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Dylan’s Love and Theft<\/a><\/em>, the centerpiece of a trio of resurgent albums, also felt instantly prescient on that Tuesday. He seemed to provide a peek into the confusion, fear and anger surrounding 9\/11, even though\u00a0the LP was written long before. For instance, “Mississippi<\/a>” included the striking image of a “sky full of fire \/ pain pouring down<\/em>.” <\/p>\n A week later, Greg Tate of the Village Voice<\/a><\/em> asked: \u201cWhat did Dylan know, and when did he know it?\u201d <\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Did Supertramp\u2019s \u2018Breakfast in America\u2019 Cover Art Predict 9\/11?<\/a><\/p>\n Similarly, Slayer only became part of the 9\/11 storyline by happenstance. God Hates Us All<\/a><\/em> was originally set for release in July, but had been delayed because of several issues. Still, the song “Disciple” included a now deeply eerie line: “Pessimist, terrorist targeting the next mark \/ Global chaos feeding on hysteria<\/em>.”<\/p>\n Sting had invited some fellow musicians to his home in the Italian province of Tuscany for an intimate outdoor performance on Sept. 11 meant to showcase new arrangements of some of his best-known songs. He’d hoped to emerge with a new single and then a video release from the concert. News of the attacks reached Sting just hours before they were set to take the stage.<\/p>\n A series of intensely emotional meetings<\/a> \u2013 all captured by the documentary film crew \u2013 took place as the musicians hashed out how to proceed, or even if they should. Ultimately, Sting went forward with the performance, though an understandable darkness permeated the early proceedings. <\/p>\n “I was deeply upset because my wife and I lost a friend in one of the towers,” Sting told the Chicago Tribune<\/a><\/em>. “I elected not to do the concert, but the band wanted to play. There seemed to be a groundswell for music rather than doing nothing, and as the evening wore on, it became more defiant \u2013 and I became more convinced it was the right thing to do.” <\/p>\n Benatar had the same experience. She and husband Neil Giraldo were scheduled to perform on 9\/11 at an outdoor venue in California’s Napa Valley. “I didn’t know how I was gonna go out there,” she later told UCR<\/a>. “I mean, I grew up in New York. I watched [the World Trade Center] being built.” The show went on, and Benatar and Giraldo received a soaring response \u2013 in particular for “Invincible,” their 1985 Top 10 hit.<\/p>\n Days later, the attacks apparently led executives with Clear Channel to create a lengthy list of “potentially inappropriate songs<\/a>” that\u00a0programmers at 1,200 stations were encouraged to avoid. <\/p>\n The 160 tracks reportedly included AC\/DC<\/a>‘s \u201cShot Down in Flames,\u201d Billy Joel<\/a>‘s \u201cOnly the Good Die Young,\u201d Ozzy Osbourne<\/a>‘s \u201cSuicide Solution,\u201d Blue Oyster Cult<\/a>‘s \u201cBurnin\u2019 for You,\u201d Creedence Clearwater Revival<\/a>‘s \u201cTravelin\u2019 Band,\u201d Dio<\/a>‘s \u201cHoly Diver,\u201d Elton John<\/a>‘s \u201cRocket Man,\u201d Metallica<\/a>‘s \u201cSeek and Destroy\u201d and Led Zeppelin<\/a>‘s \u201cStairway to Heaven\u201d \u2013 not to mention every song by Rage Against the Machine<\/a>.<\/p>\n A benefit concert<\/a> was quickly assembled, broadcast on Sept. 21 by the four major U.S. networks and many cable outlets, and then released as America: A Tribute to Heroes<\/em> that December. Bruce Springsteen<\/a> updated a previously written song titled “My City of Ruins” to reflect the tragedy. <\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> How David Bowie Presaged 9\/11 With the Dark and Despairing ‘Heathen’<\/a><\/p>\n Neil Young<\/a> covered John Lennon<\/a>‘s \u201cImagine\u201d \u2013 which, ironically, was also said to be on Clear Channel’s list of banned songs. Tom Petty<\/a>, Billy Joel, Sting, Paul Simon<\/a>, Jon Bon Jovi<\/a> and Richie Sambora<\/a>\u00a0all performed, as did U2<\/a>, who appeared via satellite from London to perform “Walk On.”<\/p>\n Paul McCartney<\/a>, who witnessed the World Trade Center bombing while in an airplane on the tarmac at Kennedy Airport in New York City, then led the Concert for New York City on Oct. 20, 2001, at Madison Square Garden. Meant to honor first responders, the show featured performances by the Who<\/a>, Mick Jagger<\/a> and Keith Richards<\/a> of the Rolling Stones<\/a>, Bowie, Elton John and Eric Clapton<\/a>.<\/p>\n McCartney subsequently rushed out a new song<\/a> titled “Freedom” on Nov. 5. Featuring Clapton on guitar, the single was sold as a benefit. “We hadn’t reckoned on this demand for ‘Freedom,'” McCartney told the BBC<\/a>. “But as that’s what people want, we’re getting it out fast to try to raise money for the firefighters and police of New York.”<\/p>\n Also in November, Young unveiled\u00a0“Let’s Roll,” named after the final words<\/a> of Todd Beamer before he and a group of other passengers attempted to retake United Airlines’ hijacked Flight 93. Young, who later included “Let’s Roll” on 2002’s Are You Passionate?<\/a><\/em>, said he was inspired by a story told by Beamer’s widow.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was talking about how he always used to say [\u201clet\u2019s roll\u201d] with the kids when they\u2019d go out and do something \u2013 that it\u2019s what he said a lot when he had a job to do,\u201d Young told\u00a0Pulse<\/a><\/em>. \u201cAnd it\u2019s just so poignant, and there\u2019s no more of a legendary, heroic act than what those people did. With no promise of martyrdom, no promise of any reward anywhere for this, other than just knowing that you did the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Stevie Nicks’ 9\/11 Diary \u2013 ‘A Tragedy Like No One Has Ever Seen’<\/a><\/p>\n Sting released his 9\/11 show<\/a>, titled All This Time<\/em>, on Nov. 20, 2001, saying it was “respectfully dedicated to all those who lost their lives on that day.” By 2002, Springsteen had completed an album-length meditation on the attacks, titled The Rising<\/a><\/em>, with “My City of Ruins” as a highlight.<\/p>\n Gallery Credit: Allison Rapp<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy Some Acts Went Forward With 9\/11 Shows<\/h3>\n
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