Who knew that the Hanson brothers would be such Web frontiersman? First the wholesome threesome hooked up with Internet impresario David Bowie and Ultrastar to create a state-of-the-art web presence. Now they're taking another step into the unknown with a 3-D chat and concert on May 6. What do we mean by that? When fans go to www.worlds.com, they will be asked to create an "avatar," essentially a paper-doll rendering of themselves, from a virtual ID kit. Fans can either approximate what they actually look like, or go wild and become a six-foot-tall amazon with blonde dreads. Then the super-fan creations will be able to chat with Zac, Taylor or Ike -- or other fans who log in for the cyber event -- or "experience the concert as if it were live," or so the wigs at Worlds.com tell us. . .

RINGO STARR has become the darling of boomer commerce. Not only has the former Beatles drummer been doing commercials for Charles Schwab, but the real estate mavens at Century 21, in conjunction with their Century21.com Web site, have decided to sponsor Starr's sixth All-Starr outing. In a press conference held on May 1, Starr and his semi-famous sidekicks -- including former Cream bassist JACK BRUCE, Raspberry singer ERIC CARMEN, Bad Company's SIMON KIRKE and Rockpile guitarist DAVE EDMUNDS -- announced a nineteen-city tour that kicks off on May 12 in Atlantic City, N.J., at the Trump Taj Mahal. The tour winds up at Milwaukee's Summerfest on July 1 . . .

DAVID BOWIE announced to those hanging out in his BowieNet chatroom Monday night that he will play three shows at New York's Roseland Ballroom on June 16, 17 and 19. However, fans are advised to stay tuned for an "official" announcement before bee-lining for the Big Apple. Bowie will also headline the closing night of England's Glastonbury Festival on June 25 . . .

In addition to seeing release through DAVID GRISMAN's Acoustic Disc label, the semi-legendary The Pizza Tapes recording, which features Grisman, JERRY GARCIA and TONY RICE is being offered on Liquid Audio. The heavily bootlegged set will be available from any Liquid Audio affiliate. Fourteen of the album's twenty tracks can be purchased, with the other six available for free download . . .

Country music legend BILL WOODS died Sunday after suffering a stroke on Saturday. As guitarist, bandleader and musical director at Bakersfield, California's legendary Blackboard, the honky tonk that served as the epicenter of the Bakersfield Sound in the Fifties and Sixties, Woods held court with the likes of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Red Simpson and Ferlin Husky. The multi-instrumentalist gave Owens his first shot as a singer, urging the young guitarist to step up to the mike for Woods' own Orange Blossom Playboys. Woods was seventy-five . . .

CHUCK D is down with Napster. In an April 29 column in the New York Times, the MP3-cheerleading rapper claims that Napster and similar companies are "creating new fan interest and establishing a new infrastructure for unknown artists to attract an audience." Mista Chuck plans to issue a more thorough statement on his Napster stance in an upcoming issue of "Terrordome," his newsletter on www.public-enemy.com. Meanwhile, D's Rapstation.com has joined Napster for a songwriting contest. The gist of the contest is that aspiring writers must write a set of lyrics on the topic of Napster support to the tune of Chuck D's "Power to the People and the Beats." Contestants must download the music to the track, rap over it and then load it onto Rapstation.com. Entries must be received by May 14 at midnight (EST) and online voting will determine the winner, to be announced on May 26. The winning track will receive free MP3 posting and a cool five grand . . .

SUGAR RAY's MARK MCGRATH trades in his rocker duds for scrubs when he takes on a guest role on NBC's top-rated series ER. McGrath has already filmed his part as Dr. Nadio, and the episode looks to air during sweeps on May 11. Two days later, McGrath meets up with his band at KIIS FM's Wango-Tango concert at Dodgers' Stadium in Los Angeles, joining Marc Anthony, 'N Sync, and Enrique Iglesias on May 13 . . .

JOHN LEE HOOKER cancelled his first visit to Europe in ten years for medical reasons. The eighty-two-year-old bluesman was scheduled to perform at the Bishopstock Festival in Devon, England, on May 29, but his doctors cautioned against it when they found a vascular condition that may require surgery. "It is a significant problem, but with an operation he could be better than he was before," explained Hooker's manager, Mike Kappas. "It's not a cancer situation, not a heart situation. But it is a vascular situation which means it has to do with his veins, his blood vessels." The Hook could undergo surgery as early as this week. So far he has canceled dates for the next two months, but Kappas said that he would likely return to the stage by mid-year . . .

GAVIN ROSSDALE seems to be suffering no ill effects after passing out on stage in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on April 13. After a battery of tests, it was determined that he was suffering from an electrolyte imbalance -- something he's vowed to rectify. In an interview with the British press, the BUSH frontman sheepishly admitted that there was something in the water in Michigan -- Vodka. "I just lost a little bit of fluids and carbohydrates. Dehydration and electrolyte loss, all that stuff," he said. "It was a little strange, but I didn't slow down at all. I haven't had a chance to. But I did learn to eat a little better, and rest a little more. Vodka and water doesn't replace salts in the body." . . .

It looks like a HEART revival is in the making. Sofia Coppola tapped the two Wilson sister tracks for her Virgin Suicides and VH1 is currently developing a movie about the Seattle band. And Sony execs will meet with Ann and Nancy later this week to begin talks about putting together a box set of Heart's biggest hits. According to Sony Legacy's Randy Haecker, the Wilsons haven't even started going through the vaults, but did promise that the package -- which will contain three CDs -- will include some never released stuff (B-sides, outtakes and live performances) from the Seattle-based band: "That's why we're going to meet with them, to decide what we're exactly going to put on the discs," Haecker says. The set is tentatively scheduled for release this September . . .

After complaints from both SARAH MCLACHLAN and CHERYL WHEELER, Jefferson County, Colo., officials have removed the soundtrack from a videotape documenting the Columbine High School massacre. Though the tapes will still be made available to the public for a fee of $25, they will no longer include McLachlan's "I Will Remember You" or Wheeler's "If It Were Up to Me." "We have not violated any copyright laws," Jefferson County attorney Frank Hutfless said in a statement released Friday. "I feel that we would have a very strong case if we were forced to go to court to defend alleged copyright violations. However, to avoid any unnecessary legal wrangling, we will remove the [songs] . . . We regret any anguish that has been caused to the victims and their families and to the community." Authorities also plan to exchange soundtrack versions with soundless ones at the request of those who have purchased the videotape. More than 100 copies of the tape have already been sold . . .

ANDREW DANSBY, CHRISTINA SARACENO, RICHARD SKANSE, JAAN UHELSZKI, JENNIFER VINEYARD
(May 3, 2000)