Video : BBC : Screen grabs: click here (info susans, spaceface, tbb, pozie, bonster, bww)
Associated Press Daily Mail Daily Mirror Daily Record *E Online *Guardian *Hello *Hollywood Reporter *L A Times The Mail On Sunday New York Post New YorkTimes NME Rolling Stone Sonicnet The Sun The Times Undercover *Variety VH1 WIRE (*=new)
Associated
Press : Legends Perform for Benefit Concert
Sunday October 21 4:49 AM ET
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Elton John, Billy Joel joined other performers Saturday in a ``Concert for New York,'' which served as a benefit for the city while celebrating its resiliency in a time of crisis.
David Bowie kicked off the mammoth concert with a poignant rendition of Paul Simon's ``America,'' then rocked a crowd that included thousands of firefighters, police officers and rescue workers with the appropriately titled ``Heroes.''
``It's an absolute pleasure to play for you tonight,'' Bowie told the crowd at ``Concert for New York,'' which was broadcast from Madison Square Garden live on VH1.
Despite the tragic circumstances that led to the concert, the star-studded event was anything but somber - instead, it was a raucous celebration.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Mail On Sunday. October 21st 2001 : There is still a light that shines on you.
"But perhaps it was David Bowie's stunning performance of his classic hit "Heroes" which captured the defiant survival mood of the night."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Times : City gets some help from its friends : Monday 22nd October
Bowie opened the five hour concert with Paul Simon's song America before cranking it up with Heroes.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Daily Mail : Monday 22nd October : True Stars of the Supershow
It was billed as the biggest charity gig since Live Aid, with a line-up whichincluded Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John. But the real stars of the Concert For New York City have never made a record or released a pop video. They were the brave fire-fighters, police officers, emergency personnel and rescue workers who for nearly six weeks have been clearing the rubble where the World Trade Center used to stand..... The concert was kicked off by Bowie, who lives in New York. He performed Paul Simon's America then launched into Heroes, bringing the audience to their feet.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
VH1 : McCartney, Jagger, Bowie, The Who
Come To NY's Aid : By Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen : 10/21/2001
Superstars from David Bowie to Paul McCartney to Jagger and Richards rained classic rock on thousands of firefighters, police officers and rescue workers Saturday night in a concert that raised millions of dollars for September 11 relief efforts.
While last month's relatively somber "America: A Tribute to Heroes" echoed the shock of a nation in mourning (see "Mariah Carey, Springsteen, Other Stars Sing For America On Telethon"), the Concert for New York reflected the resolve of a country set on celebrating the heroism of its people and commitment to freedom. The live VH1 broadcast of the show, at Madison Square Garden, featured a telephone number and Web site (www.helping.org) for music fans to donate money, and Cablevision president and chief executive James Dolan told Reuters that ticket sales had already raised $14 million.
The show began quietly, with Bowie sitting solo at a keyboard, playing a calliope-like accompaniment as he sang Simon and Garfunkel's "America." When he launched into a soaring, full-band version of "Heroes" ? backed, as others would be, by Paul Shaffer and others from the "Late Show With David Letterman" house band — the cops and firefighters began dancing in the aisles, and they rarely let up through the nearly six-hour show.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
VH1 : Wednesday 24th October
VH1 Scores Network's All-Time
Highest Rating With 'The Concert for New York City,' One-Night-Only
Benefit Event That Aired Live on Saturday, October 20.
All-Star Benefit Event Attracts Nearly 16 Million Viewers
on VH1; Show Is Highest-Rated Basic Cable Program on October
20.
