DATE: JANUARY 12, 2022
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN/KELLY WALSH
DAVE NAVARRO AND BILLY MORRISON
OFFER THANKS FOR DECEMBER sold-out “ABOVE GROUND”
BENEFIT CONCERT; ORGANIZATION MAKES $50,000 DONATION TO MUSICARES®
IN ONGOING EFFORT TO
PROMOTE AWARENESS AND RAISE FUNDS
FOR THE TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
As Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction) and Billy Morrison (Billy Idol) look forward to the fourth “ABOVE GROUND” benefit concert later this year (date TBA), the guitarists and “ABOVE GROUND” co-founders want to thank the artists who supported the third event last month (December 20) at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, CA, the fans who attended and the team involved in putting together another successful benefit. Following the sold-out event, ABOVE GROUND made a $50,000 donation to MusiCares® (the leading music charity that acts as a safety net for the music community) in ongoing effort to promote awareness and raise funds for the treatment of mental health. (See full set list below.)
Photo credit: Jane Stuart
“When you are fortunate enough to do something you love, and simultaneously spread a positive message and raise much needed funds at the same time, it can never be called work,” Billy Morrison says. “Above Ground has become just such an event for Dave and I. Our third show exceeded all my expectations, both in terms of the incredible musical performances by our core band and all of our guests, and in the amount of love and support we got from our audience, our partners and our sponsors. I’m proud of what Above Ground is achieving in the mental health space and urge us all to keep the dialogue flowing. Roll on Above Ground 4!”
“This year‘s Above Ground event has to have been my favorite so far,” Dave Navarro says. “Not only were we able to create an environment to share our love of music with the people closest to us in our lives but we did it for such an important cause. Spreading awareness and raising funds in support of mental health makes these events so fulfilling for us. On a personal note, I never thought in 1 million years I would share the stage with Perry Farrell and Anthony Kiedis in the same night. A lot of healing took place on that stage as well. None of that would have happened had we not had the honor of participating in this annual event. Being in a position to offer support and help to others while simultaneously walking away enriched and full of gratitude is a very special, magical thing. I will never forget Above Ground 3 and cannot wait for Above Ground 4.”
Hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky with an art installation by Risk Rock, the evening featured performances of two musically/culturally seismic albums: Lou Reed’s Transformer (1972) and Sex Pistol’s Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols (1977). The all-star line-up–led by Navarro and Morrison–featured special guests (alphabetically) Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Courtney Taylor-Taylor (The Dandy Warhols), Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver, Sons Of Anarchy), Dexter Holland (The Offspring), Donovan Leitch, Franky Perez, Jason Aalon Butler (Fever333), Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), Josh Freese (The Offspring, A Perfect Circle, Danny Elfman), Laura Mace, Mark McGrath, Mickey Avalon, Otep, Perry And Etty Lau Farrell, Piggy D (Rob Zombie) and Steve Stevens (Billy Idol).
The ABOVE GROUND 3 set list is as follows:
Lou Reed’s Transformer
“VICIOUS,” Corey Taylor
“ANDY’S CHEST,” Courtney Taylor-Taylor
“PERFECT DAY,” Billy Morrison
“HANGING AROUND,” Mark McGrath
“WALK ON THE WILD SIDE,” Anthony Kiedis
“MAKE UP,” Mickey Avalon
“WAGON WHEEL,” Laura Mace
“SATELLITE OF LOVE,” Perry and Etty Farrell
“NEW YORK TELEPHONE CONVERSATION,” Donovan Leitch
“I’M SO FREE,” Corey Taylor
“GOODNIGHT LADIES,” Franky Perez
**“SWEET JANE,” Billy Morrison
**Bonus track
Sex Pistols’ Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
“HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN,” Corey Taylor
“BODIES,” Corey Taylor
“NO FEELINGS,” Mark McGrath
“LIAR,” Jason Aalon Butler
“PROBLEMS,” Billy Morrison
“SEVENTEEN,” Franky Perez
“SUBMISSION,” Jason Aalon Butler
“ANARCHY IN THE U.K.,” Perry and Etty Farrell
“NEW YORK,” Mark McGrath
“GOD SAVE THE QUEEN,” Dexter Holland
“PRETTY VACANT,” Dexter Holland
“EMI,” Billy Morrison/Mark McGrath
Here’s some critical feedback on ABOVE GROUND 3:
It doesn’t take long for the concert to begin when, almost quietly, Dave Navarro calls the first super-guest of the evening to the stage: and it’s none other than Anthony Kiedis. The amazement of the public, but also of us photographers placed at the foot of the stage, is tangible. No one had any idea that the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman had been invited to sing ‘Walk on the Wild Side,’ the most iconic track on Lou Reed’s album and career. The presence of Kiedis, the melancholy atmospheres of the song and the soft lights make the moment magnetic, at the end of which Kiedis and Navarro embrace and the latter reaches the microphone to remind everyone that they had not been on stage together for 25 years.
