Martin Kicks Off 24-City U.S. Tour

If you’re one of the cynics who has been waiting for Ricky Martin to go quietly into that good night ever since he burst onto the English-language pop scene this summer, well, keep waiting. In fact, you ought to expect a major resurgence of Martin madness this week, as the comely crooner credited with rescuing male American popdom from guy groups and Angry White Rock-Rappers kicks off his most ambitious U.S. concert tour Wednesday in his adopted hometown of Miami. Tickets for the 24-city tour sold out everywhere in an average of 15 minutes, according to Martin’s management. The latest figures from SoundScan put sales of Martin’s debut English-language album, “Ricky Martin,” at 4.6 million in the United States alone. Meanwhile, please be reminded that Martin was a global superstar long before recording that album, with No. 1 songs in Spanish everywhere from China to Russia. To the question: Will Martin survive? Here’s the answer: England and the United States are not the whole world. Just last week, one of Martin’s biggest fans convinced her mom to fly her to Miami from Bulgaria, according to one of the many Martin fan clubs that have begun a sort of organized stalking of the artist from city to city. Now, then, in case you’ve forgotten by next month who this Ricky Martin character is, pop radio will remind you as “Shake Your Bon Bon,” the third single from his album, hits pop stations Nov. 1. Martin’s tour lands at Staples Center on Nov. 13, the San Diego Sports Arena on Nov. 14, and Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond on Nov. 20.

She Wants No Part of ‘Boys Don’t Cry’

In a ramshackle farmhouse near Falls City, Neb., two ex-cons carried out a brutal multiple murder in late 1993 that created nationwide headlines. Among the victims was a young woman named Teena Brandon of Lincoln, Neb., who had passed herself off in Falls City as a young man named Brandon Teena. While Brandon had only lived in Falls City a short time, the charismatic stranger had quickly become a dashing boyfriend to many women, who were shocked to learn Brandon’s true gender. How and why Teena Brandon met her fate is the basis for a new film by director Kimberly Peirce called “Boys Don’t Cry,” starring Hilary Swank as Brandon. Now, a Falls City woman, Lana Tisdell--who in real life dated Brandon in high school, believing Brandon male--is demanding either that her name be removed from the film or that Fox Searchlight stop the movie’s distribution. The film was released in New York City on Oct. 8 to rave reviews and it expands to Los Angeles and 20 other major cities on Friday, before going nationwide Nov. 5. Tisdell’s attorneys have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the studio but have not yet decided whether to file suit. “Miss Tisdell believes the film casts her in a false light,” said attorney Charles Coate of the Beverly Hills law firm Barab, Kline and Coate, who noted that Tisdell has seen the film. (Actress Chloe Sevigny plays her in the movie.) Coate also said that because the movie’s dramatic scenario places Tisdell at the murder scene, she has endured death threats and lost her job. Coate said Fox Searchlight has produced a document that purportedly shows that Tisdell signed a release in August 1998, but he added that Tisdell does not recall signing that particular document. He also contends that his client has not been paid. A Fox Searchlight spokeswoman acknowledged that the studio has been contacted by Tisdell’s attorneys and said, “We are investigating the merits of any claims.”

Washington Hosts ‘Concert of the Century’

The not-so-understated “The Concert of the Century for VH1 Save the Music” takes place Saturday in Washington, as some of the giants in rock, country and blues gather in the nation’s capital--specifically, according to sources, on the White House lawn--for the musical special marking the soon-to-be-concluded 20th century. The concert will be shown beginning at 4 p.m. here on cable’s VH1, which has been hashing out details for roughly a year with the National Endowment of the Arts, not to mention the president and first lady. In addition to about 800 invited guests, the Clintons will welcome Garth Brooks, John Fogerty, Bono, Lenny Kravitz, Eric Clapton and Gloria Estefan to their backyard party. The music will be a blend of Americana and the artists’ hits. Kravitz, for one, will perform “Fly Away” and a version of “American Woman.” Among the nonmusical celebrities appearing will be Calista Flockhart, Robert De Niro, Gwyneth Paltrow and Meryl Streep. The show’s theme takes its cue from VH1’s nonprofit efforts to keep music programs in schools, and the upcoming film “Music of the Heart,” the true story of Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras, a teacher who brought music education to children in Harlem. Streep, Estefan and Angela Bassett co-star in the movie. As to whether Clinton and his sax will take the stage--well, tune in and find out.

--Compiled by Times staff writers