Rock Against MS All Star Benefit Red Balls Rock ‘n Roll Pizza, Moorpark, CA 7/18/2015

Pictures/ Video/Photography: Dustin Jack Photo

A wet, blustery evening could not dampen the spirits or energy of those who attended and performed at last night’s “Rock Against MS” Fundraiser at Rock ‘n Roll Pizza in Moorpark.

Nancy Sayle, the founder of “Rock Against MS” (as well as an MS sufferer), let the crowd know right from the start that the evening wasn’t about being sad and dwelling on the horrors of MS…it was a celebration of the people who are afflicted by the disease and are willing to raise their fist and yell out against it.

Nancy has a support group of some pretty amazing friends who were willing to bring their talents to the tiny joint and literally drain every ounce of energy they could from the packed crowd… AND the venue. More on that later…

The evening kicked off with a short set by Newbury Park band, EVRIST, who wet the crowd’s APPETITE for what was to come. And what came was a turnstile of some very special talent.

The continuously revolving band members included Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY), Stevie Stewart (THE SWEET), Patrick Stone (ADLER’S APPETITE), NEIL TURBIN (DEATHRIDERS), Lucky Lehrer (CIRCLE JERKS), Johnny Martin (ADLER), Ace Von Johnson (FASTER PUSSYCAT), Robbie Rist (Cousin Olive

from the BRADY BUNCH), Anthony “Tiny” Biuso (CADILLAC TRAMPS), Tanya O’Callaghan (ORIANTHI), Phil X (BON JOVI), Dusty Bo (FUTURE VILLAINS), Howie Simon (NELSON) with SO many others as well as a very special appearance by Steven Adler (GUNS n ROSES).

These musicians took everyone on a tour that covered the gamut of rock! The song choices ranged from The Sweet, Hendrix, Cheap Trick, to The Ramones, AC/DC, Devo, Ozzy, Boston and Heart to name but a few.

The main set was capped off by the arrival of Nancy’s very good friend, Steven Adler, who took his placed behind the Kit; and accompanied by Patrick Stone (vocals) Phil X (guitar), Ace Von Johnson (guitar) and Johnny Martin (bass), the band powered into a couple of GnR songs that thrilled the packed-to-capacity house. The first was a booming version of Rocket Queen that got the crowd excited. The second song was announced by Phil X riffing out the familiar opening of “Welcome to the Jungle”.

And “power on” they did because the electricity of the band and the crowd seemed to be too much for the circuit breaker that kicked off four times during the song.

Like true pros, the band soldiered on. With special kudos to Patrick Stone (It’s not easy to sing WTTJ one time never mind FOUR!), the band finished up the set and just as the last note arrived, fittingly, so did the last of the power outages.

The night was capped off by a short acoustic set by Howie Simon on guitar accompanied by “Tiny Biuso on percussion.

And as some people left the show with ringing ears and others with raffle prizes; all of us walked away with smiles,knowing that a little bit of money and awareness was brought to the cause.

The little town of Moorpark witnessed something very special tonight.