SMALL FACES

Peter Gabriel is holed up in his Real World studio in England, working on his first new studio album since 1992’s “Us,� with release likely for late 1997. . . .

Afghan Whigs plan to start work on a new album in the spring, but in the meantime leader Greg Dulli has formed a side project, the Twilight Singers, with contributions from Shawn Smith (of the groups Satchel and Brad) and Harold Chichester (of Howlin’ Maggie). . . .

L.A. band AstroPuppees not only has a debut album due Thursday (with a release celebration concert that night at the Martini Lounge), but will also have one of its songs performed by actress Shannen Doherty in the NBC-TV movie “Friends ‘til the End,� set to air in February. AstroPuppees singer Kelley Ryan was hired to coach Doherty in her vocals for her role as a singer in the film, which is being described as a rock “All About Eve.