Styx's Tommy Shaw
Photo: BMG/Sanctuary

Classic-rock luminaries including Styx, REO Speedwagon and Journey will assemble in October for two concerts to raise money for rescue workers and the families of those killed during the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The concerts, titled Volunteers for America, will be held October 20 at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta and October 21 at Smirnoff Music Centre in Dallas, according to Charlie Brusco of Atlanta's TBA Entertainment, which is producing the events. Tickets for both shows go on sale Saturday.

Volunteers is the brainchild of Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw and REO singer Kevin Cronin. "They couldn't help but figure that there were people who attended their shows this summer who were directly affected by the attack or were firemen or police working in the area," Brusco said. He added that the rockers wanted to represent Southerners in general, and Texans in particular, amid the slew of benefits organized in the wake of the attacks.

Additional acts confirmed for Atlanta include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, the Edgar Winter Group, John Waite and former Grand Funk Railroad frontman Mark Farner. Survivor, Kansas and Eddie Money will replace Skynyrd on the Dallas lineup, with more acts to be announced for both cities in coming weeks, Brusco said.

Original MTV VJ Alan Hunter will MC the shows. Organizers hope to arrange a radio simulcast and a toll-free number for donations. All the artists have waived their fees, with proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross and yet-to-be-determined fire and police charities, Brusco said.

For more information on and audience reaction to the attacks, including tips on how you can help, see "9.11.01: Moving Forward."

• Styx
• REO Speedwagon
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Journey