Eddie Trunk's 30th Anniversary Listeners Party

Shot from my seat of the Stage. The seat I had was actually better than it looks but my phone is crap.

 

Wow...this was a concert of Legendary and Historic proportion. Let's start this off by congratulating Eddie Trunk on 30 years in radio. Eddie Trunk, a fellow brother from Jersey, has been a champion of all things Hard Rock and Heavy Metal since 1983 on WDHA, WNEW, and currently Q104.3 WAXQ. He is the inspiration behind why I write this Blog, and, it turns out, just a cool dude who's a fan like the rest of us.

The party itself was held in New York City at The Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine opened up the festivities in typical That Metal Show fashion, urging the guests to "Stump the Trunk", and then bringing on the first act of the night, The Winery Dogs. Now I have a lot to say about their set, but that will be a separate entry. Let me say it was amazing for now.

Don and Jim called Eddie Trunk up on stage to kick off the second act. Eddie gave a brief history of his radio career, gave a heartfelt thanks to everyone of the stations, fellow DJ's, musical guests, family, friends and everyone in the room for being there, and called Mike Portnoy up on stage to kick off the rest of the party.

Mike Portnoy, a long time friend of Eddie's, was the musical director for the party. Let me share with you the set list so you understand why this show was a once in a lifetime experience!

CAPTAIN NEMO (MSG) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar & Vocals)

DIAMONDS AND RUST (JUDAS PRIEST) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Tony Harnell (Vocals)

RESTLESS AND WILD (ACCEPT) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Mark Tornillo (Vocals)

ON FIRE (VAN HALEN) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Mark Tornillo (Vocals), Steve Brown (Guitar)

LIGHT UP THE SKY (VAN HALEN) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Mark Tornillo (Vocals), Steve Brown (Guitar)

UNDER THE BLADE (TWISTED SISTER) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Jay Jay French (Guitar), Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (Vocals)

TOO HOT TO HANDLE (UFO) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Lita Ford (Vocals)

ROCK BOTTOM (UFO) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Michael Sweet (Vocals)

GOT TO CHOOSE (KISS) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Scott Ian (Guitar), Frank Bello (Bass & Vocals)

PARASITE (KISS) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Scott Ian (Guitar), Frank Bello (Bass), Ace Frehley (Guitar & Vocals)

HOOLIGAN (KISS) Bumblefoot (Guitar), Frank Bello (Bass), Peter Criss (Drums & Vocals)

LOVE HER ALL I CAN (KISS) Bumblefoot (Guitar), Scott Ian (Guitar), Frank Bello (Bass), Ace Frehley (Guitar & Vocals), Peter Criss (Drums & Vocals)

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT (KISS) Mike Portnoy (2nd Drums), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Scott Ian (Guitar), Frank Bello (Bass), Ace Frehley (Guitar & Vocals), Peter Criss (Drums & Vocals)

ENCORE:

DOCTOR DOCTOR (UFO) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Lita Ford (Guitar), Geoff Tate (Lead Vocals), Michael Sweet (Vocals), Tony Harnell (Vocals), Charlie Benante (2nd Drums)

LIGHTS OUT (UFO) Mike Portnoy (Drums), Billy Sheehan (Bass), Bumblefoot (Guitar), Lita Ford (Guitar), Michael Sweet (Vocals), Tony Harnell (Vocals), Charlie Benante (2nd Drums)

Just amazing. I mean the jams at the end were just jaw dropping. Lita Ford really shredded it on guitar and Geoff Tate's singing, just breath taking to see and hear.

 



Let me say there were many stand out moments of the evening, so I'll go over what hit me the most.

Mike Portnoy basically tackling Eddie Trunk and horsing around on stage with him just before the second set.

Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine busting Eddie's chops via That Metal Show and just how happy they were to be there with him.

Geoff Tate walking in and taking time to sign a young kid's autograph book and take a few pictures with fans.

Everyone cheering for Ace Frehley as he walked in to the Hard Rock.

Watching Peter Criss and Ace Frehley on stage together playing some classic Kiss songs and just being in awe of what I was seeing.

Watching The Winery Dogs...Live...and realizing they are even better live than on the CD.

There were many, many more moments but honestly I'm still processing what I saw and heard last night. (Note: I took some video, as we were allowed to do so, and will post it once I edit the sound to clear up some of the background noise.)

Overall I consider myself very fortunate to have won a seat in the first place, but more than that, to have been there to witness a group of musicians, many of whom I've grown up listening to, play an amazing concert for a fellow fan.

Just in case you were wondering, Eddie Trunk spent the whole night on the floor with the other fans. He didn't hang out in the VIP Area unless it was to see his family, who was in attendance, but when the bands were on he was right there with everyone else on the floor doing what he has since day one. He was listening to the music he loved with people who shared that with him. Again, I have to say Congratulations on 30 years Eddie. Here's to the next 30 years!