News From The Road

It has taken me so long to write because I couldn’t actually believe what took place at the Rock and Roll Hall last Saturday really happened.


Photo By: Ross Halfin

It all started when Joe was asked to play with Run DMC a few months ago. Joe wanted to go to the Induction ceremonies when he heard Jeff Beck was being inducted by Jimmy Page and with Run DMC there, it was a slam dunk. He had the guitar he used in the “Walk this Way” video all ready to go. Then word came that Rev. Run and DMC wouldn’t be playing after all. The rumor is that the two don’t speak to each other.  So Joe decided he and Billie would just go and enjoy the festivities. The days leading up to the show, Joel Gallen, who was putting the TV show together had a great idea to have the 3 guys who made the song “Train Kept’ a Rollin’” famous on stage performing it.  Add Ron Wood to the mix and you have an end of show jam of epic proportions. I have heard of 2 drummers before but 3 bass players? With the energetic Flea (there to induct Metallica) on bass as well as current and past Metallica four-stringmen, Rob Trujillo and Jason Newstead, the line up was filled by James Hetfield, who stepped out of his box and sang great, Kirk Hammett who took the second solo and just crushed and then there was Lars Ulrich who was capable on drums.

We arrived Friday afternoon and were to rehearse Friday night but apparently Metallica’s gear didn’t make it into the country in time and wouldn’t be arriving from Paris until the wee hours of Friday.


Rehearsals. Photo By: Ross Halfin 

Metallica had a small party at the House of Blues to celebrate their induction. Earlier that day I got a call from Ross Halfin who was there escorting his mate Jimmy Page. You could hear him getting all peacock’d up on the phone just kinda strutting around his hotel suite telling me about his adventures with 'Pagey'. Next thing I know there is a knock on the door and there stood Mr. Page and his bodyguard/assistant Ross the Boss. Let’s go then! "We are driving to the party on the bus with you lot," he half shouts at me. I leave my room with the bossiest photographer in the world and the perhaps the greatest guitarist on earth. I did notice Ross once again nicked my $10 can of cashews from my mini bar.

We go to Joe and Billie’s room and there Jimmy and Joe hang for a few minutes before leaving for the party. As we waited in the lobby for the lift, all of Metallica and their families are there and Kirk was getting ready to introduce Joe, Jimmy and Billie to his Mom. Mama Hammett looks at Jimmy and said I know you, you’re Mr. Aerosmith!  Joe chuckles, Jimmy points to Joe we all enter the Elevator red faced.

The next day a rehearsal was set up for 12 Noon.


Photo By: Ross Halfin

Everybody arrives bright eyed and bushy tailed. It was weird because Jimmy was kind of lurking in the audience and then moved closer to the stage during the jam. He was listening and you could see the wheels turning in his head. It almost looked like he was sizing up the players and seeing if he wanted to take part in the jam or maybe he was thinking of the song and what he should play in it. A solo? Rhythm? 


Rehearsals. Photo by: Ross Halfin


Rehearsals. Photo By: Ross Halfin

After a few run-throughs he grabbed a rented Les Paul and began to jam. He decided he would leave the solo’s to Joe, Jeff and Kirk. Joe started with the Bones and Bullets guitar but opted for the Billie after he broke a string. He stuck with the Billie for the show. Jimmy actually used Felicia Collin’s (from David Letterman) white Les Paul for the show.

Joe did a lot of press while in Cleveland - taking about the new Aerosmith tour with ZZ Top and also the next Aerosmith recording and working on his new solo album.

Then came what we were all here for: The Show!

It started with Joe and Billie walking the red carpet and posing for pictures.


Photo by: John Bionelli


Photo by: John Bionelli

Next came the dinner. Joe was seated next to Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck.


Photo By: Ross Halfin

Halfin was a little put off because he had to sit on the other side of the table and couldn’t refill his boss’s water glass in a timely fashion.

The show itself was long with no time limit on the inductions or acceptance speeches.


Photo By: Ross Halfin

They should have had Power Bars for dessert that night instead of crème brulee. People were popping no-doz like they were tic tacs. I happened to be backstage after Run DMC was inducted and I saw them walking to the press tent. Rev Run was walking in front of Darryl and he turned and said and I quote “my favorite part of the night was watching all that old video footage of us.” I thought that was cool and also squashes the whole not talking to each other rumor.


Photo By: Ross Halfin


Jimmy Page talk with Billie Perry with John Bionelli in the Grassy Knoll. Photo By: Kazuyo Horie


Photo By: Ross Halfin

Metallica woke people up around 11:30pm with a blistering mini set. Then came what the 5000 people in attendance were waiting for. A Guitar lovers all-star jam that would have had Jimi Hendrix watching his 60 inch Plasma in the sky on this night.


Photo By: Ross Halfin

 
Photo By: Ross Halfin


Photo By: Ross Halfin


Photo By: Ross Halfin

Next day it was back on the bus and still feeling numb for what had just taken place the last 2 days.

As I look back on it I remember looking at the run-down sheet I was given the day of the show. Normally at the Grammy’s or AMA’s we get a run down sheet that tells us what time the artist goes on and if they are playing live or to tape or live-to-tape. Usually if you see say J-Lo or Britney it says to-tape. I noticed that every single band at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said “Live” and that made me smile. It was refreshing to see that bands playing on TV can still do it without the help of tape.


Photo By: Ross Halfin

Joe and Tom taped a message for their other child hood heros “The Ventures,” last week. The Ventures are an instrumental band from the early 60’s that had such hit’s as “Walk Don’t Run” and the theme to Hawaii Five-O to name a couple. The Ventures are celebrating their 50th anniversary in Seattle this week.

Joe taped a message at the Boneyard the other morning for the fans which should be up anytime now.

See You on the Road! Soon…

John