2009.04.11 Mirage's Bare Pool, Las Vegas, NV [PERRYPALOOZA]

[scabdates]

That video of Whores... 1:00 mark... that's perfect.

And I love the fact that EA and Martyn aren't tagged in any of the wireimage photos. And Pete's barely captured.

[hydro]

nice review plus photos
http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-l ... yros-perf/

Photo Gallery: Perry Farrell’s Big 5-0 at Bare features historic jams
Posted April 12, 2009 • 3:23 p.m.

It was an extraordinary night of reigning rock royalty. In fact, history was made at legendary musician Perry Farrell’s 50th birthday celebration at the tops-optional Bare pool lounge at The Mirage. His wife, Etty, threw the “PerryPalooza” bash, and a galaxy of stars turned up to party and play.

Perry is the founder of Jane’s Addiction and Lollapalooza. The nighttime concert included incredible collaborations and covers by Billy Idol, Deborah Harry, Juliette Lewis, Dave Navarro, Mark McGrath, Mickey Avalon, Donovan Leitch and Perry himself.

The rock fest also featured performances by Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Martyn Lenoble and Peter Distefano (Porno for Pyros), guitarist Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Matt Sorum (Guns ’n’ Roses), Billy Morrison (The Cult), Sen Dog and Bobo (Cypress Hill) and Shepard Fairey.

Our contributing photographer Denise Truscello was on hand to capture these exclusive shots for our photo gallery.

It was the first time since rock ’n’ roll was born that the original musicians from Porno for Pyros and Jane’s Addiction performed together on the same stage. Perry hasn’t worked with Porno for Pyros in 12 years! Now he’s reunited with the original Addiction members, and their upcoming tour includes a stop at The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on May 18.

Musical highlights included Dave Navarro accompanying Billy Idol on “Rebel Yell,” and the concert’s finale, “Jane Says,” performed by Perry and the all-star cast of rockers. The concert was interrupted as Etty and everyone on stage toasted Perry with Dom Perignon before he was presented with a 6-foot-long lollipop-shaped cake created by Jean-Philippe Patisserie. Every rocker in the house jammed as the entire concert lineup sang along to an acoustic rock ’n’ roll version of “Happy Birthday.”

The Venetian comedy headliner David Spade had a cabana at the pool after his show so he and his friends could catch this one, too! Rosanna Arquette also was in attendance, and VegasHD recorded the unique concert for a possible future release via iPod and iPhone.

Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik took the night off after the Mandalay Bay boxing event so he could sit back and enjoy the concert. Here’s his report for Vegas DeLuxe:

“I’m such a rock concert fan, I even shelled out the $115 for a ticket for what was probably the concert event of the year in Vegas: a modern-day Rat Pack event of sorts. It had everything you could want in a good show: celebrity guests, a classic set list, band reunions and, at the center of it all, birthday boy and the master of ceremonies himself Mr. Perry Farrell, big smile and glass of champagne in hand for the duration. Mark McGrath performed the Sex Pistols “EMI” and just blew up the party. Very unexpected from Mark, but kudos to him for a great cover of a classic punk rock tune. McGrath set the bar high for the rest of the night.

Juliette Lewis, Dave Navarro and Rosanna Arquette at Perry Farrell's 50th birthday bash at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage.

“Juliette Lewis then came out onto the stage in a red satin dress and matching gloves and performed the AC/DC song “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” This had to be one of the coolest things I have seen at a show in a long time. She sounded great, and she reminded us of a female version of Mick Jagger. Sexy, dirty and all rock ’n’ roll. I just saw and heard Mallory Knox, that sweet mix of evil and sexiness that she embodied so well in her role in Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers.

“Donovan Leitch Jr., son of legendary folk singer Donovan, came out on stage with former Pussycat Doll Carmit Bach and performed David Bowie’s “Suffragette City.” The entire place went up in a roar with the level of music so high and well played. How would the Porno for Pyros and Jane’s Addiction set be?

“Next up, Cypress Hill’s Sen Dog and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine burst out with Cypress Hill’s “Superstar” and “Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That.” They turned up the notch on the night and added some hard-hitting hip-hop flavors to the classic and punk rock mix.

