Courtesy of Adopt the ArtsThe third annual benefit concert for Adopt the Arts, a charity co-founded by ex-Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum that funds music-education programs in Los Angeles-area elementary schools, takes place Thursday at the Henry Fonda Theatre in L.A. This year’s Adopt the Arts Honors will pay tribute to a pair of newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander and former Deep Purple bassist/singer Glenn Hughes, both of whom also will perform at the gala.
Speaking about the fundraiser at a recent Rock Hall-related event in New York City, Sorum told ABC Radio, “I’m very excited about the gig. We’re gonna do a tribute to Cheap Trick and then we’re gonna do a bit of Deep Purple and some covers.”
Joining Zander, Hughes and Sorum at the event will be an impressive lineup of fellow rock stars, including Black Sabbath‘s Geezer Butler, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, Stone Temple Pilots‘ Dean and Robert DeLeo, Toto‘s Steve Lukather, The Sex Pistols‘ Steve Jones, The Cult‘s Billy Duffy and one-time Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke.
The gala also will feature a memorabilia auction to raise additional money for Adopt the Arts. Among the many items up for bid are guitars signed by the evening’s many performers, as well as Metallica, Slash, Aerosmith‘s Joe Perry, Queen‘s Brian May, Foo Fighters‘ Dave Grohl, members of Journey and longtime Elton John guitarist Davey Johnstone. Other collectibles available will be a cookbook signed by Sammy Hagar, drumheads autographed by Sorum and a Joan Jett/Cheap Trick VIP meet-and-greet package for their August 23 L.A.-area show with Heart.
Tickets to the show are still available at AXS.com.
Sorum told ABC Radio that he started Adopt the Arts about three-and-a-half years ago to help bring music education to elementary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Matt said he began by adopting a school near his home — Rosewood Ave. Elementary — buying a bunch of instruments and hiring a teacher to bring music education to 350 students. After adopting a second school, Westminster Ave. Elementary in Venice, California, Sorum explained that he realized he needed to raise money to fund the programs, and so the Adopt the Arts Honors gala was born.
In addition to overseeing music programs at the two aforementioned schools, Adopt the Arts has donated hundreds of instruments to other schools in the L.A. area. For more information, visit AdopttheArts.org.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
