The WTC Benefit Concert featured 12 bands, including regional bands such as the b-Sides, Runaway Cab, Hobex and Poor Valentino, at the Fayetteville Street Mall in downtown Raleigh from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The benefit's proceeds were given to AmeriCares Heroes Fund to distribute to the families of New York's firefighters, police and Port Authority officials who died following the attacks.
Missy Biggers, UNC alumna and event organizer, said the benefit raised a total of $10,000, with $2,750 of that coming from the auctioning of donated sports and rock memorabilia.
Such items included a miniature basketball autographed by Dean Smith, a football autographed by the entire Tar Heel football team and three drum heads signed by the band Metallica. The drum heads alone brought in almost half of the auction's proceeds.
John Custer, benefit promoter and the guitarist of the band Brown, said the idea for the benefit concert simply arose from an intense desire to help those in need and to find the best way to encourage acceptance of others.
"Any kind of unifying thing ... that's the righteous cause now," he said. "(The attacks were) an incredibly black illustration of what happens when there are outcasts."
Shortly after the attacks, organizers began calling area music contacts and rounding up performers, speakers, food vendors and volunteers. "The response was insane," said Mikel Ross, also a benefit promoter and guitarist for Brown.
There was such a positive response from area musicians that organizers were forced to choose only 12 bands to perform and were able to put on the benefit solely with donated labor, services and equipment. WBBB 96.1 FM, part of the Curtis Media Group, provided free promotion and station DJ Danger Boy as an announcer.
Local firefighters, police officers, rescue workers and their families were admitted to the benefit free of charge as thanks for the risks their jobs entail.
