Two reunions mark the soundtrack album for...

Two reunions mark the soundtrack album for the upcoming Keanu Reeves thriller “Speed.” Billy Idol and longtime sidekick Steve Stevens are back together for the title song, while Peter Case reunited the Plimsouls for a new version of their song “A Million Miles Away.” Also featured are Pat Benatar doing the old Fontella Bass hit “Rescue Me,” the Gin Blossoms doing the Box Tops’ “Soul Deep” and a track by new band Carnival Strippers. Ralph Sall, who previously oversaw the General Public reunion for the “Threesome” sound track, was music supervisor. . . .

Another reunion: Former Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor rejoined the band for four tracks on the group’s upcoming “Thank You,” an album devoted to other artists’ songs. Among the tracks on the collection, due in September, are Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day,” Public Enemy’s “911 Is a Joke” and the Doors’ “Crystal Ship.” . . .

Erasure’s Vince Clarke and Andy Bell are the latest pop musicians planning a cyberspace press conference. The pair will be answering fans’ questions via the America Online service on the evening of June 6. . . .

Ex-Big Star (and Box Tops) frontman Alex Chilton’s new album, “Cliches,” is due to be released on Ardent Records, a Memphis independent label at which his ex-bandmate Jody Stephens is now director of A&R.; . . .

Neil Diamond’s in-concert double album, “Live in America,” is due in June. . . . Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts--a big jazz fan--has written a liner note appreciation for an “audio biography” of L.A. jazz great Buddy Collette, produced by spoken word impresario Harvey Kubernik.*