Look To The Stars News: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen To Rock Autism Concert

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Autism Speaks is proud to announce the next performance in their Concert for Autism series.

This year’s star-studded event will feature comedian Jerry Seinfeld, with a special appearance by “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen. The evening will be hosted by NBC’s Meet the Press moderator, David Gregory, on November 17, at world famous landmark Carnegie Hall.

The event will benefit the families and individuals who live with autism every day by supporting research, awareness and family services initiatives

Jamie Foxx, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, Martha Stewart, Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Glenn Close, Céline Dion, Will Ferrell, Edie Falco, Troy Aikman and Harry Smith are a few of the many committee members supporting this unprecedented, one-of-a-kind event. Serving as the evening’s honorary Co-Chairs are Sir Elton John, Senator Al Franken, Donald and Melania Trump, Ambassador Nassir Abdul Aziz al Nasser and Mrs. Muna Rihani Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, and Ernie and Liezl Els.

Event sponsorships include entry to a VIP reception prior to the concert, and preferred seating in Carnegie Hall. For inquiries on sponsorships or individual tickets for the 2009 Concert for Autism, please contact us via e-mail at ConcertforAutism@AutismSpeaks.org.

Iconic Stars Reveal Inspirations For Charity Calendar

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

British charity CLIC Sargent is to benefit from sales of a new calendar featuring the inspiration selections of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Bono and other icons for the music world.

Music and entertainment specialist HMV is to mark the third anniversary of its acclaimed my inspiration campaign by featuring memorable highlights in a charity calendar for 2009/2010.

These include the my inspiration selections of Bob Dylan – who selected Scottish poet, Robert Burns; Bono and Paul McCartney, who, in turn, cite Bob Dylan as theirs; Paul Weller, who was first inspired by the songwriting of Lennon and McCartney; Bruce Springsteen, who was influenced by Blues performer Woodie Guthrie; and Deborah Harry, who found inspiration in the songs of Leonard Cohen.

My inspiration invites iconic and exciting new artists to share with their fans the song lyric or lines of verse that have inspired them in their life and in their work. The campaign began in September 2006, when David Bowie selected Syd Barrett’s Gigolo Aunt as his personal inspiration. Since that time well over 150 artists have taken part, ranging from Timbaland to the first lady of France, Carla Bruni, as well as new artists such as Lady Gaga and La Roux.

A key part of the calendar are the iconic black & white portraits of the participating artists taken by photographers who are themselves celebrated, such as Anton Corbijn, Fiona Freund, Dean Chalkley, Lawrence Watson, Adrian Boot and Frank Ockenfels 3 – making it a must not just for music fans and collectors, but for anyone with an appreciation of rock photography.

The A3-sized calendar comes with a foreword from Q Editor-in-Chief Paul Rees, and offers the added bonus of a full eighteen months worth of artist inspiration selections, starting from August 2009 with The Edge’s selection, covering all of 2010 and then ending in January 2011 with Metallica’s choice of their inspiration.

Click here to order.

John Mayer Trio To Play Gigs For Military Non-Profits

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

John Mayer fans take note! The Grammy Award winning musician is planning a concert fundraiser with his group the John Mayer Trio.

When it comes to the JM3, John isn’t the only big name. The other two members are bass player Pino Palladino – who has been a member of The Who and played for Paul Simon – and drummer and music producer Steve Jordan, who has played with such greats as Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.

The event will happen in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve at the Hard Rock Cafe. The tickets will be sold online on the Consider It Dan website. The event has four ticket packages which range from a VIP meet and greet with John Mayer to early VIP entrance to the show. Tickets will be offered first to fans on John Mayer’s fan mailing list on Monday, September 21st at 10am, PDT, local Las Vegas time. You need a password for access! Tickets will be available to the general public on Saturday, September 26th at noon, PDT, local Las Vegas time.

If you’re not able to attend the New Years Eve event, John Mayer will have another concert in San Diego on December 29th at the Copley Symphony Hall. This is being presented as a spin on John’s Annual Holiday Review. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, September 26th at noon, PDT, local Las Vegas time.

Musician Mayer Hawthorne will be the support music for both shows.

