POP & ROCK

James Brown pleaded innocent Tuesday to traffic and weapons charges in an Augusta, Ga. court. Or, rather, his lawyer, Albert H. (Buddy) Dallas, entered the pleas for him. Brown, whose trial probably will begin in January, is currently on tour in Europe. The charges against Brown--who led police on a veritable Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride through two states on Sept. 24--include reckless driving, having no state tag, driving with a suspended license, fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, carrying a pistol without a license, carrying a deadly weapon to a public gathering and simple assault. . . . Also missing from action is Ike Turner, who went AWOL from a comeback tour in Milwaukee on Monday night. Turner was scheduled to perform at the Odd Rock Cafe in Milwaukee, but promoter Jack Koshick said Wednesday that Turner never showed up and that he has canceled the rest of his tour. Koshick also said that he does not know Turner’s current whereabouts.