Classic Rockers Teaming Up for Benefit Show
A bevy of classic rockers are joining up for a major charity event to benefit charity. It’s great music for a good cause. – Author: Charles Ken, Photo per Audio Ink Radio
Making music for a great cause is always a positive. Now, a handful of classic rockers are joining forces for the upcoming “Above Ground 4” benefit concert.
Billy Morrison and Dave Navarro are putting on the regular event, and on top of performing, they’ll be joined by an array of classic rockers, including Billy Idol, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and more. They’ll be performing the debut albums by New York Dolls and The Cars from front to back, which should be fascinating to hear.
‘Above Ground’ Set to Feature a Range of Acts
The 2025 event is set for January 25 at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California. Tickets are available via the event’s site. Proceeds will go to MusiCares via Above Ground, a “registered 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to raising funds for and awareness to the issues of mental health and suicide prevention.”
In addition to the names already mentioned, this night will feature a bevy of musicians from different genres. We’re talking members of A Perfect Circle, Sugar Ray and more. Among the acts on the bill include Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads/Modern Lovers), Josh Freese (Foo Fighters), Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and Tommy Henriksen & Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires). If that’s not enough, organizers say more performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
On Playing the Music of the New York Dolls and Cars
So, how excited are Morrison and Navarro to play the debuts by New York Dolls and The Cars?
“Dave and I love albums that sit closer to the ‘art’ side of things, and that are a bit of a challenge to recreate,” Morrison said. “We just do our best to honor the records, to get the parts and the tones correct, to not just hack through bad cover versions of these important songs. So, we don’t really try to put a ‘spin’ on them but rather present these albums as they were meant to be heard, every song in order, sounding as close as we can get to the original.”
The last Above Ground event took place in 2021, so this is a homecoming of sorts. They took time off from the event when Navarro faced long COVID.
“Above Ground 3 [2021] was a great success, but I got really sick with COVID after that show,” Navarro said. “And it’s been over two years until I was well enough to get back on stage. And as I continue to heal, we thought this is the time!”
Navarro added, “We have work to do and we need to remind people, especially through the holidays, that it’s OK to ask for help.” He continued, “I really look forward to getting on stage with my friends and recreating this seminal music while at the same time having some fun and raising money for MusiCares.”
“The need to shine a light on mental health doesn’t go away,” Morrison said, “and I think that Dave and I work so well together on these AG events that it just felt right to come back with the fourth show. We both have our own mental health battles on different levels and if we can help raise some funds and awareness, then we are doing a good thing.”
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