These two concert events will benefit two veteran’s charities: Military Outreach Ministry Camp Pendleton (MOM) and NCIRE – the Veterans Health Research Institute. These two non-profits seek to help members of the military, their families and veterans. The MOM is a nonprofit organization that exists to support young military families of all faiths. NCIRE is a self-funded private nonprofit research institute, established in 1988 to administer health research at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. They are the largest of the 85 nonprofit research institutes associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide.

Nelson Mandela's 91st Celebrated In Style

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A galaxy of stars turned out to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday in New York during the weekend, with proceeds going to one of the South African legend’s charities.

Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and many more appeared at the Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, July 19, with money raised going to 46664, Mandela’s campaign to help raise Global awareness of AIDS/HIV. 46664 aims to highlight the emergency of AIDS/HIV through unique live events and music related initiatives.

Mandela himself was unable to attend the event, but did send a video message in which he said “It is on your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” President Barack Obama also appeared via video, saying that Mandela’s life “teaches us that the impossible can be done, but only if people have the courage to make change happen.”

Morgan Freeman, Forest Whitaker, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins spoke at the event.

Others to perform at the concert included French first lady Carla Bruni, who sang Bob Dylan’s Blowing in the Wind with former Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart. Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, will.i.am, Wyclef Jean and Gloria Gaynor also performed, and Cyndi Lauper dueted with Lil’ Kim.

“Our struggle for freedom and justice was a collective effort,” said Mandela. “It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own community.”

Bruce Springsteen Donates Tickets To World Hunger Year

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bruce Springsteen is set to be one of the last acts to ever play at Giants Stadium, and now is your chance to bid on tickets to help charity.

Springsteen and the E Street Band will hit the stage at the stadium on October 3, and tickets sold out in a matter of minutes to this exclusive event. However, The Boss is giving you the chance to pick up special tickets for some of the best seating.

Proceeds from the auction will go to World Hunger Year (WHY), an organization formed in 1975 by Bill Ayres, a radio talk-show host, and singer/songwriter Harry Chapin. Chapin saw hunger and poverty as an insult to America. Many of his concerts were benefit performances for the 82 charities he was known to support, and the sales of all his concert merchandise were donated directly to WHY. At the time of his death in 1981, it was discovered that Chapin had donated almost all of his personal fortune to charity. Today, WHY is an international non-profit organization that connects grass roots charities to funding expertise and publicity.

Auction winners will also receive a WHY-Hard Rock Born In The USA 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Tee-shirt, Lapel Pin and Hat.

The auction runs until June 29 and can be accessed here.

John Stamos To Rock n' Roll For Charity

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor John Stamos will make an appearance at a special night of Rock n’ Roll benefiting Project Cuddle tonight, June 10.

The event celebrates the public opening of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in New York, and will feature great food and drinks, and the chance to look through the history of popular music – with a selection of items from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, Madonna to John Lennon.

Project Cuddle is a 24-hour crisis line for women who are hiding their pregnancies and is the result of one woman’s crusade to help prevent infants from being abandoned, Debbe Magnusen. Since its inception, the organization has saved over 600 babies across the US and into Canada from the fate of being abandoned or worse. Project Cuddle works with frightened girls or women and helps them find safe, legal options so that they never have to leave a baby at a dumpster, a church or dirty back alley.

As part of the event, Project Cuddle is also running an online auction featuring guitars signed by John Stamos – national spokesman for the organization – and a variety of health and beauty experiences. The auction can be accessed here.

For more information about tonight’s event – to be held at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, 76 Mercer Street, SoHo, New York at 6:30pm – visit the Project Cuddle website.

Springsteen, Mellencamp, Harper To Perform at Clearwater Concert

Fri, 01 May 2009 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

This Sunday, May 3rd, will see star performers such as Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Juanes, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen come out to support Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday bash benefitting the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders is a one night only concert, which raises awareness and funds for continuing Clearwater’s work educating the public and protecting the Hudson river. The event begins at 7pm, at Madison Square Garden, and will feature over 40 artists from a wide variety of musical genres.

Some of the scheduled performers are Joan Baez, Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti, Emmylou Harris, Tao Rodriguez–Seeger, Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Keller Williams Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Tom Paxton and Eddie Vedder.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com, starting at $19.19 and going to $250, with the majority priced at $90 to honor Pete’s birthday. Special Clearwater Legacy Tickets will also be available. For more information, please visit www.Seeger90.com.

And don’t miss the Clearwater Festival, taking place June 20th and 21st. For those who really want to get involved, volunteer positions are available for the weekend-long event.

