Four acts named for Olympics opening concert

LONDON CALLING: Duran Duran, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol and Paolo Nutini have been chosen to perform at an outdoor concert for the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games, which will be held in Hyde Park on July 27. Another concert in the same location, with Blur headlining, will close the Olympics on Aug. 12. Each act represents one of Britain’s components, the N.Y. Times points out: Duran Duran is England’s choice, while Snow Patrol comes from Northern Ireland and Stereophonics from Wales; Nutini is of Italian descent but is a fourth-generation Scot who grew up in Paisley, where his parents still run a restaurant. In related news, Bill Curbishley, the longtime manager of The Who, was approached about the possibility of Keith Moon rejoining other band members for the opening show. “I emailed back saying Keith now resides in Golders Green Crematorium, having lived up to The Who’s anthemic line ‘I hope I die before I get old,’” Curbishley told The Sunday Times. (5/3a)