“Perry then brought out an unannounced guest that he described as a birthday gift to himself: It was none other than Deborah Harry. Her version of “Rapture” and “Call Me” had Juliette Lewis, Dave Navarro, Mark McGrath and Rosanna Arquette on the side of the stage dancing, with Perry and his wife Etty throwing in some nice background vocals. Rosanna’s full-body lace outfit was very distracting and hot, and she was really looking great. At this point, the night was sealed in my personal concert history books (and I’ve seen thousands of shows) as one of the all-time greatest.

“There was an epic reunion of Porno for Pyros, and they nailed the song “Tahitian Moon.” Soon after, Billy Idol joined and performed a scorching “Rebel Yell,” and Dave Navarro joined on guitar. Perry requested that Billy do the song “Eyes Without a Face,” and Tom Morello’s solo was outstanding with his signature-screeching guitar. They all started in on The Beatles great party tune “Twist and Shout.”

“Then Jane’s Addiction was up, and the anticipated reunion was no letdown. They sounded fresh and well rehearsed. I look forward to the tour. To close out the night, everyone was onstage for The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” Perry was stage front and center with a bottle of champagne in hand. After signing off, the party moved to The Beatles Revolution lounge. All of the performers showed up at the party rotating in and out. I told Juliette she was a highlight of the night, with her “Dirty Deeds,” even getting to dance with her to top off the night.

“It was one of those shows for the books, and I had a great time and saw a great show and rarely do I ever just watch and listen. I really learned a lot watching the other photogs doing their thing. I’ll have to check out Robert Knight’s shots, as the legendary rock photographer was front and center for the entire event. I am sure he captured many iconic and classic images. He is one of the greatest. Keep an eye out for his shots, as this was one of those Vegas parties that will be talked about for years to come.”

[Mike]

Perry Farrell rocks out at 50th birthday
‘Perrypalooza’ performers include Billy Idol, Debbie Harry


Perry Farrell performs Saturday night at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as part of the ‘Perrypalooza’ party in honor of the alternative rocker’s 50th birthday.

By Melissa Arseniuk

Sun, Apr 12, 2009 (8:27 p.m.)

Perry Farrell may be 50, but he still likes to, and knows how to, party.

Farrell enjoyed a star-studded belated birthday bonanza at Bare last night. Though the LA-based rocker marked half a century on March 29, he celebrated his golden birthday with “Perrypalooza” in Las Vegas.

Most birthday parties include friends, family, music and a cake, and Farrell’s was no exception. Except stars from across the rock 'n' roll solar system, like Billy Idol, Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) Debbie Harry (Blondie), Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray) and Matt Sorum and Billy Morrison (both of the Cult) are Farrell’s friends; the stunning Etty Lau Farrell is his wife; and the party’s soundtrack included Idol singing “Midnight Hour,” Harry performing “Call Me” and Morello joining Sen Dog of Cypress Hill for “Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That.”

There was a cake, too, but Farrell’s was gigantic – nearly enough to feed all 400 ticketholders – and shaped like a gigantic lollipop.

“Perrypalooza” also featured a Porno for Pyros reunion and marked the first time the band played the same gig as Farrell’s other, more well-known project, Jane’s Addiction.

The birthday boy wore tailored tuxedo pants and an appropriately gold-hued dress shirt for his golden celebration, topped off with an unflappable smile.

Farrell stood (and often sang and danced) at stage left as he watched his friends perform. He seemed genuinely happy, both onstage and off.

And the crowd, which was largely made up of 40- and 50-somethings mixed with few Gen-Xers who could drop $115 apiece for the show, seemed to have as much as the performers.

Farrell previously said he didn’t mind working on his birthday.

“I don’t think of it as work, I love singing,” he said, adding, “It’s my birthday, I can sing all night if I feel like it.”

While he didn’t sing all night, he and his friends performed for nearly two hours, resulting in a very fun and memorable, cover-infused trip down memory lane.

