WOW, I have been to many Roadkill meet and greets and I would have to say in 1997 there was a stretch of Three GFR shows, One in San Diego at Humphries, one in La at the Greek theater and one in Las Vegas at the Texas Station. The meet and greet at Humphries was short and not to big, But very cool in it was the first time I meet Sunny and had a nice discussion with her. It was a good show a bit quite though, due to noise restrictions. That was followed by a show two days later at the greek in LA, we had a great BIG meet before the show outside and VH1 filmed some of it, they used very little of that film though on the behid the music show. There wa an after show meet and greet two,and they greek had a very cool two story place both inand outside to meet. Mark Dona nd Mel stacked out different corners and there was food too. I though, wow it would be heard to beet that in Vgeas in a few days But I think we did it. Mike Butler and I ran the meet there and it turned out great. I went back and found some of my old posts and willp ut there hear. If you want to read some from that time go to Bills link
http://wap.parrette.net/GFR_WEB/ROADKILL_DIGEST_ARCHIVES/ and look at the last few in August and the first few in sept 1997.
Ok first we had a meet at the Monte carlo for anyone in Town on Friday, hear was my short revirew of that,
Mini review Monte carlo meet and greet
It was a small but enthusiastic group of Killers in attendance. LowJAy, Stan
and Tia P, Mike B, Bobby G, John White and his friend Ralph Landry, Funkster
Tom Fagan, The Cat Bro's and Family, Randy Valdez, Mikes B's Friend Jared,
Gary and Robin Rector, and The Human Billboard your truly. I might be leaving
a couple of people out.
People approached us to ask about GFR and we spread the word, we had some good
conversation and some good drink's, but I must say the waiters are slow there
I could not even get a buzz. : (
When They started playing Disco we walked to the Harley Davidson Cafe and it
was crowded so we just walked in and many people started talking to us so we
informed every one of the location and time of the concert. So we think we
sold a few tickets last night.
We called it a night around 12 so everyone could get rested up for today.
Headline GFR Destroys Las Vegas News at eleven.
Rick Walking GFR Billboard Cappetto
OK now we move on to Saturday
Grand Funk Destroys las Vegas
This is hard to write last week in Calif. I had the best time in my life at
The Greek Theater Show and Vegas was easiley equal. I am not going to go on
and on about how great it was since Mike B and I were the corrdanaters.
Concert
I have to say that Mark, Don and Mel completely rocked the Texas and it was a
great concert. It was louder than the Greek, yes my ears are ringing today,
and there were on. I don't know it I have ever seen Don pound those Drums so
Hard. Mel was right on like usual and Mark did not let the heat bug em one
bit, he was all over the stage right on and ripping as usual. Mark's voice was
as good as ever, and you could see he was having allot of fun up there. The
concert was the standard set and it kicked ass.
Our seats were all great Most Killers were in the $40 seats and were in the
first 8 rows, the venue is small it looked like it held 2000 (Texas kept
telling us 3000 but no way). The place was pretty full there were big sales
the last two days to fill it up. I receive the privilege of wearing the uncle
Sam hat from Richard Shockley and man being We're An American Band Mark was
pointing at it, what a trip.
There was no meet and greet after the show but Don and Sunny both came out
into the lobby of the Hotel to meet the roadkillers again.
Pre Show
What can I say I have never meet a RoadKiller I did not like everyone is such
a cool person. And we meet allot of em in Vegas. Mike Funkengruven rented a
great room for us at the Texas called the Armadillo Lounge. We controlled
access to it and it was pretty private, I brought GFR CD's and we put em on in
a 5 CD changer and it randomly selected tracks. We put on Live Album, E Pub
Funk, Closer To Home, Shinin On, And All the Girls in the world Beware. (Maybe
it was a 6 CD changer I think ON Time was on as well). I arrived at 2:50 and I
was the first on in the lounge by 3:30 we had 25 or so and I think we peeked
out at 85 people at any one time in there.
We had Great Funk Conversations and Great Funk times and then came the Fun.
