Music Notes: Madonna Tour Dates

April 16 -- Madonna fans can start planning their strategy for scoring tickets to the singer's first tour in eight years.

The singer has announced some of her itinerary, for what is being billed as The Drowned World Tour. Those who keep track of her song titles will note "Drowned World" is the first song on her album Ray Of Light.

The tour will kick off in Cologne June 5. Here are her planned U.S. dates:

July 21 Philadelphia, First Union Center

July 25 New York, Madison Square Garden

Aug. 2 E. Rutherford, N.J., Continental Airlines Arena

Aug. 6 Boston, Fleet Center

Aug. 10 Washington, D.C., MCI Center

Aug. 14 Miami, National Car Rental Center

Aug. 19 Atlanta, Philips Arena

Aug. 25 Detroit, The Palace of Auburn Hills

Aug. 28 Chicago, United Center

Sept. 1 Las Vegas, MGM Grand

Sept. 5 Oakland, Calif., Oakland Arena

Sept. 9 Los Angeles, Staples Center

Santana, R.E.M.'s Political Statement

Members of Rage Against the Machine and R.E.M. as well as Sarah McLachlan and Carlos Santana are turning their attention to South Africa.

The performers have signed an Internet petition to provide low-cost AIDS medication in the African nation.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela signed a law in 1997 to drop the cost of the medication for impoverished people, and since then 39 pharmaceutical companies have struck back with a lawsuit to block Mandela's efforts.

The non-profit group Doctors Without Borders has launched an Internet petition urging the drug makers to back off. No word on the response from those companies, but the campaign has certainly drawn the attention of some of the more outspoken activist rockers.

Buena Vista and Blur Cartoon

Josie and the Pussycats are facing a battle of the bands from a new cartoon rock group, Gorillaz.