Feels Like The First Time

These are stories from my 36 hours working the Rock Hall Induction Ceremony. This is a non (more like never) Kandi activity. I noticed last week recapping these adventures pushed you all away in droves, please bear with me here. This makes me eternally happy, so forgive my being selfish.

My experience started at 4:00 PM on Friday for our initial meeting and assignments. I was assigned to 2024 Inductees, Foreigner (my first Inductee), specifically a local choir that would be singing with the band. I was also assigned with a friend of mine, friends since high school, someone I have attended probably around a hundred concerts with and someone I was able to get a job as an escort (qualifying for Boston is much easier, this was like threading a needle in space). Once we got the complete rundown and venue tour, we met the choir on the loading dock (where all participants enter the building and get their security screens). We met the band as well and the various managers. Rehearsal time. Now please understand, when I am watching a rehearsal, it is in the arena (20,000+ seat venue), with only the performers, crew and certain members of staff. Maybe 50 people watching, a Rock Hall member performing right in front of me. The actual band is mostly retired and/or infirmed, some were there. The touring band, now really a high-end cover band, performed what was titled a “Tribute”. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) played drums, Slash (Guns ‘n Roses) was on guitar. I got an opportunity to have a brief chat with Chad, an awesome dude.

Demi Lovato sang lead on “Feels Like The First Time”. Then Sammy Hagar (with whom I spoke) lead on “Hot Blooded”. Then we got the choir stage left, in place while Kelly Clarkson (I was in very close proximity to her a few times) and Lou Gramm (original lead singer and really struggling physically) harmonized on “I Want To Know What Love Is”, while the choir added that extra punch to the song. Day One on the job concluded.

Day Two, show day, 9:00AM call time. We all have specific responsibilities which determines how much “work” one has to do. But we are always on duty when there, so must remain professional and attentive to the show flow, always in our ears on the walkie. Because we had a choir, a large group with only specific access (I have all-access except on-stage), it was simply herding the cats from their holding area to the stage, to eat, to holding, to eat, to the stage, to holding to gather their things and to their bus (all over a very long day though). The group was a lot of fun and I had a good relationship with the leader. We also had four escorts, which made for plenty of time to see some awesomeness. There is food 24/7 in crafty, so idle time means a lot of eating and snacking.

I was blessed to watch James Taylor, Mac McAnally and Kenny Chesney rehearse “Come Monday” in tribute to 2024 Inductee and the late Jimmy Buffett. It was chillingly wonderful, the harmonies amazing for three people that were literally working it out right in front of me. I saw the full show run through of the first half, getting to see Cher and Dua Lipa rehearse. I was very happy to have then watched Kool and The Gang sing a medley of amazing music you forgot some of which were their songs. The horns filled the arena. Spectacular! Then I got to watch Dionne Warwick and Jennifer Hudson’s run through and then it was time to work, getting the choir to the stage for the Foreigner run through. [Hudson is a rare EGOT winner: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and American Idol loser, ironically.] Lunch (yeah, I ate a lot).

I was then a party to one of the most amazing performances. Literally one of the highlights of things I have ever seen (acknowledging my recency bias). Peter Frampton, a deserving inductee, has been suffering from a neuromuscular issue. He can no longer stand without support and he walks with a cane. He sat in a chair and belted out in a voice that still sounds like 1976 and played guitar in the way that made him a Hall of Famer. “Something’s Happening” was perfection, but it got better. Keith Urban joined him on stage for “Do Your Feel Like We Do”. Keith, in a great sign of respect, also played seated. He only played guitar (only is not the best word here) and sang background. Frampton played the full long version of the song, broke out the voice box and was amazing. His face contorted from his condition, with the guitar in his lap and you could see on his face the absolute joy he was experiencing. I teared up and I was far from the only one. Remember, maybe no more that a hundred people witnessed this in a large, empty arena.

My friend and I took a break on what was a beautiful fall day, had a beer (okay only I had a beer) and headed back to work. On both days the Guardians played the Yankees right next door, so the city was buzzing.

The show kicked at 6:30PM and ran until 12:30AM. I saw a great deal of it, but also wanted to see things backstage that few can. I was in close proximity and/or spoke to Dave Matthews, Julia Roberts, Cher, Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson (what a genuine and lovely person), Ozzy Osborne and family, Kool and The Gang (the Gang is now one plus Kool), Zendaya (in a dress that, on THAT body, was otherworldly), Chuck D., Flav A Flav, Dionne Warwick, Tom Morello, Foreigner, Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, Slash (love that show day top hat!), Roger Daltrey, Keith Urban, James Taylor, Dave Chappelle, Queen Latifah, Wolfgang Van Halen, The Roots and Questlove. I am sure I missed a few. Had to laugh, someone was looking for Jelly Roll, so I took him down through the dressing room area and asked if anyone knew where “Mr. Roll’s” dressing room was…

I also walked down the dressing room area and did my little (and very brief) stand-up bit: How come when I call someone a “rock star”, no one even looks at me? I did get a laugh…

Show highlights were many, some of which I mentioned here already. Cher was great and very grateful (she had been very vocal, telling the Hall to f’ off because she had not been inducted for a long time). Kool and The Gang killed it! Dionne was inspirational and so many of the artists acknowledged their respect for her. We crushed it (yes, I did use the collective “we”, which I always do, life is a team sport, kids) with the Foreigner segment. Frampton was humble, grateful and acknowledged his blessings, not cursing his physical challenges. It was an uplifting and affirmative speech. Find it, watch it, see genuine gratitude.

The Buffet segment, beautiful with Dave Matthews also contributing a moving song. I am no Ozzy fan, but he is beloved and acknowledged by many to be a very kind person, despite his professional image as the Prince of Darkness. His tribute was so well done, Billy Idol was the highlight for me. The night wrapped with one of my all-timers, The Dave Matthews Band, inducted by Julia Roberts. Earlier in the day, Dave’s agent (who at the time was unbeknownst to me) had to use the loo (he is British), so I took him there (yes, I waited outside) and back to his seat while chatting him up once he told me who he was.

I finally got home about 1:30AM, so happy to have been again given the greatest personal gift I have or could ever have been given.

Watch the edited version on ABC on New Year’s Day. I am so proud of my beloved hometown.

Okay, I hear you, back to our regular programming.

Bonus programming and what gives me more juice than being Kandi:

The absolute greatest recorded guitar performance ever, ever, ever!

This is VERY early and is not an official video (shot by an attendee, not the official Disney feed), but this is what I witnessed to be an easy number two to the above.