The Concert For New York City

The Concert for New York City was a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11 attacks. Aside from performing for charity, the concert was an attempt to honor the first responders from the New York Fire Department and New York Police Department, their families, and those lost in the attacks and those who had worked in the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in the weeks since that time.

The concert was organized by Paul McCartney and included many of his legendary British contemporaries, including The Who, Rolling Stones bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, David Bowie, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. American artists included Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Destiny's Child, the Backstreet Boys, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Melissa Etheridge, Five for Fighting, Goo Goo Dolls, John Mellencamp with Kid Rock, and a humorous performance by Adam Sandler as "Operaman," singing a medley covering the events of 9/11, the greatness of New York City, and about Osama Bin Laden being a coward. Paul Shaffer acted as Musical Director for the show and various celebrities and political figures including Howard Stern and Rudy Giuliani appeared between the acts.

Many athletes also appeared between the acts including Joe Torre, whose Yankees were on their way to competing in their fourth consecutive World Series. The concert also included several short films made by New York City's most notable filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Spike Lee.

Over 60 stars that participated in the concert signed unique memorabilia backstage at Madison Square Garden that were later auctioned off to support the Robin Hood Foundation. The autographed items included 3 large posters of the concert and 3 customized 24" drumheads. Other items included a complete drumset and guitar.

Read more about The Concert For New York City:  Audience Reaction, Lineup and Songs, Short Films, Critical Reaction, Broadcast, CD Release, Home Video Release, See Also

Famous quotes containing the words concert, york and/or city:

    ... in the cities there are thousands of rolling stones like me. We are all alike; we have no ties, we know nobody, we own nothing. When one of us dies, they scarcely know where to bury him.... We have no house, no place, no people of our own. We live in the streets, in the parks, in the theatres. We sit in restaurants and concert halls and look about at the hundreds of our own kind and shudder.
    Willa Cather (1873–1947)

    A hundred times have I thought New York is a catastrophe ... it is a beautiful catastrophe.
    Le Corbusier [Charle Édouard Jeanne] (1887–1965)

    A city built upon mud;
    A culture built upon profit;
    Free speech nipped in the bud,
    The minority always guilty.
    Why should I want to go back
    To you, Ireland, my Ireland?
    Louis MacNeice (1907–1963)