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Rock News: Music's high and low notes

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
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ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante will be among the presenters Monday at the 17th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction dinner at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel.

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MTV News reports Vedder will induct the Ramones -- minus singer Joey Ramone, who died of cancer last April -- and Kiedis and Frusciante will usher in Talking Heads. Alicia Keys will do the honors for R&B veteran Isaac Hayes, and Wallflowers singer Jakob Dylan will induct Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Jewel will honor pop-country singer Brenda Lee, '50s singer Darlene Love will induct '60s teen-pop idol Gene Pitney, and rockabilly/swing performer Brian Setzer and bluegrass/country player Marty Stuart will honor Nashville pioneer Chet Atkins, who died in June from cancer. Atkins is being inducted as a sideman.

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Green Day will perform during the show, as will many of the inductees and presenters. VH1 will tape the affair and air it Wednesday (at 9 p.m. ET).


MADONNA

Madonna is writing and recording the title track to the 20th James Bond film, "Die Another Day."

"We are thrilled that Madonna, who is recognized as the world's most exciting songwriter and performer, has agreed to compose and sing the song for the first James Bond movie of the new millennium," said the film's team of producers in a statement Friday, reported by VH1.com. "She has an excellent feel for writing and performing music in films and we are proud she will contribute her talents to 'Die Another Day.' "

Madonna will be heading into the studio this week to record the tune. It won't necessarily carry the same title as the movie, despite it being the "title" song, her spokesperson, Liz Rosenberg, said.

The singer/actress is also interested in a cameo in the spy flick. Rosenberg said since Madonna is committed to the play "Up for Grabs," which opens in London's West End in May, she's trying to figure out a way to do both. Since the James Bond movie is shooting on location in Hawaii, Hong Kong, Spain, Iceland and London, Madonna might be able to meet up with the production on a European shoot.

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"Die Another Day," which stars Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry, is scheduled to open Nov. 22.


BON JOVI

Bon Jovi is back in a New Jersey studio at work on "Bounce," the follow-up to the band's Grammy-nominated comeback album "Crush."

RollingStone.com reports the rockers have written 26 songs and finished 13 demos, and in a recent online chat described the upcoming record as having an "upbeat kinda vibe." Luke Ebbin -- who worked with the band on "Crush" -- will co-produce with singer Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora. "Bounce" is due out this fall.

A box set is also in the works. It would hit stores next year and coincide with Bon Jovi's 20th anniversary.


DMX

A New Jersey judge has agreed to allow rapper DMX to lend his voice to public service announcements against animal abuse as part of his sentence on animal cruelty, disorderly conduct and drug paraphernalia charges.

It's part of a plea bargain that'll keep the musician and actor, whose real name is Earl Simmons, out of prison.

In a sentence handed down last Friday, state Superior Court Judge Donald R. Venezia also fined Simmons $15,000 and put him on probation for a year. He'll record the PSAs for the Humane Society of the United States, Billboard.com reports.

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The case started on June 28, 1999, when police went to the Simmons home in Teaneck, N.J., after finding wife Tashera's purse near the spot where the rapper's business manager was shot. The business manager, who is also Earl Simmons' uncle, was wounded in the foot. The shooting remains unsolved.

At the house, Tashera's mother, Marcia Tate, told detectives that Simmons had been smoking crack cocaine all week and had pulled out a pistol in front of her. Police found weapons, ammunition and coke-smoking pipes in a bedroom. They also found 13 pit bulls. The couple's son, who was 6 at the time, and a 15-year-old cousin also were in the house, prompting child endangerment charges.

The weapons and child endangerment charges were dropped as part of the plea bargain. The rapper also gave up the dogs.

Simmons was nominated for a Grammy this year for best rap solo performance for "Who We Be," and his latest release, "The Great Depression," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top-200 album chart last November. He co-starred with the late Aaliyah in the 2000 movie "Romeo Must Die" and appeared with Steven Seagal in last year's "Exit Wounds."

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LED ZEPPELIN

There are two chances of a Led Zeppelin reunion -- slim and none.

John Paul Jones told the Toronto Sun there never can be a Led Zeppelin reunion, simply because one of the four members of the band -- drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham -- died in 1980. Singer Robert Plant has long said the same thing.

But would Jones consider getting together with either Plant or guitarist Jimmy Page, who reunited for two tours and two albums from 1994 to '98?

"I don't think so, no. No," Jones said. "I just don't have any interest. I'm enjoying being my own boss. It's a good time. And those things always just get hundreds of personnel and it all just gets too big and complicated. I like things really simple ... I don't think I ever want to do stadiums again."

Jones said he, Plant and Page chat only two or three times a year -- about business matters, such as their mutual decision late last year to finally make available the Zeppelin catalogue to advertisers and movie soundtracks.

One reason Jones said a reunion wouldn't work is that "decision-making with the two of them is just hell on earth." He added, "Well, life is too short to go through that all the time."

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