The show seemed incredibly organic and impromptu, with the set list being decided on the fly (at times at the birthday boy’s request) and artists joining each other onstage from time to time, sharing guitars and back-up vocals.

Here’s the play-by-play:

Legendary Obey street artist Shepard Fairey avoided the spotlight but got things started from the DJ booth, spinning until Farrell came onstage just before 11 p.m. to introduce his first guest.

A shameless self-promoter named Mickey Avalon served as the opening act. By far the youngest performer to take to the stage, Avalon managed to work his name into both of the songs he performed, repeatedly. While his performance and lyrics were far from innovative, his set won the award for most cleavage – narrowly beating out the corseted, curvaceous Lau Farrell – thanks to a quintet of lovely ladies in sequined bikinis and go-go gear who enhanced his stage show.

After that, the Farrells pulled a few songs from their Satellite Party collection to share with the crowd before introducing the next guest, who Farrell called “one of the most fun people in the entire universe.”

When Mark McGrath stepped onto the stage moments later, however, the Sugar Ray frontman seemed to channel the question that permeated the audience: What on Earth is Mark McGrath doing here?

The lighthearted and seemingly psychic McGrath called himself a “douche,” then got to business, with a cover of the Sex Pistols’ “EFI.”

Next came Juliette Lewis, who gave an impressive and energetic take on AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds,” which was followed by former Pussycat Doll Carmit Bachar.

With the crowd warmed up and ready to rock, Sen Dog and Tom Morello took to the stage, launching into the Cypress Hill classic, “Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That.”

After they left the stage, Farrell introduced Debbie Harry as a “very very special” and unexpected guest. While the 63-year-old is now decidedly gray and not blonde, the former Blondie leading lady did her best to treat Perrypalooza-goers to a few of her band’s hits, beginning with the 1981 single, “Rapture.”

The Farrells joined Harry on vocals for “Call Me,” as did McGrath and Lewis. Lau Farrell was particularly energetic in her performance, her fervor at times risking a so-called “wardrobe malfunction.”

Alas, her enhanced goods failed to escape their corseted confines and no one got a free show.

Ticketholders soon got some special bang for their buck, however, when Porno for Pyros took to the stage. It was the first time in more than a decade, as Farrell and his bandmates hadn’t performed live in over 12 years.

While the Porno for Pyros set was short, it was sweet. The guys sounded good and seemed to enjoy themselves onstage, too.

After just two songs, they bid adieu with "Tahitian Moon" and left fans cheering for more.

“What can we do to top that?!” Farrell asked as he reassumed the role as emcee and host.

“Oh, I know!” he shouted. “Billy Idol!”

The iconic British rocker leapt onto the stage, as did Dave Navarro, who served as his guitarist for the evening.

The 53-year-old Idol proved to me somewhat of a contradiction. There he was, just three years older than Farrell, but looking like he was 10 or 15 years his senior. While his hair was spiky and bleached blonde, and his wardrobe included a very hip jacket and black pants with a lace-up crotch, his washed-out, vampire-like appearance evidenced his long career of living the rock n’ roll lifestyle.

While Idol may have initially looked like a member of the living dead, he didn’t sound like one. In fact, his performance was incredibly lively, proving true the adage that looks can be deceiving.

Meanwhile, the similarly age-defiant Navarro demonstrated that he, at age 41, appears to have mastered the art of picking up girls from the stage -- mid-song, no less.

Navarro took some time out of “Midnight Hour” to give detailed instructions to a blonde in the front row.

“You … go there … phone number,” he said, using both hands to point at the woman (“you”), then a stage hand standing to the left (“there”) then motioning, as if holding a pen and writing (“phone number”).

The woman seemed to have really piqued Navarro’s interest, as he checked back on her several times throughout the evening, repeating his instructions. (No word on whether or not she complied the notoriously flirtatious guitarists’ orders.)

Navarro’s extracurricular plans didn’t stop the show, however, and Idol’s set continued on, phone number or no phone number, concluding with a stellar rendition of “Eyes Without a Face.”

After Idol left the stage, Farrell returned to center stage and joined Navarro and fellow Jane’s Addiction bandmates for a few songs.

