POP MUSIC

SMALL FACES: Last week’s Milwaukee Metalfest turned into a bogus journey for actor and would-be-heavy-metal-rocker Keanu Reeves. Fans, who apparently wanted something a little harder than Reeves was offering, pelted and razzed the dude. That harder stuff--so-called death metal--was filmed at the fest for a documentary on the death metal scene being made in a joint effort by Restless and Roadrunner Records. . . .

Boosted by being singled out by Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, rapper Sister Souljah is putting together her first national concert tour, tentatively set to debut next month at New York’s Apollo Theatre. . . . Public Enemy, which gave Souljah her start, is readying a new album called “Greatest Misses” (the cover features the group in a shooting target surrounded by off-center bullet shots--greatest misses, get it?) featuring a mix of remixed hits and new cuts. . . .

In recent years George Michael has made a habit of not appearing in his own videos. Now he won’t be appearing on his own next album. Michael will be the writer and producer of the tentatively titled “Trojan Souls,” but the singing will be done by an all-star lineup that will include Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker and Stevie Wonder. A real album from Michael is expected some time next year.

The doomsayers who predicted that Bon Jovi would never work together again were way off. Jon Bon Jovi has apparently patched things up with guitarist Richie Samboracq and the rest of the original band, who are working on a new album in Vancouver with producer Bob Rock. The album should be in stores by the end of the year. . . .

If newlyweds Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston need something to spat about, chart position might do. The Aug. 25 release of Brown’s much-delayed “Bobby” album will be out just in time to go head-to-head with Houston, who is featured on the soundtrack of “The Bodyguard,” the film in which she co-stars with Kevin Costner. That’s due in October. . . .

And it looks like “Bobby” will also be competing with an album by Brown’s former New Edition mates, Bell Biv DeVoe, who are scheduled to have an album out in September. . . .

L.A.’s Mazzy Star has been anything but prolific, so it should come as no surprise that the group’s major-label debut (for Capitol) has been pushed back on the schedule. Early ’93 is the current target for release. . . .

A further taste of audacious British group PJ Harvey (see album review, Page 54) can be had on the latest release of live performance recordings drawn from BBC deejay John Peel’s radio shows. “Too Pure--The Peel Sessions” features four songs by the band, plus songs by Th’Faith Healers and Stereolab, two compatible bands that record, like Harvey, for the English independent label Too Pure. . . . Another recent Peel sessions album collects songs by four bands from New York’s Amphetamine Reptile label, including Helmet.