P aul McCartney returns to MCI Center on Oct. 8 as part of a leisurely 11-week, 28-date U.S. tour, starting Sept. 16 in Miami and wrapping up Nov. 29 in Los Angeles. The tour, announced this week, will include Beatles, Wings and McCartney solo material -- as did his last MCI appearance, in April 2002 -- and is set to coincide with a new McCartney recording, details of which were not available. Tickets go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through the MCI box office and Ticketmaster, and range in price from 49.50 to $253, not including service charges . . .
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman was all ready to name April 15 "Diddy Day," but the planned event at the Aladdin Resort & Casino on Friday was scrapped at the last minute when the guest of honor, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, failed to show up. The event was billed as part ceremony and part announcement, suggesting that Combs had a new business venture to unveil. Combs apologized for the gaffe, blaming the no-show on a "miscommunication" . . .
Sting surprised a University of Illinois at Chicago music composition class Monday when he dropped in unannounced, with an MTV camera crew in tow. The singer offered advice, answered questions and jammed with students, ending the class with a singalong version of "Every Breath You Take." The visit was filmed for "Stand In," which will air on mtvU (MTV's college network) 4 p.m. next Monday . . .
The Pixies' recent reunion tour was such a smashing success that the band has decided to keep the gravy train rolling another three weeks, starting May 26 in Portland, Ore. The tour is scheduled to stop in our area June 13 at Merriweather Post Pavilion . . .
Perhaps taking the Pixies model to heart, another '80s alt-rock group, Dinosaur Jr, announced plans to reunite and tour this summer with its original lineup. That tour is scheduled to stop July 11 at the 9:30 club.
-- Compiled by K. Wilcox
from Web and wire reports
