Music To My Ears (Timothy White tribute) concert

Shown below are some great reviews very kindly sent in by Brain Damage readers, together with various newspaper reports, reviews, etc., all with links to the original pages. The articles are included here as not every article will remain available on the original sites.

Brain Damage contributor review - Terry Shea

Boston, October 7, 2002

Well, after returning from the Fleet Center at 3am and getting up for work at 6, I’m a little groggy, but here goes!

It’s a story in and of itself how I managed to get front row center, but I’ll spare the details...suffice it to say that after a looooong ordeal, I found myself dead center in the front row, anticipating the opening set by Roger. With the VH1-ish nature of this show, Security was not tight - there was no security barrier in front of the stage, just a velvet rope. I asked the guard near me, my own personal security drogue, Mike, why there was nothing to keep people back? "What does that seat you're sitting in cost?" he asked me. "Well, it’s USD250 face value," I replied. "Is it worth getting kicked out?" and he just smiled. "Right.." I said, and sat down, waiting for the show to begin.

The event started with a short film celebrating the life and accomplishments of Timothy White, who is very sorely missed by the industry. Most of the artists were visibly choked up when discussing him.

Then: the house band entered - don’t know them all, but I recognized Waddy Wachtel and Danny Kortchmar on guitars, Willie Weeks on bass, Steve Jordan on drums. I gather that he was also the show’s musical director. 3 backing vocalists - no one associated with Rog. And then: the video screens lit up with Rog discussing his thoughts on Timothy White.

Predictably, among the cheers were a good number of folk who were saying "Who is that!??" I turned to the well-heeled gentleman behind me and reminded him who Roger Waters was "...Ooohhh!!!" was his reaction "...Oh, then this will be good!!!!" Right.

Roger mentioned in the film that he would be playing "Flickering Flame" because of the lyrics, which he felt were "appropriate".

Roger entered wearing his usual concert attire - black suit with a grayish-purple t-shirt underneath. At this point, my calm, cool, "I’m front row center" demeanor went completely away and I was pitifully star struck by being mere feet from his Rog-ness. I know folks like Simon W. got to see him all the time and I had even been closer to him when he played the Oakdale in ’99 after rushing the stage for the encore - but still - this was truly amazing to me.

Then without any fanfare, the first chord of "Comfortably Numb" descended upon us. An odd opener, I thought, until the beautifully crisp "Hello, hello, hellooo" filled the air. Ah...perfect! The Fleet Center cheered in appreciation and recognition and I moved to the edge of my seat grinning like a little idiot. Now, I hadn’t given a thought as to who would handle the chorus and I was looking at Rog as it began and then the crowd went nuts as we realized that Don Henley had appeared stage right to handle Dave’s part. Walden all over again!!!

It’s funny, but all I can remember now is singing at the top of my lungs and just marveling at my proximity to the man during all of this. Ah, but no - there is a clear image of Roger working very hard to get the crowd involved by mouthing the lyrics and encouraging a big singalong with the chorus. He was obviously having a great time being Mr. Showman and knew that he was opening up for a heavyweight lineup as opposed to the headliner spots he’s so used to these days.

At song’s end I leapt to my feet and enjoyed the ripple effect as the rest of the front row did as well, followed by the rest of the Fleet Center. Roger seemed very pleased in a world-weary sort of way - and, he looked right at me and nodded in recognition of my obvious fawning. "He just looked at you, you know", said the woman next to me. "Good -you noticed. It wasn’t just wishful thinking!"

Without anymore fanfare, Rog and Co. went into the familiar strains of "Wish You Were Here". No sound effects, just a beautiful tune, with Wachtel handling the lead part. Another big sing along and another standing ovation.

Then, Roger introduced his last number, "this is the new one" and we were treated to an AMAZING version of Flickering Flame. Wachtel provided scorching slide guitar and, for the first time to my knowledge, pennywhistle was added to the tune. Really beautiful and Roger noticed me singing along and seemed pleased that someone knew the words!!! What a great feeling!! And then, that was it - he said "thanks" and walked off. 3 songs - far too short.

The rest of the event was absolutely fantastic: Sheryl Crow...love her or hate her; she’s got an amazing voice and is VERY easy to look at. James Taylor: nice, but I chose "October Road" to visit the restroom.

Sting joined him at the end for a duet on "You Can Close Your Eyes". It went on: Sting, Henley, a powerful set by Billy Joel, Mellencamp. All did very different, creative versions of their hits with lots of guests like Timothy B. Schmidt and Patti Smythe. Finally, at the end almost 4 hours later, the whole cast assembled, including Roger for a messy version of "Train Bound For Glory". Roger was given a chance to step out for a verse of his own but dear old Rog couldn’t find his key and the engineer couldn’t get him high enough in the mix. I actually have a tinny recording of that one verse on my voice mail because I called myself as the finale started - cheesy, but a fun thing to have.

