Last night I took in a global rock and roll concert with
about 2 billion other people around the world. The 121212 Concert – held on the
12th day of the 12th month of 2012 – to raise money for
the disaster relief efforts of Hurricane Sandy, was a truly star-studded
spectacular.
And we’re not talking about the typical pimply-faced teen
celebrities which have been an unfortunate outcome of our high-tech world.
We’re talking real rock stars – Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen,
Mic Jagger, Keith Richards, Pete Townsend, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, even Sir Paul McCartney – all performed last night.
Not that Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift aren't cute kids.
They are adorable. But they lack the life experience to really rock.
The concert’s promoters said they intentionally stacked the
deck with classic old rockers, because they wanted to capture the Boomer
demographic. Boomer’s typically are more established, and more likely to be
able to afford the $150 to $2,500 ticket price to see the live show in person
at New York’s Madison Square Garden where the last minute fundraiser was held.
Also, Boomers around the world are more established, and
unlikely to have to ask their mommy or daddy for money to donate.
The demographic tactic worked, actual dollar amounts for the
total raised won’t be available for a few days yet, but before the show even
went live-to-air, ticket sales had raised $36 million dollars.
And Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and the rest of the current
crop of pop tart celebrities also lack the balls to pull off such an amazing
show last night.
All the artists performing last night took a few moments to
address the international wide-eyed audience, usually talking from the heart
and unscripted during their musical performances.
Billy Joel said he knew everyone paid a sh*t load of money
to get into the venue to watch, but still encouraged ticket-paying fans to
donate to help Hurricane Sandy victims in their hometown.
After British rock legendary group The Who performed a song
about drinking tea to recover from tragedy, Pete Townsend yelled out: “just
drink a f*ckin beer.”
The young kid celebs today probably know lots of naughty
words, but they lack the worldly experiences gained from life to know when and
how to use them prolifically.
It was reassuring to see real talent performing, just being
themselves.
And it was scary and strange too.
Rolling Stone front man Mic Jagger said it best when he
commented how this was probably the oldest gathering of rock musicians ever
assembled. Jagger himself is over 70 years old.
Which you’d never know from Jagger and the rest of his band’s
energetic frenzied dance movies, as he continues his famous struts on stage.
It’s remarkable and rewarding to see Mic and the boys, and
the other rock legends still have what it takes to put on an amazing show.
However, watching someone old enough to be a grandfather
move like a teenager on stage is also somewhat disturbing.
It was like watching the geriatric ward of the Rock and Roll
Old Age Home come to life, as the average age of the musical acts last night
was well over 65.
At least Keith Richards let his hair go grey, so although he
looked his age physically, as he rocked out he looked normal.
I don’t know if it’s hair dye, plastic surgery, or what, but
what some of the other rockers on stage had done to themselves to maintain that
all elusive fountain of youth created a bit of a creepy vibe during the show.
It’s an amazing credit to each and everyone one of them to
be able to sing and dance like they did over 30, 40 and in some cases over 50
years ago. We all can only be so lucky to still have the veracity and vitality
to do that in our senior years.
However, there was something unsettling about watching
grandpa go crazy on stage.
