The Boss must tone it down

East Hartford, Conn. — The Boss is coming to town, but he’ll have to follow the rules.

Mayor Timothy Larson has told concert promoters for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that the town wouldn’t grant a waiver of its noise ordinance, The Hartford Courant reported Thursday.

Springsteen will perform Sept. 16 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, the new $90 million, 40,000-seat stadium built for the University of Connecticut football team.

According to the noise law, the sound outside the stadium parking lot can’t rise more than 5 decibels — a fraction of the volume of a ticking watch.

“Bruce’s sound is very directional, and he will make sure that the sound doesn’t break the law,” says Jim Koplik, who booked the show for Clear Channel Entertainment.

Timberlake not so pop-ular?

Toronto — Pity poor pop hunk Justin Timberlake. His appearance at Canada’s SARS benefit concert this week left crowds so unimpressed, they pelted him with garbage.

The show at Toronto’s Downsview Park started off on a low point for the ‘N Sync frontman when a concertgoer’s sign questioning the singer’s sexuality made it to the Jumbotron screens for about 15 seconds. Timberlake took to the stage seemingly aware of the crowd’s bad mood and said, “This will be over before you know it.”

During his mini-set of “Cry Me a River,” “Senorita,” and “Rock Your Body,” Britney Spears’ ex sang away while dodging water bottles flung by the audience and wincing slightly at their less-than-playful jeers.

Then he left the stage for more crowd-pleasing acts, including the Guess Who, Rush, AC/DC and the Rolling Stones. When Mick Jagger invited him onstage for a performance of “Miss You,” more bottles were thrown. Keith Richards angrily motioned to the crowd to show Timberlake a little respect.

Rap mogul may be target

Los Angeles — Rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, who helped popularize Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur through the Death Row (now Tha Row) record label, was sentenced to 10 months in prison Thursday for smacking a Hollywood nightclub valet.

But he may have bigger problems, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Word on the street is there’s a hit out on Suge Knight,” Detective Michael Caouette of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the Times.

Four of eight people killed in gang slayings since 1997 were close associates.