courtney-love

Michael Stipe, Courtney Love & more performing at Basilica Hudson benefit

As mentioned, Courtney Love is being honored at a benefit at, and for, Basilica Hudson on October 27. It has now been announced that Courtney herself “will be in attendance as [the] honored guest and will be featured in conversations, readings, and performances,” and that “joining Courtney Love in performances will be” Michael Stipe (who was previously announced only as a host), Kiki & Herb’s Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman, Natasha Lyonne, Meredith Graves, Faith No More and Imperial Teen’s Roddy BottumZia Anger & Annie Bielski, Davon, and Rock Academy Rebel Girls. Tickets, which start at $75, are still available and proceeds benefit the Basilica Hudson arts and events space.

The event, titled “Pioneering People Basilica Benefit: Courtney Love,” was organized by Basilica Hudson co-founder and Director (and former Hole bassist) Melissa Auf der Maur and Joe Mama-Nitzberg (creative director on Hole’s Live Through This). Here’s what to expect:

Through conversations, readings, video, and performance, the evening’s program will shine a light on all of the ways that Love has influenced culture and inspired women and marginalized people for almost three decades. The performances will illuminate the impact of Love’s vital and inspiring art and energy and the inspiration her work continues to instil in the next generation of artists and musicians. The evening’s performances will demonstrate the incredible power and the lasting legacy of Love’s iconic explorations and subversions of femininity, and honor her unapologetic, fearless protest of the patriarchy.

Auf der Maur says of Courtney:

Courtney’s a Pioneer. Her legacy is vital to the voice of women in our culture. The passion she brings to her life and art fuels the long-fought battle for the empowerment of alternative voices as they take center stage at last! There’s no one as punk and fearless as Courtney, and she deserves a creative bouquet of honoring. Her power onstage is a massive force to be reckoned with. She broke new ground, combining raw and powerful rock music and lyrics of a singular feminist perspective, with her escapades as a Hollywood actress. Her legacy cannot be erased or confused by sexist or fearful critics. We are really excited to honor her, and excited to have Basilica – a building of equivalent epic scale – to host her in. To have her at Basilica, and to rally around that legacy, is very healing for me personally, as her former bass player and old friend. It feels like our journeys as women are coming full-circle in tandem with this nation’s conflicted and shocking trajectory of women’s rights and women’s rage.

“Pioneering People Basilica Benefit: Courtney Love,” is hosted by Aaron Dessner, Meredith Graves, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Natasha Lyonne, Ryan McGinley, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Elvis Perkins, Chloë Sevigny, Michael Stipe, Brandon Stosuy, Yelena Yemchuk and Jack Walls.