Lennon Concert Honors Victims
by Mark Armstrong
Oct 3, 2001

All they were saying is give peace a chance--and give thanks to working-class heroes.

With images of rescue workers in the background, the words took on a whole new meaning Tuesday night at New York's Radio City Music Hall. And what originally began as a Yoko Ono-organized concert to remember John Lennon and raise cash for gun control turned into a passionate night for artists to pay tribute--by way of the late Beatle's music--to victims and rescue workers from the September 11 attacks.

With stirring performances from Dave Matthews, Alanis Morissette, Cyndi Lauper and son Sean Lennon, the two-hour Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music aired live on TNT and the WB as a benefit for relief organizations including the Red Cross and the September 11 Fund.

Organizers initially considered canceling the event or even moving it to California in the wake of September 11. But they ultimately decided this was the right time (one week before what would've been Lennon's 61st birthday) and the right place (New York).

"John Lennon loved New York, and New York loved--and loves--John Lennon," said host Kevin Spacey. "This evening is now dedicated to New York City and its magnificent people."

In a rare display, Spacey later surprised the audience by belting out a powerful rendition of Lennon's "Mind Games." The crowd rose to its feet for the performance, as it did for a handful of other artists, which included Yolanda Adams and Billy Preston, who performed "Imagine," Marc Anthony ("Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds") and Natalie Merchant ("Nowhere Man").

Stone Temple Pilots churned out a raw version of "Revolution," while Cyndi Lauper performed "Strawberry Fields Forever" via remote from Strawberry Fields, the Central Park memorial to Lennon.

Meanwhile, stars like James Gandofini, Edie Falco, Dustin Hoffman and Ben Stiller expressed their thoughts on Lennon and the September 11 tragedies. Actor and former New York City firefighter Steve Buscemi paid tribute to his pals at Engine 55, whom he recently rejoined as a volunteer in the rescue efforts.

John and Yoko's son Sean performed three songs--"Across the Universe" with Rufus Wainwright and Moby, "This Boy" with Wainwright and Robert Schwartzman and "Julia," which he performed solo and dedicated to his mom. Ono came onstage and kissed her son.

Ono then gave her thanks to New York's finest. "You have restored my faith in the human race," she said.

The celebrities reconvened onstage for the finale, a group rendition of "Give Peace a Chance." And as the televised portion ended, the song continued and Ono led the stars in a peace train up and down the theater aisles.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, however, came from Spacey, whose "Mind Games" performance brought the crowd to its feet.

"We rehearsed it Sunday and Monday, and I was relatively nervous about it because it's not an easy song," Spacey later said backstage. "We just decided we wanted to do something that would kind of be uplifting and surprise the audience.

Spacey says he wasn't quite sure what he was getting himself into. "It was television, live, and Radio City Music Hall. And Yoko's there and you're thinking, 'I'm out of my mind,'" he said. "But sometimes the things worth doing are kind of risky and fun."

This isn't the first time the Oscar winner has broken into song for a good cause. Several weeks ago, Spacey sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for a charity benefit in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile backstage, the events of September 11 weighed heavy on the minds of those who showed up. "I was born and raised in New York, so it hits close to home," said actress Leelee Sobieski.

Reggae-popster and Gulf War veteran Shaggy said he sympathizes with how America's servicemen might be feeling right now.

"First of all, I'm glad I'm out," he said. "But our prayers gotta go out to all those servicemen. I remember in 1991, I had that knot in my gut that I didn't know where I was going, or whether I was going to end up in one piece.

"I'm sure they're feeling like that, and it's even harder this time around because they don't even know who they're fighting," he said.

But with Lennon's music on the minds of everyone Tuesday, artists just hoped for a peaceful solution.

"Tonight, people have really heard his lyrics in ways they never have before," Spacey said. "I don't think there's anymore six degrees of separation for any of us. It's all one degree. We all know somebody who's affected."

www.eonline.com

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Wednesday, October 3 
Stars Honor John Lennon in Shattered NY
By Nancy Chandross ABCNEWS.com

John Lennon's pleas for peace were revived in a tribute concert at Radio City Music Hall. Marc Anthony, Stone Temple Pilots, Lou Reed and Alanis Morissette did their part to help the nation heal, and host Kevin Spacey proved he might have a shot at a record contract.

John Lennon's "make love, not war" hippie battle cries seemed anything but dated in a star-studded salute to the slain Beatle.

With New York City, Lennon's adopted home, still reeling from the Sept. 11 terrorist bombing of the Twin Towers, the singer's peace anthems, such as "Instant Karma" and Power to the People" took on an all new meaning.

Kevin Spacey, who pulled off a rousing performance of "Mind Games," got choked up while opening the show, reminding folks that its the "people, not the places" that must be remembered when looking back on the destruction of the World Trade Center.

Dave Matthews' rendition of "In My Life," was especially poignant, especially as he sang "I know I'll often stop and think about them."

Similarly, as the Stone Temple Pilots ripped through the Beatles "Revolution," it was impossible not to think of recent violence as they sang the classic line, "But when you talk about destruction, don't you know that you can count me out."

Throughout each performance, footage of Lennon, often on New York City streets, graced the screen. Alanis Morissette did "Dear Prudence," Lou Reed sang, "Jealous Guy," and Lennon's son Sean performed "Julia," a tune Lennon wrote in tribute to his wife Yoko Ono and his mother.

