PUNK RIGHTS

Rock stars Bono and Peter Gabriel aren’t the only types supporting former Amnesty International head Jack Healey’s new Human Rights Action Center. Members of the punk world are doing their bit by participating in a benefit CD supporting Healey’s campaign for a 1998 global celebration of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights’ 50th anniversary. Among those joining in are veterans Iggy Pop, Exene Cervenka, John Doe and Bad Brains, and younger upstarts NOFX, Pennywise and Lagwagon.

Los Angeles producer Jason Rothberg is putting the project together via his Lion’s Pride Entertainment and is negotiating with several major labels for the album’s release. Rothberg is also at work on a second compilation for the effort featuring a roster of alternative rockers.