I have to say that seeing Rog with a handheld mic in this Live Aid type sing along was very odd. Then, when they all launched into "Everyday People", he looked like the geeky kid who gets invited to the cool kids’ party and doesn’t know what to do while they’re all yelling "Toga! Toga!" and having a grand time (sorry...personal story there). He stood and grinned in the back and tried to look as if he was enjoying himself. At one point, Sting stepped on Roger’s foot and gave him a rather insincere looking "sorry" grin. It was actually a little uncomfortable to watch! When it was over, Rog and James Taylor held hands for the final bow and Roger had some quick words with Timothy B. Schmidt and Henley (probably felt like the one friend he had out there!) and actually stopped to chat with one of the backup singers before leaving the stage.

Well, that’s it - a breathtaking evening and I even got to sit next to, meet and be photographed with Wendie Malick from "Just Shoot Me". The whole event was thoroughly filmed, so I’m sure they’ll combine last night and tonight into some sort of TV special. "Flame" alone was worth the fact that Rog only played 3 songs. It seems to get more powerful with age. It’s great to see Rog and Dave putting new tunes on the road again before the committing them to official albums, a la DSOTM. If Rog’s whole set doesn’t appear somewhere officially, then I’m sure we’re bound to see it in circulation soon!

Brain Damage contributor review - Ben Fenn

Boston, October 7, 2002

I live in Boston and saw the Music To My Ears benefit show last night. Roger sounded great for the short time he was on. He opened the entire evening, starting with Comfortably Numb with Don Henley sharing vocals, which I thought was a nice touch. Then Wish You Were Here and Flickering Flame. And that was it.

The same band backed up pretty much every main performer, so Roger wasn't performing with his usual band.

All around well worth the USD83 I spent on the ticket given the amount of great musicians there, but slightly disapointing Waters was only given the opportunity to play three songs. He's the only reason I even went to the show.

Brain Damage contributor review - Mike Rolls

Boston, October 7, 2002

This was my first time seeing anyone from Pink Floyd. Roger was great; he played Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here (with Don Henley) and Flickering Flame. He was the first performer of the night, and got a standing ovation.

Before his performance, there was a 2 minute video in which he explained why he was playing the benefit concert. His main reason was that Timothy White had helped him through tough times, and he mentioned the article that put down the other members of Pink Floyd during the court battles.

Billy Joel gave an incredible performance, and a duet between James Taylor and Sting was a highlight. Sheryl Crow was good, and Don Henley also was good. John Mellencamp closed the show, and everyone came out for the finale. I'm not sure of the name of the song they played, but the chorus was "Li-ives, of everyday people." Roger sang a few lines and smiled the whole time, and was dancing around energetically, which I thought was great. The concert was more than worth the money I paid.

Rock stars honor Timothy White

Boston Globe 8th October 2002

Timothy White, the Billboard editor and Beacon Hill resident who died recently at age 50, talked often of the "power of music." And nowhere was that power more evident than in last night's benefit for White's family at the FleetCenter, where rock icons from James Taylor and John Mellencamp, to Sting, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, and Roger Waters, paid tribute to White before 14,000-plus fans. The artists turned the night into an emotional celebration that also featured some of the best music of the year.

There were great individual sets, along with interactive moments that induced goose bumps, such as Sting and Taylor in a duet on the lullaby, "You Can Close Your Eyes" and Don Henley and Taylor teaming up on the hymn, "How Can I Stop from Singing," which Enya sang on her last album.

Tears were shed, but there was also plenty of explosive rock 'n' roll

"Tim would have appreciated the irony of this song," said Joel, as he belted out "Only the Good Die Young." It was one of many highlights to a four-hour night that humanized White in a magnificent way, enhanced by video tributes from each artist, plus an introductory film scripted by White's friend, Mitch Glazer (a colleague in the days when White worked at Rolling Stone, where he wrote more cover stories than any writer in history). The video was also narrated by Taylor, who noted that White "championed new artists and championed the unappreciated."

White lived and breathed music - and this was a night where artists lived for White, who left a wife, Judy, and two sons, one autistic.

But the multimillion-dollar gross from last night's FleetCenter benefit, and another in New York tonight featuring many of the same artists, will ensure that "Tim's family, and his children's education, will be taken care of for the rest of their lives," Henley said before the show.

It was an unprecedented event (how many journalists have ever received a benefit close to this stature?) and brought out the best in each performer. The show began with former Pink Floyd singer Waters doing "Comfortably Numb" (with Henley on harmony), "Wish You Were Here," and a new song, "Flickering Flame," a wistful tune about Native Americans.

