Young to perform 3 months after brain aneurysm

Toronto – Neil Young will mark his return on stage by performing at Canada’s Live 8 concert Saturday, three months after he was treated for a brain aneurysm.

Young will close out the show, accompanied by the Fisk University Jubilee Choir, organizers said this week. The free concert, one of nine to be held simultaneously around the world to raise awareness of poverty in Africa, will be held in Barrie, just north of Toronto.

The Toronto-born musician was part of the Live Aid show in Philadelphia 10 years ago. The 59-year-old rocker has been working on a new album, a follow-up to 2003’s “Greendale.”

Young was treated for the aneurysm at a Manhattan hospital in late March. His vision had become blurry after attending the March 14 induction ceremonies for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bryan Adams, Our Lady Peace and Motley Crue are among the scheduled headline acts at Canada’s Live 8 concert. Dan Aykroyd and Tom Green will host the show, which will mostly feature Canadian artists, including Jann Arden, Gordon Lightfoot and The Tragically Hip.

Concerts also are scheduled Saturday in London, Moscow, Berlin, Rome, Tokyo, Philadelphia, Paris and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sheryl Crow has announced on her Web site that she will not perform at Saturday’s Live 8 concert in Paris “due to substantial logistical and personal challenges.”

‘Kong’ headed back to the Big Apple

Wellington, New Zealand – New York will host the world premiere of Peter Jackson’s mammoth update of “King Kong” in early December.

The premiere will be held ahead of the movie’s Dec. 14 release, Universal Pictures Vice Chairman Marc Shmuger said Wednesday. He was in Wellington for meetings with Jackson.

The original 1933 movie starring Fay Wray featured New York’s Empire State Building, the skyscraper that massive gorilla King Kong scaled while holding tight to Wray.

Shmuger said the premiere was an opportunity for New York “to welcome Kong back.”

“New York is very excited about the opportunity and the city is one of our partners on the film,” he said. “They are lending extensive resources to really make the return of Kong to New York an official event.”

Jackson’s film stars Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody and Jack Black. Andy Serkis provides the body motions for Kong.

Hart expecting first child

Los Angeles – Melissa Joan Hart, who starred in the TV series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” is reportedly expecting her first child.

Hart, 29, is married to Mark Wilkerson, 28, lead singer and guitarist for the rock trio Course of Nature. Their baby is due in January, People magazine says in its July 11 edition.

Calls by The Associated Press Wednesday to Hart’s representatives were not immediately returned.

“I’m thrilled to death,” Paula Hart, the actress’ mother, told People. “Melissa is feeling great. So far, so good.”

Hart and Wilkerson were married in July 2003.

Best known for her role as Sabrina on the WB sitcom, Hart also played the spunky namesake of Nickelodeon’s “Clarissa Explains it All.”

Hart stars in the upcoming film “Jack Satin.”

Birthdays

Movie director Sydney Pollack is 71. Dancer-choreographer Twyla Tharp is 64. Actor Dan Aykroyd is 53. Actress Pamela Anderson is 38. Hip-hop artist Missy Elliott is 34. Actress Liv Tyler is 28.