Win Rare Springsteen Photos By Making Charity Donations

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Fourteen noted photographers have joined together to fight hunger and give you a chance to own one of their rare and historic original prints of Bruce Springsteen.

Simply by making a $25 donation to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, you can win a signed photo from photographers such as Mary Alfieri, Danny Clinch, Anton Corbijn, Pam Springsteen and many more. These are the photographers who have made most, if not all, of the iconic images of Springsteen, including the album covers for Born In The USA, Nebraska, Born To Run and others.

“Photographers Against Hunger” is encouraging fans of Bruce Springsteen to donate $25 to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. This is an opportunity to, in the words of one of the photographers, “become a part of the spirit of what Bruce and the band have always been about,” and in return, you’ll not only be helping a noble mission in Springsteen’s backyard, you’ll also get a chance to bring home an extraordinary work of art, thanks to the generosity of these 14 noted photographers.

Your donation is your way of saying that you want to be part of this — of taking the next step to participating in the dream that we are working on.

For decades, Bruce Springsteen has encouraged his fans to support local organizations that fight poverty and feed the hungry, describing food banks across the country as “on the front lines” in this battle. Their work becomes doubly difficult during trying economic times, as the need grows while financial support proves tougher to come by. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s recent “We Can’t Let This Bank Fail!” campaign shines a light on the increasing difficulty of meeting demand, where in just the past year, they’ve seen a 20 percent increase in the number of people seeking food assistance in the Garden State.

For each $25 donation, you’ll be entered into a drawing for an original print by one of the Photographers Against Hunger. There is no limit to the number of donations you can make.

The goal is to reach 14,000 donations, after which 14 very lucky people will be chosen at random to receive one of the signed prints that the photographers have given to the cause. The prints will be awarded randomly to each of the 14 randomly selected donors. But of course there are no “losers” here—everyone who donates will be helping a few people who would otherwise go hungry.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for lovers of photography and Bruce’s music to own an original, signed print by the photographers who have made the iconic images of Springsteen’s career. And it is an incredible opportunity for Springsteen fans worldwide to make a small donation and in doing so, join together and answer the question Bruce posed in “Thunder Road”: “Hey, what else can we do now?”

To make a donation, view the photos, or find out more, visit the Backstreets website.

War Child Album Cover Artwork To Be Auctioned

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Artist John Squire’s artwork for the new War Child Heroes compilation is to be auctioned off for the charity.

The former Stone Roses guitarist has donated the image for the online auction on eBay.

“For me the appeal of War Child is pretty simple, they help the hungry, the displaced and the traumatised children in certain war zones to deal with that situation and they involve them in deciding how that help is organised,” he said. “Anything I can do to support them is no trouble at all.”

It is the third time the musician/artist has created a cover for the charity’s benefit albums.

“I did the first two War Child albums, so why not make it a hat trick?” Squire told NME.COM. “They told me Bowie and the Ramones might be involved, so the first two things I offered them were based on lyrics. They rejected those, I think over the last few years I’ve forgotten how to make record sleeves! So this is the final offering, it’s a bit literal now. I did some exhaustive research, found some psycho website full of guns.”

Also up for auction are copies of the Heroes album and t-shirts signed by Coldplay.

The album features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world: to place faith in the next generation. The project paired stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson with up-and-comers such as Duffy and The Hold Steady.

The auction can be accessed here.

Bruce Springsteen To Headline Pete Seeger's Charity Birthday Concert

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Steve Earle, Ben Harper, Tom Morrello and Billy Bragg have been confirmed to perform at Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday gig in May, with proceeds going to charity.

Also set to perform at the gig at Madison Square Garden on May 3 are Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson and many more. The show is set to benefit the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater , a non-profit organisation created to defend and restore the Hudson River.

From the charity’s website: "Clearwater is a 106-foot wooden sailing sloop designed after 18th and 19th century Dutch sailing sloops. In 1966, folk singer and activist Pete Seeger had the vision that the public would come to care for all of our threatened waterways by learning to care for one boat and one river. He inspired a group of dedicated people who made the dream a reality. Launched in 1969, Clearwater serves as a moveable classroom, laboratory, stage, and forum. More than a dozen national and international programs have successfully modeled programs after those pioneered by Clearwater.

