We went around back to the VIP line and it was long. We were all entertained by the antics of an idiot who ran a siren on a police motorcycle. What was especially funny is he continued to sit on it and seemed genuinely surprised that he was being arrested. As I maneuvered around the front of the line, I saw Gilby Clark hustled straight in. Then there was Tom Green hobbling in on crutches. If they continued to let in these “celebrities” when the place was full what chance do we have?
We barely moved in 15 minutes, and my resolve started to wear. It was 11 o’clock, and the concert was supposed to start. We were not much closer to the entrance, and no one in their right mind was going to leave at this point. We overheard that no one from the tent was getting in the building, either. That was enough for me. I was not interested in waiting around only to find out I couldn’t get into the VIP tent. I asked Eric if he was ready to go, and since I was a major factor in his still being there, we got out of line.
To get to our cars, we walked past the front of the Whisky and the huddled masses yearning and scheming to get in. Just as I stepped past the open door of The Cat Club, inspiration hit. “Let’s try something,” I said. We walked into the club and straight to the back. People lined the bar, but the back door was wide open. The alley was still filled with smokers and hangers-on. We made our way to the back entrance of the VIP tent, walking passed security with a wave of our VIP wristbands. It was surprisingly simple.
We grabbed a place in front of a TV screen and I looked like a genius to Eric, who though he was very tired, did want to see the show. All the doors into the club were manned with two security guards, and no one was getting in. Not a cute girl, not some guy from Linkin Park, and not even Jim Ladd, who worked the event.
Robbie and Ray were joined by Slash on guitar and on vocals by Chester Bennington from Linkin Park and Perry Farrell, whose band The Satellite Party filled in on guitar, bass, and drums. They played “Roadhouse Blues” and “Break On Through.” Video shot by one of Tom Green's assistants is on YouTube. Val Kilmer had rehearsed the former during the sound check, but wasn’t around. Rumors were that he didn’t want to share vocals, but it could have been a brilliant bit of theatre as Jim was a tad unreliable back in the day.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
This was a very entertaining read, El B!
I have to admit that I've never understood the interest in post-Morrison Doors. I was a huge fan of theirs when they first burst onto the scene, and had the opportunity to see them live (in New Haven, CT in the '60s, when Jim got busted onstage -- it was quite the night), and the Doors without Morrison strike me a bit like contemplating the Stones without Mick. Not sure I get it.
2 - El Bicho
Glad you liked it, Lisa. I think the fellas learned after their two albums as a trio to make sure The Doors are not post-Morrison. His presence is everywhere and certainly was that night. A celebration of like-minded people, "a feast of friends" as Jim would say.
I'm hoping my partner-in-crime will stop in and offer his two cents.
3 - Vern Halen
But I really did like parts of Other Voices, and I wish they would accept that album into their canon. Ship w/Sails, Eye of the Sun, Tightrope Ride & Hang On to Your Life are all better than the bulk of The Soft Parade, for instance.
Full Circle if I remember correctly was pretty crappy, though. Haven't heard it since I was a teenager.
4 - Connie Phillips
Congratulations! This article was an Editor's Pick this week.