Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Rock & Roll Hall benefit lineup supremely unimpressive

After weeks of stringing us along with their little clues and riddles, the organizers of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame benefit concert have released the show's initial lineup. If you can't tell from this post's headline, I am underwhelmed.

The show will feature Blue Oyster Cult lead guitiarist and vocalist Buck Dharma and former Rainbow and Deep Purple frontman Joe Lynn Turner alongside drummer Steve Luongo and guitarist Mark Hitt.


Pardon me, but who???

Billed by the promoters as the biggest concert event of the year ANYWHERE, this lineup reads like the "plus 1" guest list of actually important people.

Where are our big name musicians? I'll admit I bought into the hype, dreaming of seeing Paul McCartney, Sting or Tom Petty right here in my back yard (yeah, I'm a sucker) but this is just sad. $80 per ticket for this? Good luck.

To be fair, this is not the entire lineup. Another "half dozen or so" artists will be announced every couple weeks throughout the summer, and it was rumored at one point that Robin Zander would perform, but geez. We'll keep you posted if anything noteworthy (or not) comes out of this.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Keep the faith ... the show will be very impressive when the full line-up is disclosed

Valerie said...

But, anonymous, why save the best for last? Don't you want to get people excited right off the bat and boost ticket presales?

Anonymous said...

Visit rockhallbenefit.com blog for an explanation of why we are unveiling the line-up as we are or listen to 96 Rock between 4-6 tomorrow for some hints of who else will be playing. If we announce who will be playing before tickets go on sale the only people who will have a shot a tickets will be the ticket brokers with their computerized buying programs. The average fan wouldn't have a prayer otherwise and that is a concern of both the Rock Hall and John Entwistle Foundation.

Anonymous said...

Any News on the lineup yet?
I still can't find anything and tickets are still available. I'm beginning to think it's all hype now. Let's hope not!

Anonymous said...

Just went to the site and found this. Good news for me
http://rockhallbenefit.forumandco.com/rock-hall-benefit-forum-f1/looks-like-dave-mason-t7.htm

Unknown said...

Well this show is now all said and done and I was one of the ones that was saying this is going to be a huge show. And while it wasnt a bad show, but i must say it was more of a tease. There was word all day of Pete Townsend being there along with other big names. Where were the suprised guest they promised ??? They shoud be ashamed of themselves for putting this show on and not producing what was supposed to be an incredable night.

Anonymous said...

From what I've heard, Pete WAS there. Roger was supposed to be as well, but apparently canceled when he found out that the town of Cary has an 11PM curfew in affect. This, combined with what I believe to be an extended set by Jefferson Airplane (who were NOT that great even in their heyday), caused the Tribute To the Who to be limited to only one song, by the John Estwhistle Band. I am still incredibly pissed about this, because I ended up driving up from the Columbia, SC area and spent a total of around $4-500 to basically see Dennis DeYoung and Alan White (who were both very good, but not worth THAT type of money). IMO, the promoter should have cut EVERYBODY'S set times, rather than just Jack Bruce's, to fit in the tribute, which is the main reason I went. I will NOT be making this same mistake when (or if) they hold this again.

Anonymous said...

This show ended up being a huge letdown, just as I predicted in August when I posted the "bait and switch?" post on the Rock Hall's own forum (which was later conveniently deleted by them as ticket sales faltered). The show was ok for $50, but came nowhere near the hype, and flat-out lies that Rick French spewed for months. The VIPs who paid $250 are the ones who really got screwed.

Jason Blanchard said...

I was disappointed too. My Mom, Dad, my Wife and I sat at a table in the back for $1000. Rick French did not deliver what he promised for months, and even up to 10:00 that night!!! The encore NEVER happened. Pete wasn't allowed to come on stage, and Joe Turner was already on stage and got My Generation played because he knew the plug was about to be pulled....After all that, I went to the Lincoln Theater thinking the surprise would happen there, along with a memorabilia auction, and music until dawn. None of the three happened. I did get to talk with Alan White, Joe Turner, and Buck Dharma which was very cool. But my heart aches every time I hear the WHO.