“Each year, Clearwater accommodates nearly 13,000 children and adults for education sails that teach history, biology, and environmental science and navigation along the Hudson River, New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. Thousands more are reached through on-land classroom visits, field programs and public exhibits.”

Tickets for the show will cost $19.19 to $250. They go on sale March 30 at 9am on Ticketmaster. More information about the show can be found here.

Celebrities Donate Songs And Money To Australian Fire Victims

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The humanitarian spirit of the stars is shining out in the wake of the Australian bushfires that killed over 200 people and left thousands homeless. Pink and Jimmy Barnes are the latest celebrities to donate to the victims, and a new CD featuring some of Australia’s favorite performers has been released to raise funds.

“I’ve been really affected by the media images of the tragic bushfires in Victoria,” said Pink. “My heart goes out to all those who have suffered so much in these circumstances. There’s little anyone can do at such a long distance away but I wanted to make a tangible expression of support.”

The star has donated $250,000 to the appeal and hopes the money will help in the “rebuilding of lives and communities in the areas affected”.

Australian singer Jimmy Barnes has announced he will donate all the proceeds from sales of his new live album, Jimmy Barnes Live At The Enmore, to the appeal.

“Importantly, the people who buy this album can rest assured that every single cent from the purchase of it will go to the bushfire appeal,” said Barnes. “It’s a good buy for all involved. Not only are music fans getting a bargain, but were all in this together for an extremely important cause.”

The album is available for $3.39 on iTunes.

Also released to raise funds for victims is Bushfire Aid – Artists For The Bushfire Appeal, a CD featuring performers from Australia and the world.

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to The Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal through the charitable arm of the Australian Sony Group of Companies, The Sony Foundation. Artists to donate songs include Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Beyoncé Knowles, Justin Timberlake, Whitney Houston, Dido, Midnight Oil, Vanessa Amorosi, John Williamson, Eurythmics, Delta Goodrem, Westlife, Paul Kelly, Anthony Callea and many more.

“Sony Music Australia is privileged to support the Victorian Bushfire Appeal through this special CD,” said Denis Handlin Chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand, Sony Music Entertainment. “Our thanks go to all of the artists and songwriters for generously donating their tracks royalty free. We also thank Sony DADC Australia for kindly donating the CD manufacturing. I know everyone in Australia shares deep concern for this tragedy, its horrific toll on life, families, communities and wildlife. On behalf of Sony Music and the Sony Foundation, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected, and our immense gratitude goes to all the emergency service people and volunteers who have so generously given in this time of need.”

The album is in stores in Australia now, and more info can be found by clicking here.

Jamie Foxx Joins Stars For Charity Golf

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

On Sunday, January 25, the annual fundraiser “The Classic” was held at the Boca Lago Country Club in Florida. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans and singer Davy Jones of The Monkees were just a few of the celebrities to participate in the event which raises money for Home Safe, a nonprofit organization helping abused and neglected children in South Florida.

Wayans and Jones were also joined by actor Jamie Foxx at the event gala, which was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and hosted by legendary saxophone player Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.

Jones was more than happy to help the cause and quick to recognize the outpouring of support. “In a time of economic change, there are a lot of people still supporting the things they believe in, and Clarence Clemons and friends that he invited and other business people … we just try to help and care when we have the time to get involved,” Jones said.

James Taylor To Headline Musicians On Call Benefit

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Musicians on Call has announced Grammy award winner James Taylor as the headliner for their 5th Annual Benefit Concert & Auction which will take place at the world-famous Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square on February 24, 2009. The exclusive V.I.P. event will include a red carpet, with special appearances by artists and celebrities committed to the cause.

As music and philanthropy are at the core of the brand, Hard Rock International has partnered with Musicians on Call for the benefit event, helping the charity to continue its mission of room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities.

In partnership with Hard Rock International, Musician on Call’s 5th Annual Benefit Concert & Auction will kick off Hard Rock’s month-long March On Stage charitable celebration. March On Stage is a global live music series featuring both iconic and emerging artists as a philanthropic initiative to support music healing organizations. Committed to its “Love All, Serve All” creed, Hard Rock will donate proceeds from its March on Stage events in North America to Musicians On Call.

