AMERICA: A TRIBUTE TO HEROES - release december 4, 2001 - U2 performs "Peace on Earth / Walk On" live on September 21, 2001 from London England. This album is compiled from performances done on September 21, 2001 done for a television tribute. All proceeds from this album were for the September 11 Telethon Fund. The compilation was a collaborative effort between various labels including Universal, Sony, BMG, EMI and Warner Brothers. A DVD of the performances was also released at the same time as the audio CDs. U2's performance was captured live in London very late in the evening. It featured U2 with various guests including David Stewart, Natalie Imbruglia, and Morleigh Steinberg, contributing to the song. This performance of the song garnered U2 a Grammy nomination for "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or a Group" at the 2003 awards.
Former Eurythmic Dave Stewart, Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia and Morleigh Steinberg joined U2 in a London studio on Friday to take part in the 'Tribute to Heroes' telethon.
The event, which attracted 90million viewers, aired across the US is reported to have raised some $200m for families of the estimated 6,000 victims of the September 11th attacks.
‘This is a prayer for our fallen brothers and sister,’ said Bruce Springsteen opening the telecast with My City in Ruins.
A spokesman for the show said that the response was so great that more than 300,000 donors called in the first 15 minutes alone, while U2, Springsteen and Stevie Wonder performed.
U2, playing in a studio in London, opened with a verse of Peace on Earth which ran into a moving performance of Walk On - Dave Stewart joining them on guitar and Natalie Imbruglia among the backing singers.
Actors Tom Hanks and George Clooney told stories about people lost in the attacks. ‘We are not healers,' said Hanks. 'We are not protectors of this great nation. We are merely artists, entertainers, here to raise spirits and, we hope, a great deal of money.’
The halting words of Muhammad Ali provided the evenings most powerful moment for many. Standing alongside actor Will Smith, the Parkinson's disease-afflicted former heavyweight champ said he has been a peace-loving Muslim for 20 years.
‘I wouldn't be here representing Islam if it was really like the terrorists make it look,’ he said. ‘I think that all people should know the truth, and come to recognize the truth. Because Islam is peace. Against killing, murder. And the terrorists, the people doing it in the name of Islam, are wrong.’
All proceeds go to the Sept. 11th Fund, created by the United Way of New York City and the New York Community Trust.
