out and start playing all the new tunes for our fans," said lead singer/guitarist Scott Hill. "We're also gonna be playing some songs we haven't done in a while, so it's going to be a great show."

TOUR DATES:

DATE CITY VENUE

1/29 Los Angeles Troubadour

1/30 San Francisco Justice League

2/1 Portland, OR. Berbati's Pan

2/2 Seattle Graceland

2/3 Missoula, MT. Buck's Club

2/5 Denver, CO. Bluebird

2/6 Colorado Springs, CO. Music Hall

2/8 Lawrence, KS. Bottleneck

2/9 St. Louis, MO. The Galaxy

2/10 Milwaukee, WI. The Rave

2/12 Minneapolis, MN. 400 Bar

2/13 Madison, WI. The Annex

2/14 Chicago Double Door

2/15 Detroit, MI. Magic Stick

2/16 Cleveland, OH. Peabody's

2/17 Glenwood, NY Kissing Bridge Ski Resort

2/18 Cambridge, MA. Middle East

2/20 New York, NY. Bowery Ballroom

2/21 Philadelphia, PA Kyber Pass

2/22 Baltimore, MD. Fletcher's

2/23 Washington D.C. Black Cat

2/24 Charleston, SC. Music Farm

2/26 Atlanta, GA Roxy

2/27 Nashville, TN. Exit Inn

3/1 New Orleans, LA Shim Sham Club

3/2 Austin, TX. Emo's

3/3 Dallas, TX. Galaxy Club

3/17 Phoenix, AZ KEDG Event

The day before the tour begins Fu Manchu can be heard around the nation on the popular nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline." The band will perform a couple of songs live and take questions from their fans around the country Jan. 28 live from their studios in Los Angeles.

Fu Manchu recently completed filming a video for their new single "Squash That Fly" in Los Angeles.

SNO-CORE FESTIVAL

Alien Ant Farm and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe are among the artists who'll take part in the seventh annual SnoCore Festivals. The "SnoCore Rock" and "SnoCore Icicle Ball" Tours will kick off Feb. 15.

The "SnoCore Rock" line-up will be led by Alien Ant Farm, who'll be joined by Fenix TX, and GlassJaw. The tour begins in Providence, R.I., and will play more than 35 shows.

The talent line-up for "SnoCore Icicle Ball" will include Karl Denson's Tiny Universe on most dates, with the rest of the bill varying from city to city. Those artists will include Spearhead, Nikka Costa, Blackalicious, Ozomati and Sector 9. The "Icicle Ball" unit will play some 40 dates between its kick-off in San Diego and its April 1 close in Toronto.

-- SnoCore Rock confirmed dates:

DATE VENUE CITY

2/15 Lupos Heartbreak Hotel Providence, RI

2/16 Palladium Boston, MA

2/17 Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA

2/18 9:30 Club Washington, D.C.

2/19 Northern Lights Albany, NY

2/24 Webster Theatre Hartford, CT

2/25 Water Street Music Hall Rochester, NY

2/26 Metropol Pittsburgh, PA

3/1 Convention Center Asbury Park, NJ

3/2 Roseland New York, NY

3/4 Newport Columbus, OH

3/5 Egyptian Room Indianapolis, IN

3/6 Bogart's Cincinnati, OH

3/7 State Theatre Detroit, MI

3/8 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL

3/9 Modjeska Theatre Milwaukee, WI

3/11 Quest Minneapolis, MN

3/12 Main Lounge Iowa City, IA

3/13 The Pageant St. Louis, MO

3/19 TBA Portland, OR

3/21 McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR

3/22 Rose Garden Chico, CA

3/25 Civic Auditorium Santa Cruz, CA

3/27 RIMAC La Jolla, CA

3/28 The Palladium Los Angeles, CA

3/30 Desert Breeze Skate Park Las Vegas, NV

-- SnoCore Icicle Ball confirmed dates:

2/15 Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles, CA

2/16 Club Canyon Grand Room Mammoth Mountain

2/17 Civic Auditorium Santa Cruz, CA

2/18 Van Duzer Theatre Arcata, CA

2/21 Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR

2/22 Moore Theatre Seattle, WA

2/23 Convention Center Whistler, BC

2/24 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC

2/26 McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR

2/28 Senator Theatre Chico, CA

3/1-2 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA

3/4 Harry O's Park City, UT

3/5 Big Easy Boise, ID

3/6 Wilma Theatre Missoula, MT

3/8-9 Fillmore Theatre Denver, CO

3/10 Dobson Arena Vail, CO

3/11 Fox Theatre Boulder, CO

3/13 Main Lounge Iowa City, IA

3/14 Quest Minneapolis, MN

3/15 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL

3/16 State Theatre Detroit, MI

3/17 Agora Cleveland, OH

3/19 Bogart's Cincinnati, OH

3/21 Hammerstein Ballroom New York, NY

3/23 9:30 Club Washington, D.C.

3/25 Memorial Auditorium Burlington, VT

3/29 State Theatre Portland, ME

3/30 Metropolis Montreal, MQ

4/1 Kool Haus Toronto, ONT

Past SnoCore lineups have included such artists as Sublime, Primus, Blink-182, Fear Factory, The Pharcyde, Everclear, System of a Down, Kittie, and Powerman 5000.

(Web sites: tickets.artistdirect.com or snocore.com)

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

Rufus Wainwright is planning his first-ever headlining tour with a full band beginning on Feb 8 in Boston. The road trip is in support of his new album, "Poses" (Dreamworks).

Wainwright, the son of singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright, hit the road as a solo performer and opening act for Roxy Music and Tori Amos last year, but he has never taken a full band on the road.

Tour dates:

2/8 -- Boston, MA, Avalon Ballroom

2/9 -- Albany, NY, Hart Theatre At The Egg

2/10 -- Toronto, Canada, Convocation Hall

2/11 -- Montreal, Canada, Le Spectrum De Montreal

2/14 -- New York, NY, Town Hall

2/15 -- Philadelphia, PA, Electric Factory

2/16 -- Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club

2/17 -- Towson, MD, Recher Theatre

2/19 -- Pittsburgh, PA, Metropol

2/20 -- Ann Arbor, MI, Michigan Theatre

2/22 -- Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre

2/23 -- Oberlin, OH, Finney Chapel

2/24 -- Greencastle, IN, Kresge Auditorium

2/26 -- Madison, WI, Barrymore Theatre

2/27 -- Minneapolis, MN, First Avenue

3/1 -- Aspen, CO, Double Diamond

3/2 -- Denver, CO, Gothic Theatre

3/8 -- Los Angeles, CA, Wilshire Ebell Theatre

3/9 -- San Francisco, CA, Fillmore

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are front and center on the main stage at Warner Bros. Online (warnerbros.com) in a special performance from the second annual "Silver Lining Silver Lake." The benefit concert, held last month at the Paramour Estate in Silver Lake, Calif., raised money for the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic.

The Webcast marks the first time the event has been available online. The show was hosted by actor Robert Downey Jr.

During the coming months, Warner Bros. Online will also present performances by Sting, Aimee Mann, Jurassic 5, Bostich from Nortec Collective, Jaguares, Deborah Falconer and Daniel Lanois from the event.

CREED

Creed's "Weathered" has joined 'N Sync's "No Strings Attached" and Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" as the only albums in the SoundScan era that have held onto the No. 1 position on The Billboard Top-200 album chart for their first eight weeks of release. Billboard.com reports "Weathered" had no trouble holding off Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory," which is No. 2 for a third week in a row.

Creed launched its 2002 tour in Atlanta Wednesday night.

