Source NY1 - 6/11/97

I'm George Whipple on Randall's Island.

Alanis Morissette was just one of the musical superstars who played at the Tibetan Freedom Concert at Downing Stadium on Randall's Island this weekend. Tens of thousands turned out to see Morissette, Michael Stipe of REM, U2, Patti Smith, Foo Fighters, A Tribe Called Quest, Sonic Youth and many other rock, hip-hop and world music stars.

The music wasn't all modern and western: Tibetan performance enchanted the crowd. But this day was about more than just music. All of the artists that performed here volunteered their services to help raise consciousness about the plight of the Tibetan people. Tibet is a country that is presently occupied by China.

The Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch, aka MCA, is one of the founders of the Tibetan Freedom Concert. He explained what the concert was all about. Yauch says, "It's a two-sided thing. One is to benefit Tibetan people and to help prevent their culture from being wiped out, and the other side is to help us as Americans - or as Westerners - understand the values that are there within their culture."

Stipe says, "One thing I can do is to come out and perform, and that's exactly what I did." I asked, "So many people respect you, if you had one thing to tell them about the Tibetan struggle, what would it be?" Stipe replied, "The Tibetans have never lowered themselves to violence, and I respect that."

Musical legend Taj Mahal lent his voice to the cause. Mahal says, "Good guys, good music, good cause, and we're here for it."

And over last weekend there were many good tunes for a good cause.

On Randall's Island...George Whipple, New York 1.