VIDEO BEASTS: Who were those rap brats...

VIDEO BEASTS: Who were those rap brats making a raucous surprise appearance at the Country Club last Sunday night? None other than the Beastie Boys, who did an unannounced 40-minute show before a hard-core crowd of 500 as part of a video shoot for the group’s upcoming single, “Shadrach.” Performing five songs, including “Shake Your Rump” and “Time to Get Ill,” the rapsters were filmed by no-less-than 16 video cameras, including several surveillance devices with peep-hole lenses (for some upcoming video trickery). . . . Speaking of fancy cameras, Michael Jackson’s obssessive desire for media control was once again on display when the Gloved One’s publicity firm invited press to a Wednesday Hollywood Palladium press conference announcing the eccentric superstar’s new endorsement deal with L.A. Gear. Media types preparing to photograph Jackson were instructed to use medium telephoto lenses, a 1/125 shutter speed, an F-stop of 4 and film compatible with Tungsten lighting. . . . Chris Isaak hasn’t made it as a movie star yet, but film makers love to use his songs. His moody pop tunes have surfaced in “Blue Velvet” and “Married to the Mob. “ And coming next Sunday, you can hear Isaak again in “The Preppy Murder,” an ABC-TV movie about convicted Central Park murderer Robert Chambers. The movie uses Isaak’s “Wicked Game” as its theme song, along with portions of “You Owe Me Some Kind of Love.” Barbra Streisand’s upcoming hits package has a pair of fresh tunes--”Someone That I Used to Love” and her new single, “We’re Not Making Love Anymore.” . . . Our Pop Tout of the Week goes to Hugh Harris, a new British singer who’s being billed as the black Graham Parker. His debut album, “Words for Our Years,” is due in October from Capitol Records, which is rushing out his first single, “Alice” (produced by Fine Young Cannibals’ Andy Cox and David Steele). . . . If you’re in London Monday, please stop by the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, which is hosting an AIDS benefit that offers--among other delights--a comic sketch featuring Tina Turner and John Cleese. . . .And our Album Title of the Week goes to Debbie Harry, whose new album is called “Def, Dumb and Blonde.”