“THE Fundraiser” to benefit Brennan Rock & Roll Academy (in support of the Boys and Girls Club) at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV, was big hit on Thursday night. The event brought in more than a million dollars. Following a star-studded auction, the concert began at about 8:15 PM. The cover band Hairball started things off and then stayed on the stage to back up some of the most legendary singers on the planet. Most of the artists performed a couple of songs and the show went on continuously. Joey Tempest and John Norum (Europe) were the first two guests to join the band. They sounded great and performed “The Final Countdown” and “Rock The Night.” These Swedish rockers haven’t performed in the United States of America in about 10 years. It was a real treat to see them. BackstageAxxess.com had the opportunity to talk with Tempest after the performance. He was happy to be in America again and mentioned that he received a very nice invitation from “THE Fundraiser” to perform. When we asked him about the backing band, he said they were great and told us “We met yesterday and they already had the songs down and played fantastic.” Tempest also gave a us the scoop that Europe is planning to tour in America in 2014. Getting back to Hairball for a moment, everyone who we spoke with was impressed with the band.
Jack Blades (Night Ranger) performed next, followed by Kip Winger (Winger), Steven Pearcy (Ratt), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Tom Keifer (Cinderella), Rob Zombie, Vince Neil (Motley Crue), Alice Cooper and KISS (see set lists below). While Vince Neil was performing, Kip Winger and Steven Pearcy joined him on stage to sing “Girls, Girls, Girls.” This show was a dream come true for fans of ’80s and 90s’ hair metal bands, myself included! These are top notch singers and they brought it all out for a great cause. At the end of Alice Cooper’s set, he was joined by a chorus from the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy who sang “School’s Out” with him. The most comedic moment of the evening also came from Alice Cooper. After singing “I’m Eighteen,” he quipped that he’ll still be singing that when he’s 80 and sang a preview of “I’m Eighty.”
We caught up with Alice before his performance and he was happy to be a part of this event. He said it’s all about getting kids off the streets and giving them something to do. He said “I wish we had this when I was a kid.” On behalf of all of his fans, we had to take the opportunity to congratulate him on being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He said “Thank you! KISS is next.”
Speaking of KISS, we also spoke with Gene Simmons. He too said this is all about the kids and getting them off the streets. He said “it’s really about getting them off the streets because you don’t know…it could be that next kid who is the one to cure cancer. Get them off the streets where there’s nothing going on except idiots who smoke pot and do nothing.”
Now, let’s get back to the show! When Alice Cooper exited the stage, Chuck Brennan came out and thanked everyone for raising more than one million dollars for the Rock & Roll Academy. This was the only set change of the evening. Hairball also exited the stage to make room for the final act. You guessed it, about ten minutes later, KISS took the stage by storm starting their six (6) song set with “Shout It Out Loud.” Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer put on a great show. No makeup, no fire, no explosions, just a solid set of classic KISS tunes. In a perfect ending to culminate the event, Paul Stanley announced the Rock and Roll Anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite” and said their friends were going to join them to sing this one. He called out the other singers and said it’s like “We Are The World – gone bad.” With that, a booming chorus of “I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day” ensued. It was simply fantastic to see these legendary singers perform together. Let’s hope this becomes an annual event!
Setlist:
The Final Countdown (Joey Tempest and John Norum of Europe)
Rock The Night
Don’t Tell Me You Love Me (Jack Blades of Night Ranger)
Still Rock in America
Madalaine (Kip Winger of Winger)
Seventeen
Lay It Down (Steven Pearcy of Ratt)
Round and Round
We’re Not Gonna Take It (Dee Snider of Twisted Sister)
I Wanna Rock
Gypsy Road (Tom Keifer of Cinderella)
Save Me
Shake Me
Thunder Kiss ’65 (Rob Zombie)
We’re an American Band (Rob Zombie cover of Grand Funk Railroad)
Kick Start My Heart (Vince Neil of Motley Crue)
Wild Side
Girls, Girls, Girls
No More Mr. Nice Guy (Alice Cooper)
Under My Wheels
I’m Eighteen
School’s Out
–Chuck Brennan Announcements–
KISS Set List:
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Lick It Up
Detroit Rock City
Dr. Love
Rock and Roll All Nite (All artists join in)
All Photos by Gus Griesinger
We would like to thank Chuck Brennan and the staff at the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy for the credentials to review such an amazing event.
For more information on the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy itself, please visit: Brennan Rock & Roll Academy.
