TORONTO: The Rockpile is the go-to venue for rock music, where rock will never die. It is a very unassuming place on Dundas Street, east of the 427 highway in Toronto that frequently puts on rock shows.
Oct 19 was a night to remember as Carmine Appice (US incredible drummer), Gene Cornish (US accomplished guitarist), Geoff Downes (UK superb keyboardist), Phil Naro (US amazing vocalist), Rudy Sarzo (US/Cuban deadly bassist ) and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (US guitarist extraordinaire), together known as The Platinum All Stars Band, blew off the top of The Rockpile.
These six musicians have at one time or the other played with well-known bands such as Vanilla Fudge, Guns n Roses, Yes, Quiet Riot, Blue Oyster Cult, Rascals, Classic Albums Live and more. Combined, they have sold more than 150 million albums, so you can well imagine the excitement that filled the air at The Rockpile.
They played all the top hits of the bands they were a part of letting loose with Guns n Roses raunchy `Welcome to the Jungle’, getting the audience all pumped up right from the start.
Then followed Rod Stewart’s `Hot Legs’, exciting the air followed by the world famous popular number `Video Killed the Radio Star!’, that would play in all the clubs in India as well. Every last number that followed was a super hit: `You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ (Vanilla Fudge), `Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door'(Guns and Roses), `Come on Feel the Noise!’ (Quiet Riot), `Groovin’ (The Rascals), `Owner of a Lonely Heart’ (Yes), `Here I go Again’ (Whitesnake), `Crazy Train’ (Ozzy Osbourne), `Do You Think I’m Sexy?’ (Rod Stewart), `Sweet Child of Mine’ (Guns N Roses), `Heat of the Moment’ (Asia) and many more.
Together these musicians could have played songs all night long into the crack of dawn and still not run out of material!
What set this magical rocking night apart was that all the songs were done by musicians who were part of all those globally famous bands who did those songs originally. Their wizardry and mastery over their instruments was incredible. Each one was as superb and superlative as the next.
The music gripped the audience and totally blew their minds as they sang and danced with all the songs. There was plenty of head banging as well and a lot of actions by middle aged folk that defined a totally new cool!
The crowd wouldn’t let them leave!
But all grand things must come to an end and so it was as the band came back for the last song sending The Rascals’ `Good Lovin’ everybody’s way!
Yes folks, a fabulous night with a real super group of kick-ass platinum rock stars!
