Jann Wenner
Biography and Quotes

The Top Liberals in America

The show, which will raise money for the Democratic National Committee's campaign to elect Gore, is being put together by Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, VH1 president John Sykes and Rolling Stone editor and publisher Jann S. Wenner. At press time, Republican candidate George W. Bush had no concert fund-raiser planned. "I would think that people who are music fans would have to ask themselves why these people whose work and ideas they admire are all backing this man," says Wenner. "This is an endorsement by artists who clearly stand for certain social and political value systems."

JENNY ELISCU (August 15, 2000)
Al Gore's Rock & Roll Fund-Raiser Kravitz, Crow, Henley and more to play concert for Gore
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5924462

"We've become the people our parents warned us about!" That quip by veteran singer Jimmy Buffet underscored the zeitgeist at Thursday night's major Democratic fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Vice President Al Gore and running-mate Joe Lieberman, with respective spouses and Hillary Clinton for good (and local) measure were the front-row guests of honor through a three-hour concert which raised a very impressive $6.5 million for the DNC.

The evening started with a lengthy introduction by the three entertainment industry moguls who conceived and produced the event. Michael Douglas brought on what he called the "Three Divas" - VH1 chief John Sykes, Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner and main instigator Harvey Weinstein - co-chairman of Miramax Films. The trio each spoke of their passionate commitment to the Democratic cause - before Weinstein brought on the Gores and Liebermans to start the evening.

Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Gore
by Martin Lewis (First published September 15, 2000)
http://www.martinlewis.com/column.pl?col=15&cat=time

The event was billed as "The Concert" and was organized by Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein, Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner and VH1 president John Sykes. At the show, a whole bunch of celebrities -- microphones on -- ripped Bush apart, and in the process raised $6.5 million for Democratic contender Al Gore and the Democratic National Committee.

Stars scorch George W. At a Gore concert fundraiser, Hollywood strikes back -- and gets nasty.
http://archive.salon.com/ent/feature/2000/09/15/concert/print.html

Tonight, Lieberman will join Gore in an unprecedented star-studded fund raiser at Radio City Music Hall in New York scheduled to include as hosts liberal actors Ben Affleck, Julia Roberts, John Cusack and Matt Damon – all of whom have starred in violent R-rated movies – as well as liberal performers Bette Midler, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Jimmy Buffett, Don Henley, Macy Gray, Lenny Kravitz and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

The hosts are Miramax Chairman Harvey Weinstein, Rolling Stone Editor and Publisher Jann Wenner and VH1 President John Sykes, according to Center for Responsive Politics.

On Monday, Gore raised more than $1 million at a star-studded fund raiser in Camden, N.J., hosted by comedian David Brenner that included performances by Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton and Cher.

Focus on Hollywood Sleaze Ill-Timed for Gore UPI
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2000
http://archive.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/9/13/183750

Wall-to-wall celebrities at the Democratic National Committee fund-raiser at Radio City Music Hall included Matt Damon, Salma Hayek, Julia Roberts, Michael Douglas, and Harrison Ford, who helped raise $6.5 million for the Democratic cause. Maybe it was her legal activist role in Erin Brockovich, but Roberts confessed, “I’m a Democrat, [but] I’ve never done anything political before” Performers included Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, and Jon Bon Jovi — who harmonized on The Beatles’ “Revolution” — and Bette “Bathhouse”Midler. The hosts of the event were Miramax’s Harvey Weinstein, VH1’s John Sykes, and Rolling Stone’s Jann Wenner. Introducing Lieberman, Weinstein acknowledged that the vice-presidential candidate “isn’t making my job any easier”but called him “a strong but fair critic of the entertainment industry.” He added, “I’m proud that we were the first to respond this week,”referring to the Sept. 12 statement by Miramax’s parent, the Walt Disney Co., which spelled out “responsible marketing practices”that the company would undertake in order to answer specific criticisms of a recent Federal Trade Commission report. (Mr. Showbiz is also owned by the Walt Disney Co.)

Stars Turn Out for Gore Fund-Raiser Holllywood Turns Out For Gore Fund-Raiser Sept. 15
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=115668&page=1