A dream came true tonight for fans of what they used to called heartland-rock, as arguably the two leading icons of the genre, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, sang Springsteen’s “Glory Days” and Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses” together at the Beacon Theatre in New York. You can watch video of the songs, below.
The numbers were part of a benefit concert for the Rainforest Fund organized by Sting. The theme of the evening was hits from the ’80s and ’90s.
Other numbers included Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” (sung by Robert Downey Jr.), the Elvis Costello hit “What’s So Funny (‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding)” (performed by Bob Geldof) and Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” (performed by Sting). Springsteen also performed “Dancing in the Dark” and took part in the ensemble finale, “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Other performers included Eurythmics, James Taylor, Deborah Harry and Shaggy.
Springsteen and Mellencamp have been linked in many ways through the years.
Sting has been presenting all-star Rainforest Fund benefits in New York — always, before this year, at Carnegie Hall — since 1989. It’s not an annual event but he has done 18 of them over those 30 years.
Trudie Styler — Sting’s wife, Rainforest Fund co-founder and the producer of the concert — said in a statement: “With the Amazon blighted by fire this summer, and a real and growing awareness of climate change, there has never been a more important or more opportune moment to fight to protect our forests. All life on earth depends on their survival.”
Thanks to Spring-Nuts for posting this video to YouTube. It starts with Mellencamp performing “Jack & Diane” by himself, and then “Pink Houses” with Springsteen
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