Great Britain’s Princess Diana has asked George...

Great Britain’s Princess Diana has asked George Michael to put together her annual “Concert for Hope,” scheduled for Dec. 1 at London’s Wembley Arena. Michael, still embroiled in a lawsuit against Sony Music, will perform a 45-minute set on the show, which benefits various British AIDS organizations. . . .

Rap trio Cypress Hill is teaming with Rage Against the Machine for a tour starting Nov. 17 in Denver. The package will also feature rap act Funkdoobiest and female rock band 7 Year Bitch. No L.A. dates are set yet. . . .

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke is working in L.A. on a solo album, due from Virgin Records in the spring, with guest appearances expected from all his GNR bandmates, plus former Pixies leader Frank Black and Skid Row’s Rob Affuso. Waddy Wachtel is producing. . . .

Henry Rollins, Concrete Blonde and Firehose are among those set for the Ringling Sisters’ annual Christmas “fun-raiser,” Dec. 13 at the Palace, benefiting the Holygrove Orphanage, the L.A. Youth Network and Rock for Choice. Also on the bill are Possum Dixon, Holy Water, Pink Sabbath and Martin and Jessica Simpson. The Ringlings also are releasing a spoken-word single, “Cherries in the Snow,” with proceeds going to Holygrove. . . .

Richard Marx is now titling his next album “Paid Vacation.” Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, Vince Gill and Tubes singer Fee Waybill all guest on the album, due in February. . . .

Soul duo Charles & Eddie is at work on a second album, due in late spring. . . .

Duet pairings of Evan Dando and Syd Straw, Bob Mould and John Doe and Shawn Colvin with Loudon Wainwright III have been recorded for the long-planned collection of songs written by Richard Thompson, also due out in spring. Bonnie Raitt, R.E.M., David Byrne, Los Lobos and Graham Parker have also contributed tracks.