MICKY DOLENZ ROCKS PETER CRISS & JADE STARLING

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

Story By: G. H. HARDING

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Peter Criss With Jade Starling And Micky Dolenz

U2 MINUS 1 --- For the thousands of people crammed into the center of New York's Times Square on a cold, rainy Monday evening, it must have seemed like a surreal dream as U2's the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. played the familiar opening notes of "Where the Streets Have No Name," but Bono was nowhere in sight. Instead, out walked Bruce Springsteen in his patented leather jacket and hoodie. Needless to say, the crowd – which didn't pay a dime for the show or have any clue it was even happening until about 2:30 this afternoon – went into complete hysterics.

"I want to run!" he sang with incredible force and confidence. "I want to hide. I want to tear down these walls." It was an awe inspiring moment at a World AIDS Day (RED) benefit that came together in complete secrecy over the past several weeks. Originally scheduled as a regular U2 show meant to follow their planned week-long Jimmy Fallon residency, the band had to start working the phones after Bono's Central Park bike injury left him unable to perform. Chris Martin and Springsteen quickly agreed to front U2 for the evening, joining Kanye West and Carrie Underwood on the bill.

Surprise guest Bill Clinton came out before the music began to give a brief speech. "You only have a minute and a half of halfway-serious talk and then it's all fun," he said and then read from an e-mail that Bono had sent him earlier in the day, drawing cheers with the closing line, "We're going to win this fight."

With that, out walked a group billing themselves as U2 Minus 1 with Martin, who was wearing a black shirt that simply read Substitute. They kicked things off with "Beautiful Day" and the Coldplay front man clearly poured himself into the task, thrilled to be filling the shoes of one of his biggest influences. "Dreams come true," he said, "for young and old people alike." They wrapped up with a powerful "With or Without You."

Clayton and Mullen walked offstage as Carrie Underwood's crew began bringing out her gear, but the Edge stayed put and strapped on a new guitar. He introduced her as the "the reigning queen of country" and accompanied the singer and her band on a tender rendition of "Change," a song about sending money to needy children overseas. She then closed the short set with her new hit "Something in the Water." Underwood's sterling performance brought her a whole new boatload of fans.

Kanye followed with an electric medley of "Power," "Jesus Walks," "Black Skinhead," "Stronger" and "Touch the Sky." The whole thing took just eight minutes and the speakers blasted out a too-loud loud bass that occasionally distorted his vocals, but it hardly mattered.

U2 and Springsteen could have easily entertained the crowd for an hour or two, but their headlining set lasted a mere two songs. "Where the Streets Have No Name," was followed by "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." They'd played this together at two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame events, and once again they "took it to church," as Springsteen commanded several times during his performance.

ROCKED -- Last weekend’s event All Thing That Rock show in Philly was attended by rock-gods Peter Criss (Kiss) and Micky Dolenz (Monkees). The two-day event’s highlight was a Saturday night performance by Dolenz backed up by Van Halen-tribute band Romeo Delight. Jade Starling was also there in rare form.

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While prepping Thanksgiving last week, I flipped on Q104.3, where classic rock-mainstay Carol Miller was on. Her music was sensational, Queen, Foreigner; U2 ... utterly brillliant! It's nice to know personality-progressive rock still exists. Bravo Carol!!!

Photo Courtesy Of: Scott Weiner/Salidor PR