Rock Bottom Remainders – a band of wannabe-rock stars including authors Stephen King, Dave Barry and Amy Tan – is joining up with Roger McGuinn of Byrds fame to raise money for urban youth education and sports programs.

“The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening and author/erstwhile sports columnist Mitch Albom will join the band, as will novelists Ridley Pierson and Scott Turow.

The Rock For Kicks shows start November 14 at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colo., and plays Boston and Washington, D.C., as well.

Proceeds will benefit America Scores, an urban youth program teaching creative writing and soccer to disadvantaged youth in public school settings.

Rock Bottom Remainders was the 1992 brainchild of Kathi Kamen Goldmark, a musician by night and a media escort by day, who often transports authors from airports to bookstore appearances.

The name refers to the term bookstores use for leftover stock that gets marked down for sale.

It’s been a busy year for RBR, relatively speaking. On top of the three concert dates, the band recently announced it was making available two of its songs – “Tupperware Blues” (a Dave Barry original) and “These Boots Are Made For Walking” (Amy Tan vocals) – on MP3.com for free download.

“As a band we pretty much suck, but we suck for a good cause,” Goldmark said. “I think the spirit of fun comes across in these tracks, and I hope listeners will get as much enjoyment out of hearing them as we get out of making them.”