The story behind the rise and fall of Death Row Records will appear on the big screen when the documentary "Welcome To Deathrow" is shown Feb. 2 at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film, which received no input from imprisoned label-head Suge Knight or Death Row employees, chronicles the label from its initial impact on the gangsta rap scene in 1992-93 up to 1996, when Dr. Dre left the label and Tupac Shakur was shot to death.C

Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the male former members of ABBA, are planning to stage a Swedish version of the musical "Chess." The new version is scheduled to premiere in February 2002 in Stockholm. Ulvaeus and Andersson composed the music for the original "Chess," a love story that used the complex game as a symbol of the Cold War. The historical political events will be used as a backdrop for a new story, which will focus on love and passion.

R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck will join his sometimes colleagues in the Minus 5 for a short U.S. tour and a March 13 appearance on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." The dates, scheduled to begin in Seattle in late February, come in support of an upcoming split CD, Minus 5 Vs. The Young Fresh Fellows' "Let The War Against Music Begin" / "Because We Hate You," due Feb. 27 on Mammoth. Both bands feature multi-instrumentalist Scott McCaughey, who has been a long-time contributor to R.E.M's albums and live shows.U

Previewing new music from Alabama, Patti Page, and more.

Punk veteran/Hollywood personality Henry Rollins is bringing his spoken-word act to 10 U.S. cities, beginning Feb. 13 in Chicago and wrapping March 11 in Washington, D.C. Rollins is out on the road in support of his latest spoken-word collection, "A Rollins In The Wry," due Feb. 20 on Quarterstick. g

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