David Bowie opens 'The Concert for New York City' to benefit victims of September 11 attacks 20 hours ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 20 2001)

Video: 'David Bowie - America & "Heroes" - Concert For New York City 2001.'

(Saturday, October 20, 2001, 7:02 p.m. EDT) — David Bowie opened “The Concert for New York City,” a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11 attacks, performing Paul Simon’s “America” and his own “Heroes.”

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Aside from performing for charity, the concert was an attempt to honor the first responders from the New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department, their families, and those lost in the attacks and those who had worked in the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in the weeks since that time.

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The five-and-a-half hour concert was organized by former Beatle Paul McCartney and included many legendary British contemporaries, including The Who, David Bowie, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Rolling Stones bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

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American artists included Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child, the Backstreet Boys, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Melissa Etheridge, Five for Fighting, Goo Goo Dolls, John Mellencamp with Kid Rock, and a humorous performance by Adam Sandler as “Operaman.”

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Paul Shaffer acted as Musical Director for the show and various celebrities and political figures including Howard Stern and Rudy Giuliani appeared between the acts.

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Many athletes also appeared between the acts including Joe Torre, whose Yankees were on their way to competing in their fourth consecutive World Series.

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The concert also included several short films made by New York City’s most notable filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, and Kevin Smith.

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