ARTISTS, PERFORMERS PAY TRIBUTE TO JOHN LENNON
The two-hour show was televised live on both TNT and the WB networks, and featured artists such as Dave Matthews, Natalie Merchant and Craig David singing Lennon classics including "Imagine" and "Come Together." Host Kevin Spacey sang a rendition of Lennon's "Mind Games," which was received with a standing ovation.
"While I'm honored to be here," he said, "I'm incredibly pissed off that this passionate prophet of peace and so many others aren't with us tonight because we live in an increasingly violent world."
Lennon's son Sean sang three songs, including "Julia," which was dedicated to his mother Yoko Ono, and "This Boy" with Rufus Wainwright and actor/singer Robert Schwartzman.
Other appearances included Marc Anthony singing "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," Stone Temple Pilots performing "Revolution," Lou Reed singing "Jealous Guy" and Cyndi Lauper performing "Strawberry Fields Forever" from the Strawberry Fields garden in Central Park, named in Lennon's memory. The show ended with the ensemble singing "Give Peace a Chance," before segueing into "Power to the People" as the entertainers paraded through the aisles of the theater.
Ono also thanked the firefighters, police officers and rescue workers in New York City, saying, "You have restored my faith in the human race."
Ono added, "As John said, ‘There are no problems, only solutions.’ Let's create peace, create unity, create joy and create light. Imagine all the people, living life in peace."
