TCA Backyard Concert 2018
A remarkable list of actors, philanthropists, musicians, and athletes came out to show support for The Who’s Roger Daltrey on Friday (August 17) to benefit Teen Cancer America and UCLA Health at the Backyard Concert 2018. The private and sold-out event featured musical performances from Teen Cancer America co-founder Roger Daltrey, Ed Sheeran, Van Morrison, Jewel and Don McLean.
McLean and Sheeran teamed up for a duet performance of Don’s classic “Vincent.” (Check out their rehearsal video here)
“I have been aware of the philanthropic work of Roger Daltrey for many years, and that motivated me to participate,” said McLean in a statement. “I enjoyed all the music very much, and Ed Sheeran is very delightful to know and work with. Van Morrison put on a beautiful, swinging show… Everyone gave their best, and it was a stellar musical evening that raised money for a good cause.”
The event featured a live and silent auction ran by Heritage Auctions that included some very rare music memorabilia and art. Comedian/Actor/Host and Judge from America’s Got Talent, Howie Mandel, led the auction while writer/director Judd Apatow was the MC for the evening festivities.
Among the items featured in the auction was a special custom guitar donated by the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation that was signed by 75 music legends such as Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Ed Sheeran, Roger Daltrey, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Peter Frampton, Graham Nash, Don Everly, Elvis Costello and many more. (Click here to see all auction items)
The highlight of the night was the performance of Roger Daltrey, pulling from a repertoire of many Who hits such as: Join Together, Who Are You, Pinball Wizard, Behind Blue Eyes, Giving It All Away, Baba O’riley, Young Man Blues, and Won’t Get Fooled Again.
A comedic, yet heartwarming moment during Roger’s performance is when Judd Apatow won a bid which allowed him sing alongside Daltrey to “My Generation.” On Apatow’s Instagram, he said,
“I won an auction to sing My Generation with my hero Roger Daltrey to benefit Teen Cancer America. I had been practicing for it since I was ten. Look at all the photos. Clearly, I nailed it. Life is all downhill from here. Please give to this amazing charity.”
(See his Instagram post here)
Judd Apatow’s Instagram *Photography by Lorenzo*
Several other actors, philanthropists, musicians, and athletes came out to show support including: Luke Walton, John Paul Dejoria, Sugar Ray Leonard, Courtney Cox, Kurt Rambis, Alicia Silverstone, Harry Hudson, Paul Stanley, Duane Martin, Ben Vereen, Leslie Mann, John Fogherty and many others.
The Backyard Concert event raised roughly $3.2 million and will benefit both Teen Cancer America and UCLA Health programs.
