'Change Begins Within' - David Lynch Foundation Benefit Concert

Press release:

Paul McCartney and special guests Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Donovan, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Moby, Paul Horn, Bettye LaVette, and Jim James will perform at the David Lynch Foundation’s benefit concert, “Change Begins Within,” at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Saturday, April 4th, 7:30 p.m.

David Lynch, Russell Simmons, Laura Dern, and other surprise guests will fill out the star-studded slate as presenters.

Tickets will go on sale on Monday, March 9, at 11 a.m. through Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 866-858-0008.

“Change Begins Within” will raise funds to teach one million at-risk children to meditate giving them life-long tools to overcome stress and violence and promote peace and success in their lives. In 1968, the Beatles, Donovan, and Paul Horn traveled to India to study Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The trip’s dramatic impact was evident on their music and is credited for the acceptance of meditation in the West today.

Paul McCartney said his Transcendental Meditation practice has helped him personally over the past 40 years. “In moments of madness, it has helped me find moments of serenity,” Paul said. He added that he supports the work of the David Lynch Foundation to bring the technique to one million children for the same reason. “I would like to think that it would help provide them a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world.”

Ringo Starr expressed his personal satisfaction to be performing at the concert: “It gives me great pleasure to be part of this evening. I feel the aims of this charity are wonderful!”

Donovan added: “How great to be playing with Paul, Ringo, and Paul Horn again as we did in India in 1968. And now we see the amazing results of our work from 40 years ago to bring meditation to the whole world. It’s the same message today, which is, ‘Change begins within.’ ”

George Verschoor is the executive producer and co-creative director of the concert, Dan Parise is co-executive producer, and Laura Dawn is talent producer and co-creative director.

The David Lynch Foundation has provided scholarships since 2005 for more than 60,000 students, parents, and teachers to learn to meditate throughout the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. The Foundation also funds independent university research on the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on stress, learning, and behavior. For more information visit DavidLynchFoundation.org.

National Institutes of Health: The NIH has awarded over $24 million during the past 20 years to investigate the effects of Transcendental Meditation on brain functioning and cardiovascular disease.

From The New-York Times’ “Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Reunite at Radio City”:

Half a Beatles reunion, or some approximation of it, took place Saturday night at “Change Begins Within,” a benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall for the David Lynch Foundation. Paul McCartney was headlining; Ringo Starr was also on the bill, and yes, after letting the anticipation build, the two surviving Beatles did perform together, as they did in 2002 for a memorial after the death of George Harrison.

After an exuberant set of songs from the Beatles, Wings and his solo albums, with video clips full of Beatles footage, Mr. McCartney said, “At this point we would like to introduce somebody to you who you know, you’ve heard his name. He’s going to come out here and play you a little song this joyful night. Ladies and gentlemen: Billy Shears!”

And just as on “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” there was Mr. Starr to sing “With a Little Help From My Friends,” sharing a microphone with Mr. McCartney during the song and embraces afterward.

It had been clear something was up when Mr. McCartney’s band appeared onstage with a second, empty drum kit set up. And Mr. Starr, who had sung “Yellow Submarine” and “Boys” during his own set, wasn’t done after the one song.

As the concert’s entire lineup–including Donovan, Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Moby, Bettye LaVette, Ben Harper and Mike Love (from the Beach Boys)–filled the stage, Mr. Starr took his place at the second drum kit. And Mr. McCartney unveiled a song that could suprise even Beatles fanatics: “Cosmically Conscious,” an excerpt of which appeared as a hidden track on his 1993 album “Off the Ground.”

Mr. McCartney explained that he wrote it during the Beatles’ 1968 sojourn to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh, India for intense meditation study; two other performers at the concert, Donovan and the flutist Paul Horn, were also there. “Maharishi would always say that he wanted everyone to be cosmically conscious and he’d do his little giggle.” Mr. McCartney reminisced onstage. “He’d also say, ‘It’s such a joy.’”

Radio City Music Hall

This was the 1st and only concert played at Radio City Music Hall.

Highlights

• Cosmically Conscious

  First live rendition

Setlist for the concert

1. Drive My Car

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

2. Jet

   Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

3. Got to Get You Into My Life

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

   Album Available on Change Begins Within Benefit Concert

4. Let it Be

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

5. Lady Madonna

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

6. Blackbird

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

7. Here Today

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

8. Band on the Run

   Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

9. Can't Buy Me Love

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

10. With a Little Help From My Friends

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Album Available on Wonderful Christmas Tracks

    Album Available on And Then There Were Two

    Album Available on Up and Coming Tracks - Live 2009-10

11. Encore

1. Cosmically Conscious

   Written by Paul McCartney

   With Ringo Starr on drums, Mike Love, Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Donovan, Jim James, Paul Horn and Moby.

   Album Available on Give Us That Knowing Wink - Official Rarities - Ultimate Archive Collection

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two

   Album Available on Wonderful Christmas Tracks

   Album Available on Up and Coming Tracks - Live 2009-10

2. A Poem of Unknown Origin

   David Lynch reads poem, with acoustic guitar from Donovan and some cymbals from Ringo all artists are on stage.

3. I Saw Her Standing There

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Minus Lynch all else singing with Paul and Ringo on drums again.

   Album Available on And Then There Were Two