Musical talent includes:

                                     Paul McCartney
                                      Mick Jagger
                            Bono and Edge of U2, David Bowie
                                       Elton John
                                      Eric Clapton
                                       Billy Joel
                                        The Who
                                      James Taylor
                                    Destiny's Child
                                    Backstreet Boys
                                    John Mellencamp
                                       Macy Gray
                                     Goo Goo Dolls
                                      Marc Anthony
                                        Bon Jovi
                                   Melissa Etheridge
                                         Jay-Z
                                   Five For Fighting
 

Plus Janet Jackson, appearing live via satellite, and Paul Shaffer as musical director to ``The Concert For New York City.'' 

      Non-musical talent includes:

                                     Harrison Ford
                                       Jim Carrey
                                     Billy Crystal
                                        Meg Ryan
                                     Susan Sarandon
                                      Richard Gear
                                      David Spade
                                      Julia Stiles
                                      John Cusack
                                     Michael J. Fox
                                      Hilary Swank
                                      Adam Sandler
                                      Salma Hayek
                                       Mike Myers
                                     Mark Wahlberg
                                      Halle Berry
                                      Denis Leary
                                      Will Farrell
                                      Jimmy Fallon
                            Reese Witherspoon Ryan Phillippe
                                      James Lipton

      Plus members of New York sports teams
 

``The Concert For New York City'' will also feature short films directed by some of Hollywood's top filmmakers and entertainers. The films, all celebrating the spirit of New York in some way, will be shown throughout the evening and will also air live on VH1. 

                              Directors include:
                                 Woody Allen
                                 Edward Burns
                                  Spike Lee
                               Martin Scorsese
                                Jerry Seinfeld
                                 Kevin Smith
 

Due to updated production reconfigurations, a limited number of select tickets for ``The Concert For New York City'' are available via the Madison Square Garden box office, Ticketmaster phones, outlets and the Internet. Premium tickets remain available through the Robin Hood Foundation's website at www.robinhood.org.

``The Concert For New York City'' will be telecast live and commercial free on VH1 on Saturday, October 20th beginning at 7:00 PM (ET / PT) from Cablevision's Madison Square Garden in New York City. It also will be simulcast on the VH1 Radio Network and Westwood One and carried on digital channels VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and VH1 Country. It will be seen internationally on VH1 UK and VH1 European, reaching 88 countries. And it will be webcast on AOL.com. A phone number and/or a web address for charitable donations will be included.

The Concert will benefit the victims of the September 11th attack on New York City and pay tribute to the spirit of New York and the heroism of the rescue workers who worked tirelessly to save others. Five thousand members of New York Fire, Police and Rescue crews and their families will be in attendance as guests.

To help raise even more money after the fundraising benefit, eBay.com is auctioning off select items from ``The Concert For New York City''. Some of those items include t-shirts, posters, guitars, drum sets and sports Jerseys, all signed by various artists performing at the benefit.

All proceeds from ``The Concert for New York City'' will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which was established by the Robin Hood Foundation to meet the immediate and long-term needs of victims of the World Trade Center attacks. In particular, Robin Hood will help lower-income New Yorkers affected by the tragedy, while through its support of the Twin Towers Fund, it will aid the families of police, fire, and rescue workers who courageously gave their lives to help others. Robin Hood's Board of Directors underwrites all administrative costs ensuring that 100% of the money raised will go to those who need it most.

Bear Stearns Charitable Funds, eBay, Ford Motor Company, The PepsiCo Foundation, The S.A.C. Foundation, Soundview Technology Group, and Vivendi Universal and Vivendi Environment have joined as event sponsors for ``The Concert for New York City'', helping to support the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

In order to ensure ``The Concert For New York City'' will be able to take donations during the live five-hour telecast, AT&T has committed to managing and coordinating phone traffic and providing a number of call centers including two thousand volunteers to staff them. MCI and Sprint are also providing telecommunications support.

Additional call center support is being provided by Aegis, AOL, Charles Schwab, Con Edison, Cox Communications, Dial America and First Union / Wachovia.

VH1, Cablevision, Miramax Films, AOL and their partners, including Clear Channel Entertainment, will underwrite all costs of the concert and telecast including the facility, production, promotion, travel, and union services to ensure that all money raised will go directly to the organizations listed above. 

SOURCE: Cablevision, Miramax Films, VH1, AOL and Robin Hood 

Breaking the Chains:

Dokken's Jeff Pilson erases the slate and steps into the Rock Star spotlight

If Jeff Pilson were making movies instead of music, he'd probably be a character actor - you know, one of those guys you've seen in a million cool movies, but whose face and name you can never quite place because they always blend so perfectly into the background. 

