Happy Birthday Stefan Lessard: Dave Matthews Band Performs At Beacon Theatre In 1995

Dave Matthews Band bassist Stefan Lessard celebrates his 46th birthday today. While studying music in Charlotteville, Virginia at the dawn of the 1990s, one of Lessard’s teachers recommended Stefan to Dave Matthews who was forming a band at the time and in search of a bassist. Lessard joined DMB at just 16-years-old. As such, Stefan often had to sneak into the clubs DMB played that served alcohol.

In the ’90s, Dave Matthews Band would become a critically acclaimed and beloved band with commercial success as well as a dedicated cult following. DMB released their debut studio album, Under The Table And Dreaming, in 1994. The record went platinum seven times over, propelling the band to mega-stardom. Now graced with the power to influence, DMB utilized their success to help the greater good.

On July 13, 1995 the Dave Matthews Band contributed to Lifebeat’s HIV/AIDS benefit concert, broadcast by VH1 from the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The performance features the classic DMB lineup of Dave Matthews (vocals/guitar), Carter Beauford (vocals/drums) Stefan Lessard (bass), Boyd Tinsley (fiddle) and LeRoi Moore (sax). Dave, Stefan (who had just turned 21!) and company would perform four songs total, with two being televised: A stellar version of “Tripping Billies” and “What Would You Say.” The latter would lead into “Ants Marching,” which Lifebeat — an organization promoting safe sex practices — shared in 2012.

Recently, new video surfaced of the performance in its entirety including “Pay For What You Get” as well as portions of the soundcheck as a bonus. To celebrate Stefan Lessard’s birthday, watch DMB performing at the Beacon Theatre in 1995 below via Copperpot-OEW5: