November 3 & 4, 2000 - Radio Music Awards Part II

Photo by RD Mathers

Two more pictures from the 2000 Radio Music Awards show in Las Vegas.

Above, Robby Krieger of The Doors.  We only had about seven minutes with him, and he was staring so intently at Gerry Martiere when I got this shot.  Moments later Krieger’s handler came to whisk him away, and he turned back to us and said, “I’ll come to NY next week and we can talk more.”

Big E, Gerry and I were stunned… we did not expect the most sane member of one of the best rock bands ever, to even be at this event, let along promise to come back and talk to us, at our studios.  

Then… then we got an attempted interview with Gene Simmons.  I say attempted because Gene Simmons was more distracted than a 12 year old who forgot his ADHD medicine.  Gene would not wear headphones and was constantly looking around at everyone else.

Photo by RD Mathers

We went to two music breaks, rather than go to Dead air.  Gene eventually wandered off and we had to fill time, so we interviewed a woman named Jen, who was pretty much there to… I honestly don’t know what her role was, she was in a short skirt, tight top and a cowboy hat.  It was Vegas… somethings one just nods one’s head and tries not to think to hard.  

Anyway, we had time fill and we started talking to Jen on the air, then Gene Simmons came back to our table, sat on Jen’s lap and hijacked the interview.

One thing you should all keep in mind, Gene Simmons does not and has never drank alcohol or taken any drugs.  He just operates on his own plane of existence.

These shots were taken with a Sony digital camera.

November 3 & 4, 2000 - The Radio Music Awards Part I

Photo by RD Mathers

Aside from the main theater, music, film and tv academies, award shows are really just a chance for stars to get adulation, TV producers to sell products and radio people to interview as many artists in one place as possible.

These functions have an event called “Radio Row” which is similar to the first week of college when all the clubs and greek organizations want you to join them.

In 2000 and 2001, ABC TV and Premier Radio Network put on an award show that was supposed to celebrate radio, The Radio Music Awards.  Not a lot people watched the show, but for those stations who paid to be nominated, it was a trip to Las Vegas for two days of boradcasts.

My job was to shoot stills of the interviews and re-cap what we did for Q1043.com.   Everything here was shot on a Sony digital camera.

Above, Rachel Hunter.  

Below, Tina Yothers.  Tina, who played Jennifer on Family Ties, had recently put together a band called Jaded and was plugging her new record.  

Photo by RD Mathers

Below, Dweezil Zappa smiling.

Photo by RD Mathers

Below, Lisa Loeb trying to get Dweezil Zappa’s Attention

Photo by RD Mathers

October 25, 2000 - Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar came up to Q104.3 to be on the nationally syndicated Westwood One show, Rockline.

Hagar started the show with a hat, bandana and loud coat.  He was plugging his new Tequila and while I can confirm he was not partaking, he did leave his sunglasses on for the entire show and was a ham the whole time.

What I like the most about this shot, is that it was the first time he remembered I was in the room and decided to talk to me, versus the engineer.

Shot on a Sony digital camera.

Photo by RD Mathers

October 10, 2000 - Mick Fleetwood

Scott Muni and Mick Fleetwood.  Photo by RD Mathers.

One of the founding members of the band Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood, stopped by in the afternoon to do an interview with Ken Dashow.  At the time, Scott Muni was working for us at Q104.3 and Mick waved him in to the studio.  

At the moment of this shot, Ken had asked Fleetwood a question and Muni made a dry, side comment, which caused Fleetwood to laugh.

In the shot below, we see Scott Muni pausing in the middle of a story about a pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac concert in NY in the early 70s.  Mick Fleetwood and Ken Dashow rapt with attention.

Shot with a Sony digital camera.

Ken Dashow, Scott Muni and Mick Fleetwood.  Photo by RD Mathers.

September 15, 2000 - BB King

BB King.  Photo by RD Mathers

As a fan of the Blues and as a former host of Bluesology on WERS-FM in Boston, the opportunity to see Buddy Guy and BB King on the same bill was an incredible thrill, especially since this was the eve of his 75th birthday!

After the show, Q104.3’s Maria Milito and I got to go back stage and were the last two people to get to be part of the meet and greet.  He knew we were from the radio station, so he spent some extra time with us. 

I wish I had brought the film camera with me for better shots.  This was taken with a bad Sony Camera.