AOL Hosts Record-Breaking Webcast With Nearly a Half-Million
Streams of the Live Event.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
New
York Times : McCartney Show Raises Spirits and Cash in New
York
By PAUL LIEBERMAN, Times Staff Writer : October 21, 2001
The officers and firefighters got the first standing ovation after David Bowie opened the concert by singing Paul Simon's "America," and spoke of the crowd as "my fellow New Yorkers." Saluting his "local ladder," Bowie said, "It's an absolute privilege to play for you."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
New York Post
- Sun 21 October
David Bowie got the night started - and drew a wild response
from a crowd packed with thousands of police and firefighters
- with an epic rendition of his classic 1970's hit 'Heroes'
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
New York Post : THESE CHARITABLE STARS ARE BIG APPLE HEROES : By BILL HOFFMANN : Friday Oct 19th
While some stars are fleeing the city, three of Hollywood's sexiest
are lining up as late additions for tomorrow's all-star "Concert
for New York." Richard Gere, Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry
will take the stage alongside Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, David
Bowie and other rock legends to raise money for the families
of the World Trade Center heroes. And chart-topping rapper Jay-Z,
funnyman Billy Crystal and "Boys Don't Cry" star Hilary
Swank also signed up yesterday for the Madison Square Garden
extravaganza.
Bowie hit the Garden to rehearse "Heroes," which
will open the concert, and the tune brought tears to the eyes
of listeners. "It was so emotional to hear this song. I
think the crowd is going to go wild when he plays it," one
onlooker said. The concert, to be aired live on VH1 from
7 p.m. to midnight, will benefit the Robin Hood Foundation.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and the Garden box office
for $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000. Funds are also being raised through
a toll-free number, (888) NYMUSIC. The money will be distributed
to families of firefighters, cops and rescue workers lost in
the WTC collapse. Performing artists will include Mick Jagger,
The Who, Billy Joel, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Janet Jackson,
Bono, Bon Jovi, the Backstreet Boys and Destiny's Child.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WIRE
: Stars, Rescuers Rock in NY Attack Concert Tribute : 0/21/2001
12:31 am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Paul McCartney,
Billy Joel and Elton John led music stars honoring the victims
and rescue workers of the World Trade Center attack in a concert
that celebrated the energy and pride of New York.
Joel tapped into the city's emotion singing "New York State
of Mind," stirring a crowd at Madison Square Garden that
included rows of uniformed police, firefighters and their families
dancing, singing and screaming at the more than five-hour gala.
Movie stars, including Harrison Ford, Jim Carrey and Meg Ryan, also joined politicians such as former President Bill Clinton and New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to launch what was the first of a series of concerts broadcast live on television and radio across the country this weekend.
At the Saturday night concert to raise funds for victims of the Sept. 11 aerial strikes that killed nearly 5,400 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, the crowd roared in one of its biggest ovations when actor Michael J. Fox presented firefighter Mike Moran.
One of 6,000 firefighters and their families to receive free tickets, Moran, whose brother died in the attack, was hailed with a minute-long chant of "USA! USA!"
The "Concert for the City of New York" started off with David Bowie, who set the mood with a stirring rendition of his hit, "Heroes."
Bon Jovi sang "Wanted Dead or Alive," perhaps a sly reference to the phrase President Bush used about the search for Osama bin Laden, suspected of being behind the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Who sang "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again," and Joel moved the crowd with his 1976 release "Miami 2017," which includes the lyrics, "I've seen the lights go out on Broadway, I saw the mighty skyline fall," and "they held a concert out in Brooklyn, to watch the island bridges blow."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Undercover : Monday, October 22, 2001
It was David Bowie who opened Paul McCartney's Concert for New York Saturday Night at Madison Square Garden and he chose Simon and Garfunkel's "America" to make his statement. He followed that up with "Heroes".
The audience cheered for the benefit to raise money for New Yorks firefighters. In fact 5,000 firefighters and rescue workers were given tickets to the show.
Billy Crystal made them all laugh. "Christians, Jews, and Muslims can all agree on one thing: We can never, ever, let Mariah Carey make another movie again."
The Goo Goo Dolls covered Tom Petty's "American Girl" and the show's organizer Sir Paul McCartney debuted a song he wrote for the event titled "Freedom".