“Musicians On Call’s campaign to bring music straight to the bedsides of patients in hospitals would not be able to continue to expand without the donations made at our annual event.” says Leslie Faerstein, Executive Director Musicians On Call. “It’s an exciting night made even more special by a performance by James Taylor. The impact of this one night has a profound effect throughout the rest of the year improving the health and spirits of thousands of patients one song and one bed at a time.”

For the past four years, the Musicians On Call Benefit Concert & Auction has produced the most exciting and rewarding experiences for music fans bringing the best in music to the stage of their events and exciting items to their auctions. Following are just a few items that will be available for bidding at www.musiciansoncall.org beginning on February 10th: a one-hour personal painting lesson from the renowned entertainer and revered painter Tony Bennett at his private studio in New York City; a visit to the set of Nickelodeon’s hit series iCarly; and autographed guitars from Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Loggins, Black Crows, Kings Of Leon, Kanye West, David Cook, & Brooks & Dunn.

The annual Musicians On Call Benefit Concerts have raised over a million dollars for the organization in the past four years; helping them to continue their mission of bringing music to patients in healthcare facilities. While aiding Musicians On Call, lucky music fans have walked away with a myriad of signed guitars and other treasures including a signed 1952 reissued Telecaster from Bruce Springsteen, a played harmonica from the Johnny Cash Estate, time in the studio with Maroon 5, artwork from John Lennon, and a signed basketball from Justin Timberlake.

Tickets for this unparalleled benefit with a special performance by James Taylor are available at www.musiciansoncall.org.

Baseball Charity Match Benefits Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:31:00 -0000

Written by Isra Shah

Former MLB legends and celebrities alike teamed up for the 21st Annual Joe DiMaggio Legends Game on January 24th at the Baltimore Orioles’ home for Spring Training, Fort Lauderdale Stadium. This year, the proceeds will help create a new oncology unit, complete with 20 new rooms, at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

Saturday’s lineup featured Hall of Famers and former All-Stars such as Orlando Cepeda, Brooks Robinson, Orestes Destrade, Andre Dawson, Alex Arias, Chris Hammond, Dick Allen, Paul Blair, Ron Blomberg, Dennis Boyd, Bert Campaneris, Rico Carty, Mike Cuellar, Alvin Dark, Tommy Davis, Al Downing, George Foster, Willie Horton, Al Hrabosky, Ed Kranepool, Bill Lee, Phil Linz, Dennis Martinez, Gene Michael, Minnie Minoso, John Odom, Amos Otis, Jimmy Piersall, Art Shamsky and Ron Swoboda. Former Marlins third-base coach and broadcast announcer Cookie Rojas and former manager Jeff Torborg were also in attendance.

Of the event, former Marlins star Orestes Destrade commented to the Miami Herald that ‘’This is a fun event. It brings in a good demographic of players." On a more serious note, he added that, "this [charity] is closest to my heart. [South Florida] is where I grew up.’’

Musician Max Weinberg, formerly of Bruce Springsteen’s “E” Street Band and currently of NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien, performed at the event.

Kevin Janser, the vice president and executive director of the hospital’s foundation, spoke about the importance of this annual tradition.

‘’The event has over a million dollars in sponsorships that is key in helping us build our new facility. We appreciate everyone coming out and having a great time at the ball game,’’ he said. "Over 45,000 kids get treated by our emergency department every year and 600 kids have been treated for cancer with 70 new kids every year.’’

Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine threw out the first pitch, and the National League beat the American League in a final of 14-3.

To learn more about the role of the Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital in the community, click here.

Catch A Baseball Signed By Five US Presidents For Charity

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A complete set of Harry Potter books signed by author JK Rowling and artworks signed by former president Jimmy Carter are some of the items up for sale in an exciting new auction to raise money for an organization that promotes peace and health worldwide and monitors elections in struggling democracies.

Over 100 items will be up for grabs in the auction, to benefit the Carter Center. One of the most sought-after prizes is a baseball signed by five American presidents – George Bush Sr, George W. Bush Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter. Also raising eyebrows and bids will be a a certificate commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, signed by Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong. There are also photographs taken on the moon and signed by the astronauts, as well as guitars signed by David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Michael Stipe, Bruce Springsteen and Kid Rock.

The auction will take place during the Carter Center’s annual Winter Weekend celebration Feb. 7 in Port St. Lucie. More information about the auction and how to bid online can be found at the Carter Center website.

