David Bowie Memorial Concert Planned for Carnegie Hall
UPDATE: Two major New York David Bowie tributes have added a diverse roster of names to the bills. As Pitchfork reports, Michael Stipe, Pixies, Cat Power, Blondie, Mumford & Sons, Amanda Palmer, and Nancy Wilson are among those performing at either Music of David Bowie’s Carnegie Hall or Radio City Music Hall on March 31st and April 1st, respectively.
Hours before David Bowie‘s death Sunday, a tribute concert dedicated to the rocker’s musical legacy was announced for New York’s Carnegie Hall on March 31st. The Roots, Cyndi Lauper, the Mountain Goats, Heart’s Ann Wilson, Perry Farrell, Jakob Dylan were all scheduled to take part in The Music of David Bowie at Carnegie Hall concert, with Bowie’s longtime collaborator Tony Visconti in charge of the house band, the New York Times reports. However, following the legend’s death, the tribute will proceed as scheduled, but as a memorial concert instead.
“The unexpected death of David Bowie has made this tribute to him into a memorial concert,” organizers wrote on the concert’s official site. “While the series has had the surprise appearances and performances of the honoree several times in the past, this one will certainly become a poignant honor of his music by his friends, peers, and fans. We are all deeply saddened at this news, the timing of our public on-sale bizarre in its timing, and the show is taking on many more emotions. RIP David and may gods love be with you…”
Bettye Lavette and Robyn Hitchcock were also named to the Bowie tribute show, with many more artists likely to take part to pay their respects to the influential artist. Proceeds from the memorial concert will benefit the Young Audiences New York, Little Kids Rock, Church Street School of Music, the Center for Arts Education, the American Symphony Orchestra and Grammy in the Schools. Visit the Carnegie Hall site for ticket information.
“He always did what he wanted to do,” Visconti wrote following news of Bowie’s passing. “And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was not different from his life — a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift.”