The Rolling Stones will join the artists already booked for next week's televised superstorm Sandy benefit show, which producers said Friday would be the most widely available live concert ever.
The Stones join a trio of 1960s British rock stars on the bill, including Paul McCartney and the Who. Among the other artists scheduled to appear are Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Eric Clapton, Eddie Vedder, Billy Joel, Roger Waters and Chris Martin.
The 12-12-12 concert at Madison Square Garden will be available on television or online to some two billion people, said James Dolan, one of the producers. A total of 34 U.S. television networks have agreed to show the concert, which begins at 4: 30 p.m. PST on Wednesday.
Many actors and other personalities will introduce segments profiling storm victims, including Sean Combs, Brian Williams, Jon Stewart, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, Chelsea Clinton, Adam Sandler, Seth Meyers and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The major U.S. networks are not participating. The lineup will include HBO, Showtime, public broadcasting stations in New York and Philadelphia, and smaller cable networks.
