BBC News Online: Entertainment: Music

More stars for McCartney concert

McCartney's concert will see a rare reunion with Ringo Starr

Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Puerto Rican pop star Marc Anthony have announced they will be part of the bill for the New York event, which takes place on 20 October.

Already scheduled to appear are The Who, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, New York native Billy Joel - and McCartney's old Beatle bandmate Ringo Starr.

The concert will take place at New York's Madison Square Gardens.

McCartney cancelled a concert in Russia after the attacks on the US, saying it no longer "seemed appropriate" to play there.

'Tragedy'

In a statement, he said: "I'm doing this benefit concert because, in short, I love New York.

"I was there when the tragedy occurred and I witnessed the last moments of the World Trade Center."

Referring to his fiancée Heather Mills, McCartney added: "Heather and I were sitting on a plane at the airport, waiting to take off.

"Suddenly the captain announced that all the planes had been grounded.

"From our side of the plane we could see the towers smoking and in flames - we couldn't believe what had happened."

Other musicians set to appear at the concert include John Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge and India Arie as well as actors Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Meg Ryan and John Cusack.

Concert organizers have also invited some 5,000 members of the New York fire, police, and rescue crews to see the show.

The four-hour spectaular will be broadcast live on US cable TV channel VH1.

But although the stars' efforts are appreciated on stage, New York City officials have asked celebrities not to visit the site of the collapsed World Trade Center, now known as "ground zero".

Recent visitors have included Muhammad Ali, James Gandolfini and Bette Midler - but their presence has been distracting and hindered work on the site, say officials.