HBO is hosting a special tonight to celebrate the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th Anniversary, and the line-up is star-studded. U2, Metallica, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, and other acts each have a segment of the show where they'll be rocking their music, along with a few tunes by other artists who have inspired their work.
I'm glad to see Bruce and his boys here after hearing they might not perform together anytime soon, but what I'm most psyched to watch is the evening's unique musical pairings: Stevie Wonder and John Legend are teaming up to perform "The Way You Make Me Feel," Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and Billy Joel have a duet to "New York State of Mind," and U2, Mick Jagger, and the Black Eyed Peas are coming together for "Gimme Shelter." Awesome! And those are just a sampling of the many collaborations.
The only downside: the show is four hours long (ugh). I don't know if I'll be able to sit through the whole thing without getting fidgety. Still, I'm programming it in my TiVo, so I can watch at my own leisure.
The concert airs at 8 p.m. EST/PST. Will you tune in? Which musical group are you most excited to see perform?
Photos courtesy of HBO
Full Circle
We are witnessing music history. Absolutely amazing.
1An excellent TV concert! HBO and the Hall both went up several notches for showing it without commercials. I enjoyed Paul Simon best with his international rhythms and fine vocals. Proud to be an American tonight! My generation!
2Please tell me there will be some kind of download I can buy of this.
3Hi's: Springsteen and Fogarty doing a cover duet of Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman"; everything from CS&N and Metallica, both in tight-as-a-drum concert performances of their own hits; Mick Jagger, still nimble after all these years . . .
4Lo's: Legend and Wonder; Stevie forgot some words and nearly cried; Legend sleepwalked through the performance; Lou Reed trying to keep up with Metallica on his own "Sweet Jane"--he looked and sounded like Night of the Living Dead, his metier, but not with a heavy metal backing; Annie Lennox, trying to keep up with Aretha and looking like a trained seal.
I have loved music since I was 5 years old when I saw the Beatles and the The Rolling Stones on the Ed Sullivan show. My parents gave me my first guitar when I was in the second grade. My mom being a doctor and my father a jet fighter were not happy when announced I wanted to make a living playing Rock they started laughing. I went on the road for six months and retired. I didn't have the confidence I needed. I still play and I love it!
I was amazed at all the talent that was at the performance. What amazed me the most is when some of the people who started in the sixties and the early seventies had to have some help to get on the stage. Their looks had changed so much they had to have an introduction. This is not a bad thing I am sure it would be the same for any celebrity from that era. Mick Jagger being one of the oldest, didn't need or want and introduction. You could hear a song that sounded pretty much like a Stone's Song, played well but not as well as the Stones play it and then comes Mick Jagger hopping out on the stage. Now I know why there are people that envy and criticize him. He is more durable than Brett Farve and still can rile up a crowd at close to seventy. Hail, Hail Rock n Roll, it will never die.
5Seeing Paul Simon accompanied by David Crosby and Graham Nash was the highlight of the night for me. Lots of iconic faces and performances, honorable mention must go to Jeff Beck's guitar work with Stevie Wonder. Both seemed thirty years younger than their years. Wonderful stuff....
6JeffBeck is an animal.....his wofrk with Stevie was amazing, but his cover of A Day in the Life ws unbelieveable!!! Everything Bruce tried hit the mark....CSN and Simon and Garfunkel....even Billy Joel, of whom I am not a big fan.....this was the best single night of music in my lidfetime, and, btw, I was at Woodstock
7The best! Too many great performances to pick any one. Proud of Rock & Roll, and eternally grateful to the powers that put it together. It was beautiful, soul lifting, and unforgettable. Seeing it all together made my life better. THANK YOU! How can we get the DVD?
8I thought Stevie cried because he was thinking of Michael Jackson while sing a MJ song. Poor guy. He was still awesome. Crosby Stills and Nash opening with Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Brown was amazing and I agree with David Crosby. Bonnie has the most beautiful voice. In all her concerts I've attended she never sings "Love has no pride" and it truly showcases her voice better than any oh her songs. I'm song glad she sang that sone with Crosby and Nash backing her up. I wept. It was a fantastic nigh and I will watch the concert over and over again. Simon and Garfunkle also made me cry.
9Man, old guys trying to look twenty. That was pathetic but I had a good laugh watching. Stevie you and your band are f___en awesome!
10Is there a DVD?
11Paul Simon, Graham Nash, and David Crosby singing "Here Comes the Sun" was nothing short of incredible...I damn near wept. The harmony was right on.
Speaking of harmony...who was the magnificent female vocalist accompanying Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter?" She was superb!
12OK, so I finally decided to read the article a bit more slowly to find out the female singing with Mick Jagger was none other than Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas. As far as I know I had never heard her sing before...and I still think she's awesome!
13Great Show How can I get the DVD?
14Wept? I was crying half the night, it was so moving, such tremendous music, so many memories! Stevie didn't forget anything during "The Way You Make Me Feel," he, too, was crying. For good reason I suppose, I guess he only knew Michael for, what, 45 years? Starting from when he was Little Stevie Wonder and Michael was 5 and singing lead in the Jackson 5? "Gimme Shelter," "Here Comes the Sun," "The Sounds of Silence," "Born in the USA," "Mercy Mercy Me," Beck's superb guitar work on "Superstition" - the musicians, the musicianship, and the songs all were great. Nobody embarrassed themselves, they all stood tall.
15Tom Morello and Bruce Springsteen's performance may have been one of the happier moments of my entire life!
Yes .. produce a DVD now please!!!
16i'm from Brazil and i love Rock&Roll, this is the best show that i ever watched. But how can i have a DVD or Bluray? i want a copy, so can watch all time.
17caught the last hour. Just have to hope for dvd and repeats. Thats what life should be, enjoying ourselves, coming together.
181080p / TRUE DOLBY Blu-ray PLEASE NOW !!!!
19would pay $100 in a second !! best group concert in years !!!
Amazing! Is there a DVD of the performace? Would buy it now for a Christmas present.
20Absolutely unbelievable - I could watch it over and over again. Hopefully soon!
21My teens watch it with their "old" mom and were very interested in the original blues artists - great job HBO.
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