UBUMENSCH: With its ups and downs over...

UBUMENSCH: With its ups and downs over the years, Pere Ubu has really tested the loyalty of its fans. But now the band is pushing its luck--it’s asking its fans to help pay for the band’s airfare to New York for an appearance on “Late Night With David Letterman,” saying its record label, Mercury Records, won’t foot the bill. Mercury execs, who learned of the news from a band-management press release, were not thrilled, especially since they’d gotten the band booked in the first place. “Look, we’ve spent $125,000 so far marketing the band and they’ve sold a grand total of 22,567 records,” explained Mercury co-president Mike Bone. “So I don’t think they have any right to complain about us not supporting their album.” Bone said the label volunteered to cover half of the band’s travel costs, but were never approached about pitching in more. . . . The City of Hope Medical Center is inaugurating its first silent auction this year, to precede the popular music-biz charity’s gala Sept. 4 dinner, which honors MCA Music chairman Al Teller. While Tom Petty and B.B. King have donated autographed guitars, most of the big-ticket items are sports memorabilia. Highlights: a signed Muhammad Ali ‘60s-era speed bag, a Mario Lemieux NHL All-Star Game jersey, a Magic Johnson signed game jersey and a signed Tommy Lasorda Dodgers uniform (though before we bid we want to know if Lasorda wore it before his diet or afterward).