For nearly 20 years, Pilson has been playing that role in rock. The L.A.-based bassist has never achieved the household-name fame of fellow thick-stringers like Geezer Butler, John Paul Jones and Nikki Sixx. But if you measure success by resume instead of rep, Pilson doesn't play second fiddle to anyone. 

A skilled player and an affable fella, Pilson has worked with a widely impressive cross-section of heavy metal and hard rock heroes. First and foremost, of course, would be Dokken. Pilson has called the band home for 17 years, joining as their first official bassist for 1984's breakthrough Tooth & Nail and maintaining that relationship right up through 1999's Erase the Slate and last year's Live from the Sun. 

That alone would earn Pilson a place in rock's pantheon. But he doesn't seem to be a guy who's content to rest on his laurels. During the early '90s, as grunge stole the spotlight from metal, Pilson turned lemons into lemonade by expanding his playing field, working with everyone from Michael Schenker (1992's MSG album) to Dio ('94's Strange Highways and '96's Angry Machines) and co-founding the band War and Peace, a project that continues to this day. 

This year, he can add another name to that list - Steel Dragon. You may not have heard of them either, yet. But you will. Steel Dragon is the fictional band at the heart of Rock Star, the Judas Priest-inspired movie starring Mark Wahlberg as a tribute-band singer who gets to lead the band he idolizes. Pilson, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Zakk Wylde, perform on the soundtrack, and even show up onscreen to bring some rock 'n' roll authenticity to the party - and let Pilson kick-start that character-actor career. 

Recently, on the eve of yet another project - the debut CD by Underground Moon, a collaboration with solo artist Tommy Henriksen - Pilson spent some telephone time with Blistering.com to discuss old-school Priest, the new movie and the shape of things to come. 

Blistering: How did you get involved with Rock Star? 
Pilson: I was brought in originally to play bass. They were talking about getting an actor to play the part of the bass player. But when I came in and started working rehearsals with the band - Zakk and Jason were already chosen for their respective parts - we just sort of had this chemistry right away. And the director came down and he really liked what he saw, so he offered me the part. 

Blistering: So, was it your natural acting talent that convinced him? 
Pilson (laughing): Well, to be honest with you, I think a lot of it had to do with the fact he wanted it to be authentic. In my opinion - probably because I am a musician but I hear this from a lot of other people too - music movies are very inauthentic. I think the director, Stephen Herek, wanted this to be more real. So having a real band and real musicians who clicked like a real band, I think he felt it was worth it. 

Blistering: Who sang for Mark Wahlberg? 
Pilson: A guy by the name of Mike Matijevic. He used to be in Steelheart. 

Blistering: Even Wahlberg has reportedly admitted he can't sing. 
Pilson: You know what, that's not actually true. He may say that in humility, but I stood next to the guy for every take when we were doing the live sequence and he was singing. He actually studied vocals for this. He was belting it out every take. He was going for it and he was doin' really good. In fact, in spots they blended his voice in with the other voice just to give it a little more of an authentic live feel. Mark did his homework on this one, no question about it. 

Blistering: How did he do as a frontman? 
Pilson: I was just completely impressed by everything he did really. He absorbed himself into the part really deeply. He really lived the life. He had the mansion up in the hills that the movie company got him and we'd have little parties and get-togethers up there. It sort of felt like we were all in a band. It was very, very cool. And Mark as a frontman, he just looked very real to me. I mean, he's a musician so he's certainly aware of those kind of things. I never saw a real glitch. He got better as we rehearsed it, but even from day one, he had a real good clue. 

Blistering: What's your best line in the movie? 
Pilson (laughing): I offer Mark some cocaine at one point while we're on the tour bus. I say, 'Izzy, do you want some of this?' He's like, 'No thanks.' I go, 'Hey, it's really good for writing lyrics.' You see, the way they got the wives off the bus was that we were going to be working on lyrics. 

Blistering: How much were you trying to sound and look - or not sound and look - like Judas Priest? 
Pilson: There was very little thought about that. It was never an issue. We just tried to approach it like a band - as if we were starting our own band and this is what we wanted to sound like. Of course, we had the parameters that it was the 1980s, so there were certain things you can't do. But the Priest thing never came up. We knew that the story was loosely based on it, sure. 

Blistering: Metal fans are insanely loyal. Now that Judas Priest are slagging the movie, are you concerned about getting flak from their fans for being in it? 
Pilson: No! I honesty don't know why Priest are doing this - unless they feel this gives them more attention and they want people to realize it's not exactly their story. And it's not. It was loosely based on their story. Yes the singer who leaves for Mark to fill his place is gay. But there's not a whole lot of similarity from there. If anybody were to say we're bad guys for being in this movie, I think they've gotta re-evaluate their position there, because that's just not the case at all. 