Obama's Inauguration Set To Rock

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Barack Obama’s official inauguration concert this weekend is going to be a who’s who of the music industry, with some of the world’s biggest superstars confirmed to perform or attend.

The lineup for this Night Of Nights includes Bono and U2, Beyoncé Knowles, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, James Taylor, {celerity:Josh Groban}, and Mary J. Blige. Historical passages will be read by Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.

The show will be aired on HBO at 7pm EST on Sunday, January 18, via an open feed, which means cable and satellite viewers will see the show for free.

“On that first day, we asked Springsteen, Bono and Garth Brooks within a period of 45 minutes and got three `yeses,’” said executive producer George Stevens Jr. “We said, `This is going to be fun.’”

The concert will be held at the Lincoln Memorial, and the Obama family is expected to attend.

John Lennon Serves Up Song For Charity CD

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Hot on the heels of John Lennon’s charity TV advertisements for lap tops, Hard Rock International is proud to announce the launch of its 2008 global “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign to benefit WHY, a nonprofit organization that strives to fight against hunger and poverty in America and around the world.

Setting the foundation for the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, artist and musician Yoko Ono has graciously donated her late husband John Lennon’s inspirational song “Give Peace A Chance” to the SERVE3 compilation. The CD will also include rare, new or previously unreleased tracks from some of music’s most influential artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Joss Stone, Avril Lavigne, Starsailor, My Morning Jacket and more. SERVE3 will be available at Hard Rock locations around the world and on www.hardrock.com, with digital downloads available at iTunes.com.

“I am glad that WHY is using John’s lyrics to communicate the seriousness of this issue to the world,” said Yoko Ono. “Let’s all work together to make a world without hunger as soon as humanly possible. We owe this battle to our children. WAR IS OVER if you want it. In brotherhood and sisterhood.”

The “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign also includes a charity bracelet, as well as a limited-edition pin and holiday ornament, featuring John Lennon’s famous self-portrait and signature. All net proceeds from the campaign will be donated directly to WHY to benefit grassroots efforts in Kenya, Haiti, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Venezuela and New Orleans.

More info can be found here.

Springsteen Chooses Rockers For Charity Album

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The long-delayed Heroes charity album will finally get its release in February, and anticipation is already high from music fans and musicians alike.

“We’d already done ‘Atlantic City’ at a charity benefit, so we kind of had an arrangement worked up, so we decided to record that,” Craig Finn, lead singer with The Hold Steady told XFM radio after Bruce Springsteen chose the Brooklyn-based band to cover his song for Heroes. “It’s a pretty fun song, and I’m pretty happy with our version of it. We’ve been compared to Bruce Springsteen a lot, and he is a hero to all of us. It’s flattering that he’d think of us, given the choice. We hope our version of the song conveys the respect we have for him as an artist.”

The album will raise money for War Child, and features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation. Stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson have selected one of their best-known classic songs and nominated a new artist to record a cover of the track. Artists taking part include Beck, who will cover Dylan’s Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; Rufus Wainwright, who will perform a medley from Wilson’s Smile; and The Kooks, who will cover The Kinks’ Victoria.

“I have been supporting War Child since 1995,” said McCartney, whose 1973 hit Live and Let Die is being covered by Duffy for the album. “Their work with children in war zones saves lives and their work with those who take decisions that help them to do something about it saves even more lives. I think Duffy’s version of ‘Live And Let Die’ is great – I was really impressed. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it’s great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative. I urge everyone to support War Child.”

The album will be released on February 16, 2009.

Springsteen Serves Again For World Hunger Year

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bruce Springsteen has once again donated a song to the World Hunger Year organization for a new benefit CD.

Serve3 is the third installment of the album that features rare and unreleased tracks released by Hard Rock International to help fight world hunger and poverty. The CD features performances by some of rock’s biggest selling artists, as well as Grammy winners and critically acclaimed musicians.

Joining Springsteen in donating songs for Serve3 is Joss Stone, Avril Lavigne, DMC, and The Chapin Sisters – the three nieces of the late folk singer Harry Chapin, who formed World Hunger Year in 1975 because he “saw hunger and poverty as an insult to America”. Chapin – who died in 1981 – donated all of the proceeds from his concert merchandise to World Hunger Year, and gave almost all of his personal fortune away to the 81 charities he was known to support.

