Renowned music critic Lester Bangs stood forlornly in a corner at press row. Casey Kasem, doing radio anchor duties for WHVN announced the arrival of Batch 2016-17 composed of David Bowie, Prince, Glen Frey, George Michael, Leon Russell, Al Jerraeu and Chuck Berry. "Wanna' have a good time? Brace yourselves ladies and gents for a whale of a ride!" howled Wofman Jack on the PA monitor.
Seen mingling with the crowd and fellow artists were Lou Reed and Nico. Both were dapper in their velvet suits given no doubt by fashion impresario Andy Warhol. Grunge meisters Kurt Cobain and Scott Weiland ditched their bandanas, flannels and corduroys in favor of plain white shirts and loafers. The duo looked surprisingly in the pink of health. Keith Moon and John Entwistle were huffing about probably wondering where's Roger and Pete.
Then, the lights went off.
There was a deafening roar that greeted pioneering guitar wiz Les Paul when he took the stage by his lonesome playing a haunting intro of the day's initial salvo. Jeff Buckley came up and everyone stood up to sing along to "Hallelujah."
After the second verse, he paused and said "Here's the guy who wrote this masterpiece, Mr. Leonard Cohen!" as he retreated backstage where father Tim is waiting.
Next up, a pair of Brits were testing their grooves - Jack Bruce and John Bonham. Jimi Hendrix joined the fray with a mournful sounding lead guitar part. Janis Joplin jumped right in to do the stirring vocals of "Summertime."
How about some horns? You asked for it, you got it with no less than Miles Davis, Canonball Aderley and John Coltrane alternating on trumpet and sax! It was like the "Blue Note" era all over again.
Doors bandmates Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek were jumping up and down. The quiet Beatle George Harrison was in near tears. The fifth and the sixth - Brian Epstein and George Martin nodded repeatedly in approval.
Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter had a reunion of sorts with a blistering version of "Hoochie Coochie Man" together with Duanne Allman on slide and Ronnie Hawkins on harmonica. Tim Hardin, Sandy Denny and Harry Chapin did a folk set, a prelude to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie's reading of "Turn, Turn, Turn."
Otis Redding and Dusty Springfield did a medley of their hits and a jaw dropping duet of "Respect." The King of Pop, Michael Jackson moonwalked to "I Want You Back" all the way up to the clouds while the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra together with the Rat Pack had a showstopper capped by "Strangers in the Night." Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, John Lennon with Bill Evans on piano solemnly closed the wondrous show with "Amazing Grace."
