Rock News: Music's highs and lows

PETTY TOUR

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers have announced that they will kick off their North American tour on June 27 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The band also announced that original bassist Ron Blair -- who left the line-up in 1982 -- will be back for the tour, replacing Howie Epstein, who has left "because of his ongoing personal problems," according to a statement issued by the band.

Epstein was arrested in New Mexico last year with his girlfriend, singer Carlene Carter, in a vehicle that had been reported as stolen. Police said they found a small amount of heroin and paraphernalia in the car, and placed drug charges against Carter.

The summer tour will support the planned October release of Petty's new album with the Heartbreakers, "The Golden Circle."

P. DIDDY ON A ROLL

Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, has his biggest hit in five years with "I Need A Girl (Part One)" featuring Usher.

The lead single from his new album -- "P. Diddy & Bad Boy Records Present ... We Invented the Remix" -- is No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Combs told LAUNCH he seems to get his best results when he speaks from the heart.

"'I Need A Girl' was just me speaking from my heart," he said. "It was a remix off my original album I did with Usher. And we got 'I Need A Girl (Part Two)' coming out next week featuring Ginuwine. And you know, usually records when I speak from my heart has like a sexy vibe to it for the ladies to dance to, usually I have success with those."

LAUNCH reported that Combs will head back into the studio soon to finish work on a new album from Dream. He also has some tour dates scheduled throughout the summer, with plans calling for Ja Rule and the Bad Boy family to join him on some of the dates.

ELTON JOHN GIVES TO CHARITY

Elton John has announced that he will donate proceeds from his June 16 concert at Messehalle in Erfurt, Germany, to a fund that was established for the families of the victims in the worst mass murder in Germany since World War II.

Robert Steinhaeuser shot and killed 16 people at the Johann Gutenberg Gymnasium on April 26.

In a posting on his Web site (eltonjohn.com), John said he learned of the tragedy while he was touring in Australian tour, and knew then that he wanted to do something to help when he played in Erfurt next month -- a gig that was already on his schedule.

"One can imagine that the people there cannot come to a concert as if nothing happened," he wrote. "Therefore we decided to dedicate our appearance to the victims and their families and friends."

LINDA THOMPSON RETURNS

According to a report in Rolling Stone, July 30 has been set as the release date for Linda Thompson's first album in 17 years, "Fashionably Late."

The album will feature guest appearances by Van Dyke Parks, Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright -- as well as a collaboration on "Dear Mary" between Thompson and her ex-husband and former recording partner Richard Thompson, who plays guitar and sings back-up on the cut.

"Richard is and always was a pleasure to work with," she told Rolling Stone. "Plus, he worked for free. I could love Stalin for that!"

Linda Thompson co-wrote the album with Teddy Thompson, her son with Richard, who also plays on the album.

She said a psychological disorder known as hysterical dysphonia, which renders victims unable to speak, was partly responsible for the long break between records. But she also said she needed to wait until her kids grew up "so I could work with them."

STARS LINE UP FOR RAMONES TRIBUTE

Garbage, the Pretenders, Metallica, U2 and Tom Waits have been added to the line-up for "We're a Happy Family," the Ramones tribute record being masterminded by Rob Zombie for release this summer.

Zombie has recorded the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop" for the set. He said U2 will do "Beat on the Brat," Waits will cover "Jackie and Judy," and Metallica will take "We're a Happy Family." Plans call for the Pretenders to record "Something to Believe In" while Garbage "I Just Want to Have Something to Do."

Previously announced acts include Green Day, Marilyn Manson, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eddie Vedder.

SHADY DEAL AT MTV

Eminem and The White Stripes have been added to the line-up of performers at the 2002 MTV Movie Awards, which will be taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on June 1 for telecast over MTV on June 6.

The talent line-up also includes Nicolas Cage, Jennifer Connelly, Matt Damon, Anthony Hopkins, Bernie Mac, Chris Rock and Will Smith. Jack Black and Sarah Michelle Gellar will co-host the show.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" led the field with six nominations, followed by "The Fast and the Furious" and "Rush Hour 2" with five each. "Moulin Rouge" and "Shrek" each had four nominations.