R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Alanis Fight Hunger
RE.M., Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews and Alanis Morissette are among the artists appearing at Groundwork 2001, a week of charity concerts in support of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s effort to reduce world hunger. The event, held in Seattle from October 14th to 22nd, will also feature Emmylou Harris, Joe Strummer, Femi Kuti, the Wallflowers and Daniel Lanois. Groundwork 2001 seeks to encourage the development of small farming communities in impoverished areas around the world. A benefit CD featuring previously unreleased tracks by Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Moby, Tom Waits and others will come out the week of the shows.
“The philosophy is simple yet brilliant,” says Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready. “Help the hungry help themselves by providing them with the tools they need to grow their way out of poverty and hunger.”
Jack Healey, Groundwork’s chief organizer and the former director of Amnesty International, says he expects the event to generate more than $3 million. “If you can shift the American people to become bonded with the starving of the world,” he says, “it will work.”
This story is from the September 13th, 2001 issue of Rolling Stone.