McCartney Plans Benefit Concert, Lennon Tribute Moved
September 21 -- Former Beatle Paul McCartney announced today that he is planning a concert to benefit New York City firefighters, many of whom died in the rescue efforts that followed the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. "What I am going to do is a concert here in New York within the next month to benefit all the firemen," he said in a statement. "I also have a connection there, because my father was a fireman in Liverpool during World War II."
The songwriter said he was looking for venues for the concert. Further details were not immediately available, Reuters reports.
McCartney has lent his talent to a number of charities in the last 25 years, including the Live Aid benefit in 1985 for famine relief in Ethiopia and benefit concerts for victims of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia in 1979.
Lennon Tribute Becomes a Benefit ConcertA tribute for slain Beatle John Lennon that was originally scheduled for tonight has been moved to October 2 at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. "Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music" will now serve as a benefit for the American Red Cross and several other funds and relief organizations tied to last week's tragedy.
"The appropriateness of John Lennon's words, message, and music is even more timely now," TNT Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Ehrlich tells Rolling Stone.Kevin Spacey will host the show, which will air live on the cable network. Musicians performing selected works by Lennon include Dave Matthews, the Isley Brothers, Nelly Furtado, Moby, Lou Reed, Shelby Lynne, Stone Temple Pilots, Seal, Marc Anthony, Cyndi Lauper, and Yolanda Adams. Beck has dropped out of the event due to scheduling conflicts.
Reuters contributed to this story.
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