The Bridge School Benefit, one of the Bay Area’s most widely admired and cherished annual concerts, will not take place in 2017, and its long-term future remained in question Wednesday after Bay Area rock legend Neil Young said he would no longer host the event due to “personal reasons.”
The news was made public on the website of the Bridge School, a Hillsborough facility for children with severe speech and physical impairments co-founded by Young’s former wife Pegi Young.
Under the headline “No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017,” Pegi Young wrote:
“We want to express our sincere and profound thanks to all of you for your love and support, demonstrated by way of your attendance at 30 years of Bridge School Benefit Concerts,” she wrote. “They have been truly memorable events and we have great appreciation for everyone who has been involved beginning, of course, with Neil Young and including all the many artists who have been so generous with their time and talent; the production people who have made it all possible ….. ”
There was no word on why the event was canceled or whether it will return. But the school’s website also included a statement from Neil Young that said “for personal reasons beginning this year I will no longer be hosting The Bridge School Concert,” although he said he would remain active in fundraising for the school.
Neil Young did not elaborate on the personal issues, but his involvement with the benefit concert has been the source of speculation since he and Pegi split in 2014. She has described the split as a shock that took a heavy toll on her.
Neil Young may also be facing health concerns. He was battling an undisclosed illness earlier this year when he bowed out of inducting pals Pearl Jam into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, according to a tweet sent by the Rock Hall. His spokesman later described the health issue as “nothing major” but did not elaborate.
Due to illness, Neil Young is sadly unable to induct @PearlJam @ this year's ceremony. We're thrilled David Letterman has agreed to step in. pic.twitter.com/7k463ajhV3
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) April 5, 2017
The 71-year-old Canada-born rocker moves on at a time when the concerts have raised “millions of dollars and the school is financially stable,” he notes in his post online.
“Of course, I love the students most of all because the light in their eyes tells me we have been doing the right thing for the last 30 years,” he says.
Since its founding in 1986, the acoustic Bridge School Benefit has hosted some of the biggest talents in the music industry, including David Bowie, R.E.M., The Who, Phish, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, the Cowboy Junkies and Patti Smith.
All except one of concerts has taken place at Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View — the sole exception being the great 1988 affair with Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, Tom Petty and others at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Live Nation Northern California, which has promoted the Bridge concerts, seemed to hold out hope Wednesday that the show could return.
“We’re honored to have been part of the last 30 years of Bridge School Benefit concerts,” said Jodi Goodman, president of Live Nation Northern California. “The Bridge School will always be something that remains close to our hearts, and we look forward to finding new ways to help raise funds and awareness for such an important and special program.”
Perhaps more than any other Bay Area pop/rock music event, the Bridge School Benefit has been an annual tradition for generations of fans, the kind of show that had people speculating on which stars would be booked for the event’s acoustic sets, which often culminated in a huge jam finale.
In a touching move, pupils at the school would watch the show from the back of the stage.
Neil Young made it clear the decision to pull out was a brutal one for him personally.
“”My heart is with each and every child we have had the honor to serve and those we will continue to serve, and your parents, siblings, and extended families. Thanks to you all for the honor of serving such a great mission.”
Fans took to social media after word began to spread Wednesday, with locals sharing their memories of past shows and their sadness over the cancellation.
“End of an era — such historic, iconic, marathon shows; all for a great cause,” Sausalito’s Debbie Ford Scriba posted on Facebook. “Haven’t we been lucky to live in the Bay Area during this run? Speaking of which, long may you run, Neil, Pegi and everyone involved.”
“This is heartbreaking,” tweeted @VinceInTheBay. “Been to several of these shows over the years. A special event for a good cause.”
This is heartbreaking. Been to several of these shows over the years. A special event for a good cause. 💔https://t.co/Yvw5AgyMCh
— Vince (@VinceintheBay) June 15, 2017
