A rockin' sendoff for Shea

Billy Joel's weekend show at Shea Stadium, billed as "The Last Play at Shea, From the Beatles to Billy," was quite an extravaganza. The Piano Man was joined on stage by Sir Paul McCartney, who sang "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Let It Be." (McCartney referenced the Beatles' first concert at Shea in 1965, saying "We had a blast that night, and we're having another one tonight.") Other special guests included Garth Brooks, who sang Joel's song "Shameless"; Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, who did "Walk This Way"; and Roger Daltrey of the Who, who sang "My Generation" as Joel smashed a guitar on the center-field stage. The crowd included Joel's ex-wife Christie Brinkley, who recently wrapped up her bitter divorce with Peter Cook. (AP)

"The Dark Knight," the sixth in Warner Brothers' series of "Batman" movies, made an impressive $155.3 million over the weekend to finish first, by far, at the box office. The strong showing eclipsed last year's opening-weekend sales for "Spider-Man 3," the previous record holder. Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, "Dark Knight" was filmed partly using Imax cameras, and it opened on nearly 100 Imax screens around the United States. Its release was preceded by months of buzz and speculation over Ledger's performance as Batman's nemesis, the Joker. Ledger died in January from an accidental prescription-drug overdose. Women accounted for most of the audience for second-place finisher "Mamma Mia!" Based on the stage musical set to the tunes of ABBA, "Mamma Mia!" features Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, and Christine Baranski. The weekend's other new wide release, the animated family flick "Space Chimps," did a meager $7.4 million in business, only good enough for seventh place. (AP)

The Barenaked Ladies have canceled a performance at a children's concert in New York after lead singer Steven Page was charged with drug possession. The band, which has released its first children's album, "Snacktime," was slated to perform at next month's Disney Music Block Party on Long Island. But in a statement posted on the band's website, manager Terry McBride said the "Ladies" canceled the concert out of respect for the sponsor. "Members of the band completely support Steven Page, but we don't want to put Disney in an awkward position before issues involving Steven's arrest are resolved," he said. Court documents allege Page admitted to snorting cocaine in his girlfriend's New York apartment last week. Police say Page had about a third of an ounce of the drug with him at the time of his arrest. (AP)

Rapper DMX was arrested yet again this weekend, this time at a Phoenix mall on suspicion of giving a false name and Social Security number to a hospital to get out of paying medical expenses. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said that when DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, went to the Mayo Clinic in April, he used the name "Troy Jones" and failed to pay a $7,500 bill. Arpaio said his office began investigating after an animal neglect investigation last year at the 37-year-old rapper's north Phoenix home. (AP)