[ALBSA-Info] NYTimes.com Article: A Rousing Rock Show for a Wounded City

[jetkoti at hotmail.com]

This article from NYTimes.com 
has been sent to you by jetkoti at hotmail.com.



A Rousing Rock Show for a Wounded City

October 21, 2001 

By JAYSON BLAIR


 

A virtual "Who's Who" of the entertainment industry took
the stage last night at Madison Square Garden for the
"Concert for New York," a benefit to raise money to rebuild
Lower Manhattan and help relatives of the victims of the
Sept. 11 attack. 

The benefit was expected to be the most successful charity
event in history, surpassing last month's $125 million
post-attack telethon. 

It had light and serious moments. 

The crowd cheered as Bon Jovi sang "Dead Or Alive," one of
his hit songs from the 1980's and a phrase that President
Bush has used in reference to the suspected mastermind of
the Sept. 11 attack, Osama bin Laden. Mick Jagger used a
vulgar term to explain why it was best not to get into a
fight with New York. 

A short film by Woody Allen included jokes envisioning the
Port Authority attempting to move out of New York and Mayor
Giuliani getting a house on Fire Island with his rival the
Rev. Al Sharpton. It also had a man complaining that the
police had taken his drugs to fight anthrax and that
Starbucks had opened a coffee shop in Afghanistan. 

There were somber segments as well, as when Gov. George E.
Pataki praised rescue workers and honored the dead. 

"Since that tragic moment on Sept. 11, our nation has been
exposed to evil, an unprecedented evil that was supposed to
paralyze America," Governor Pataki said. "We haven't been.
We are stronger as a people and a country." 

He added: "Fear provoked by evil is destined to always fall
when confronted by courage in the face of terror." 

Tickets for the show cost between $250 and $1,000 each, and
a telephone number for donations ran across the screen as
the show was broadcast on VH1. Musical performers included
Paul McCartney, The Who, Bon Jovi, Bono and Edge of U2,
David Bowie, Elton John, Destiny's Child, the Backstreet
Boys, Mr. Jagger, John Mellencamp, Eric Clapton, Billy
Joel, James Taylor, Melissa Etheridge, Macy Gray, Marc
Anthony, Five For Fighting, Goo Goo Dolls and Jay-Z. Janet
Jackson performed through a remote satellite connection
from Pittsburgh. 

An equally impressive list of Hollywood stars appeared,
from Spike Lee to Harrison Ford. 

Guests included more than 5,000 firefighters, police
officers and other rescue workers. They, in fact, received
more cheers than any of the performers, who often made
jokes as they introduced others. 

Mr. Bowie kicked off the benefit with an emotional
rendition of Paul Simon's "America" and then followed it
with "Heroes." 

The crowd cheered at several references to the suspected
mastermind of the attack, Osama bin Laden. 

Just as crowds have returned to the observation deck of the
Empire State Building, people were clamoring to get into
the Garden last night. Those angling to find scalpers, some
of whom were selling $250 tickets for $1,000, were young
and old, all shades of color and of various backgrounds. 

But most who were looking for scalped tickets were sorely
disappointed. 

Some of the show's levity was seen as a sign of how much
things have changed since Sept. 11. 

Just a little more than a month ago, in the initial days
after the attack, Madison Square Garden was the subject of
speculation about a possible terrorist attack and it was
evacuated more than once because of bomb threats. 

But the crowd last night did not seem at the least bit
tense. 

"I just want to say something to all the celebrities who
have stayed away from New York," Howard Stern, the comedian
and radio talk show host, said at one interlude during the
concert. "I say shame on you. Come back to New York." 

As Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani took the stage, he said,
"Thank you',' as the crowd chanted "Rudy, Rudy." 

"Since the attacks of Sept. 11, Americans and New Yorkers
have united as never before," Mr. Giuliani said. 

He added, "Our enemies should not mistake the fact that
even as they see us cry and mourn for those who are lost,
we are stronger and tougher, and ready to defend ourselves
as never before." 

During another memorable moment, former President Bill
Clinton, holding the hat of Deputy Fire Chief Ray Downey,
who helped rescuers at the Oklahoma City bombing and died
at the World Trade Center, remarked on how Mr. bin Laden
and his advisers are reputed to watch Americans on
television. 

"I hope they saw this tonight," Mr. Clinton said. "Because
they thought America was about money and power and that if
they took down the World Trade Center we would collapse." 

"But we are not about mountains of money and towers of
steel. But we are about mountains of courage and hearts of
steel." 

He then introduced James Taylor, who sang his 1970's hit
"Fire and Rain," with its mournful lyrics that Mr. Taylor
has said are about the death of a friend, desperation in
trying to get through a tough time, and recuperation. 


http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/21/nyregion/21GARD.html?ex=1004723098&ei=1&en=23040fe6b9bad337



HOW TO ADVERTISE
---------------------------------
For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters 
or other creative advertising opportunities with The 
New York Times on the Web, please contact Alyson 
Racer at alyson at nytimes.com or visit our online media 
kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo

For general information about NYTimes.com, write to 
help at nytimes.com.  

Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company