What do Paul McCartney, Jillian Michaels and Joaquin Phoenix have in common? A PETA party

The event: Paul McCartney paused in the midst of his full-length, more than hourlong concert Wednesday at PETA’s 35th Anniversary Party to consider the organization’s name.

“When I first heard the name, that’s what appealed to me,” McCartney said. “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. I thought that was a very dignified, very cool title.”

Joined by Beck for two numbers, McCartney rocked the Hollywood Palladium with new songs and old favorites, starting with an anniversary salute -- “You Say It’s Your Birthday” -- and concluding with “The End” from “Abbey Road.” In between, he shared stories and ruminated on the cause.

“You know, it’s a strange thing,” he said. “Most people love animals, but they also love eating them. This is something we probably ought to stop.”

The scene: The black-tie affair offered up a vegan buffet. As guests dined, hosts Anjelica Huston and Pamela Anderson introduced a parade of celebrities, honored for their efforts to assist and protect animals.

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The crowd: To an audience blazing with star power, presenters Moby, George Lopez, Kevin Nealon, Miranda Cosgrove, Molly Shannon and the Phoenix family (Rain, Liberty, Summer and Joaquin) paid tribute to award recipients Bill Maher, RZA, Tommy Lee, Jason Biggs, Alicia Silverstone, Jillian Michaels, Noah Cyrus, Jane Velez-Mitchell, Maggie Q, Fred Willard, Mike White, James Cromwell, Mary Matalin, Kate del Castillo, Marco Antonio Regil and Shaun Monson.

Among those watching were Kesha, actors William H. Macy of “Shameless,” Bellamy Young of “Scandal,” Seth Green of “Family Guy,” Carrie Ann Inaba and Kym Johnson from “Dancing With the Stars”, Constance Marie of “Switched at Birth” and Emily Deschanel of “Bones,” former NBA player John Salley, songwriter Diane Warren and PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.

The numbers: The event attracted 1,000 guests who bought tickets for $1,500 each or $2,500 for two or sponsorship tables ranging up to $100,000. Total proceeds haven’t been tallied, but during their turns at the podium both Moby and Maher announced their gifts of $50,000 each.

Another quote of note: “Animals have complex languages, they use tools, they think about the future,” said Huston. “But there’s one thing they don’t do. In all of recorded history no animal anywhere has ever dreamed of running away to join the circus.”