Modern News

Road Recovery is an organization that is dedicated to help less fortunate teens and children who are at risk for drug and alcohol addiction. The staff includes professional musicians and counselors who help the kids express themselves through musical performance as opposed to turning to vices. May 1^st was the second annual benefit show at the Nokia Theater in Times Square. Celebrities such as Guns ‘n’ Roses’ guitarist Gilby Clarke, Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and the honoree of the night Wayne Kramer (MC5) lent a helping hand to some of the groups performing. After brief sets from Crazy James and a few Road Recovery kids hip-hop acts, the legendary Billy Bragg sang two acoustic songs, including a cover of The Verve’s “The Drugs Don’t Work”. Next up Tom Morello’s new group Street Sweeper Social Club featuring The Coup’s Boots Riley on vocals and guitarist Carl Restivo ripped through its 2 song set. Morello has been active in Road Recovery for years, pretty much running last years show single handedly. After SSSC, Gilby, Jerry and Restivo sang a beautiful rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” that moved just about everyone in the audience. The all-star show was already in full swing. Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell pranced on stage with his wife Etty Lau and sang his newly reunited groups’ “Mountain Song” and “Ain’t No Right”. Handsome Dick Manitoba stormed his way onstage to perform The Dictators’ “Call Me Animal” before relinquishing the microphone to Juliette Lewis for a rendition of “Dirty Deeds” by AC/DC. Lewis fit the role to perfection.

Cantrell started on vocals on Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak”, backed by Kramer, Morello, Clarke and Don Was was soon joined by Evan Seinfeld of Biohazard. Farrell came back for a singalong of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, and then something special happened. Iggy Pop stormed the stage. Everyone knew it was going to happen, but when it did…wow. He sang “Five Foot One” and “Sixteen” while just being himself. Which includes flailing around the stage, hanging off of curtains and spitting on photographers. The manicness subsided for a few minutes while Mr. Kramer was honored for overcoming addiction for all these years and was given the keys to Sing Sing Prison, where the organization hoped to put on a show the next day. The finale was the MC5 classic “Kick Out The Jams”, where all the performers came back on stage and were joined by Little Steven Van Zandt. Iggy playfully jabbed at Kramer and the two Detroit rock legends embraced. It was an historic night for a great cause.