Merely a week after Japan suffered its shattering tsunami and earthquake, the rock community is getting itself in gear to raise funds for victims and the relief effort, with the likes of Yoko Ono, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth and Linkin Park the latest to get involved with benefit concerts or auctions, following yesterday’s news that The Mountain Goats are auctioning off an early demo cassette on Ebay.
Spinner has a comprehensive list of the latest in the music world to offer help or support, with a ‘highlights’ list being:
* Yoko Ono will take part in a Concert to Benefit Japan Earthquake Relief at the Columbia University Miller Theatre in New York City on March 27. Also on the bill is her son Sean Lennon along with Sonic Youth, Cibo Matto (who count several Japanese members) and Mike Patton.
* April 9 will see a 12-hour benefit concert also in New York, headlined by Lou Reed and also featuring Phillip Glass and Hal Willner and Laurie Anderson.
* Linkin Park have come up with a new t-shirt with all proceeds going to the Music For Relief charity. Guitarist Mike Shinoda also twittered that the band may release a new instrumental to raise further funds.
* Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are auctioning off a cymbal from their Baby 81 world tour, along with some vinyl releases. Proceeds to the Red Cross.
* James Taylor is auctioning off an autographed guitar through Charity Buzz, proceeds to Partners In Health.
In addition, Bryan Adams has taken to Twitter encouraging a benefit concert to take place in Japan. He wrote, “Calling all the great musicians and singers in the world, we should do a concert in Japan.”
