Rock stars shine at Hurricane Sandy benefit gig
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Richie Sambora (left) and Jon Bon Jovi perform during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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This image released by Starpix shows Eric Clapton performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Roger Waters (left) and Eddie Vedder perform during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actress Kristin Stewart speaks during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Eddie Vedder performs with Roger Waters (not pictured) during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Eric Clapton performs during the 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
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US comedian and actor Adam Sandler performs during the 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
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This image released by Starpix shows Adam Sandler performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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English musician Roger Waters performs during 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Jon Bon Jovi performs during the 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
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This image released by Starpix shows Bruce Springsteen (left), and Jon Bon Jovi performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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This image released by Starpix shows Bruce Springsteen, left, and Jon Bon Jovi performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Singer Bruce Springsteen performs with Stevie Van Zandt (right) and bassist Garry Tallent during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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This image released by Starpix shows Bruce Springsteen performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Signage for the 12-12-12 concert is displayed on the Madison Square Garden jumbotron on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012, in New York. The Dec 12 concert, whose proceeds will aid victims of Superstorm Sandy, will feature artists Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The Who and Paul McCartney. -- PHOTO : AP
Richie Sambora (left) and Jon Bon Jovi perform during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
This image released by Starpix shows Eric Clapton performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Roger Waters (left) and Eddie Vedder perform during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actress Kristin Stewart speaks during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Eddie Vedder performs with Roger Waters (not pictured) during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Eric Clapton performs during the 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
US comedian and actor Adam Sandler performs during the 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
This image released by Starpix shows Adam Sandler performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
English musician Roger Waters performs during 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
Jon Bon Jovi performs during the 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief on Dec 12, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. -- PHOTO: AFP
This image released by Starpix shows Bruce Springsteen (left), and Jon Bon Jovi performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
This image released by Starpix shows Bruce Springsteen, left, and Jon Bon Jovi performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Singer Bruce Springsteen performs with Stevie Van Zandt (right) and bassist Garry Tallent during the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of Superstorm Sandy at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
This image released by Starpix shows Bruce Springsteen performing at the 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Signage for the 12-12-12 concert is displayed on the Madison Square Garden jumbotron on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012, in New York. The Dec 12 concert, whose proceeds will aid victims of Superstorm Sandy, will feature artists Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The Who and Paul McCartney. -- PHOTO : AP
NEW YORK (AP) – Music and comedy royalty struck a defiant tone in a benefit concert for Superstorm Sandy victims on Wednesday, asking for help to rebuild a New York metropolitan area most of them know well.
The sold-out Madison Square Garden show was televised, streamed online and aired on radio all over the world. Producers said up to 2 billion people could experience the concert live.
“When are you going to learn,” comic and New Jersey native Jon Stewart said. “You can throw anything at us – terrorists, hurricanes. You can take away our giant sodas. It doesn’t matter. We’re coming back stronger every time.”
Jersey shore hero Bruce Springsteen set a roaring tone, opening the concert with Land Of Hope And Dreams and Wrecking Ball. He addressed the rebuilding process in introducing his song My City Of Ruins, noting it was written about the decline of Asbury Park, New Jersey before that city’s renaissance over the past decade. What made the Jersey shore special was its inclusiveness, a place where people of all incomes and backgrounds could find a place, he said.
