VETERAN rockers Deborah Harry and Ray Davies joined a list of top performers at the annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert in New York overnight.
Other big names to play at the concert included renowned composer Philip Glass, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, REM’s Michael Stipe, Ben Harper and Icelandic sensation Sigur Ros.
Proceeds from the annual concert at Carnegie Hall cover the expenses of the organisation, which was formed in 1987 to help preserve Tibetan culture.
Robert Thurman, founder of Tibet House US and a professor at Columbia University said all artists had to have some connection to Tibet.
Thurman once studied alongside the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, and has known him for 40 years.
“Some may have a more political (reason) about wanting to help a downtrodden people, so they may have a human rights agenda on their mind. Some may have a spiritual connection to Tibet,” Thurman told the New York media.
“The artists are very busy, and they do it for free. No one comes just for the heck of going and singing a song.”
