Stars sign on for Sandy benefit concert

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will help anchor another all-star benefit to aid in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, once again joined by fellow New Jersey and New York artists Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Joel.

The December 12 concert "12-12-12" will be held at Madison Square Garden and also feature the likes of Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys, Roger Waters and the Who.

More artists are expected to be unveiled. Ticket information for the concert was not yet released, and the benefit is to be produced by Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the Madison Square Garden Co. and the Weinstein Co.

A press release notes that "telecast information" will also be unveiled in the days to come.

Proceeds from the "12-12-12" concert will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which distributes money and materials to local organizations.

With Clear Channel promoting the concert via its online/mobile platform iHeartRadio, expect there to be some sort of simulcast or post-show archive of performances.

A host of major artists have already donated time and/or money to Hurricane Sandy benefit efforts. A November 2 concert "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" aired on NBC and its platforms and featured Springsteen and his E Street Band performing "The Land of Hope and Dreams."

Among the other songs performed on the NBC benefit were Joel's "Miami 2017" and Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer."

In a proper concert setting at Madison Square Garden, artists will no doubt be given more freedom and time to perform. Also, the "12-12-12" benefit will feature hip-hop luminary West, who, readers may remember, has a tendency to speak his mind. And here's betting it closes with Keys leading a crowd sing-along on "Empire State of Mind''.