MORE ALBUM NEWS

-- Target Stores is offering a U2 album created exclusively for the upscale discount retailer. The CD, titled "U2 7," is a compilation of seven rare and remixed U2 songs -- including an acoustic version of "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of," remixes of "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation" as well as the domestic releases of "Summer Rain" and "Always." It'll retail for $6.99 and go on sale next Tuesday. U2 was named "Band of the Year" by Spin and Rolling Stone magazines. The Irish rockers are currently nominated for eight Grammy Awards, including "Album of the Year."

-- Gorillaz has a new album coming out Feb. 26. "G-Sides" is a compilation of new tracks, rarities, remixes and the band's animated videos. RollingStone.com reports it'll include two remixes of "19-2000" and a remix of "Clint Eastwood," both from the animated group's self-titled 2001 debut, as well as two new songs, "Faust" and "The Sounder." "Ghost Train," "Hip Albatross" and "12D3," also included on the compilation, were previously only available as B-sides in the U.K. The CD's release will coincide with the start of the animated group's first live tour of North America, scheduled to kick off Feb. 23 in Toronto.

-- Sheryl Crow's ties to country music continue to grow stronger. Country.com reports the pop singer recently recorded tracks with Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines ("Abilene") and Emmylou Harris ("Weather Channel") that are being considered for Crow's upcoming album, due out in the spring. Crow also duets with Willie Nelson on his newly released album, "The Great Divide."

-- "The Crossing," the debut album of the Scottish rock band Big Country, is being reissued and expanded. The release -- which hits stores Feb. 5 -- includes not only the 1983 album of the same name but also the long out-of-print U.S. version of the following year's five-selection EP "Wonderland," two of whose tracks are making their U.S. CD debuts. Big Country lead singer Stuart Adamson was found dead last month in a hotel room in Hawaii after disappearing weeks earlier while recording in Nashville. He was 43. The cause of death was believed to be suicide.

-- The 1982 debut album from British pop group ABC is being re-released. " The Lexicon of Love" (on Mercury/UME), which hits stores Feb. 5, has been digitally remastered from the original master tapes and expanded with a bonus track. The new packaging also features a deluxe booklet with a forward by ABC frontman Martin Fry. In 1997, ABC released its first album in six years and embarked on its first U.K. tour since 1983. Last year, the group supported Robbie Williams on a massive U.K. stadium tour. This spring, ABC will be part of the "Here And Now" tour of the U.K. that'll also feature Howard Jones, Adam Ant, Belinda Carlisle and Spandau Ballet.

-- Cheap Trick has been in a Chicago studio recording new songs for an album to be released later this year. Drummer Bun E. Carlos said Rick Nielsen is contributing more to the band's songwriting and the results are "more adventurous." He said the group has also secured the rights to re-release its 1996 self-titled studio album, which suffered when the independent label that put it out (Red Ant) declared bankruptcy not long after the album was released.

-- Big Head Todd & The Monsters are releasing a new 11-song album in March on their own record label. Bass player Rob Squires says the album was recorded at Todd's home studio. "It was mixed by Karl Derfler who worked with us on our last record," he said. Big Head Todd & The Monsters, formed in the mid-1980s, had their most successful album with their first major label release, the platinum-selling "Sister Sweetly."

EMINEM

Four members of the film crew shooting Eminem's upcoming movie, "8 Mile," suffered minor burns in Detroit last Sunday.

MTV News quotes a local TV station saying the four sustained first-degree burns while filming a scene that involved the intentional burning of a house. They were treated at a local hospital following the accident.

The movie -- whose title refers to Detroit's 8 Mile Road, considered to be the dividing line between the city's black and white communities -- is loosely based on Eminem's life. It also stars Kim Basinger and Brittany Murphy and is scheduled to hit theaters in July.

ADAM ANT

Adam Ant has been committed to a London psychiatric hospital after a bizarre bar row.

