NEWS NOTES: Keith Richards, Lou Reed and...

NEWS NOTES: Keith Richards, Lou Reed and Living Colour are among the performers set for the International Rock Awards show, scheduled to air May 31 on ABC-TV. The show, which will be taped that night at the Armory in New York, will also feature performances by the Bangles, the Replacements and Robert Palmer as well as the debut performance by Tin Machine, the new group featuring David Bowie. Richards, who is set to perform with his band X Pensive Winos, will receive a “Living Legend” award.

The real sparks at Bon Jovi’s recent Forum shows came during the encores when the band was joined by Little Richard, Billy Idol, Bruce Willis and Sam Kinison for a rocking version of the Troggs’ classic “Wild Thing.” Watching from the wings were still more stars, including Dion, David Lee Roth and Gene Simmons.

Bon Jovi followed one of the Forum shows by doing a show at the Roxy. The set was a mix of oldies--including “Helter Skelter” and the Animals’ “It’s My Life”--and acoustic versions of Bon Jovi hits. Kinison opened the show, a benefit for Covenant House, which provides shelter for homeless kids.

Critics’ faves Pere Ubu, who reunited last year for an album on Enigma Records, have switched to Mercury. Their first album for that label, “Cloudland,” is due May 23. . . . Kenny Rogers has received a lot of attention for his upcoming big-budget “Planet Texas” video, but the spotlight hasn’t yet fallen on the writer of the song, John Andrew Parks III. But it may soon. Parks’ first album, due in July on Capitol Records, will feature the full version of “Planet Texas” produced by Mike Appel (who guided Bruce Springsteen’s early career). The bulk of the album is being produced by John Boylan, whose credits include Linda Ronstadt, Boston and Little River Band.

After releasing three well-received albums of TV themes, New York-based TVT Records is breaking away for a word from their sponsors. “TeeVee Toons: The Commercials”--due in stores later this week--features 55 ad jingles dating back to 1940, from “We are the men of Texaco” to “Oh Fab, I’m glad they put real borax in you.” No matter what else we’ve listened to in the past 20 years, we all know these songs by heart. And there’s not a wasted word: “One pan, no boiling cooking ease / A flavor that is sure to please.” Dylan, eat your heart out!