Blistering: Your preference: New Priest or old Priest? 
Pilson: Old Priest, absolutely. I just think that was when they were at their creative peak. I haven't studied their new album so I shouldn't say a whole lot. But they were an amazing, inspired band at one point Ñ and I'm not 100-per-cent convinced they are right now. 

Blistering: Would you like to do more work with Zakk and Jason? 
Pilson: I would love to do that. We definitely had a lot of chemistry together. We had a lot of fun. You know, sometimes you play with people and you almost get the feeling more will happen and I sorta had that feeling. So maybe someday there will be something to come out of it. 

Blistering: Just promise me you'll come up with a better name than Steel Dragon. 
Pilson: We wanted it to be Black Dragon. We thought that would be way cooler. 

Blistering: So is acting going to be a new career for you? 
Pilson (laughing): I just got my agent, babe. I'm a musician first, but I would love to do more acting. It is a great art form and I just got enough of a tiny little taste that I want to do more. But really, I did just get an agent, so we'll see. 

Blistering: Are you taking acting lessons? 
Pilson: With my natural talent? 

How I envy people who have vocations that don't require them to directly comment on the tragic past week. (A maître d's chores or a sex columnist's office duties have never looked so appealing.) I can't recall a time in my life I have more desired an escape into busying oblivion, if only for a moment.

Smoking endlessly and torturing the Lifecycle just ain't cutting it, know what I mean, babycakes?

So, I've been using the past seven days as a sort of keyboard-equipped sounding board (my everyday job, come to think of, but usually the subject is celebrity cleavage, not world catastrophe).

Coming weeks will include more Hollywood-specific reactions, but this time round I offer some posttragedy responses from around the world, plus--as I will also be including in the weeks ahead, rest assured--some of the silly glittering this 'n' that's I normally relish.

After all, I think it's paramount to consider one thing right now: Live like you never have before.

If glitzy gossip holds you back in that endeavor, then rid it from your life, by all means. But if you're like the legions of readers I've heard from, and getting a little escapist relief helps you move on, then, sugarpies, eat it up.

Before we begin, though, let's remember those who have passed on in this travesty. It is to all of them I dedicate this missive. You will not be forgotten.

So, who doesn't want to be a rock star? (Like I said, myriad other brain-break vocations look mucho appetizing at the moment.)

The primo perks are enough to make me salivate all over my funky air guitar, and the never-ending supply of adoring fans (which many rockers take ample advantage of, as you may well know) has got to stroke the ego.

Most music masters don't have to deal with the tabloid fodder from gabbing gossips like moi--that is, unless they're dating a Hollywood celebrity (think Tommy Lee, Stephan Jenkins and Kid Rock, who all don't seem to mind the attention). These performers get the celebrity with less flak--not bad.

At the recent premiere of Rock Star at the Mann Village Westwood, I asked hunky hottie (and the flick's star) Mark Wahlberg to compare the two professions.

"The difference between a rock star and a Hollywood star is huge," proffered the former pinup cutie, in an ultratight black Polo shirt. "Rock stars are very up front with the way they live their lives. Actors are actually doing worse stuff, but they can't talk about it. So, they do it behind closed doors."

Interesting analysis, wouldn'tcha say? Now, one thing that has puzzled me for quite some time is the animal attraction of the rock star--no other way to put it. They can be butt ugly with a brain the size of Calista Flockhart's bust, and fanatical fans still try to slip into their dressing rooms. I asked brawny boy Mark if he understood the phenomenon.

"I don't know why people want to sleep with rock stars. You gotta ask them," said the Planet of the Apes beefcake. "The rock stars can't figure it out either--but they're not asking any questions. They'll take whatever they can get."

Eighties pop songstress Deborah Gibson (wearing one of her own concert tees, no less--tacky, tacky) gave a voyeuristic take on the salacious sitch: "I don't know what the allure is, but all boys look cuter behind a microphone. They seem to be very powerful, even though I think a lot of performers are actually insecure."

One Hollywood honey turned up just to check out the bad boys walking the red carpet. Teri Polo, luscious in a tight white tank, explained her obsession with the leathuh-clad lads. "When you're in the audience and looking up at them, they're larger than life but still touchable. With movie stars on the screen, they're not as tangible."

But why does everyone want to schtup them? The Meet the Parents party gal responded with a wink, "It's tapping into someone that is powerful and getting that energy from them. I know a couple rock stars, but I would never want to sleep with them." Sure, doll, give it a few concerts, and then we'll chat. 

Rock icon Gene Simmons, perennial KISS master, all in black, had his own clairvoyant take on the rocker-boffing complex: "By definition, rock 'n' roll is sex. The only way to achieve godhead and godhood and to climb Mt. Olympus is to become a rock star. Then, even an ugly guy like me can get this." At which point, the aging pancake performer pointed to his beautiful blond wife-unit,
Shannon Tweed.

