AIDS Benefit to Team Rock Stars, Music of Cole Porter

Rock stars and record industry leaders have announced plans for a multimedia benefit for AIDS research that will star musicians David Byrne, Billy Idol and Annie Lennox.

Byrne, of Talking Heads, and Irish singer Sinead O’Connor were among the musicians, fashion designers and film and record industry representatives who Wednesday announced “Red, Hot and Blue”--a project designed to heighten awareness of AIDS through music and education.

“In an age that compassion fatigue has become a part of everyday life, ‘Red, Hot and Blue,’ by its very nature, will hopefully change the way we view charity events,” organizers said.

Organizers Leigh Blake and John Carlin chose the hits of American composer Cole Porter, who died in 1964, as the theme for the benefit.

Carlin said he hopes that the Porter songs will attract a cross-generation audience.

Performers, including Byrne, O’Connor, Lennox, Idol, U2, Fine Young Cannibals and the Neville Brothers, will record versions of Porter songs, such as “I Got You Under My Skin,” “Everytime We Say Goodbye” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

The 90-minute show, which will be broadcast on ABC on Dec. 1, will also be made into a retail video. Proceeds will be donated to AIDS-related charities around the world.