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Lennon’s b-day today

NEW YORK — Many of the flowers placed at Central Park’s Strawberry Fields after George Harrison’s death are still there, but Beatles fans are preparing to mourn again, this time for the 21st anniversary of John Lennon’s death this Saturday night. 

And with the planned Lennon vigil comes the annual fight between organizers and the city over whether the memorial can continue past the 1 a.m. curfew that has been imposed for the past eight years. 

“Since Sept. 11, we have seen a new side of (Mayor Rudolph Giuliani), who has shown a lot of compassion,” Tom Leighton, co-founder of the Memorial Committee, said Wednesday. “We are just hoping that perhaps he can extend this compassion to fans of John Lennon and rock and roll fans in general and allow us to extend the vigil this year past 1 a.m.” 

Giuliani’s press office did not immediately return a call for comment. But in previous years, the mayor said public safety concerns and the costs of extra security were reasons for not extending the curfew. The park generally is closed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. 

Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, however, said that the curfew decision is his, not Giuliani’s, and that fans are just blaming the mayor to get media attention. 

“This is simply a stunt,” Stern said. 

Lennon was shot dead by a deranged fan in front of his Central Park West home on Dec. 8, 1980. Harrison died Nov. 29 following a bout with cancer. 

Artists lined up for next year’s show

LOS ANGELES — Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz and Brooks & Dunn are among the performers lined up for next year’s American Music Awards. 

The 29th annual awards show is scheduled to air on ABC on Jan. 9. The host has not yet been announced. 

Also scheduled to perform are Cher, Toby Keith, Shaggy and Yolanda Adams. 

Presenters include rappers Master P., Ja Rule and Ludacris; singers LeAnn Rimes and India.Arie; and actors Chris Klein and Frankie Muniz. 

Twenty-one awards, voted on by the public, will be given out in music categories including pop, rock, alternative, gospel and country. 

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On the Net: 

http://www.americanmusicawards.com.