Debbie Harry, David Johansen Headline 34th Annual John Lennon Tribute
By Daniel Kreps / October 9, 2014
Debbie Harry, David Johansen, the B-52s' Kate Pierson, Ben E. King and many more will be on hand for the Theatre Within's 34th Annual John Lennon Tribute, which will take place at New York's Symphony Space on Friday, December 5th. Joan Osborne, Marshall Crenshaw, the Fab Faux's Rich Pagano and Amy Helm will also appear at the event, while rock photographer Bob Gruen, who took pictures of Lennon's time in New York, will be the recipient of the first John Lennon Real Love Award.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the John Lennon Real Love Project, a new mobile songwriting program for children and teens undergoing long-term medical treatment. The program began last month at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. Tickets for the benefit gig are available now at LennonTribute.org.
"I share Theatre Within's belief that music and the performing arts have a special power to bring people together and inspire us to make a positive difference,” Yoko Ono said in a statement. "It's beautiful that the tribute continues to have such a powerful impact in John's memory."
Osborne's set will commemorate Lennon's last major live performance by playing the same three songs — "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" and the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and "I Saw Her Standing There" — he performed with Elton John at Madison Square Garden on November 28th, 1974. The legendary Thanksgiving concert celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.