Seeing Jason on the drums with Heart reminded me of this special night.
A bit of background..
This event happened at Stourport Civic Centre, December '86.
Robert had organised a benefit night for the family of a musician friend of his. Bass player, Jon Pasternak, had sadly passed away a few months earlier. A line-up of very good bands were the support (including 'D-Block',
and 'The Hayriders', if anyone remembers either).
Robert performed the first of two sets that included some of his then current solo band members.
They were Paul Martinez on bass, and Robbie Blunt on lead guitar. Additionally, the aforementioned Jason Bonham was the sticksman.
After Robert's first set, another group performed.
I should say at this point that my mates and I were at the front and centre stage all evening. Loony (if you ever saw him riding his RG500 Gamma, you would understand...), had brought a camera along, and I took a pen.
Before the next band came on, I got chatting to a girl standing next to me.
Brief description?
Very pretty, bit of a space cadet (or so I thought...).
Anyway, during our chat, she casually mentions that "a very special guest guitarist" will be turning up. She mentions his name.
"Yeah, right" says I. "Chance would be a fine thing"... Well, put it this way. One of us was right, and the other dopey prat realised that "Yes, sometimes, chance
could be a fine thing". A
very fine thing indeed as it turned out..
We were treated to about 40mins of pure magic. Mostly, some fantastic versions of R&R standards, such as Money & Treat Her Right. But also, a really lovely performance of the LZ song Rock and Roll.
When I bought the gig tickets, I hadn't got a scooby that Jimmy Page may be turning up.
But turn up he did. A truly memorable night made even better, by managing to grab the setlist, sneak backstage after the event, and get Jason's autograph....
......Oh yes, Jimmy and Robert's too.. Effin' Brill !

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