Billy Corgan 1997-02-17

February 17, 1997 was the annual Tibet House Benefit Concert organized by Philip Glass. Since 1990, the event has raised funds towards Tibet House US, the New York City non-profit that is part of the greater international network of Tibet Houses. The aim is to preserve the identity and culture of the Tibetan people that has been lost due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet and subsequent Tibetan diaspora.

One memory I have is of rehearsing with the group at large and heading out in the hall for some water when I ran into Lou Reed; who gave me a warm hug and asked me what I was doing running around with such a suspect crowd (a joke, obviously). Highlights of the night were performing "E-Bow the Letter" with Michael (one of my favorite R.E.M. songs), and sitting side by side with Mr. Glass as we played piano. … I'd also perform two songs on my own, "Blissed and Gone" and a Rev Gary Davis tune whose name escapes me (I played it poorly is why I've erased it). Lastly, there is the memory of my rehearsing and coming off stage to find a waiting Allen Ginsberg: who didn't like the rhymes I was using in the song and wrote some ideas for me on a piece of paper (I think he thought I was a young and aspiring musician). So I have that scrap somewhere with Allen's rhymes.

Banter
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