From Where's Eric
Clapton, Mcartney, Bon
Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, The Rolling Stones and more performed on
121212 The Concert for Sandy ReliefPublished: 13 December 2012
Eric Clapton was one
of many musicians who answered the call to take part in the fundraising event
121212 The Concert For Sandy Relief. Rehearsals and sound checks took place
throughout the day at Madison Square Garden, the site of the show. Bruce
Springsteen kicked off the concert at 7:30PM and the music continued for 6
hours. Clapton took the stage shortly after 9PM in a trio format accompanied by
Steve Jordan (drums) and Willie Weeks (bass). Eric’s short but extremely
affective set earned accolades. Comments like, “he’s the musician’s musician”
and “he should go out on the road with these guys!” were common refrains in the
halls of MSG. Eric’s set was “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out,” “Got
To Get Better In A Little While,” and “Crossroads.”
For rock music
aficionados, it was the first time Eric Clapton, The Who and The Rolling Stones
shared a stage since December 1968 when they filmed “Rock N Roll
Circus.”
The line-up included numerous musicians who hail from the
areas most impacted by the October "super storm:" New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi
and Bruce Springsteen, Long Islander Billy Joel, native New Yorker Alicia Keys
and longtime Long Island residents Paul McCartney and Roger Waters. Surprise
guests were Michael Stipe who performed “Losing My Religion” with Chris Martin
and Diana Krall who joined Paul McCartney for “My Valentine.”
Judging by the
level of applause in the arena, top moments were Eddie Vedder teaming with Roger
Waters for the Pink Floyd classic, “Comfortably Numb,” McCartney taking part in
a Nirvana reunion, Mick Jagger’s quip, “"This has got to be the biggest
collection of old English musicians ever in Madison Square Garden," and Jon Bon
Jovi joining Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band for New Jersey’s
unofficial state song, “Born To Run.” Like the Concert For New York City in
2001, the consensus was once again that The Who stole the show.
The show closed
with the evening’s only female artists, Alicia Keys, performing “Empire State of
Mind, Part II.”
Monies raised from the concert and the sale of
merchandise will benefit The Robin Hood Relief Fund which will help residents of
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut rebuild and recover.
The concert was
available online, on television and radio to a global audience of 2 billion
people. It was also made available in select movie theatres in areas devastated
by the storm for residents to enjoy free of charge.
A DVD of the show
will be available in the coming months.
