Taste of things to come

Toronto The Rolling Stones played a surprise show in Toronto in preparation for the group’s fall tour.

The Thursday show at the Palais Royale included such hits as “Wild Horses,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Hot Stuff.”

The Stones begin their tour Sept. 3 in Boston.

The band is releasing “40 Licks,” a double-compact disc retrospective that includes four new tracks, on Oct. 1. The CD will include 40 songs, including classic hits such as “Brown Sugar,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Miss You.”

Fame and misfortune

New York Matthew Perry says he was driven to success by primarily one thing: a craving to be famous.

“There was steam coming out of my ears, I wanted to be famous so badly,” Perry told The New York Times in Sunday’s editions. “You want the attention, you want the bucks and you want the best seat in the restaurant. I didn’t think what the repercussions would be.”

Perry has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, but he doesn’t blame his troubles on fame. He went into rehab in early 2001 while on the set of “Serving Sara,” which opens Friday.

Perry, who turned 33 on Monday, says he hasn’t had a drink since his 2001 rehab stint.

“I didn’t get sober because I felt like it,” the “Friends” co-star said. “I got sober because I was worried I was going to die next year.”

Big names for billboard benefit

New York John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow and James Taylor are among the performers expected at two concerts that will benefit the family of Timothy White, the Billboard editor in chief who recently died of a heart attack.

White was just 50 when he was stricken June 27 in his Manhattan offices. He left behind a wife and 10-year-old twin boys.

One concert is set for Oct. 7 at Boston’s Fleet Center, with the other the next day at Madison Square Garden. Mellencamp, Crow, Don Henley and Sting will perform at both concerts. Billy Joel and Taylor will be at the Boston shows, while Brian Wilson and Jimmy Buffett will be at the New York shows.

Venice film jury finalized

Venice, Italy “Easy Rider” cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko and “Hannibal” co-star Francesca Neri will join the Venice Film Festival jury led by Chinese actress Gong Li, organizers announced Monday.

The seven-member jury including French writer-director Jacques Audiard (“Read My Lips”) and producer Ulrich Felsberg (“Buena Vista Social Club”) will decide this year’s Golden Lion for best film, and other prizes for the prestigious Venice 59 section of the festival, which runs Aug. 29-Sept. 8.

Festival officials announced last month that Li would head the jury but did not announce the full jury list until Monday.