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Briefly: R.E.M., Simple Plan, Kylie Minogue, Jimi Hendrix, Lone Justice

Former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry, who retired from the group in 1998, joined his former bandmates on stage during the group's Friday (10/10) concert in Raleigh, N.C.

Berry took the stage and played drums on "Permanent Vacation," one of the first songs the band wrote together, according to the group's website. He also sang back up on "Radio Free Europe."

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Punk rockers Simple Plan will issue a DVD/EP combo dubbed "A Big Package for You" on Nov. 25.

The EP features one new track--"Crash & Burn"--and two previously unreleased songs from their September 2003 "MTV Hard Rock Live" performance. The DVD houses nearly three hours of material, including all of the group's videos, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and outtakes.

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Kylie Minogue's ninth studio album, "Body Language," is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Feb. 10. It features a dozen new songs.

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McFarlane Toys will issue an action figure of Jimi Hendrix in November, the company announced.

"The life-like figure recreates the persona of Jimi, dressed in his blue velvet pants and white fringed shirt, with the familiar scarf tied around his hair and another wrapped around his left leg," the press release reads. "With his left-handed guitar strapped around his neck, the performer is leaning back from his mic stand in front of two amplifier stacks. The message spoken by this rendering is made clear by the hand of the guitarist raised, giving the 'peace' sign to his adoring crowd."

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Long-defunct cow-punk band Lone Justice and its lead singer, Maria McKee, will both be the subject of new best-of collections that hit stores on Oct. 21. Each features a dozen tracks remastered from the original tapes.

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