Don and Sunny Came over and we gave Don a surprise Birthday party. Joe Robuka
was the prime mover behind the Birthday party he was going to have it in organ
but the show was canceled, so he asked if he could have it in Vegas, and We
Said HELL YES. We tried to keep this off the list so it would not get back
around to Don.
I MCed the event and announced Joe and he presented Don with a Beautiful
Crystal present inscribed with special message for Don. Also others brought
presents for Don as well. I know that Stan And Tia Pace brought Don and Gift
Certificate for Home Depot, One of Don's hobbies is gardening and Don Loves to
Mulch. After Don received his presents Mike and Phil CAT brought Two Vermont
Teddy Bears for Sunny. Mick came up and made a nice speech about Sunny and all
she has done for us killers. Sunny loved her bears and told Don "now theirs no
more room for you in the bed," LOL. Next Don Cut The Cake and all the Killers
sang Happy Birthday. I have to say that Don and Sunny went so far out of there
way to talk to everyone. Don is truly a great guy and he really LOVES the
roadkillers. It is amazing that a rock and roll superstar would be so nice to
his fans. Let's remember that Don was in the process of playing three concerts
in over 100 degree weather in 4 days and is turning 50 years old. I cannot
Thank Don and Sunny enough for how good they are to us.
As the Party continued Mark and Mel came out as well and they were both nice
as well, they posed for pictures and then Steve Lisuk presented Mark Don and
Mel with Posters from there first Show in Calif., 1969 at the Fillmore West
Backing up Santana. The Guys dug the posters. Mark Don and Mel all spoke a few
word's from the stage and then all went back to get ready for the concert. Mel
said thank you and Mark said this is GOOD, and Don made a nice speech about
how much he appreciates the roadkill. The Party Broke up the next 40 min's
(after 7:00pm) or so and we all made are way over the concert venue. This was
as fun and wonderful as the Greek, I have to say those two years are two of
the best days in my lift. I will never forget them. I'll post pictures As soon
as I get em on Disk (I don't have a scanner).
Other Highlights:
Mick Cat Daughters (our on of them was Phils Daughter I think) sang Locomotion
for us, and a very good job. Good Timing as well Don and Sunny were just
coming in. I think ther names were Michelle (Phil's daughter) and Lisa (Mick's
daughter).
When we turned back up the music as Don was Cutting the cake Some Kind Of
Wonderful came on, this was right after Mick C presented Sunny with the Teddy
Bears. This was unplanned just a twist of faith.
I was challenged to sing Inside Looking Out from the stage by Funkster Tom, so
I did. I'll let the other killers review that. LOL.
We all signed a roadkill shirt for Don and he wore it in concert. Great Work
mike.
Joe R brought a scrap Book of pictures of Don's life and career and we all
signed it as well.
Steve lisuk presented Mark, Don, Mel and Sunny citations for there great work.
One thing I did not mention The LAS Vegas Audience stood up the whole show, no
sitting not once not even during Mean Mistrerater or bad time. GREAT Audience.
And I wish all of you could have been there.
Rick : )
PS. During the concert the security guys where rocking out, you can tell they
liked what they were hearing. And they were tripping out at how loud the
audience was singing. When we charged the stage they let us stay up there, I
guess they figured at our ages (our at my weight) we would not climb the
stage. And I could see there look of amazement as the audience song out I'm
Your Captain with Mark. It was FANTASTIC. VH1 was right there getting it all.
I noticed VH1 was shooting the audience allot. And this audience gets an A+; I
don't remember being at any other concert where we never sat down, not even
during the overture.
PPS. Special Thanks to everyone who contributed to Don's Gift's, and Mark &
Mel's Gift. Extra Special thanks to Mike Butler for paying for the Room
(Armadillo), Thanks to Steve Lisuk for carrying at least 1/3 of the cost for
the Concert Posters from 69; Thanks to Joe Robutka for carrying at least half
of Don's Major Gift's cost, Thanks to those of you who brought Gift's for Don.
