well there is a moment in Metro Detroit
history that brought together some of
the biggest music icons in music we're
talking John Lennon and Stevie Wonder it
was for a cause and one man who some
felt was wrongly put in prison
photographer Alex at well shows us the
story behind the uniquely Detroit
concert that almost didn't happen
oh I got this is it was great well it's
one of a kind I can't think of another
example of something like this happening
in history
it culminated in this massive concert at
the faithful arena and Johnson Claire
freedom rally
well Peter Angeles he set it all up they
came to me and they wanted me to promote
her and I said I'm not gonna touch that
cuz it's gonna be a bomb you got a bomb
on your hands as you cancel the show
John and Yoko Lennon are going to appear
I said right who's the supporting act
Jesus Christ you know what are you
talking about John Lennon is going to
appear most popular musician in the
world all I had was a telephone number
get down to Times Square and I put a
dime in the phone
and sure enough John Lennon answered the
phone said go ahead get over here then I
had a contract made out for $500 he
crossed that out and put to be donated
to John Seafarer when they announced the
gentleman in the deal gold or color that
I would go there to get so load in eight
minutes it was the fastest selling
concert in Michigan history the greatest
thing was Stevie Wonder called up and
said I hear you having this show can i
play a man can get 12 years
Prison the possession of marijuana I'm
sitting in the office phone rings it's
Stevie Wonder of course of course it's
Stevie Wonder I got John Lennon my
little skeet hi Stevie what if I brought
my band at my expense so Stevie and I
are talking he says you know I don't
smoke marijuana but I know what they did
this seemed clear and I want to help out
yeah I said let's make you a surprise
hat it's not like I need to draw he
starts laughs pieces that might be a
great idea so okay you don't tell
anybody I go back and I tell John Lennon
I said hey you're gonna rape me go
surprise act in the show Stevie Wonder
he's gonna perform and learning free
show Stevie Wonder is Martin is here
come on yeah he's yeah he's gonna
perform right now
it's a lot see him
[Music]
says you don't understand Stevie's might
be my B yeah it was amazing me the
actual influence of it when they
actually did perform this song I wrote
the Johnson plan they would have written
the song the giant Eclair saw
concerts over to the Supreme Court of
Michigan meets in special session over
the weekend because we got a lot of
[ __ ]
darn if they're Supreme Court doesn't
decriminalize marijuana in John's hair
Claire it's going to be free it's
amazing it's like I'm trying to think of
a word this as special as unique as it
was
[Music]
got out of jail work we did it what a
victory was that it was a you know one
my experience in a lifetime I felt great
I got out of prison
[Applause]
Wow
I wish I was there I don't get much
cooler that's it in that life that's
where you need to be that you're who you
are sure you could read more about the
concert and the music scene in Metro
Detroit and Peter Andrews new e-book
titled the joint was jumping it's
available now on Amazon