Alice at Hot Topic

LIFE IS A WONDERLAND: An estimated 5,000 fans turned up at the Hot Topic on Hollywood and Highland last Friday to join Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton, along with the film’s stars, including Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway, in celebrating the March 2 release of Almost Alice, a 16-song compilation companion piece on Buena Vista Records to the Walt Disney movie Alice in Wonderland. Also on hand were acts 3OH3!, Metro Station, Kerli and Never Shout Never performing their songs from the album, which also features Avril Lavigne, All-American Rejects, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Franz Ferdinand and Shinedown. An estimated 400,000 watched the festivities, which were also hosted by local station KIIS and MySpace, on line. A screening of the movie, which opens March 5, was held afterwards at the El Capitan. (2/23a)