Stevie NOT performing at Katrina Benefit
 

From Taku's message board:

Stevie Nicks will not be performing at the Madison Square Garden benefit now, so I will just be there with The Neville Brothers. My wife will be covering the event for Fox and A Current Affair. For all of those concerned Stevie fans out there, she is fine. It all just came down to last minute logistics. Things are still in flux with the event and a couple of other performers have dropped out (including, from what I hear, Rod Stewart and James Taylor), and others (such as Dave Matthews) are now doing other benefits.

http://www.takuhirano.com/MamboV4.5-...&limitstart=12

awww.. that's a shame.. can't say i'm surprised though. must be too soon after her dad's death.. too emotional for her.. she needs time to herself now.. :(

Oh boy,that's gonna go over like a fart in church.

PPPIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! :( ~ i was so looking forward to this!!!~ i understand that it prolly is too soon for stevie since jess' passing~ but i was so excited to see her again~ i wish her well tho, & i will still watch the other performers~

Lovely. I wish would have known this before tickets went onsale. I know it is a wonderful cause with a great lineup but it is on a Tuesday and I never would have went without Stevie on a work night.
That "logistics" story by Taku makes zero sense either. What does other people dropping out have to do with Stevie?

Yeah. I agree. I don't buy it. Logistics? Like what? Flying from Arizona to New York? I wonder if the organizers didn't decide that they only wanted Big A-Listers? Because as much as WE all adore and worship Stevie, she is not an A-Lister in today's musical world (which is just fine with me). But I really wonder about this. I don't have the full list of artists handy, so my theory could be wrong. Anyway, definitely a disappointment. I really was curious what she'd sing.

ON EDIT: I wonder if she dropped out because the organization of the whole thing isn't good. I re-read Taku's explanation; it sounds as if he may be implying that lots of artists are dropping out because it's not being well organized? Just a thought.

Other than Elton, who is an A lister there?

As I said, I didn't have the list in front of me. And as I said, my theory could have (as a result) been wrong.

I still don't have the list in front of me. So I can't answer your question.

Its cool - I was just wondering :)

That's a bummer that she not performing anymore. Even though I wasn't going, I still was looking forward to the fact that Stevie was going to be there.

I'd say Stevie is an A-lister. People like her, Bette Midler, James Taylor even Elton John - they may not be selling singles anymore nor do most 14 year olds care about them but they're still some of the BIGGEST names in music. I don't think it has anything to do with their current popularity but like Taku said - the planning.

Maybe Stevie wanted to do a song that needed more rehearsal time or a different arrangment. Something she hasn't done in years. "Storms" would have been perfect.

Bette Midler? Along with Elton, she's the most recognizable one of the lot. And as of yesterday, John Mayer, Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, and Tom Waits were added for a simultaneous concert at Radio City under the same banner.

It sounds like BS to me. All she has to do is get on a plane to sing a song or two at one of the two benefits under the "Big Apple To New Orleans" banner. Does she need two months advance notice to do so? :shrug:

That's really unfortunate for those who have already bought tickets. It's also unfortunate, that TM is STILL advertising the show as having Stevie on the bill..

I absoloutely agree with this and what Taku said. I don't think it has to do with her Dad's death. I would say if anything she was looking forward to doing a benefit and it would have been something that would have made her feel good and helped her in the healing process. It must have something to do with poor organiziation and perhaps some other logistics we are unaware of.

I'm sorry for those of you who were planning on going to see our girl.

Since she has the day to herself now, maybe she can go to Peter Jennings' memorial and talk about TISL. It is her little masterpiece you know.


Yeah, I went there.

More from Taku:


Well, the decision was just made on Stevie's part Monday or Tuesday, and we were all just notified on Tuesday afternoon. Things kept changing in the format for the show and the show organizers kept vacillating between having artists do their own songs, or collaborating with other artists, or specifically doing New Orleans-themed songs. In fact, I think they are still trying to figure everything out.

Time began to run out in terms of finding out whether or not she could take her band, which would equate to lots of logistics in terms of airplane tickets and hotel rooms... especially since there is at least one other big benefit concert as well as a large United Nations conference in NYC at the same time. Rather than not have her band there, and/or be forced into singing songs that she was not comfortable with (purely from a musical and performance-quality standpoint), she opted to not do the concert. She is undoubtedly helping the cause in countless other ways, but I'm sure that she is sorry that her fans will miss her.

Hopefully the concert organizers will get on the ball and publicize the final lineup for the concert soon. Unfortunately, it seems like they are not all that organized quite yet, and still scrambling to get things together for next week.

I will definitely post my experiences there with the Neville Brothers, which I'm sure will end up being a great concert. Still not 100% on whether I will play with the 'Brothers, but I will enjoy the hang either way.

Thanks for the post Pip. It seems like Stevie would be out of her comfort zone....and that doesn't go over well with her.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Too bad people had already bought tickets though. But it's still for a good cause, so money is not going down the drain or anything.

d;aflkhdas;oiyew;oiyds;ouigsda;oi;o!!!!!!!! Grrrr!!

I guess the logistics explanation is plausible (whatevs...) . But even if she can't get her act together, do you suppose she could just go and introduce the acts? Read a poem or two? Bang the tambourine a bit? Kick it with Elton on "The Bitch is Back?" And as for HAEWAFY, I'm sure she could get away with performing it with just piano accompaniment with Sharon and Lori (with Taku on triangle :p ). There's no need to bring her entire Gold Dust Tour entourage to the Ritz Carlton.

Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope that somehow the logistics will become straightened out and she will reconsider? This does seem to have been put together rather hastily, so she should realize that it isn't going to come off without any hitches.

I don't blame her for pulling out. It sounds like a disorganized nightmare. Logistics ARE a huge sticking point, and Stevie is pro enough to know it. They don't know what they want her to do ? They don't know the format ? When the hell ARE they going to rehearse ? You can't just pull a block of hotel rooms out of your butt, not at the hotels she likes to stay at anyway. Sounds like a mess.
She is wise to stay away. The plane tickets, the scheduling...disaster waiting to happen. Doesn't sound like the people putting this together have staged a PTA bake sale.

Essentially, the other side of the Park dear - between Park and Lex. - Waldorf Towers - top floor :laugh:

Seriously, it sounds like many declined - it must be pretty bad :eek:

I am soooooo glad me and my posse did not buy tickets, etc. I mean that could have been $1,500 + down the drain in airfare, hotel room, etc. - though La Nicks and I would have been in residence at the Towers at the same time. Hey, maybe my Scotties could have hung with the Yorkies :laugh: Actually, I am seeing more of a catfight over who got what suite :laugh: But, the tickets are to a good cause I guess.

According to this article, Rod pulled out due to an injury, but may still perform.

Joss Stone has joined the lined-up for the latest benefit concert to be planned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Stone will join Tom Waits, Dave Matthews and the Meters, amongst many others, for the show at New York's Radio City Music Hall on September 20.

The event is to be held simultaneously with another fundraising gig at the city's Madison Square Garden

Simon & Garfunkel, making their first live appearance since July 2004, are to be joined by Elvis Costello, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lenny Kravitz, Ry Cooder, Stevie Nicks and Fats Domino.

Rod Stewart is reported to have been forced to pull-out of the show, "due to injury," but a spokesperson told Rolling Stone he may yet recover from shoulder surgery to play.

Proceeds from the shows are to be donated to groups such as the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund, Habitat For Humanity, the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund and the Children's Health Fund.

Meanwhile, Nelly has become the latest musician to step into the breach and support the thousands of people whose lives have been decimated by the hurricane.

The hip hop star is understood to have sent two 18-wheeler trucks full of supplies to the affected area, following a fundraising drive he hosted in his hometown of St Louis, Missouri.

Nelly told MTV: "Everyone came out. It was unbelievable."

Yahoo

mother of god

I told you this would go over like a fart in church.

I know - she will go the opening of an envelope if she thought it would get her noticed :rolleyes:

Well, I do not think many are angry with La Nicks - just the situation. I mean who can blaming for not wanting to appear before tens of thousands of people in an apparently completely disorganized event :shrug:

C'mon, let's be a little bit more realistic. It's not like they've had months to plan this huge concert event, they're trying to do the most that they can in a short period of time. It would be foolish not to expect quite a bit of disorganization. From what I can see, the only one to have really pulled out is Stevie. Rod Stewart did it because of his shoulder, but might make it, anyway. It does seem like a mess at this point, but I think it's a little understandable.

In my opinion?

They blew it.

BOTTOM line.

NEVER, NEVER put a Major Rock Star in a position where he or she

could be embarrassed by not seeming to be prepared.

That's a threat to their career, which just simply ain't gonna happen.

It reminds me of the season finale of "The Apprentice" with Bill Rancic.

I feel that it's very telling that the other major stars,

such as Rod Stewart and James Taylor, have also walked.

From what Taku said on his web page, I bet Stevie must've been like,

"You have got to be kidding me!!! :blob2: "

:rolleyes: They blew it.

[QUOTE=Gypsy-Rhiannon]More from Taku:


"she opted to not do the concert. She is undoubtedly helping the cause in countless other ways, but I'm sure that she is sorry that her fans will miss her.

Hopefully the concert organizers will get on the ball and publicize the final lineup for the concert soon. Unfortunately, it seems like they are not all that organized quite yet, and still scrambling to get things together for next week."

Yeah - uhhmmmm, this concert is in six days.

I think ANYBODY in Stevie's position would have walked.

Think about it! :) :shrug:

Oooh! I know! Stevie found out Joss was going to be there & is still pissed about her butchering SDMHA last week! That HAS to be it! :D

Bingo. Couldn't agree more. I don't blame Stevie one bit.

I agree it was probably an unorganized mess, but the problem with "just walking" in the situation is, doing it AFTER tickets go on sale, and people who bought tickets just to see Stevie..are screwed


Chris

Stevie should just do her own benefit concert! :wavey:

I love you for that :xoxo:

seriously, she should.. don't cha think? ;)

She probably couldn't get her band together.

Let her plan it for a few more months and she probably will. :laugh:

Bless your heart - you just can't resist can you :rolleyes:

Nope. :laugh:

I get that it's unorganized, but still. Does she need her whole band there with her to do one or two songs? Is one performance for the benefit of these people going to "threaten her career"? Did she expect this thing to be organized efficiently and immediately so that she could rehearse everything? I mean, c'mon. I'm sure she has her reasons and I'm not about to condemn her for not participating, I just think the reasons given are pretty lame given that this is an almost spontaneous thing and perfection cannot be attained given those limitations.