BRITISH rock stars including Richard Ashcroft, Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame will play a charity gig next month to raise funds for the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.

    The benefit concert will be held at the Brixton O2 Academy in south London on April 3, and the lineup includes Beady Eye, the band which Gallagher formed after Oasis broke up, Primal Scream, The Coral and Graham Coxon of Blur.

    “With images beamed worldwide as they occurred, the horrific tragedy that beset Japan in recent days has affected everybody,” Beady Eye said in a statement on its Web site.

    “In response, a collection of Britain’s finest rock musicians have heeded the rallying call and come together to present a very special one-off event.

    “Beady Eye — who still have fond memories of their concert in Sendai as Oasis in 2002 — are delighted their idea for a benefit gig has come together so quickly and with such fantastic support.”

    The concert follows Monday’s announcement that Universal Music was putting together a digital-only album featuring tracks from some of its leading artists, including Justin Bieber and U2, to raise money for victims of the Japanese disaster.

    More than 9,000 people have been confirmed dead after the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami, while more than 13,500 are reported missing.

    Tickets to the concert go on sale from Friday morning and can be ordered via www.gigsandtours.com, www.ticketweb.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.(SD-Agencies)