Henley Brings Walden Benefit On Line
Author: Melinda Newman
Publication: Billboard
Date: September 11, 1993
Abstract: Henley discusses his Walden benefit.
LABOR OF LOVE: One of the biggest concerts of the summer is sure to be the Walden Woods Project benefit set for Labor Day at the Foxboro (Mass.) Stadium. Organized by Don Henley with assistance from Irving Azoff, the Sept. 6 show will also feature Sting, Elton John, Aerosmith, and Melissa Etheridge (Billboard, May 8).
Henley's conservative estimate is that the concert will raise $1 million toward retiring the approximately $4.5 million owed on the 18.6 acre portion of the famed woods, the inspiration for Henry David Thoreau's "Walden." After a long struggle to keep the land from being developed, the Walden Woods Project purchased the Concord, Mass., acreage from Boston Properties in April.
The idea of a stadium concert has been brewing in Henley's mind for more than eight months, he says. "But it didn't come together until Elton agreed," says Henley. "Sting agreed to join us first, he's my buddy, but we knew the two of us couldn't fill this place alone." John came aboard a few weeks ago, followed by Aerosmith, who pledged their support last week.
According to Azoff, the number of participating artists is being kept small because "as it is now, it's probably at least a six-hour show and Foxboro isn't one of the largest stadiums. This is a major superstar event with all A-level artists."
The show is the fourth in a series of fundraising concerts to pay for the land, and the first stadium show. According to Walden Woods project executive director Kathi Anderson, the previous three events raised approximately $ 1.8 million.
Ticket prices for the show, promoted by Don Law Co., are $ 35, $ 50, $ 125, and $ 375. Purchasers of the top-tier tickets also will be admitted to special party catered by The Hard Rock Cafe and attended by the performers.
Plans for donations and sponsorships are still being worked out. The 52,000-seat Foxboro Stadium is foregoing its rent, share of the merchandise revenues, and some other costs; presenting sponsor Revlon, which has underwritten previous Walden Woods events, has donated $ 50,000. Henley adds that the possibility of a syndicated radio broadcast, which could raise another $ 250,000 to $ 350,000, is being explored.
To raise awareness further, there will be brochures about Walden Woods available at the concert site. Also available will be information on the Global Re-Leaf program, through which people can purchase saplings grown from seeds gathered in Walden Woods to plant in their areas. Proceeds from on-site merchandise sales, including T-shirts and copies of Henley's book, "Heaven Is Under Our Feet," also will be donated to the fund.
Although none of the country artists appearing on the upcoming benefit album of Eagles covers will be involved in the Sept. 6 concert, Henley already has something else in store for them. "We're going to try to do something with the CMA awards in October. The album will be out before then, and we'd like to have some people participating in the album do a medley of songs on the show, and then a concert the following evening."
While Henley stresses that all these plans are tentative, perhaps it's more telling that a slogan for the events has already been created: "If we're going to have country music, we have to save some country."
