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Nightcrawler

Ready to Rock to Aid The Victims of Attacks

Glenn Gamboa | DROPS

September 27, 2001

THEIR FEELINGS were the same: Something had to be done.

Immediately after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Long Island's music scene was looking for ways to help the victims.

Within days, Long Island Rock for

Relief was planned. The two-day event at The Vanderbilt in Plainview features headliners - New Life Crisis, Jill Gioia and the God Squad tonight and Nine Days, Digital Allies, Stage and The Billy Joel Band (without Joel) tomorrow. More acts continue to be add- ed for both nights. Already onboard for tonight are Rebekka Carol, The Messengers, Invisibles, Mother Freedom, Operator Error, CCWT, Cherie Lynn and Soap Opera Villain. Lined up for tomorrow are Ran- dy Jackson of Zebra and Eden White.

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"The radio station just got bombarded by phone calls," said John Caracciolo of Strong Island Events, which is organizing the concerts. "It was so catastrophic and we all felt so helpless. There's only so much blood they can take. We have to do something with music." Caracciolo was surprised how many people wanted to get involved so quickly. "The feeling of contributing helps the healing," he said.

"What makes this event so unique is that everything will be donated - the bands, the sound, the lights, the security, everything. That means we can donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the victims' families."

John Hampson, singer-guitarist with Nine Days, said the Deer Park band initially resisted signing onto a benefit. "I didn't want to be opportunistic or look for glory in this," said Hampson, taking a break from recording sessions for the follow-up to the group's debut, "The Madding Crowd," which contains the chart-topping single "Absolutely (Story of a Girl.)" "But we wanted to be able to do something. We also wanted to lend our name to something that helps. We all feel so helpless. We're glad to be able to do something."

Hampson hopes the benefit will raise more money for the victims of the attack and their families than the well-publicized donations from the Backstreet Boys and Jennifer Lopez. "Those folks are multimillionaires, and we don't have one-hundredth, one-thousandth, of that money," he said. "It would be nice to compete with them."

However, Hampson said, the most important part of the benefit will be the chance to help start the healing process. "I love music and I really believe it can reach people," he said. "When I come home from a great show I'm on such an adrenaline high that I just want to go home and pick up my guitar and start writing songs. Music can be so inspiring, and at times like this we need something that will help us come together."

Long Island Rock for Relief takes place at The Vanderbilt, 1600 Round Swamp Rd., Plainview, 516-694-6200. Tickets are $20 for tonight's 7 p.m. show and $25 for tomorrow's 7:30 p.m. show.

Noteworthy

Billy Joel will return to the road with Elton John in January. In the meantime, Joel will be promoting his new "Fantasies and Delusions" classical music CD, which is due out Oct. 2, as well as touring college campuses to discuss how he writes his songs and where he gets his ideas. One of these appearances is set to become a special for A&E airing on Oct. 6 ... Pants will be part of Arlene's Grocery's new series of bands giving classic albums a new spin. On Sunday, the Bethpage band will cover Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" album.