Roger Waters, former Pink Floyd bassist and songwriter, will host this year’s Music Heals benefit concert in Washington D.C. The event will take place at the DAR-Constitution Hall on October 16th. It is a yearly one-night-only concert created to raise money for the charity MusiCorps. It will also feature special guest performances from Bily Corgan, Sheryl Crow and Tom Morello. Tickets for the concert will go on sale this June 26 at 10 EST on the Live Nation website.
MusiCorps is a non-profit organization that supports veterans and their families. Musicorps also runs a music education program for injured veterans, with the intention of aiding in the rehabilitation process. Some of the musicians performing at the benefit concert also play in the organization’s Wounded Warrior Band, which Roger Waters mentors. The legendary progressive rock musician has also performed alongside veterans at the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.
“The work I have done over the last few years with these men and women has been some of the most rewarding work I have ever done,” Waters said. He has led the Wounded Warriors Band through covers of “Wide River to Cross” by Levon Helm, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, and through performances at events like the Stand Up for Heroes benefit concert in New York.
In addition to the Music Heals event this summer, Waters is also slated to headline at the Newport Folk Festival. This will be his first time to appear at the venerated music festival. He has promised to craft a “very special” set list for the concert, which will take place on July 24th.
Waters formed Pink Floyd in 1965 with drummer Nick Mason, keyboardist Richard Wright, and guitarist and lead vocalist Syd Barrett. The group went on to achieve international success with such concept albums as The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall and The Final Cut. By the early 1980s, Pink Floyd was one of the most critically acclaimed and best-selling acts in the history of rock music. The group has sold more than 250 million albums worldwide. Waters has also led a successful solo music career, and he has become active in supporting political initiatives like better care for veterans.