Serve3 is available in both CD and digital formats, with 7 bonus tracks available when purchased from iTunes. The full tracklist is:

Bruce Springsteen Remember When The Music
Joss Stone Love Has Made You Beautiful
My Morning Jacket Look At You
Avril Lavigne When You’re Gone
Robert Randolph and The Family Band Diane
The Charlatans Complete Control
Ryan Shaw People Get Ready
Marc Broussard Keep Coming Back
Starsailor Military Madness
Micki Free Mother Earth
DMC I Be Rockin’ It
The Chapin Sisters I Know It’s Over
John Lennon Give Peace A Chance

Digital Bonus Tracks:

Dave Barnes On a Night Like This
Toby Lightman Color
The Brilliant Mistakes Becoming
Middle Distance Runner I Hope You’re Upset
Scott Barnhill Heaven
Lisa Bouchelle Time
The Dead Trees Jew Said Grace

Join the Hard Rock Imagine There’s No Hunger campaign by purchasing the album at the Serve3 website.

Annie Lennox - Human Rights Now!

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Annie Lennox was awarded a Special Achievement Award at the German Sustainability Awards last week.

The ceremony – which took place in Düsseldorf – recognized the music legend’s commitment to a sustainable future through her work in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including her commitments to the Treatment Action Campaign, Oxfam, the 46664 Campaign, and SING.

The event was followed this week by a special documentary that aired on BBC2 radio. Human Rights Now! was a 1 hour presentation hosted by Lennox that highlighted the important part artists and musicians play in generating support and awareness for Amnesty International.

The program included a discussion of the Secret Policeman’s Ball events and the Conspiracy Of Hope and Human Rights Now! tours which featured performances from such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel and Bono.

The program – which celebrated International Human Rights Day on December 10 – included contributions from U2’s The Edge, Sting, and Pete Townshend from The Who.

The program can be heard at the BBC website.

Cream Of The Christmas Celebrity Charity Auctions

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It’s that time of year again when most of us are looking for the perfect gift for those we love, and Look To The Stars wants to make the choice a little easier for you by highlighting some of the great celebrity items up for grabs in the name of charity.

Born-to-run fans of Bruce Springsteen will be revving their engines to get hold of the rocker’s very own Harley Davidson this Christmas. The customized Fatboy motorcycle is up for grabs to benefit the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, the charity founded in 1994 by former professional tennis player Andre Agassi and dedicated to transforming U.S. public education for underserved youth.

“This is my Harley Davidson Fatboy FXFSTF,” said Springsteen. "I bought this bike from a friend in 1993. I did some light customizing and put 9,000 happy miles on it on the backroads of New Jersey. It’s got straight pipes, a McConey carburator, HD saddlebags, custom handle bars, forward controls and foot pegs. It’s extremely reliable and a great cruiser. So, if you’re “Born to Run,” this bike’s for you!"

The auction ends on January 8 and can be accessed here.

Also on sale to benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation is the chance to have a private soccer lesson with David Beckham at the LA Academy he set up to give young, aspiring athletes the chance to develop their skills, learn about teamwork, healthy living and, above all, understand the importance of having fun every time they step on the pitch. This auction ends on December 11, so you had better be quick. It can be accessed here.

And if music is your thing, then you will want to grab hold of the Andre Agassi Foundation’s special celebrity-signed Fender Stratocaster guitar. This once-in-a-lifetime item was autographed at the Summer of Stars Malibu Beach Parties by the Jonas Brothers, James Taylor, Pink, Donny Osmond, Boyz II Men, comedian George Wallace, Emeril Lagasse and many others! This auction ends on January 8, and you can find it here.

If the idea of an autographed guitar excites you, then maybe you will be interested in the rare WANDRE guitar signed by Eddie Vedder and the members of Pearl Jam to benefit Red Feather, a charity that builds sustainable homes for American Indian families. This is another sale you’ll have to be quick for – it ends on December 12 – and you can view it here.

Or maybe you would be more interested in guitars signed by the Jonas Brothers or 3 Doors Down. Both these items are going under the hammer for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, a non-profit organization that funds leading junior investigators whose work represents cutting-edge thinking in both conventional and integrative disciplines which focus on prevention, treatment and quality of life issues of leukemia, lymphoma and other related cancers. Also included in this auction are the chance to have dinner with astronaut Buzz Aldrin and spend a day with Petra Nemcova. These auctions all end on December 16 and can be found at www.charitybuzz.com.

