Rockers in benefit to save gorillas

Rockers in benefitto save gorillas
LONDON -- London's sedate Opera House will be filled with the sounds of rock 'n' roll on Nov. 10 with a concert to raise funds for Africa's endangered mountain gorillas.
Hosted by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the gala event will feature musicians Bryan Adams, Brian May and Joe Strummer.
It will also include appearances by Eileen Atkins, Alan Bates, Jeremy Irons, Michael Palin, Greta Scacchi, Terence Stamp and Sinead Cusack.
Guests will watch a film made by actor Leonardo DiCaprio during a visit to Koko, a mountain gorilla who knows sign language.
"The concert will increase awareness and raise funds for pioneering projects aimed at saving the remaining gorillas and helping the local people to make a living from the jungle," the fund said in a statement.
The fund, which is working to save the world's 650 surviving gorillas, is named for the American naturalist who dedicated her life to their survival. She was found hacked to death at a research station in Rwanda in 1985.
Mellencamp: 'Mightas well go out and play'
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- John Mellencamp doesn't have a record deal -- but he's not worried. He's focusing his energy on live performances.
"This idea of releasing a record and supporting it, [forget] all that," the 51-year-old singer said. "That was the 1980s, not now. It doesn't make any difference if I have a record out or not."
He began a 13-date tour of midsize cities Friday -- places such as Grand Rapids, Mich., and the Indiana cities of Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend.
"I'm going to do 15 to 20 shows, take three months off, then 15 to 20 shows, take three months off," he told The Indianapolis Star. "I might as well go out and play. Why am I sitting here in Bloomington?"
Mellencamp no longer records for Columbia Records, which released his self-titled album in 1998 and "Cuttin' Heads" in 2001.
"I don't really want a record deal, to be honest with you," he said. "But I'm going to do it. One thing hasn't changed in the music business: It's easy to get a record deal. But it's impossible to get [a label] to do anything for you once you have the thing."
Mellencamp's hits include "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," "Paper in Fire" and "Check It Out."
Joan Jett sues overpayment for film cameo
NEW YORK -- Rocker Joan Jett has filed a lawsuit against GMR Productions, claiming she didn't receive payment for her work on the movie "Prey for Rock & amp; Roll."
According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Jett was to receive $100,000 for a cameo appearance in the film as well as proceeds from the sale of the soundtrack.
She received $20,000 in March, Jett said. The 42-year-old singer, whose hits include "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," said production was stopped in May.
GMR Productions' telephone number is unlisted.
Supermodel' aimsto demystify field
"Fear Factor" is about to meet Max Factor, thanks to a newly announced midseason show tentatively called "Supermodel," starring Tyra Banks, People magazine reports.
The UPN network has picked up eight one-hour episodes of the reality series, which will feature the Los Angeles-born Banks, 28, who will also serve as executive producer and a judge.
The show will revolve around a nationwide talent search (much like "American Idol") for eight real people who think they can cut it in the world of supermodeling, with the series providing "dramatic twists and turns as participants compete in the world of modeling."
Today's birthdays
Actor Charles Bronson is 81. Actor-dancer Ken Berry is 69. Movie composer John Barry is 69. Actor Shadoe Stevens is 56. Singer Lulu is 54. Television critic Tom Shales is 54. Actor Mike Evans is 53. Comedian-actress Roseanne is 50. Actress Kate Capshaw is 49. Comedian Dennis Miller is 49. Actress Kathy Kinney is 49. Singer Adam Ant is 48. Actor Dolph Lundgren is 43.