Fergie joined Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and Linkin Park's Joe Hahn at the Xbox 360 launch party in Beverly Hills. The first lady of the Black Eyed Peas squeezed in her appearance before dashing off to the airport to catch a late-night flight to Puerto Rico for a concert. However, she'll be traveling by sea when she appears in the big-budget remake of The Poseidon Adventure. "I'm a singer on the ship," she said, "so the role is not really a stretch." However, the song she sings -- "I Won't Let You Fall," a power ballad she co-wrote with bandmates Will.I.Am and drummer Keith Harris -- is. "It's very Nineties Mariah or Whitney," Fergie said. "It goes with the theme of the movie and the whole diva character -- very larger than life." She'll have to make every second of her on-screen time count because her character is, well, short-lived. "I definitely die. You don't see me die, but I do. It's short and sweet. I'm out!" . . .
Another musician turned actor was in the Xbox house, as Big Boi revealed that he's working on more than just the long-awaited OutKast musical Idlewild. The rapper is teaming with fellow MC T.I. for a Will Smith-produced movie due next spring. "It's about Atlanta skating rink nightlife," Big Boi said. As for the title? "It was called Jellybeans, but I think they changed it." Good call . . .
Quintessential California singer-songwriters Jackson Browne and Stephen Stills joined forces at L.A.'s Beverly Regent hotel ballroom for a concert to benefit the Cure Autism Now organization. Performing before an audience that included Hollywood icons like Dustin Hoffman and Annette Bening, the two shared the stage for Stills' classic "Helplessly Hoping," as well as each performing some of his own hits backed by a children's choir. Stills was particularly impressed by his vocal accompaniment. "I love you, David and Graham," he said, addressing his absent bandmates, Crosby and Nash, "but this is so fresh." Browne, who was recruited by Stills to play the event, was moved by CAN. "There's a great deal of hope in this event," he said after the show. "I find it really soulful what these people are doing" . . .
In keeping with the charitable spirit, Salt-N-Pepa reunited for their first full performance in seven years at Motorola's seventh annual Toys for Tots bash. The R&B duo got audience members including Mandy Moore to sway along "Push It," "Shoop" and other old faves. "It was incredible to feed off the energy of the fans again," said Salt after the show. Or was that Pepa?
Bucket of Weenies did versions of other bands' old faves at the Avalon. The all-star cover band -- featuring Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Orgy's Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh, and T.S.O.L.'s Mike Brown -- ripped through everything from the Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" to Oasis' "Wonderwall." As the band name would imply, B.O.W. is purely for kicks. "You throw a couple of drinks back, you play some songs you like, and you have a good time," Brown said. "It's taking the business out of the music business."
