A diverse group of celebrities including Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, Canadian chanteuse Alanis Morissette and Sopranos star James Gandolfini gathered for a live, televised tribute to slain Beatles legend John Lennon on Tuesday evening at the famed Radio City Music Hall in New York. While the long-planned concert was originally to be a fundraiser for gun-control groups, the star-studded affair and Lennon’s haunting lyrics took on renewed meaning in the wake of the World Trade Center tragedies.
“John Lennon loved New York, and New York loved – and loves – John Lennon. This evening is now dedicated to New York City and its magnificent people,” said host Kevin Spacey. “Tonight people have really heard his lyrics in ways they never have before. I don’t think there’s any more six degrees of separation for any of us. It’s all one degree. We all know somebody who’s affected.”
High profile performers from Latin heart-throb Marc Anthony to alt-rockers Stone Temple Pilots honoured Lennon. Former 10,000 Maniacs lead singer Natalie Merchant drove the crowd to its feet with her take on Nowhere Man and Cyndi Lauper entertained with a moving Strawberry Fields. But it was a rare musical outing from Spacey that brought the house down.
“While I’m honoured to be here, I’m incredibly pissed off that this passionate prophet of peace, and so many others, aren’t with us tonight because we live in an increasingly violent world,” said the American Beauty star just before launching into an impassioned performance of Lennon’s Mind Games.
“We rehearsed it Sunday and Monday, and I was relatively nervous about it because it’s not an easy song,” Spacey said backstage. “We just decided we wanted to do something that would kind of be uplifting and surprise the audience.” Mission accomplished. Despite the pressure of performing on such a grand stage, Kevin scored a major hit with the capacity crowd. “It was television, live, and Radio City Music Hall. And Yoko’s there and you’re thinking, ‘I’m out of my mind’,” he joked. “But sometimes the things worth doing are kind of risky and fun.”
Musician Sean Lennon, John and Yoko’s only child together, also performed, teaming up with Moby on Across The Universe. After Sean’s three-song set – which included an inspired take on Julian, Yoko joined him on stage. “You have restored my faith in the human race,” she told the crowd. “As John said, ‘There are no problems, only solutions’. Let’s create peace, create unity, create joy and create light. Imagine all the people, living life in peace.”
Organisers had thought of cancelling the event, which was originally to take place on September 20 and air on October 9 – what would have been Lennon’s 61st birthday. However, they decided to reschedule the event and donate the proceeds to both the Red Cross and the September 11 Fund. Come Together: A Night For John Lennon’s Words And Music aired live on two US networks, TNT and the WB.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