So there can be no excuse for just finding socks under the tree this year.

Jonas Brothers Top List Of Favorite Celebrity Charity Auctions

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Charity auction website Charity Folks has released its list of the Top 10 hottest celebrity draws for 2008.

Heading the list is the Jonas Brothers, who raised a massive $450,000 in an auction that offered VIP tickets and meet-and-greets and benefited their Change for the Children Foundation, the charity they set up to support programs that motivate and inspire children to face adversity with confidence, determination and a will to succeed.

Coming in a close second on the list was Billy Joel, who raised $400,000 for Charity Begins At Home from a private New York concert. Bruce Springsteen was third with $300,000, followed by Morgan Freeman, Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers, and the cast of The Sopranos.

Jackson Browne And Friends: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jackson Browne is getting together some of his best musical friends for a benefit concert this weekend.

Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, and Joan Baez will band together to raise money for Operation USA on Saturday, November 29, to support the organization’s ongoing disaster relief efforts in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba and Haiti, with specific focus on programs addressing the urgent local needs of displaced families and health facilities stretched to breaking point.

Jackson Browne is no stranger to benefit concerts – his No Nukes concerts in 1979 with Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and a host of the era’s biggest stars were one of the earliest examples of large-scale, organized rock concerts for a cause. Last year he joined with Raitt and Graham Nash to record a version of Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear power.

Saturday’s show will take place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and tickets are available through Jackson Browne’s official website.

Springsteen Raises Cash For Veterans

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bruce Springsteen helped raise over $100,000 for wounded war veterans on Wednesday at the 2nd annual Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation

Springsteen – who donated his leather jacket, guitar, and Harley Davidson motorcycle to the auction event – was joined by Whoopi Goldberg, Ricky Gervais, Regis Philbin and Saturday Night Live comic Darrell Hammond for the event.

“Our 2nd annual ‘Stand Up for Heroes’ event is an opportunity to give back to our wounded service members in gratitude for their sacrifices,” said television journalist Bob Woodruff. “Together we can help our injured troops overcome the challenges they face as they re-integrate into society.”

Woodruff established his foundation after being badly injured by a roadside bomb while reporting in Iraq in 2006. He says the aim of the Foundation is to raise awareness and money to assist members of the U.S. military injured while serving.

Springsteen’s motorcycle and jacket was sold for $70,000, while his guitar was bought by CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour for $50,000.

Springsteen To Rock For Soldiers

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ricky Gervais, Whoopi Goldberg and Bruce Springsteen have agreed to appear at a benefit in New York next month.

The 2nd annual Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation is slated to take place on November 5 at the Town Hall in Manhattan in conjunction with the New York Comedy Festival.

Regis Philbin will serve as host at the concert, while Gervais, John Pinette, and Springsteen are to perform. Both Goldberg and James Niven of Sotheby’s are to make special appearances as the event’s guest auctioneers.

More information about the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation can be found at its website.

John Mayer Explores Arts With Tony Bennett

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

John Mayer joined Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, and Terrence Howard at a special art’s education benefit on Tuesday night.

The 30-year-old singer/songwriter performed 3 songs – “Waiting on the World to Change,” “Daughters,” and “Find Another You” – at Tony Bennett’s Exploring The Arts gala held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Hosted by Goldberg, the evening raised over $1.2 million for Bennett’s charity that supports arts education in public schools. Honored at the event were Reed Hastings, Chairman, President and CEO of Netflix; Sumner Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom and CBS Corporation; and Steve Wynn, Chairman of Wynn Resorts. Also in attendance were Katie Couric, Quincy Jones, and Rachael Ray. Tony Bennett closed the evening with trademark renditions of “Watch What Happens,” “For Once In My Life,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Who Cares,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

As part of Bennett’s charity drive for the Exploring The Arts organization, an online auction is also currently running. Items up for grabs include meet-and-greets with Elton John, Katie Holmes, Andre Agassi, Bette Midler, Stephen Colbert, Kevin Spacey, Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire, as well as a dress owned by Christina Aguilera, signed prints and sunglasses from Bono, guitars signed by KD Lang and Sting, and many more items from Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Bruce Springsteen and others.

The auction – which ends on October 1 – can be accessed through the Charity Buzz website.

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