Profits from this amazing show will go to
Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund which provides students with
annual scholarships to universities in the UK, USA and Turkey.
In addition, a music scholarship open to all
will be established at Ravensbourne College in the UK.
The incomparable Led Zeppelin will headline
the tribute to the man who founded Atlantic Records in 1947.
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones
will be joined by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer
John Bonham.
In addition, Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and
the Rhythm Kings, Foreigner and Paolo Nutini, all touched
by Ertegun’s guiding hand over the years, will play
on the night. Paolo was the final British artist that Ahmet
mentored.
It will be a tribute from UK artists that
Ertegun worked with in a 60 year career.
Tickets - £125
Due to the anticipated overwhelming demand for this concert,
tickets will be available by ballot only.
Fans should register their names at www.ahmettribute.com
Names will then be chosen at random. There
will be seating and standing tickets and fans will be able
to express a preference at the website.
Due the expected unprecedented demand, tickets will be limited
to 2 successful applicants per household.
Note to Editors:
Tickets will not be available from any other source. Please
do not take adverts or publicise any company who claims to
have tickets. They will not be given any. Please advise the
public not the purchase tickets from any unscrupulous source.
Tributes to Ahmet
Mica Ertegun, Ahmet's wife and president of The Ahmet Ertegun
Education Fund, commented:
"Ahmet attributed his success to his excellent education,
and his ability to recognize innovative artists that touched
us all. It was his wish to endow music and liberal Arts scholarships
that would enable gifted children to reach their highest creative
potential. The Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund was founded with
that goal. He would be very proud that Led Zeppelin have chosen
to re-unite and headline a benefit concert in his name featuring
so many of his friends. I would like to thank all of the artists
for their generous contribution to help make Ahmet's vision
a reality.”
Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin:
“During the Zeppelin years, Ahmet Ertegun was a major
foundation of solidarity and accord. For us he WAS Atlantic
Records and remained a close friend and conspirator - this
performance stands alone as our tribute to the work and the
life of our long standing friend.”
Mick Jones, Foreigner
“Ahmet's combination of charm, humour,
irreverence and above all
his great passion for music, made getting to know him one
of the
brightest highlights of my life.”
Paolo Nutini:
"Meeting Ahmet Ertegun in New York 2
years ago was a complete honour. He touched my life with his
amazing personality and opened a few doors when I was starting
my career. He even invited me to sing with Ben E King and
Robert Plant at Montreux last year as part of a celebration
of his musical life. He was a special guy, a real gentleman
and it’s such a shame he's gone but a massive tribute
that all his music lives on - and will do forever. God bless
Ahmet."