PPS. Thanks to Bill P, Donna W, Jeff C for starting it all. Extra, Extra,
Extra, Special thanks to Don and Sunny For being so Good to us Roadkillers.
err extra part
I was just sitting hear think and remembered that Howard Came at the same time
Mark and Mel came over, I did not see him I was walking back to talk to Mel
and almost run into hey so I have a nice chat with him. I forget to mention
this in my review and feel bad I left Howard out. So he we go. HOWARD WAS
THERE, and he is a real nice guy. Down to earth just like the guys he keep's
company with. And Howard kicked AS* in concert he hit those high notes on
Gimme Shelter, did his standard excellent Job on KEYS and rocked out on rhythm
Guitar, Dan I wish I could play keys and Guitar, then I could have been in
GFR, OK, OK more delusions of grandeur. Howard is the man.
Rick Sorry Howard for forgetting You got stupefied after meeting Don, Mel and
Mark Cappetto.
and this was the list of roadkillers who came to vegas for that event
Updated Vegas attendee list
Carey Northam. Helped big time with Don's Birthday.
Tim "The Review man" Maijala
Richard The GFR Shockman Shockly
Rick Funk Big Guy in the Tye Dye Cappetto
Alex Cappetto My Brother
John Zito My cousin
Shawn (Johns Bass Player)
MIKE TIE DYED FUNKENGURVEN BUTLER
Sharon Butler Mikes Beautiful Wife
Andrea Butler Mikes Beautiful Daughter.
Tom RED ALBUM FUNKSTER FAGAN.
Mike Adair Texas Roadkiller.
Randy Valdez Randy and Anna also brought family to the concert.
Anna Valdez
Joe Robutka great job on Don's Birthday present.
Luann Robutka
Jay Lowell, Jay is really Funny in person.
Jim Maijala, Captain Kirk and his family
Gary Rector great people
Roben Rector
Daryll Davis Desert Funk Fanatics & Great people.
Nancy Davis
Brian McCabe Desert Funk Fanatics & Great people.
Laura McCabe
John White John tied with Alan W for Coolest Roadkillers.
Ralph Landry Nice Guy Great Photographer.
Wanda Laundry
Clarance Nagorka You all should have seen Clarence's face when GFR walked
in,
: )
Gayle Monahans
Ron Hanson, another great GFR family.
Julie Hanson
Cherie Hanson great people
Tom Carpenter great people
Laura Carpenter
Tena Charlton great people
Steve Charlton
Donna Wrightman, without Donna and Bill P none of this would have ever
happened.
Allan Wrightman, coolest roadkill and he actually is very talkative.
Mike Young great people.
Linda Young
Steve Lisuk,Steve is the man, Great Job on Posters and speech.
Carol Lisuk I think its carol.
Bruce Wallace great people.
Kris Wallace
Robert Garrett, Bear what can I say as big a fanatic as me.
Joyce martain Great ladies and came along way.
Rachel Glover
Phil Catalano Cat clan is Fantastic,
Mick Catalano Cool present for Sunny.
Jody Catalano (Mick's wife)
Mike Catalano (Mick's son)
Michelle (Phil's daughter) Good Job Singing.
Lisa (Mick's daughter) Ditto.
Roz George Good People those George's.
Roger George
Bobby Gallagher My singing Partner. Total Party Animal.
George Christopher Great people
Gary Jennings great people.
Donna McWillianms Good gambler : )
Stan Pace, Stan is so cool
Tia Pace, so is Tia
Russell tilly, another Vegas Roadkiller and his group.
Vickey tilly
Heber fierro
And 5 other people in there group.
Ed from Vegas Another Vegas roadkiller
Ed's Wife.
Craig and his Wife from vegas.
Bill Parent the father of Roadkill.
My brother brought a friend his name is James.
And Krigger the Drummer from Gaffera 80's metal band.
And A Guy named Terry that worked for the Texas who we found out Fry Nite on
the strip in
the Harley Davidson Cafe who asked if he could come, his name slips me.
If I left anyone off please let me know.
Rick ISLO Cappetto.
I also met many other killers in Vegas over the years, including Phoenix Ray, Mickey, Brotehr Kelly, and many many more
RickFunkin Nuts Cappetto.
Author
Topic: Las Vegas FUNKFEST (Read 1674 times)