Pearl Jam, REM, DMB, RHCP, Beastie Boys and more: 25th Anniversary of Tibetan Freedom Concert

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/pearl-jam/1998/robert-f-kennedy-memorial-stadium-washington-dc-43d667ff.html. 25th anniversary on June 14th.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Freedom_Concert

Washington D.C.[edit]

June 13–14, 1998
$1.2 Million raised
Over 120,000 Attendees

Beastie BoysRadioheadSean LennonMutabarukaMoney MarkA Tribe Called QuestDave Matthews BandSonic YouthNawang KhechogWyclef JeanCanibusHerbie Hancock and the Headhunters, Buffalo DaughterR.E.M.KRS-OneThe WallflowersBlues TravelerLivePearl JamLuscious JacksonRed Hot Chili Peppers, Chaksam-pa, PulpBran Van 3000. Many bands, including Kraftwerk and Beck, were cancelled after lightning strikes at the beginning of Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters' set on the first day of music.

Speakers: Xiao Qiang – Human Rights in China, Lhadon Tethong – Students for a Free Tibet, Palden Gyatso – Former Political Prisoner, Wei Jingsheng – Chinese Democracy Activist and Former Political Prisoner


Washington D.C. lightning strike[edit]

As Herbie Hancock took the stage during the Washington, D.C. Concert at about 3:00 PM (June 1998), a storm system formed over the open-air RFK Stadium. While Hancock played, lightning struck fan Lysa Selfon. She was resuscitated on-scene and taken to the trauma unit of a local hospital, and was transferred the next day to D.C. General Hospital. Twelve people were injured; four critically. Selfon suffered the worst injuries and was visited in the hospital by a number of performers. Her burns were worst on her chest, where her underwire bra attracted the electricity and probably caused cardiac arrest.[18]

R.E.M.Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers (originally scheduled for the first day's concert) returned to perform the following day.[19]

Comments

  • JC29866JC29866 Posts: 85
    I’ll never forget that weekend.  How hot it was as the storm rolled in, and hearing that lightning strike sounded like a shotgun.  The next day, we were on the rail for PJ…the band walked off early and then Flea did a dive roll onto the stage for a surprise Chili Peppers set.  
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,079
    edited June 2023
  • bobasfeetbobasfeet Posts: 1,125
    edited June 2023
    I was there almost and almost died in that hot pit during Dave Matthews.

    some cool music events/collabs at that event...

    Debut of REM without Bill Berry.
    REM/Radiohead singer collabs
    Blind Melon guitarist playing with Live
    Surprise Chili Peppers set back with Frusciante
    Dalai Lama / Dolly Parton collab (just kidding)

    No so cool collab...
    Live playing Lightning Crashes...then later visiting person(s) in hospital that was hit by lightning
    Post edited by bobasfeet on
  • demetriosdemetrios Posts: 92,593
    Happy Birthday!
  • PapPap Posts: 29,002
    Athens 2006 / Milton Keynes 2014 / London 1&2 2022 / Seattle 1&2 2024 / Dublin 2024 / Manchester 2024
  • mcgruff10mcgruff10 Posts: 28,506
    I was there on the rail for pj! What a fun two days it was!! (Minus the lightening, which was one section over from where I was sitting.  Scary as hell.)
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • Foriginal SinForiginal Sin Posts: 1,789
    Why did they stop these, I was at TFC alpine 99. Nothing has changed in Tibet. 
    Chicago 6/29/98, Alpine Valley(EV) 6/13/99, Alpine Valley 10/08/00, Chicago 10/09/00, Phoenix 10/20/00, Orlando 4/12/03, Tampa 4/13/03, San Diego 6/05/03, Vegas 6/06/03, Phoenix 6/07/03, Chicago 6/18/03, Alpine Valley 6/21/03, Orlando 10/08/04, D.C. 10/11/04, Chicago 5/16/06, Chicago 5/17/06, LA 7/12/08, Chicago 8/23/09, Chicago 8/24/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09 (Front Row Center, Finally), Phoenix(EV) 11/4/11, Wrigley 7/19/13, Phoenix 11/19/13, Denver 10/22/14, Wrigley 8/20/16, Wrigley 8/22/16
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