Annual events often start small and attempt to work toward greatness.
That's not how it happened with the Bridge School Benefit.
Neil Young's mostly acoustic fundraiser for the Hillsborough-based school for students with severe speech and physical impairments was a huge deal from the start.
That's to be expected when a festival debuts with a lineup including Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and funnyman Robin Williams.
Over time, the lineups have blurred together, and what most loyal Bridge fans are left with are memories of special moments. In celebration of the Bridge School Benefit's 20th anniversary shows, which happen Saturday and Sunday at Shoreline Amphitheatre, we'll relive some memorable moments in what's become arguably the Bay Area's most-celebrated concert event.
Headliners: Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Robin Williams.
Memories: In its inaugural year, Young hit the jackpot by getting Springsteen -- who was the biggest rock star on the globe at the time -- to unplug for the evening. Most memorably, New Jersey's favorite son joined Young on a version of ``Helpless.
''
Headliners: Neil Young, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, Billy Idol, Tracy Chapman.
Memories: Having taken 1987 off, Bridge returns and delivers, among many highlights, a powerful set by pals Garcia and Weir that has Deadheads dancing in the aisles. This show was held at Oakland Arena, marking the only time Bridge has strayed from Shoreline.
Headliners: Neil Young, Tom Petty, Sammy Hagar, Tracy Chapman.
Headliners: Neil Young, Steve Miller, Edie Brickell, Elvis Costello, Cheech Marin.
Memories: Bay Area favorite Miller opens the book on his catalog of classic-rock hits and charms the crowd with the likes of ``Take the Money and Run.
''
Headliners: Neil Young, John Lee Hooker, Don Henley, Sonic Youth, Willie Nelson.
Memories: Some rules are meant to be broken. That was apparently the case when Hooker was allowed to plug in his electric guitar and dish out the boogie during the 1991 Bridge's most memorable set.
Headliners: Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Elton John, Shawn Colvin.
Memories: Pearl Jam, one of the hottest rock bands in 1992, makes its triumphant Bridge School debut. Since then, the grunge group has appeared at Bridge nearly as many times as ol' Neil.
Bridge School No. 7 (Nov. 6, 1993)
Headliners: Neil Young, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Simon and Garfunkel, Eddie Van Halen.
Memories: One of Bridge School's most memorable collaborations occurred when Eddie Van Halen joined Simon and Garfunkel onstage and added a guitar solo to ``The Sound of Silence.''
Headliners: Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Ministry, Indigo Girls.
Headliners: Neil Young, Beck, Bruce Springsteen, The Pretenders, Hootie and the Blowfish.
Memories: Blind Melon was scheduled to appear but was forced to cancel after its singer, Shannon Hoon, died of a drug overdose just days before. The vocalist was remembered by Young, who dedicated a touching version of ``The Needle and the Damage Done'' to Hoon.
Headliners: Neil Young, David Bowie, Pete Townshend, Cowboy Junkies, Patti Smith.
Memories: Bridge fans are always on the lookout for big-name surprise guests. On the first day, they got one when Pete Townshend -- in town to perform ``Quadrophenia'' with the Who -- stopped by to play an unannounced set.
Headliners: Neil Young, Dave Matthews Band, Lou Reed, Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morrisette, Metallica.
Memories: There were plenty of doubters when word spread that Metallica would go acoustic. Yet the metal men adapted admirably in this setting.
Headliners: Neil Young, Phish, R.
E.M., Barenaked Ladies, Jonathan Richman.
Memories: Phish, the world's biggest jam-band, put the jam on hold and pulled out a four-part, a cappella version of ``Free Bird.''
Headliners: Neil Young, The Who, Pearl Jam, Brian Wilson, Green Day, Tom Waits.
Memories: East Bay punks Green Day topped the reunited Who and provided the most concert's most powerful moment with ``Good Riddance.
''
Headliners: Neil Young, CSNY, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters,
Memories: Who was that sharing the mic with Young and Matthews on the all-star finale of ``Love the One You're With''? Well, it was none other than Woody Harrelson of ``Cheers'' fame.
Headliners: Neil Young, Pearl Jam, R.
E.M., Dave Matthews, Tracy Chapman, Billy Idol.
Memories: Performers closed the shows by remembering the recent tragedies of Sept. 11. The stars joined hands and watched as the crowd sang John Lennon's ``Imagine,'' the lyrics projected on the overhead screen.
Headliners: Neil Young, James Taylor, the Other Ones, Tenacious D, Thom Yorke, Jack Johnson.
Memories: Tenacious D had the crowd howling with its two-man take on ``Spinal Tap.''
Headliners: Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Wilco.
Headliners: Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, Ben Harper, Eddie Vedder.
Memories: McCartney delivered Beatlemania by the bay. The highlight occurred when McCartney and Bennett shared vocals on ``The Very Thought of You.
''
Headliners: Neil Young, Norah Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dave Matthews, Good Charlotte.
Memories: Lewis lived up to his nickname -- ``the Killer'' -- with sensational versions of such all-time classics as ``Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.''
Headliners: Neil Young, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Brian Wilson, Trent Reznor, Death Cab for Cutie, Gillian Welch, Devendra Banhart.
News RSS