Updated: 10:05 p.m. ET
Music filled New York's Madison Square Garden Wednesday night for the "12-12-12" gig all in the name of helping superstorm Sandy victims.
12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief
Bruce Springsteen kicked off the star-studded concert, a fitting start for the benefit, which will aid hard-hit storm areas such as the rocker's native New Jersey. The Boss launched into "Land of Hope and Dreams" as audience members rose to their feet, before singing "Wrecking Ball," a song he wrote about Jersey and Giants Stadium at The Meadowlands. He changed a lyric to "My home is on the Jersey shore."
And it's no surprise Springsteen performed "My City of Ruins," a song that has taken on various meanings through the years, especially having debuted around the 9/11 attacks. But Wednesday night, it meant something different to many people watching.
"This was a song I wrote for my adopted hometown -- Asbury Park, which was struggling through hard times," he said, later adding, "Tonight this is a prayer for all of our struggling people in New York and New Jersey."
After slipping in a few lines of "Jersey Girl," Springsteen brought out his friend Jon Bon Jovi for a New Jersey-rocker musical mash-up of "Born to Run."
"The size of the destruction was shocking," said Springsteen in a taped interview with concert organizers prior to the show. "It took days and days to even understand the level of destruction that occurred along the Jersey shore."
After Springsteen and Bon Jovi left the stage, Billy Crystal took the reins, injecting some humor into the night, mixed with touching remarks about the devastation that Sandy brought along with it.
"You can feel the electricity in the building, which means that Long Island power isn't involved," said Crystal, a Long Beach, Long Island, native, before rattling off a series of other jokes that took jabs at New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Chris Christie.
Roger Waters performs at "12-12-12" Sandy benefit concert
Roger Waters took the stage next, playing Pink Floyd classics, including "Us and Them," "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Money."
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder joined Waters for a collaboration of "Comfortably Numb," a highlight for Waters.
Waters described the Vedder collaboration as "magical" when speaking with reporters in the press room backstage.
"Eddie was absolutely amazing. It that was like a dream come true...it was magical. I think i stopped singing to kiss him at one point, which is weird," Waters said laughing.
Adam Sandler performed a very different version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," swapping lyrics out for the occasion, singing: "Halleluja/Sandy screw ya/We'll get through ya."
Actress Kristen Stewart introduced Bon Jovi before the band played "It's My Life" and "Wanted Dead or Alive." Springsteen came out to return the favor from earlier, performing "Who Says You Can't Go Home." While backstage, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt talked about how Bon Jovi and Springsteen have been friends for years, having both got their start in Jersey.
"There have been hurricanes, there have been storms," said Bon Jovi before the show. "But I've never seen anything remotely close to what Hurricane Sandy was."
After comments from Jon Stewart the evening continued with Eric Clapton doing what he does best. He put on a rocking, blues-heavy performance that included "Crossroads."
Music-lover Jimmy Fallon was in his element on Wednesday and reveled in the opportunity to introduce The Rolling Stones: "Here they are, I always wanted to say this...Ladies and gentleman, The Rolling Stones."
The members of The Stones have been playing some shows in support of their new album, and on Wednesday, they did not disappoint, playing "You Got Me Rockin'" and "Jumping Jack Flash."
Wearing a red dress, Alicia Keys sat along at the piano for a version "Brand New Me."
"I was born and raised in New York City. I still live right now down the street in New York City. This is our city. This is everybody's city..." Keys then broke into an emotional rendition of "No One."
"When I heard there was going to be a concert, I wanted to be there and I wanted to try to do my bit," said McCartney who has an office in Manhattan and spends time with his wife, Nancy Shevell, in Long Island. "Hopefully try to make a bit of difference and give back."
Also in attendance? Steve Buscemi, Martha Stewart, Blake Lively, Scarlett Johansson, James Gandolfini, Jason Sudeikis, Jeremey Piven, Olivia Wilde, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Chastain, Chelsea Clinton, Sean Combs, Leonardo DiCaprio, Katie Holmes, Jake Gyllenhaal, Karlie Kloss, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Chris Rock, Susan Sarandon, Jon Stewart and Quentin Tarantino, among others.
Sarandon was one of the stars answering calls at the evening's telethon.
"It's so moving every time you see a grassroots movement," Sarandon said backstage in the press room. "It's just great that people found a way to come out."
Producer John Sykes said the fundraiser features "the greatest lineup of legends ever assembled on a stage."
The sold-out "12-12-12" concert is being aired on 37 TV stations in the United States and more than 200 others worldwide. Thirty websites are streaming the show live. All together -- more than two billion people around the world have access to the show, which benefits the Robin Hood Foundation.
The October storm left millions of people in several states without power or heat. It's to blame for at least 125 deaths and damaged 305,000 homes in New York.
Go here to donate.
Watch live online here.
12-12-12 Sandy benefit: Night of music, stars
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12-12-12 Sandy benefit: Night of music, stars
