Video thrills the rock star

Don't blame Jim's Big Ego for that President Bush-bashing video that's causing such a stir online. Yes, the Boston band wrote the song that accompanies the popular viral vid, but the tune was never intended to be political. That said, band leader Jim Infantino and the boys aren't complaining about the contretemps. ''It's been great for the band," admitted Infantino. Created by Larry the AV Guy -- not his real name presumably -- the vid's been viewed by an estimated 4 million folks, and the song has become the band's most heavily downloaded. (We'd tell you the name of the song/video, but it's unprintable.) Originally about a former girl-friend, Infantino said, the tune has been turned into an indictment of Bush and his buddies Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and Donald Rumsfeld, among others. This week, an eighth-grade teacher in Alabama was fired for showing the video in class, and talking heads Tucker Carlson and Keith Olbermann have discussed it on air. ''When we play the song live, people really react," said Infantino.

Sirkin scores sixth Tony nomination

Spring Sirkin, the producing director of the Boston-based Chamber Repertory Theater, received her sixth Tony Award nomination for the Broadway revival of Brian Friel's ''Faith Healer," starring Ralph Fiennes. Sirkin won a Tony a decade ago for producing ''Master Class." ''Faith Healer" also received nominations for Fiennes as lead actor, Ian McDiarmid for featured actor in a play, and Mark Henderson for best lighting design.

Perry poses with his boys

For its Fathers and Sons issue, due out next week, Best Life mag managed to get Joe Perry to pose rather dramatically with his boys, Roman, 14, and Tony, 19. (Other fathers featured include ''Grey's Anatomy" actor Isaiah Washington, writer Jay McInerney, James Marsden, who's in ''X-Men: The Last Stand," and our very own Todd English with sons Oliver and Simon.) Asked what he's learned from the Aerosmith ax man, Tony replied: ''The faster you go, the quicker you have to stop."

Chef prepares to roll out sandwich bar

Two decades after he opened East Coast Grill, chef Chris Schlesinger is jumping into another new venture, this one celebrating the magic of the sandwich. Just down the street from East Coast, Schlesinger and partner Jim Economides have bought Cafe China and are opening The All-Star Sandwich Bar, featuring classics from the Reuben to the Cuban. ''We figure all the great sandwiches have already been invented," Schlesinger says. The 35-seat place will serve beer and wine and be open for lunch and dinner, starting in mid-July or later, after minor renovations.

Restaurateur loses a title

The Brookline Board of Selectmen voted to allow Jim Solomon, chef-owner of the Fireplace in Washington Square, to keep the restaurant's liquor license but ordered that Solomon lose his title as ''manager" for a year after his March arrest on drug-related charges and allegations that he removed liquor from the eatery, the Brookline Tab reported. Solomon will remain chef and owner of the restaurant. Since his arrest, Solomon has completed a 30-day treatment program. . . . Harvard professor the Rev. Peter J. Gomes will give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree at Lasell College's 152d graduation on Sunday. . . . Azure's chef, Robert Fathman, and his wife, Janis, welcomed their first child recently -- a baby boy, Sawyer Cash Fathman, who is named after Tom Sawyer and Johnny Cash.

Chef Todd English was on Capitol Hill the other day to meet with Florida congressman Tom Feeney and other Washington politicos on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters. English, a former ''little brother," credits the organization with ''saving [his] life." Said English: ''I was 9 years old living in Atlanta with no male role model and little ambition when I met my Big Brother."

''Movin' Out" stars Keith Roberts, Laurie Kanyok, and Darren Holden joined others for the opening-night party Wednesday at blu at Sports Club/LA. The musical based on Billy Joel's music with choreography by Twyla Tharp is playing at the Opera House.

Joe Yonan of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.