POP MUSIC

SMALL FACES: Aerosmith gets animated in the episode of “The Simpsons” set to air on Nov. 21. The cartooned rockers will be seen playing “Walk This Way” in a bar scene as part of a story centering on a potent, cough-syrup-based libation. But there are no anti-alcohol messages from the clean ‘n’ sober Beantown band, a spokesman for the group says. . . .

L.A. Guns made a special Halloween presentation of gold records to vampire chronicler Anne Rice for “inspiration” of the group’s latest album, titled (what else?) “Hollywood Vampires.” The gift was given at Rice’s New Orleans home (familiar to readers of her novel “The Witching Hour”). The band was thrilled by such macabre knickknacks at the house as a mummy guarding the dining room. Rice’s 13-year-old son was also thrilled to have them there--he played hooky from school. . . .

If you never could quite keep straight which Roman-numeralled Chicago album was which, don’t feel bad. Even the detailed liner notes accompanying the new Sony Music four-CD “Group Portrait” anthology has at least two (that’s II) errors in references to the numerical monikers. Just never can remember whether the I goes before or after the V to make six .