By Roger Anderson
March
2005
Happy belated birthday to Ray Manzarek, keyboardist of the Doors, who celebrated his 66th on the 12th of February . . . Also last month, the first weekend of February, I witnessed Prince accept one of two Pollstar Concert Industry Awards that he received for “Major Tour of the Year” and “Most Creative Stage Presentation” presented in LA. He surprised the industry by his attendance, which consisted mostly of agents and promoters, by accepting the awards personally – very classy! Then at the Grammy’s, he was surprisingly a no show, guess he knows where his bread is buttered - agent & promoterville. Actually, his excuse at the Grammy’s was a VIP post-Grammy’s party at his Bel Air mansion - where was I, I wish. Guests included John Mayer, Jay Leno, JESSICA SIMPSON, Black Eyed Peas and of course Paris Hilton to name a few. Speaking of Paris, have you seen Paris in this month’s Playboy, No Biggy, and that’s no mental or physical exaggeration. . . . Meanwhile back in Angel City, I did however share some quality time during the Awards with Sly’s lil sister, Vet Stone (original vocalist for Sly & the Family Stone – remember the original Woodstock and “I Wanna Take You Higher!) Oh and by the way, I signed a contract with Phunk Phamily Affair to ARM Entertainment – “Dance to the Music” baby. I LOVE LA! Lewis Black, by far one of the funniest comedians alive hosted the event for the Pollstar CIC Awards Party. . . . Creedence Clearwater Revisted (without John Fogerty) March 6th at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel at a bargain ticket price of $31 & $39, that is until you step up to the slots! You would think that I’ve learned by lesson by now, $50 on red til I’m dead! . . . Cruzan Rum St. Croix, U.S.V.I. (That’s a good start!) presents Somewhere In the Sun Tour (Are you kidding – Minneapolis?) featuring Kenny Chesney, GRETCHEN WILSON (sweet, but get rid of those ugly t-shirts) and Uncle Kracker (boo) Sat., March 12th at Xcel Energy Center – oh well two out of three isn’t so bad . . . YES, MOTLEY CRUE tailgating on the 14th – I’m there. Can you imagine 50 year-old groupies dressed in minis – shazzam! Also, for those of you without a ticket or too cheap to fork out the cash, check out post Motley Crue show at the Quest for the cheap seats and a good deal with Wildside, Twin Cities own premier Motley Crue Tribute featuring guitarist standout Sonny Griffen. Rumor has it that they are kicking butt coast to coast . . . Motley Tuesdays with 80’s rock created by Ben Craig of Word Out Promotions are alive and well – SEE NEXT MONTH’s Nite Times for the inside scoop on the only venue in theTwin Cities for a consistent Tuesday party night out worth checking out! . . . Terry Lee Goffee, a Johnny Cash Tribute at Treasure Island – The Island is calling but nobody’s home. Instead check out Sherwin Linton for an a local Cash contribution, there is nobody better . . . Happy St. Pats Day at Dibbos in Hudson, WI, Thursday, March 17th with Jesse Lang and Archaic Wind (A Tribute to Bad Company) . . . Rubber Soul (A Tribute to the Beatles) with keys ala Billy Preston live at the Blue Fox March 18th . . . DURAN DURAN at the Excel on the 22nd . . . Blues-greatest and most celebrated diabetic in the world, BB King at Orchestra Hall on the 23rd, tickets 612 371-5656. . . SMA presents Los Lobos on the 23rd at the Pantages Theatre . . . Jesse Lang’s big brother Jonny at the Guthrie Theater on the 28th – did you know Jonny (formally the “Kid”) turned 24 on the 29th of January. Time flies when your having fun, tickets - $37 bucks . . . UP NEXT: April 6th direct from Bloomington, Indiana, MELLENCAMP 2005 Words & Music Tour TheGreatest Hits of John Mellencamp Live! One Night Only with Very Special Guest, Donovan at the X cel Energy Center . . . 4/7-5/29, The Lion King at the Historic Orpheum Theatre . . . Shaq, the “G” and Kobe would all agree for an evening of entertainment worth the experience–the infamous Harlem Globetrotters – April 15-16 at Target Center . . . Maroon 5 with The Thrills on the 23rd at Xcel Energy Center . . . Direct from Des Moines, IA - masked and ready to tie you up - Slipknot (Seriously!) at the Xcel Energy Center on the 24th . . . The Peachtree Road Tour with Sir Elton John -the piano man at Target Center April 29th, need I say more! I wanna see that Red piano. . . . Tix alert: May 4th – Lenny Kravitz at the Historic State Theatre . . . Lionel Richie at the Minneapolis Convention Center on the 7th. But what I want to know is “Where is your f-cking daughter and Paris? I would give anything for a Kodak moment? Speaking of Kodak moment, check out www.armentertainment.com in the Candid Camera section for new pics of yours truly with Gwen Stefani’s twin – No Doubt – or – in this case NO DUH! Live in Hermosa Beach, CA . . . George Thorogood and the Destroyers at Mystic Lake Casino, May 26th. . . . Just announced: SANTANA will perform June 29th at the Xcel Energy Center! . . . Retrospect February highlights included the Renegades featuring Steve Renner at the State Theatre, FireHouse at Majors in Woodbury with overflowing capacity, Aultimate Ozzie posing for photos at Salida Events Center during a FireHouse gig stealing a little thunder, Corey Stevens in two solo sold-out shows at Narrows North and Hook’s Roadhouse, and last but definitely not least, Alicia Keys live at the Super Bowl and at the Grammys, - she is way cooler than I ever thought she was and that is no April Fools – c u next month!!!!!!!