New York, July 30: Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan plans to lend vocals to a long-incubating musical play version of the "Helen of Troy" story being created by AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson.
The Cranberries' official Web site (http://www.cranberries.ie) says that O'Riordan is involved with the project, as are many other unnamed artists. Johnson hopes to have the play ready for a stage debut later this year in London.
Johnson has written music and lyrics for the musical with U.K. composer Brendan Healy. The singer hoped to open the show in Florida last fall, but financial difficulties pushed it back indefinitely. The Cranberries' site suggests O'Riordan has yet to hear the finished product.
O'Riordan has also been working on some solo material of late, the site says. The Cranberries' most recent album, "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" (MCA), debuted at No. 46 on The Billboard 200 in November 2001, and has sold 162,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The group has since parted ways with MCA.
As for AC/DC, the group will play at the massive Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto benefit on Thursday, alongside the Rolling Stones and Rush, among others. As part of the Epic's ongoing reissue campaign, the label will on Sept. 9 re-release the five-disc boxed set "Bonfire."
Bureau Report