“With the second set the pace is definitely changed. The introspective and minimalist sounds of Transformer give way to the cheeky ones of the Sex Pistols. Corey Taylor is back, and after him also Perry Farrell, the ‘usual’ McGrath and a real stage animal like Jason Butler of Fever 333, who devours that same stage on the notes of ‘Submission.’”
“Nowadays, the mere fact that these kinds of events are still a reality should cheer us up. And all the better if they are linked to an important cause. Maximum support, therefore, to Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison. The world of rock needs people who believe in it. People like them.”
–Rolling Stone Italy, 12/22/21
“Navarro and Morrison took turns introducing vocalists for each of the songs throughout the evening. Corey Taylor led the evening off as he covered Lou Reed’s ‘Vicious.’ The next highlight and first surprise of the night came during ‘Walk On The Wild Side’ as Navarro welcomed Anthony Kiedis, the Red Hot Chili Pepper frontman and former bandmate. After giving Navarro a big hug, he brought life to the classic song that was easily the biggest hit off this iconic album. Perry Farrell and his wife Etty later joined the party on ‘Satellite Of Love.’”
“A confetti blast kicked off the second half of the show with Corey Taylor again on-stage, this time representing the Sex Pistols 1977 release, Never Mind The Bollocks. The punk rock vibe was alive and well as Mark McGrath, Jason Butler, Billy Morrison and Franky Perez all took turns covering songs from the album.”
“Together Navarro and Morrison have created a solid platform and great annual tradition. Partnering with MusiCares, this benefit show has quickly proven itself and continues to improve with each iteration.”
– Live Music Today , 12/22/21
“Billy Morrison blew the crowd away with his beautiful rendition of ‘Perfect Day,’ and we couldn’t have been happier as it is a favorite among Lou Reed fans.”
“Singer Franky Perez was the album closer and was dressed in his late-night crooner attire with fitted suit pants, button-up shirt, and undone tie. Perez sang “Goodnight, Ladies” and left the crowd and other musicians in utter shock of his immeasurable voice.”
“To bring it all home, Morrison invited all the musicians that had been on stage that night to join Mark McGrath in singing ‘EMI.’ It was a lovely evening, all in the name f helping others and knowing you and the people onstage were joining together to do good things and help people struggling with mental wellness.
Sometimes, big events don’t live up to the hype. On December 20th, Above Ground definitely lived up to all expectations. It was an event we won’t forget any time soon.”
– OC MUSIC NEWS, 12/25/21
ABOUT ABOVE GROUND
Founded in 2018, by Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison and manager Rick Canny, Above Ground is a registered 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to raising funds for and awareness to the issues of mental health.
ABOUT MUSICARES
MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S. based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: https://www.musicares.org/
For ABOVE GROUND press inquiries, please contact SRO PR:
Marcee Rondan, marcee@msopr.com
Mitch Schneider, mschneider@msopr.com
Kelly Walsh, kwalsh@msopr.com
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