In news that will be of interest primarily to music lovers with deep pockets, Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore has quite a roster of performers at his fund-raisers. For while he may occasionally mutter the phrase "campaign finance
reform," he's not above making money the old-fashioned way - charging astronomical prices for concert tickets.
The event shaping up to be the jewel in the Democratic Party's fund-raising crown is a September 14 concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall that reunites at least three Eagles. Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit will perform together at the gig.
Rounding out the bill are Jimmy Buffett, Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray, Sheryl Crow, Bette Midler, Jon Bon Jovi, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. We have a feeling this could be an expensive evening. Proceeds will go to the Democratic National Committee and help fund Gore's efforts to become president.
"[It] might sound corny to people, but I think I'm lucky to be included in things like this that might make people's lives better," Buffett said of his rare participation in an evening in which there are likely to be more ties in the audience than Hawaiian shirts. Just say no to bad margaritas, kids.
Jewel is also getting out her acoustic guitar for Gore. In fact, she's probably just finished performing in Nashville right now. The Alaskan songstress was due to perform at Nashville's Legislative Plaza at 12 noon ET today (August 8) to celebrate Gore's selection of Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate. You might be able to capture the highlights on your local TV news.
Perhaps the most unusual musical contribution to the Democrats is Carly Simon's rendition of "My Funny Valentine." Last week, to benefit Hillary Clinton's New York Senate campaign, Simon auctioned off a one-on-one live performance of the song. There will be at least one other musician participating. President Clinton will accompany Simon on sax.
At the fund-raising auction on Martha's Vineyard hosted by Miramax's Harvey Weinstein, the unusual collaboration fetched a winning bid of $15,000. We'll email you the directions to our tarpaper shack later today, Carly, but are you sure you can't play "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" instead?
Gore's alliance with the world of rock is unusual considering wife Tipper's involvement in the Parents Music Resource Center in the '80s and '90s. The PMRC was allegedly founded to alert parents to lyrics that "are sexually explicit, excessively violent, or glorify the use of drugs and alcohol." I.e., not "Margaritaville." Or "Life in the Fast Lane." Or "American Woman."
The PMRC attracted the wrath of rockers like the late Frank Zappa when the group recommended slapping warning stickers on albums. "Freedom of speech, freedom of religious thought, and the right to due process for composers, performers, and retailers are imperiled if the PMRC and the major labels consummate this nasty bargain," said Zappa.
Lieberman joined the calls for music censorship in 1996, when he backed former Education Secretary William J. Bennett's attack on record labels for selling violent rap music. At the time he told the New York Post, "These companies are profiting from the pollution of our culture and poisoning the minds of our children." Lieberman also participated in Senate hearings investigating the marketing of violence to children in the wake of the Columbine shootings.
Tipper has since said the PMRC was "a mistake" and has even played drums with the Grateful Dead to show she is hip and down with it. Her high-profile involvement with the organization also served to keep her and her husband's name in the newspapers during a fallow period in his political career. We'll be back in a minute after we wash our hands.
Republican candidate George W. Bush has more rock credentials than most, especially if that story about the Bolivian nose candy is to be believed. But he's run into trouble over the choice of Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life," which closed out last week's Republican convention. Now the song's author, Robi Rosa, is expressing his disapproval.
"It is perverse that the Republicans are trying to forge a connection to the Latin community with the use of my song...and by parading famous Latinos on stage," Rosa said in a statement.
"Seventy-five percent of the delegates to the Republican convention earn over a million a year - I don't see the connection at all. I can't wait to see what famous Puerto Rican they are going to pull out of their closet when they campaign in New York." There are bound to be some ex-members of Menudo floating around somewhere.
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