As the set got underway it was hard not to remark how bassist Eric Avery looked oh-so-very-normal in his striped T-shirt and denim, compared to the shirtless, tattooed and very pierced guitarist who was chain-smoking and wearing black nail polish on the other side of the stage. (Avery also has tattoos, but not as many as his bandmate.)

Drummer Stephen Perkins, meanwhile, seemed to be enjoying himself, often joking around with Farrell, who repeatedly donned a British accent and referred to the percussionist as “Perky.” (“puuuh-kee!”)

During their brief time onstage, the band revisited four songs, including "Ted, Just Admit It..." from their 1988 album, “Nothing’s Shocking,” and one of the first songs they ever recorded, “Whores.” (The track was on their 1987 debut album, as well as 1997’s “Kettle Whistle,” and was recently remixed and re-released online by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor.)

Their most well-known single, “Been Caught Stealing,” went unsung, much to the understandable disappointment of some fans. But since the band played just four songs, it was among many fan favorites that went unheard. (The band plays the Pearl next month, however, so perhaps Vegas audiences will hear it then.)

Short sets were par for the “Perrypalooza” course, however, as the entire night was composed of short, two, three, or four-song sets and a rotating cast of musicians. Still, the concert delivered nearly two hours of almost non-stop rock, accentuated with icons along the way.

After his performance, Farrell thanked everyone for coming to his party, calling the night a “spectacular evening.”

Lau Farrell presented her husband with his birthday gift: a scrapbook of cards and well-wishes from his friends, including the only no-show guest, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.

The concert came to a close with a call for all-hands-on-deck, as the impressive cast came together for their version of “Kumbaya,” an invigorating cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic, “Sympathy For The Devil.”

The night didn’t end there, however. The rockers moved the party (and Farrell’s giant, lollipop-shaped cake) to Revolution lounge and invited audience to join them, proving once again that while Perry Farrell may be 50, but he still likes to, and knows how, to party.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/ap ... -birthday/

[hydro]

www.lvrj.com

[Mike]

Perry Farrell celebrates his 50th birthday Saturday night with a star-studded guest list of fellow rockers at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Perry Farrell celebrates his 50th birthday with his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, Saturday night at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

These two pics come from the same place as my above post.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/ap ... -birthday/

Taken By Melissa Arseniuk

[hydro]

Setlist:

Mickey Avalon
"Mr. Right"
"Jane Fonda"

Perry Farrell w/Etty Lau Farrell
"Go All The Way (Into the Twilight)"

Mark McGrath
"EMI"

Juliette Lewis
"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"

Donovan Leitch and Carmit Bachar
"Suffragette City"

Sen Dog and Tom Morello
"Rock Star"
"Ain't Goin' Out Like That/Bring the Noise"

Debbie Harry
"Rapture"
"Call Me"

Porno for Pyros
"Meija"
"Tahitian Moon"

Billy Idol
"Rebel Yell"
"Eyes Without a Face"
"Twist And Shout"

Jane's Addiction
"Ted, Just Admit It"
"Whores"
"Stop"
"Sympathy for the Devil"

http://www.spin.com/articles/janes-addi ... rrypalooza

[pete]

Etty hosted the best party in the history of parties. Perry and Etty are the most giving couple I have ever met. It changed my life, how generous they were. I am humbled by their hearts and will always be ready to fight for them like a trained soldier. Long live Perry and GOD BLESS the Farrells


PS It was fun to do Porno

[Mudget]

awesome, pete. even amidst the supercharged adrenaline that accompanies a full-on jane's reunion, the desire for a full-blown p4p reunion is still right there, front and center, in our souls. it's just a freakin great time for music.

[hydro]

Etty hosted the best party in the history of parties. Perry and Etty are the most giving couple I have ever met. It changed my life, how generous they were. I am humbled by their hearts and will always be ready to fight for them like a trained soldier. Long live Perry and GOD BLESS the Farrells


PS It was fun to do Porno

thats wonderful Pete!!

[hydro]

the desire for a full-blown p4p reunion is still right there, front and center, in our souls. it's just a freakin great time for music.