U2 donate instruments, buy property

U2's philanthropic crusade continued this week as its members donated instruments and memorabilia to an auction that raised nearly $2.5 million Saturday to benefit musicians who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. The Edge's Gibson Les Paul guitar fetched $240,000 and Bono's sunglasses pulled in $20,000 at the auction, which was held at New York's Hard Rock Cafe by Julien's Auctions.

The auction benefited Music Rising, a charity set up by The Edge and other musicians after the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricane. Among the more than 200 items sold were Jimi Hendrix's 1966 Red Fender Mustang guitar, which fetched $400,000, former President Clinton's saxophone ($54,000), and a pair of John Lennon's round, blue-tinted sunglasses ($30,000).

"I have to say that it is a strange feeling to see some of your stuff up here," said The Edge, who also donated his 1958 Gibson archtop guitar, which sold for $105,000 and an assortment of accessories worn on stage, including a pair of sneakers ($7,000) and one of his signature cotton knit caps ($11,000). The autographed Irish Falcon Gretsch Guitar of U2 frontman Bono sold for $180,000, while U2 bassist Adam Clayton's Fender Active Jazz Deluxe went for $22,000 and the tom-tom used in the U2's Vertigo tour by drummer Larry Mullen Jr. sold for $19,000.

The Edge also made a major real estate investment this week, paying almost $15 million for a 120-acre property in the upscale beach resort of Malibu, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. The Edge, whose real name is Dave Evans, already has homes in Ireland and France.

Avril steps into virtual world

Avril Lavigne is jumping into the virtual world via a deal with Stardoll, an avatar-based Web community for teen and tween girls. Under a deal between Stockholm, Sweden-based Stardoll and Lavigne's Canadian management firm Nettwerk, the pop-punk singer will become the first music act to have an official artist page on the site.

The page will feature a playlist of four streaming songs and a music video from her newest album The Best Damn Thing, an up-to-date concert tour schedule, promotional photos, and a digital storefront where the community can purchase albums and other merchandise. Stardoll specializes in creating celebrity avatars and personalized Avatars called "MeDolls." Users can purchase virtual fashions to dress their "MeDolls." As part of the initiative, virtual Avril merchandise will be available through the site, including posters, hoodies, T-shirts, pins, tank tops, caps, and bags.

Fall Out Boy, friends to open bar

There's nowhere cool to hang out in New York City, and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz is just the right man to fix that problem. In an interview with New York magazine, Wentz said that he is teaming up with members of Gym Class Heroes and The Academy Is... to open their own bar in Manhattan. "When I go to New York, I always have to pick between crappy clubs and then call the promoter ahead of time and then still get hassled at the door and get stuffed into some cramped stupid VIP section and hear bad techno."

The bar, which will be called Angels & Kings, will be one of the least pretentious places in the city, Wentz said. "Everyone I roll with is into Goonies," he said, "I want it to be like Shredder's hangout in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2."

"We have this awesome Sid Vicious mug shot where you can tell he's just like a f***ed-up kid, like everyone had him pegged wrong. It speaks to me. We have a couple of Fall Out-based ideas for drinks. There's this song called "Where Is Your Boy Tonight," so I was thinking we could have a "Where Is Your Beer" special night." The bar is set to open on April 30

Iggy Pop turns 60, jumps off stage

Iggy Pop marked his 60th birthday Saturday just like any other respectable senior citizen would. The still-ripped "Godfather of Punk" stripped down to a tight pair of blue jeans and dove off the stage into the arms of his adoring fans during a concert at the Warfield in San Francisco with his reunited band the Stooges.

Toward the end of the 80-minute show, the crowd sang along as his bandmates struck up "Happy Birthday," and Pop was surprised as balloons bearing his image dropped from the ceiling. A fan also handed him a white T-shirt inscribed "Birthday Boy Iggy," which the singer proudly displayed to his unimpressed bandmates.

Paul Simon to receive honor

Paul Simon will receive the inaugural Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, an award that aims to recognize "the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world's culture." The honor will be presented May 23 during an event at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. It will be taped for a June 27 broadcast on PBS.

Among the artists confirmed to participate in the festivities are Art Garfunkel, James Taylor, Stephen Marley, Marc Anthony, Lyle Lovett, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Yolanda Adams, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Philip Glass, Alison Krauss, and Buckwheat Zydeco. TV personalities Bob Costas and Lorne Michaels will present.