On this night in 1997, Billy Corgan performed at the annual Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City. 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. The Smashing Pumpkins played a similar benefit at the Tibetan Freedom Concert on June 15, 1996. The Pumpkins and related acts have performed over 50 benefit shows – most notably the Adore tour which by itself raised over $2.8 million for local charities, with the band also funding expenses out of pocket.
In a November 18, 2020 Smashing Pumpkins Archives post, Corgan recalled: "One memory I have [of the Tibet House Benefit] 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."
RELEVANT SETLIST:
Set one (Corgan solo, acoustic):
1. Blissed and Gone
2. Death Don't Have No Mercy [Reverend Gary Davis]
Set two (Corgan accompanying other artists):
3. Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies [John Cale] (with John Cale and Natalie Merchant)
4. Ship of Fools [John Cale] (with John Cale)
5. The Ballad of the Skeletons [Allen Ginsberg] (with Allen Ginsberg)
6. E-Bow the Letter [R.E.M.] (with Michael Stipe and Patti Smith)
7. The Long Road [Pearl Jam] (with Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe)
8. People Have the Power [Patti Smith] (all-star jam)
The show saw the debut performance of "Blissed and Gone", and the only performance of all other songs at a SP-related show. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" appears on the Rarities Volume 1 bootleg.
Photo: from SP Archives. Michael Stipe, (?), Patti Smith, and Billy Corgan
https://spcodex.wiki/wiki/Billy_Corgan_1997-02-17
On this night in 1997, Billy Corgan performed at the annual Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City. 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. The Smashing Pumpkins played a similar benefit at the Tibetan Freedom Concert on June 15, 1996. The Pumpkins and related acts have performed over 50 benefit shows – most notably the Adore tour which by itself raised over $2.8 million for local charities, with the band also funding expenses out of pocket.
In a November 18, 2020 Smashing Pumpkins Archives post, Corgan recalled: "One memory I have [of the Tibet House Benefit] 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."
RELEVANT SETLIST:
Set one (Corgan solo, acoustic):
1. Blissed and Gone
2. Death Don't Have No Mercy [Reverend Gary Davis]
Set two (Corgan accompanying other artists):
3. Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies [John Cale] (with John Cale and Natalie Merchant)
4. Ship of Fools [John Cale] (with John Cale)
5. The Ballad of the Skeletons [Allen Ginsberg] (with Allen Ginsberg)
6. E-Bow the Letter [R.E.M.] (with Michael Stipe and Patti Smith)
7. The Long Road [Pearl Jam] (with Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe)
8. People Have the Power [Patti Smith] (all-star jam)
The show saw the debut performance of "Blissed and Gone", and the only performance of all other songs at a SP-related show. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" appears on the Rarities Volume 1 bootleg.
Photo: from SP Archives. Michael Stipe, (?), Patti Smith, and Billy Corgan
https://spcodex.wiki/wiki/Billy_Corgan_1997-02-17