POP MUSIC REVIEWS : DIVERSE GROUP GATHERS TO BENEFIT THE HOMELESS

Ozzy Osbourne and Phil Alvin on the same bill, for the first--and probably last--time. . . .

It was that kind of incongruity that made Monday’s “Night at the MET”--a benefit for Los Angeles’ homeless presented by deejays from the recently deceased KMET-FM--a bearable tribute to its hosts.

In fact, the unusual mix of acts at the Hollywood Palladium indicated that KMET could be in death what it promised to be, but rarely was, in life: a show of musical diversity symbolic of the personal conviction and freedom frequently preached by the station’s staffers.

Ex-jock Jim Ladd, the reigning king of rock radio self-righteousness even in exile, recalled that “parents, politicians and teachers” were “afraid” of KMET because he and his comrades were willing to “come on and say what was going on in the world.”

The loyalty expressed by fans at the show was understandable: Whether you were amused or angered by the station’s mixture of sex-’n’-drugs humor, vague and crude political liberalism and an increasingly limited hard-rock playlist, KMET did have the rare quality of personality .

Among Monday’s highlights, musical and otherwise:

--Former country-rockers Rank & File opened the show in a revamped, mainstream style that would fit in just swell on KMET were it still around.

-Overwhelming crowd favorite Osbourne repeatedly encouraged the audience to “do whatever you want” and “go crazy,” but wasn’t a very galvanizing crazy man in his shoulder-padded silver jacket and a short haircut that makes him look a little like Roger Daltrey.

--A sterling “jam band” fronted by Al Kooper and ex-Motel Marty Jourard played R&B; and blues, followed by Steve Van Zandt and Earl Slick playing high-charged rock, all backed by players from Tom Petty’s and Pat Benatar’s bands.

--Alvin brought things down to an acoustic level with the traditional “Samson and Delilah.”

--City Atty. James K. Hahn ignored Ladd’s pejoratives against politicians and showed up to pronounce Monday “official KMET day” in Los Angeles, adding, inevitably, “Whoo-ya.”

--Downtown street activist Ted Hayes reminded the crowd of the evening’s purpose (proceeds were earmarked for homeless charities approved by the Community Services Resource Corporation), getting the crowd to first chant “Justice!” and then “KMET still rocks!”