He was backed by the house band for the night, which included such studio pros as guitarists Waddy Wachtel and Danny Kortchmar, bassist Willie Weeks, and music director Steve Jordan.

The band energized each act it backed, especially Crow, who stole the early part of the evening with a hot, 30-minute set featuring her hits, "If It Makes You Happy," "Soak Up the Sun," and "Steve McQueen." She rocked, though also noted that she particularly missed White's presence because White so loved music that he "could have put together the ultimate set list for this show."

Taylor hit his stride with an amusing version of Elvis Presley's hit "Hound Dog," before adding the new "October Road" and perennial crowd favorite, "Mexico." Then, after a hilarious video tribute from comedian Bill Murray (shown trying to tie a bowtie, which was White's signature look), Joel followed with a crunching set that rocked the house, from "My Life" and "New York State of Mind," to "Only the Good Die Young," "You May Be Right," and a wistful "Piano Man." Joel has lost 35 pounds since a recent stint in a rehabilitation clinic - and he looked downright buff and sang fantastically, igniting the audience.

Henley, who brought his own band (along with a choir from New Jersey), clearly rearranged his set the most for the occasion. He surprised with a moving version of David Gray's "Shine" (with the verse, "We're going to rise from the ashes") and peaked with a transcendent, slowed-down version of "Boys of Summer."

Sting followed with old standby "Roxanne," "Fields of Gold," and "Faith," before Mellencamp rocked the night home while this writer raced off for deadline, unfortunately.

White's widow, Judy Garlan, was visibly moved by the entire proceedings. "Tim believed in the power of music and the power of love," she said backstage. "It's just amazing that so many people came together for him. He was just a normal guy, and it looks weird to see him up on a video screen with rock stars. He didn't want to make people feel that `I'm a big deal and you're not.' This just chokes me up."

Stars Salute Timothy White In Boston

BillBoard Boston, October 08, 2002

Music superstars Roger Waters, Billy Joel, Sting, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow, and Don Henley came together at the FleetCenter in Boston last night (Oct. 7) for Music To My Ears, the first of two benefit concerts for the family of late Billboard editor in chief Timothy White. White passed away June 27 of a sudden heart attack in Billboard's New York office. He was 50.

While there were poignant performances throughout, the four-hour concert mainly focused on celebrating White's life and talent with an upbeat flair. "Just have a good time, because if Tim were watching he would want us to," Sting told the crowd before his hit-laden set, which included a shuffling take on the Police hit "Roxanne" that emphasized its reggae roots. Crow, citing it as "one of his [Tim's] favorites that I wrote," turned her balmy "Soak up the Sun" into a funky rhythmic electronica sing-along.

Boston native Taylor opened his set with a bluesy, animated take on "Hound Dog" and turned in soulful versions of "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That" and "Mexico." Mellencamp's fierce "Paper in Fire" and "Pink Houses" (featuring Patty Smyth on vocals) rocked with loose abandon. Henley, with backup help from Sting and a choir, covered the Bob Marley-popularized "Get Up, Stand Up" with hip-shaking tropical flavor.

Rife with saxophones, a jaunty "My Life" and the late-night jazz smoothness of "New York State of Mind" were highlights of Joel's set. All of the performers took the stage for a rousing finale of the gospel traditional "This Train" and Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People."

Most artists also chose to feature songs focused on solemn reflection. Waters opened the show with Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," with Henley assisting on vocals. Later, Waters cited the Dylan-esque new song "Flickering Flame" as reminding him especially of White. Mellencamp slowed down "Small Town" to its bare bones, while Taylor and Sting dueted on an acoustic "You Can Close Your Eyes." Sting's own "Fields of Gold" was moving, and Henley turned "Boys of Summer" into a subdued snapshot of longing, utilizing murmuring chimes and slide guitar to conjure the twilight chill of early autumn.

The spirit of White's humor and zest for life was evident throughout. In a pre-taped video, actor Bill Murray mentioned the New Jersey native's "exciting hair," all the while tying a bowtie and wearing white bucks, White's trademark accessories. Henley laughingly recalled White's "spastic white boy dancing" at the former's wedding, while Joel noted White "would have appreciated the irony" as he launched into a stomping "Only the Good Die Young."

Joel best conveyed White's love of and passion for music during "Piano Man," played with only piano, harmonica, and guitar. He interspersed references to White in the final stanza to complement enthusiastic crowd sing-alongs, raising the collective spirit with the audience's volume and sincerity.

Most of the evening performers will be on hand tonight at New York's Madison Square Garden for a second benefit concert. Tickets are still available from Ticketmaster.