Madonna has joined talk show host Rosie O’Donnell, Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart, and several other celebrity names in performing an oral interpretation of the classic children’s fable, The Emperors New Clothes, for a new benefit CD and book. Proceeds raised from the Emperors Clothes box set will benefit the Starbright Foundation. Madonna will read the part of the Empress, of course, for the Emperors Clothes benefit set, which arrives in stores on Oct. 25th.

After capping off a short series of club dates with a thunderous co-headlining appearance at last month’s Intelfest in New York City, the Jesus and Mary Chain have announced that it will bring its waves of guitar distortion back to the States in September. The band will be looking to use its fall tour to rekindle interest and sales in its most recent release, Munki, Jesus and Mary Chain’s first album of new material in nearly four years.

Who says touring is boring? Nick Beggs who plays bass guitar for Howard Jones has a cracked rib. How? From squeezing himself into the fridge in the Human League's dressing room. Why??? "He’s just that sort of guy, anything to entertain!" states Jones in a recent letter to his fans.

"All I can say is that the tracks sound very interesting, it does seem as if a whole new direction is being taken but more towards a ‘grassroots’ type of rock. The music is still big but is very minimalistic. Apparently the band is staying away from heavy aftereffects on the tracks." Doug Martin from Zoonation.com reports in a recent article about U2 in the studio. He also says that the new work seems to get away from the keyboard drivings of the last 3 albums and more a cross of War and Joshua Tree albums.

Feel like talking to Neil Finn (formerly of Crowded House and Split Enz) after his concert in Las Vegas? You can find him Monday August 24th @ 8pm (Eastern) on Sonicnet.