The show was full of highlights. Elton John and Billy Joel performed "Your Song" together and then Billy stunned the crowd with an emotional version of "New York State Of Mind". Bruce Springsteen wasn't present but Melissa Etheridge played his "Born To Run" anyway.
Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" was a potent jab at Bin Laden and everyone loved The Who, especially with the sentiment of "Won't Get Fooled Again" meaning so much more under the current circumstances.
The disappointment of the night was that U2 couldn't make the show. They were announced in the line-up but couldn't get to New York.
A double album of the shows highlights will be released before Christmas. The concert including album sales is expected to raise over $60m.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
The
Sun : Paul's little heroes : Mon, Oct 22, 2001
From Paul Thompson in New York
SIR Paul McCartney gave a comforting hug to two young boys whose heroic dad and uncle were both killed in the World Trade Center disaster.
The ex-Beatle met heartbroken Joseph and James Vigiano at the star-studded Concert for New York.
Their 34-year-old father Joe — a New York City detective — and his firefighter brother, John, 36, were evacuating people from the North Tower when it collapsed.
Sir Paul wrapped his arms around little Joseph, eight, and James, six, after he was introduced to them backstage.
Then he strode out to close the show with Freedom, the song he wrote after the tragedy.
In a fitting tribute to the 5,371 who died — including hundreds of rescue workers — David Bowie opened the gig with two songs, including his hit Heroes.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Sun : Monday 22nd October : We Love New York
From DOMINIC MOHAN at
Madison Square Garden, NY
BRITAIN’S biggest rock superstars declared their love for New York at one of the most emotional concerts EVER — to honour America’s terror victims.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Elton John, Eric Clapton and David Bowie took the stage in front of relatives of those killed on September 11.
Firefighters and cops — some on crutches and with their arms in slings — were among 6,000 brave VIPs in the crowd of 20,000 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
And they heard a heartfelt tribute from Sir Paul McCartney, who proclaimed: “On behalf of the British, we love you — but so does the world.”
Many in the audience wept as Macca, 59, closed the show — which raised £16million — with his new song Freedom.
Fifty firefighters and policemen joined him and fellow stars on stage for a moving encore.
During the spectacular event — beamed live across the US — David Bowie dedicated one song to fire crews based near his Manhattan pad. In New York, each station is referred to as a “ladder.”
Bowie said: “I’d like to say a particular hello to the guys from my local ladder — you know who you are and it’s a privilege to play for you.”
A poignant banner waved by firefighters in the audience insisted: “FDNY — still the greatest job on earth.”
Others held aloft photographs of colleagues who perished in the Twin Towers horror.
In a barnstorming performance, rock legends The Who took the stage in front of a Union Jack and Stars and Stripes.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Daily Mirror : 3-PAGE SPECIAL ON THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK : October 22nd 2001
From Polly Graham And Lucy Rock
At Madison Square Garden, Manhattan
BRITAIN'S rock royalty stole the show at an emotional Twin Towers
benefit concert in New York where a mixture of laughter, tears
and defiance filled the night.
An array of famous faces, from Destiny's Child to actor Leonardo Di Caprio, Billy Joel to ex-President Bill Clinton appeared on stage either to sing or to introduce an act.
But it was the Brits - The Who, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Paul McCartney - who got the loudest and longest applause.
Macca, who organised the six hour extravaganza, was greeted with a three-minute standing ovation, yelled: "How about tonight, hey? We did it because we love New York. We Love America and we love the freedom it represents."
It was a highly-charged evening at Madison Square Garden, in the heart of a city still coming to terms with the horrors of September 11.
Up to 5,000 firefighters were there, many in their uniforms, and thousands of wives, husbands, parents and children of those who died.
Tears flowed during slower songs when massive video screens picked out members of the 20,000-strong audience who were holding up photos of dead loved ones.
