VH1RockHonors

Hello everyone! My name is Gus and even though I've contributed photos in the past for the GlamMetal.com, this is my first review. Since this was the show of the year, I figured with the help of my partner Jen, we would do a review of the show for the website. After hours of waiting in assorted lines, we were finally let into the venue and took up spot in front of Gene Simmons' riser. Excitement started to build as we realized what we were about to witness. Ricky Rachtman (of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball) came out to warm up the crowd and inform us of a few ground rules. He was so cool, as he read the rules he told us he was changing one of them to allow us to take pictures. Ricky was about to announce the surprise guitarist but the crowd shout “Ace!” He was surprised we knew but as I said before we had several hours for that rumor to circulate! The production of the event was amazing, it ran like clockwork. The performances, announcers and video clips were all shown in real time with no breaks for commercials. An incredible rotating stage and fantastic crew allowed for instantaneous set changes between bands, it was unbelievable!

Jaime Pressly hosted the show from a podium to the far left of the stage that was elevated high enough above us to get glimpses up hers as well as announcers Natasha Henstridge and Brittany Snow’s dresses! Jaime was smoking hot in every costume change, the 80’s retro Kiss dress was icing on the cake. The show also included appearances by Kiefer Sutherland, Gina Gershon, Jaime Kennedy, Jim Breuer and Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller).

The set list for the show was a pure blooded rock fest for the ages. It truly was a one time, all-star, event that can’t be replicated or easily forgotten. The Foo Fighters opened the show with a tribute to Queen on Queen’s set with high engery performance of “Tie Your Mother Down” and were joined on stage by none other than Brian May and Roger Taylor themselves. Then Queen with Paul Rodgers on vocals followed with their set which included: Under Pressure, The Show Must Go On and We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions. Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters joined Roger Taylor for a triple skin pounding performance on drums of We Will Rock You. They really had a good time with it and the crowd loved it!

Godsmack came out next with a tribute to Judas Priest which was a medley that included: The Hellion / Electric Eye / Victim of Changes / Hell Bent for Leather. Finishing up with Hell Bent for Leather really whipped all the Priest fans up into a frenzy chanting “Priest, Priest, Priest” as the stage rotated to reveal Judas Priest in full on black leather ready to rock! Priest delivered old favorites: Breakin' the Law, You’ve Got Another Thing Comin', The Green Manalishi. Rob Halford even rode his Harley out on stage. I think it’s safe to say Priest fans got what they came for.

Next up was new comers All-American Rejects performing a tribute to Def Leppard with “Photograph.” Def Leppard then took the stage sounding better, in my opinion, then they have the last few years singing their hits, Rock of Ages and Rocket followed by T-Rex’s hit, 20th Century Boy, from Def Leppard’s soon to be released album “Yeah.” They only thing that can be said about Def Leppard’s performance is they had an unnecessarily long solo during Rocket…what was that about? Makes we wonder if it will end up on the cutting room floor.
Up to this point the cameras were rolling on both the bands and the crowd. The camera guys were in our faces catching all the action but from this point forward it was all hands on deck to film the All-Star tribute band and Gods of rock-Kiss. The Kiss film reel began to run as the stage rotated to reveal an All-Star band consisting of Rob Zombie, Ace Frehley, Slash, Gilby Clarke, Scott Ian and Tommy Lee. The predominantly Kiss based crowd went nuts when they saw Ace lurking in the shadows. Scott Ian of(Anthrax) was on bass and was privleged enough to be using Gene's Battle Axe bass and was loving every minute of it when he was onstage. He looked like as a kid in a candy store as he awaited his chance to honor his beloved Kiss. We yelled over to him to throw out pics and he was really cool to throw a couple out to us.

The All-Star band kicked out a raw and edgy tribute to Kiss of “God of Thunder.” Scott Ian went totally wild stomping all over the stage and Rob Zombie commanded the mic. We were disappointed that Ace never came over to our side of the stage but it was amazing to see him up on stage again anyway. Slash and Scott Ian each came to the edge of the riser where we stood. Close enough to touch, but so up close and personal it was impossible to even get a photograph.

When the song was over the stage rotated one last time to the amazement of the few in the crowd who’d never seen a Kiss show. The speakers stacked as far as the eye could see and Eric Singer and his drum kit perched high atop them all. We also had to step back as the riser had to be ready to go and the "cherry picker" was put into place making it hard to get good pictures. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer in full costume and make-up kicked off their set in typical Kiss style with plenty of pyrotechnics and “Detroit Rock City.” They also did “Deuce” and “Love Gun.” We had to step back from the riser during Love Gun as Gene and Tommy rose up to the rafters as we were blasted with a shot of cold air from the hydraulics! Paul never made it over to our side but we got plenty of tongue action from Gene as slobber clung hanging from his chin. We were disappointed with the fact they had a camera man so tightly fixed on Gene and directly in front on us that he blocked our view for most of the Kiss set but we were troopers and made do with what we had just for the privilege of being there during the making of rock history.

Jaime Pressly joined Kiss and all the other stars on stage to close out the show but the crowd chanted “one more song, one more song.” Jaime looked at the Kiss boys and asked them if they wanted to do one more song, they agreed and everyone else cleared the stage. Paul signaled to Eric they would do “Makin’ Love,” suggesting that it was totally unplanned. Wow, what a day, what a show, what a privilege to be invited by Kiss Online to take part in a once in a lifetime opportunity! Remember to watch VH1 May 31st at 9pm EST and for supporting Metal month all month long on VH1 classic.

FOO FIGHTERS w/ Brian May and Roger Taylor:
Tie Your Mother Down

QUEEN: w/ Paul Rodgers
Under Pressure
The Show Must Go On
We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions

GODSMACK:
Medley: The Hellion / Electric Eye / Victim Of Changes / Hell Bent For Leather

JUDAS PRIEST:
Breakin' The Law
You've Got Another Thing Comin'
The Green Manalishi (with the Two Pronged Crown)

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS:
Photograph

DEF LEPPARD: - with Brian May
Rock Of Ages
Rocket
20th Century Boy

All-Star Band featuring Rob Zombie, Ace Frehley, Slash, Gilby Clarke, Scott Ian, Tommy Lee:
God Of Thunder

KISS:
Detroit Rock City
Deuce
Love Gun
Makin' Love

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