Bruce Springsteen Tribute Concert With Neil Young, Elton John Headed to PBS
Bruce Springsteen was the guest of honor at the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year benefit, which featured an eclectic mix of artists – including Neil Young, Elton John, Jim James, Mumford & Sons and Mavis Staples – covering classics from the New Jersey icon’s massive songbook. A televised version of the event, “A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen,” will premiere December 5th at 9 p.m. ET on PBS, as part of the network’s Arts Fall Festival 2014.
The Jon Stewart-hosted benefit features Young performing the Springsteen staple “Born in the U.S.A.,” Elton John handling “Streets of Philadelphia” and Tom Morello and Jim James teaming up for a duet of “The Ghost of Tom Joad.”
Other tributes include Mumford & Sons’ version of “I’m on Fire,” Patti Smith‘s “Because the Night” (a song co-written by Smith and Springsteen), John Legend‘s piano-driven take on “Dancing in the Dark,” Alabama Shakes‘ intense interpretation of “Adam Raised a Cain” and a collaborative “My City of Ruins” from Zac Brown Band and Mavis Staples. To close the concert, Springsteen takes the stage with the E Street Band for “Thunder Road” and “Born to Run,” and the all-star performers all join in for a grand finale.
In early November, Springsteen participated in the Stand Up for Heroes charity event in New York City, performing an unplugged five-song set of classic tunes. Since the benefit also featured some of the world’s top-billed stand-up comedians, the singer-songwriter also unleashed a few punchlines of his own. “On the New Jersey Turnpike the other night, a truck was hijacked by a group of thieves,” he cracked at one point. “The truck was full of Viagra. The New Jersey state police are now looking for a group of hardened criminals.”