SonicNet.com reports the 1980s new wave singer -- whose real name is Stuart Goddard -- was arrested last Saturday night at the Prince of Wales pub in North London after getting into a fight and allegedly brandishing a fake gun. He faces weapons, criminal damage and assault charges, according to police.

The next day, police said, officials received calls from several of Ant's friends and family members, who said they feared for the 47-year-old singer's safety. The cops then picked up Ant, who suffers from manic depression. He was detained under the Mental Health Act at London's Royal Free Hospital, a hospital spokesperson said. Under British law, Ant can be detained for up to 28 days.

A statement on Ant's Web site said the singer "is not suicidal, however family and friends are concerned that Adam (was) not receiving the care that he requires, and they do not wish to see him become a potential threat to himself."

Ant is still scheduled to kick off his "Here and Now" tour with Spandau Ballet in April.

JON LEE

Marital problems may've caused Feeder's Jon Lee to hang himself. That's according to the online news provider Music Goes On, which quotes Miami-Dade police detectives investigating the death.

The Web site says the drummer made a desperate final phone call to his wife, Tatiana, before hanging himself from the rafters of his garage. A police department spokesman said they believed Lee may have committed suicide to get back at his wife for apparently being unfaithful.

The couple had a two-year-old son.

Lee's funeral was held Friday at St. Mary's RC Church in Newport, England.

GEORGE HARRISON

The widow of George Harrison is suing a couple she's accusing of stealing some of the former Beatle's possessions and trying to sell them immediately after his death.

E! Online reports the lawsuit, filed Jan. 11 in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims Carl Roles (who at one time was the husband of Olivia Harrison's sister, Linda Arias) and Carol Roles tried to hawk items taken from Harrison's Los Angeles home when Carl Roles was living there with Linda Arias in the 1970s. Harrison's estate was granted a temporary restraining order against the couple, and lawyers are now seeking an injunction requiring the items be returned.

The Roles did not immediately return a call for comment. Harrison died Nov. 29 of cancer.

Meanwhile, the legendary guitarist's first solo No.1 single, "My Sweet Lord," was re-released Monday, with proceeds going to the Material World Charitable Foundation, which Harrison set up in 1973 to support various charities around the world. One of Harrison's more recent songs -- "Horse to the Water," which he co-wrote with son Dhani -- was released last week and appears on "Jools Holland's Big Band Rhythm & Blues," the new all-star album by the former Squeeze keyboardist.

BETTY BLOWTORCH BENEFIT

Motorhead's Lenny Kilmister was in the audience for last Tuesday night's benefit concert for Bianca Halstead, a.k.a. Bianca Butthole of the band Betty Blowtorch. She was killed in a car accident in New Orleans on Dec. 15.

The show at the Dragonfly Club in Los Angeles featured The Superbees, Motochrist, Texas Terri & The Stiff Ones, Faster Pussycat, Coyote Shivers and The Pleasure Seekers.

A New York benefit concert is set for Feb. 12 at Club Luxx in Brooklyn -- the venue which hosted Betty Blowtorch's last NY show. Bands booked to perform include Firegods (featuring Sean from the Toilet Boys), Bantam (featuring Gina of the Lunachicks), Candyass, The Humanoids,Supagroup, Angel Rot, Bad Wizard, The Munts and a special re-union show by Helldorado -- featuring

Nashville Pussy bassist Tracy Almazan and Blare N. Bitch of Betty Blowtorch.

All proceeds from both shows will go to assist Halstead's family with funeral and burial arrangements.

B.B. KING

B.B. King stars in a new series of television and radio advertisements for Burger King. The commercials, which began airing nationwide Sunday, spotlight the company's newest menu additions -- the King Supreme sandwich and Egg'wich Muffin. The spots feature the musician sitting on the cusp of a crescent moon and singing "B.K. and B.B. let you 'have it your way'."

Last fall, Burger King customers voted King a "Living Legend" from among a list of music sensations that also included Aretha Franklin and James Brown.