But it wasn't all tears. Billy Crystal was full of jokes, telling a crowd coming to terms with the terror of anthrax: "Some people thought this was an awards show. It's not! We couldn't find anyone to open the envelopes."
The stadium filled with chants of "USA! USA!" when Mick Jagger told them: "If there's one thing to be learnt from this, it is you don't f**k with New York"
David Bowie kicked off the gala with a poignant cover of the Simon and Garfunkel hit, America. But he made no speeches, his choice of songs said all he wanted to convey.
Then it was Bon Jovi's turn, whipping up the crowd with their monster smash Living On A Prayer.
Actress Susan Sarandon, wearing a T-shirt with the letters FDNY (Fire Department, New York) surrounded by a heart appealed for money.
"It has been over a month but financial and emotional hardship continues," she said.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Daily Record
: Monday 22nd October : Freedom Fighters 
Britain's rock royalty stole the show at the emotional Twin Towers benefit concert in New York - as laughter, sobs and shouts of defiance filled the air..... David Bowie kicked off the gala with a poignant cover of the Simon and Garfunkle hit America. The hushed crowd perked up and began clapping to his second number, the rousing anthem Heroes.
___________________________________________________________________________________
NME : Give My Regards To Wall Street : Monday 22nd October
DAVID BOWIE, MICK JAGGER, ELTON JOHN, BILLY JOEL, BON JOVI, THE WHO and DESTINY'S CHILD were joined by a host of Hollywood stars, including ROBERT DE NIRO, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, SUSAN SARANDON, JIM CARREY, HARRISON FORD and MEG RYAN at the PAUL MCCARTNEY-organised fundraiser for victims of the NEW YORK terror strikes in the city's MADISON SQUARE GARDENS on Saturday (October 21).
Watching the stars perform the five-hour 'Concert For New York' were 5,000 of the city's firemen and policemen, wearing their uniforms, as well as thousands of families who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks.
The concert was kicked off by David Bowie, who has made New York his adopted home. He worked through his classic ''Heroes'' as well as the Simon & Garfunkel track 'America'. Bon Jovi followed with 'Living On A Prayer'.
Many of the big name film stars present appeared onstage to deliver messages of defiant support. DiCaprio and De Niro walked on to introduce a short film directed by native New Yorker Martin Scorsese specifically for the event. "We are here tonight to pay tribute and ensure New York remains the greatest symbol of freedom and unity," said De Niro. Former US President Bill Clinton and current New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani also made impassioned speeches, the latter being greeted with a two-minute standing ovation during which the audience chanted his name.
The show was closed by former Beatle Paul McCartney wearing a Fire Department Of New York T-shirt. "This is one of the greatest nights for me," he said, pointing at the assembled rows of rescue workers, "I want to thank you guys for everything you have done on behalf of the British, on behalf of America and on behalf of the world." He was joined at the close by the entire evening's line-up for a rousing rendition of 'Let It Be'. He also played 'Freedom', a song written specifically for the event.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sonicnet : Tuesday 23rd October
"Let's face it, we're (New Yorkers) not exactly the most popular people around the rest of the country," (Billy) Joel said. "But what's great to see is how the country has rallied around this place, which really does symbolize America to the rest of the world. I'm also proud of all these English people. I call them teabags — your Jaggers, your McCartneys, Clapton, Elton, Bowie. They are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and I thank them for that."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rolling Stone : Tuesday 23rd October
It began with David Bowie, sitting Indian-style alone on the darkened Madison Square Garden stage and plunking out a warm but playful version of Simon and Garfunkel's "America" on a tiny electric keyboard, and ended five hours later with Paul McCartney leading a stage full of the biggest names in entertainment and a handful of police officers and firefighters through an encore version of his new song, "Freedom."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Variety : Tuesday 23rd October
Classic rockers lead way at emotional
benefit
By David Sprague
NEW YORK (Variety) - There were many conflicting emotions on display during VH1's ``Concert for New York City,'' airing from Madison Square Garden Saturday.