"I think that most of us in New York are still in shock," said Ono. "And I am too."

"It just seems that now, it's very fitting," lead singer Scott Weiland told reporters backstage. "Almost in a spooky sort of way."

No Other Beatles

Lennon's political views were heard during the broadcast, as video clips of the star were projected behind the performers throughout the night interspersed with images of New York City fireman, police and American Flags.

One touching image was a clip of Lennon and Ono riding a ferry in the New York harbor with the twin towers in the background.

The show was initially set to air on Lennon's birthday, but was quickly turned into a fund-raising benefit for the Sept. 11 relief efforts.

Ono said she picked young musicians like Nelly Furtado and Craig David for the event out of a desire to bring her late husband's music to a younger generation. The artists who answered questions backstage seemed grateful for the chance to perform his songs, and honor his timeless ideas.

David, 20, performed a funked-up version of "Come Together" — three weeks after watching the towers fall from his hotel window in lower Manhattan.

Missing from the night were the remaining Beatles.

Lennon was shot dead in front of his New York City home in 1980 by Mark David Chapman, a deranged gunman.

Lauper in the Park

Native New Yorker Cyndi Lauper sang "Strawberry Fields" from that section of Central Park, and credits the Beatles for helping her find her own unique music style.

"The music was innovative, I learned how to sing singing their songs," said Lauper. "I learned harmony listening to John Lennon's voice."

Shaggy, a Gulf War veteran, headed up the ensemble finale of  "Give Peace a Chance."

Scene-stealer Spacey might have summed up the spirit of the evening best. When asked how he was personally touched by the events, Spacey was caught in a lengthy pause before commenting on the tragedy.

"We've all known people affected, and people that have lost their lives," said Spacey. "And I think forever we'll be changed, and it's how we respond to that change (that matter), that's what tonight was all about."

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Kevin Spacey Shocks And Rocks At John Lennon Tribute In N.Y.C.-

Actor Kevin Spacey stunned a national TV audience and the patrons at New York City's Radio City Music Hall by performing John Lennon's "Mind Games" during Tuesday night's (October 2) tribute to the late Beatle.

His unexpected performance shed new light on his talents. LAUNCH asked Spacey backstage about the standing ovation he received. "I was pretty dumbfounded by the response, because, you know, I mean I was nervous," he said. "First of all it's  television, it's live, and then Radio City Music Hall and all, and Yoko's there and you're thinking, 'I'm out of my mind.' That's what I've been saying for the last four days, 'I'm absolutely out of my mind.' But sometimes the things that are worth doing are the things that are a little risky and fun. And I really wanted to do something tonight that would be risky and surprising."

Spacey said he decided to perform "Mind Games" because he "knew the song because I heard it before, but I didn't know it well. [Music director and Eurythmics member] Dave Stewart was kind enough to teach it to me on Saturday and then we rehearsed it Sunday and Monday and today. I was relatively nervous about it because it's not an easy song; because the way John did it, he jumps over rhythms and cues. But actually once I heard it a few times it was easy to fall into it."

Anyone who failed to see Spacey croon can tune into the rebroadcast of Come Together: A Night For John Lennon's Words & Music on TNT tonight (October 4) at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

-- Darren Davis, New York 

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Rolling Stone 

"Spacey himself tossed his coat aside and grabbed the mic to try his luck with "Mind Games." In his moment of rock glory, Spacey came off like a drunken businessman doing Neil Diamond karaoke, which seemed to perfectly illuminate the "everyman" angle of Lennon's music. A long standing ovation rightfully followed but odds are he'll land ten more Oscars before Grammy comes calling." - Greg Heller, Rolling Stone

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October 5, 2001

Kevin Spacey surprising almost everyone with a full tilt, no holds barred version of "Mind Games" - Who would have thought he was going to leave his hosting duties to belt out a song!  I’m not sure how this performance came across on television, but the standing ovation he received was not just a polite nod to an actor having   the courage to leave his area of comfort to sing in such an emotionally charged atmosphere…it was genuine, all-out appreciation for one helluvanamazing performance! - Brief impressions by Marsha Ewing, InstantKarma.com

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From Salon.com 
Real Life Rock Top 10
By Greil Marcus 
Oct. 15, 2001

3) "Come Together: A Night for John Lennon" (TNT, Oct. 2)

Compared to this -- from Yolanda Adams plus 12th Beatle Billy Preston turning "Imagine" into a mugging to Dustin Hoffman's crinkly insecure-superstar grin -- the Sept. 21 "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon was "Sympathy for the Devil."

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Cheers and Jeers
TV Guide October 20-26, 2001

CHEERS to making a difference. Like the New York documentary, TNT's Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words & Music concert was planned well in advance of the September 11 attacks, but producers couldn't ignore what had happened. So what was initially organized as a fundraiser for gun control was revamped to include relief charities. The result wasn't always smooth: Stone Temple Pilots performed a blazing "Revolution," and Alanis Morissette sang a delightfully trippy "Dear Prudence." But host Kevin Spacey, straining his way through "Mind Games," came off like a banker on karaoke night, and a bad sound mix left a shaky-voiced Nelly Furtado all but inaudible. Saddest by far, though, was realizing that the dreams of the man who wrote "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" seem more out of reach than ever. Still, as the TNT program reminded us, Lennon's hope is wonderful to imagine.

© 2000 - 2002 Driving Mr. Spacey!