A New York Daily News gossip column reports that Bruce Springsteen [ tickets ] "has been talking about staging a free concert somewhere on Sept. 2, when President Bush is due to address the Republican National Convention."

The Boss reportedly hopes to help to motivate his fans to vote, and to offer "counterprogramming to the message the Republicans will be broadcasting," an unnamed source reportedly told the newspaper.

No Springsteen shows are officially confirmed for 2004.

Organizers claim that more than 450,000 people were at Rome's Circus Maximus on Sunday (5/16) to attend Quincy Jones' We Are the Future benefit concert, which featured performances by Carlos Santana [ tickets ], Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Herbie Hancock, Patti Austin, Josh Groban and many others.

XM Satellite Radio broadcasted the entire concert, while MTV Italy aired the four-hour show live. MTV will broadcast two hours of the concert on May 28, organizers said.

Proceeds from the free concert's broadcast and related merchandise sales will benefit various We Are the Future projects, including the creation of child centers in six cities worldwide. The centers will provide children with humanitarian services and care, as well as access to resources and training in health, nutrition, technology, sports, and the arts, according to a press release.

Celine Dion [ tickets ], who has been hampered by a sprained neck, has cancelled her performances of "A New Day ..." at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas through Sunday (5/23). Shows are scheduled to resume on May 26. The injury forced her to cancel last week's performances as well.

Morrissey [ tickets ], who is supporting his new album "You Are the Quarry," will be interviewed on CBS-TV's "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" on May 24, and will be the musical guest on the program for the remainder of the week.

In a statement, Kilborn said that the mope-rocker's "music conveys the loneliness and despair of a man hosting a 12:30 a.m. talk show on CBS."