Billboard Bits: Bon Jovi , P. Diddy, Nelly

8/23/2002

News on Bon Jovi , P. Diddy, Nelly

Bon Jovi will play its first U.K. club gig in more than a decade Sept. 18 at London's Shepherds Bush Empire. The show is expected to be the only Bon Jovi appearance in Europe this year. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Aug. 24) via Ticketnet and a special hotline number (0115 912 9152).

The show comes in support of the Bon Jovi's upcoming Island album "Bounce," which, as previously reported, is due Sept. 23 internationally and Oct. 8 in North America. First single "Everyday" is at U.S. radio outlets now; a commercial single is due Sept. 2 internationally.

As previously reported, the group will participate in the Sept. 5 kickoff of the National Football League (NFL) season with a multi-artist concert in New York's Times Square. Later in the day, Bon Jovi will perform at halftime of the NFL season opener between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers in East Rutherford, N.J.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment have jokes after all. Billboard.com has exclusively learned that the music mogul has plans to get into the comedy game as the producer "Bad Boys of Comedy." Orchestrated by Management, Inc. CEO Phil Robinson, the two-hour special will run on an as-yet-undetermined network and feature up-and-coming comedians from around the country. Robinson and company are currently recruiting comedians to appear in the special.

Combs is no stranger to non-musical ventures. He founded the successful Sean John clothing line, and has appeared in the films "Made" and "Monster's Ball."

-- Rashaun Hall, N.Y.

Rapper Nelly recently diverted from his success in the music world to become a Playboy celebrity photographer, snapping 10 rolls of film during a shoot with the magazine's January 2002 Playmate Nicole Narain. A selection of his work is posted exclusively on Playboy.com.

Nelly, who also participated in a "Dirty Dozen" interview for the site's "Love & Sex" section, is not the first musician to play photographer for Playboy.com, following in the footsteps of former Tommy Lee and Poison's Bret Michaels. Upcoming artists trying their hand at adult photography for the site include Korn's Jonathan Davis, Marilyn Manson, and rapper DMX.

-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.