Godhead and godhood. What is that, some kind of kinky sexual delicacy peculiar only to those who permanently paint themselves?

Maybe this isn't such a envious environ after all.

OUT OF THIS WORLD 2-DISC DVD CONTAINS MORE THAN 13 HOURS OF VIEWING, INCLUDING 28 NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN BONUS PROGRAMS, BEHIND-THE SCENES AND MULTI-ANGLE FEATURES, COMMENTARY BY TIM BURTON, AND MORE

Fox To Support The Release With A Multi-million Dollar Marketing Featuring A Robust $10 Million Television, Radio And Online Advertising Campaign As The Centerpiece

CENTURY CITY, Calif., (September 11, 2001) - The event film of 2001 evolves into the year's most spectacular home video and DVD release on November 20, when Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) launches its $180 million (to date) futuristic action adventure epic, PLANET OF THE APES VHS (for rent) and Special Edition DVD (for sale). Director Tim Burton's visual feast, starring Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth, Michael Clarke Duncan and Estella Warren, marked the largest three-day non-holiday gross in history with an impressive $68.5 million in its opening weekend, and was hailed as "the summer blockbuster we've been waiting for" (San Francisco Chronicle) and "not just worthy of comparison to the original…it's better," (Richard Roeper, "Ebert & Roeper At The Movies"). Supported by an aggressive, multi-million dollar marketing campaign, the "must-see" PLANET OF THE APES is primed to be among the top rental and sell-through releases for holiday 2001. Eagerly awaited by the millions of original Planet Of The Apes science fiction fans, as well as the legion of newly introduced general consumers, the PLANET OF THE APES Special Edition DVD will be available for $29.98 ($46.98 Canada) and priced for rental on VHS. Pre-book for both DVD and VHS is October 24. 

The highly evolved PLANET OF THE APES Special Edition DVD is loaded with added-value materials, enhancing the experience for viewers with 28 never-before-seen programs created specifically for the DVD during filming, a full-length feature commentary by Director Tim Burton, nine behind-the-scenes/multi-angle features, menus shot on-set by Philippe Rousselot, the film's Director of Photography, and much more

MARKETING
Adding to the already high retailer and consumer anticipation for the PLANET OF THE APES VHS and Special Edition DVD debut, Fox will launch a colossal multi-million marketing program touting a robust $10 million nationwide television, print radio and online advertising campaign as the centerpiece. The release will also be supported with trailering on upcoming TCFHE releases including the sell-through release, Dr. Dolittle 2. Several promotional marketing partners are in the final stages of negotiation and will be announced shortly.

PLANET OF THE APES SPECIAL EDITION DVD
In keeping with the film's sophisticated visual effects, the world-class PLANET OF THE APES Special Edition DVD is one of the most ambitious and technically-advanced DVDs ever produced, providing unprecedented interactivity for viewers. Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (Aspect Ratio 2:35:1) with English 5.1 DTS, English 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish Dolby surround sound, both Special Edition discs contain a multitude of bonus features. 

Disc one includes:
· An enhanced viewing mode that enables the consumer to choose when to go behind the scenes, search cast and crew biographies, or view the special effects
· A full-length feature commentary by Director Tim Burton
· An audio track by composer Danny Elfman
· Two Easter Eggs
· DVD-ROM with screenplay/script/storyboard comparison 
· NUON-enhanced features such as Viddies and Cool Zooms 
· Animated menus

Disc two contains:
· The HBO "First Look" special 
· Five extended scenes 
· Multiple featurettes - "Simian Academy (Ape Movement)," "Face Like A Monkey" (A Day in the Make-Up Chair), "Costume Tests," "On Location in Lake Powell," "Chimp Symphony Op. 37" (Behind The Scenes On Scoring The Film), and "Swinging From The Trees" (Stunt Work)
· Makeup, group and movement tests 
· A gallery of multi-angle features that lets the viewer climb into the director's chair for several key scenes 
· Theatrical trailers, a music video, and television spots
· A concept art and design gallery
· Additional DVD-ROM features of a novella and links to Web sites

SYNOPSIS
In the year 2029, interstellar reconnaissance missions are relegated to chimpanzee pilots from the Space Station Oberon in deep space. On such a mission, a chimp loses communication and vanishes from the radar. Fearless astronaut Leo Davidson launches a rescue mission and, following a malfunction, lands on a jungle-like planet not unlike the Earth. To Leo's astonishment, English-speaking apes and primitive humans inhabit the planet. Following his capture by the apes and subsequent escape, Leo assembles a small band of defiant humans and empathetic apes in an attempt to re-establish contact with Oberon, but his focus changes following an unexpected discovery. Armed with this new information, Leo leads a rebellion against an overpowering ape force that will result in freedom or complete annihilation.

Street Date: November 20, 2001