One part telethon, one part Irish wake and one part house party, the 5-1/2-hour telecast was both celebratory and poignant and remarkably precise in its focus on the regular folk that the show was mounted to benefit.
From the strikingly stark opening, which saw a somber-looking David Bowie perform a pensive version of Paul Simon's ``America'' in ghost light before launching into a full-band version of ``Heroes,'' producers minimized glitter without eliminating it entirely (as was the case on the ''Americathon'' telecast some weeks back).
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
E-online : Monday 22nd October
Bowie kicked off the marathon affair with a touching solo version of Paul Simon's "America" before segueing into a rocking rendition of his own "Heroes."
"It's an absolute pleasure to play for you tonight," Bowie told the raucous sold-out crowd.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Guardian : Monday 22nd October
The Washington concert followed Saturday's New York show where Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Billy Joel headlined, which looks likely to become the most successful charity event ever, with $14m (£9m) raised in ticket sales.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
L
A Times : Monday 22nd October
"The Concert for New York" was memorable, but not for
the reasons you might have expected. This was surely the first
time Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and Elton John were upstaged
by the audience.......
David Bowie got things off to an uplifting start by transforming "Heroes," an idealistic 1977 song about trying to reach for your dreams, into an emotional salute to the courage of the New York fire, police and rescue crews.
Billy Crystal eliminated any lingering tendency toward somberness. After referring to the anthrax scare, the comedian said things were so tense backstage that it was the first time he had ever seen rock stars "run away from white powder."
Setting us up by suggesting the need for the country to pull together, he delivered another stinger: "Whether we are Christians or Jews or Muslims, we all have to agree on one thing," he said. "We can never, ever again ... let Mariah Carey make a movie."
In their eagerness to have a mammoth event, the concert organizers were guilty, from a television standpoint at least, of falling into the more-is-better trap with a nearly six-hour program.
Except for the comfort of James Taylor, who sang "Fire and Rain" and "Up on the Roof," and the local-hero spirit of Billy Joel, who contributed "New York State of Mind," the highlights were generated by veteran British rockers.
Just the presence of such major figures as McCartney, Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, the Who, John and Bowie was touching.
They have each spoken over the years about how inspired they were by the music and culture of America and how excited they were just to be able to come here as young musicians. On this night, they appeared to be trying to repay the country with some inspiration of their own.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hollywood
Reporter : Tuesday 23rd October
The show was organized by Paul McCartney and presented by VH1
(which aired it live), Cablevision, Miramax Films and AOL Time
Warner. Featuring a lineup of music and Hollywood megastars,
including a who's who (literally) of British rock, it was an
evening that everyone in attendance will never forget.
The dual aspects of the show were evident from the beginning, when David Bowie, sitting at the edge of the stage, performed a stark, somber solo rendition of Paul Simon's "America" before launching into a rousing rendition of "Heroes" that suitably paid tribute to those in the crowd.
This duality was echoed by most of the performers, who culled songs from their repertoires that were appropriate for the occasion. Thus, Bon Jovi delivered a somber "Living on a Prayer" before driving the crowd into a blood frenzy with "Wanted Dead or Alive." James Taylor balanced the mournfulness of "Fire and Rain" with the gentle optimism of "Up on the Roof." Billy Joel did both the apocalyptic "Miami 2017" ("I've seen the lights go down on Broadway ... I've seen the mighty skyline fall") and the cheerleading "New York State of Mind." Destiny's Child, clad in far less revealing clothes than usual, performed their subdued cover of "Emotion" and a stirring gospel medley.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hello : Tuesday
Nov 6th
The show began quietly with David Bowie sitting solo at a keyboard
for a cover of Paul Simon's America. 'It is an absolute pleasure
to play for you tonight,' said the singer. When he launched into
a soaring, full-band version of his 1977 classic Heroes, the
crowd began dancing in the isles, and were rarely to be seen
back in their seats over the next six hours.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________