BRITISH STARS - Bring Freedom to New York

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Telegraph

British stars bring Freedom to New York By Charles Laurence in New York (Filed: 21/10/2001)

SIR Paul McCartney performed a specially written song called Freedom as he led a star-studded concert in New York last night, which was aiming to raise £4 million for the victims of terrorist attacks and their families.

The Robin Hood Foundation concert drew 18,000 fans to Madison Square Garden by promising the most powerful line-up of British rock stars ever assembled on an American stage, alongside some of the brightest of Hollywood's stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Meg Ryan, Jim Carrey and the television comic Jerry Seinfeld. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones was among the many performers who rehearsed for the concert on Friday. Sir Elton John was also reported to have written a special song for the event.

Sir Paul took the lead in organising and promoting the concert, which sold out seats ranging from £1,500 to £4,000. He even set off through the streets of Manhattan with his fiancee Heather Mills to distribute 100 tickets worth £1,500 each to firefighters at their stations after he heard that few were attending because ticket prices were too high.

"We wanted guys from each station. This is a show of strength in support of democracy: we are doing this to raise money for the victims of the attacks and to make our stand against anyone who threatens our freedom. It is going to be an emotional night for us," he said. British stars who answered Sir Paul's call to the stage included Sir Elton, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, The Who and David Bowie, who performed the opening number. The Irish rockers U2 joined American stars including Janet Jackson, Backstreet Boys and Billy Joel in a show which was broadcast live to 40 countries.

Sir Paul was in New York during the September 11 attacks and watched live on television as the suicide hijackers destroyed the World Trade Centre. Immediately afterwards, he wrote a song called Freedom which will close the show.

"This is a right given by God to live in a free world," he sings. "We are talking about freedom and I will fight for the right to live in a free world. And anyone who wants to take it away will have to answer because this is my right."

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2001


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