ULTIMATE JAM NIGHT and ZINNA TV presented “THANK YOU DAVID BOWIE” in celebration of the iconic ‘Thin White Duke’ at The Whisky A GoGo with David Bowie’s bassist Carmine Rojas serving as Musical Director, Bernard Fowler from The Rolling Stones, Guitarist Gilby Clarke from Guns N Roses, and many more.
“Bowie wasn’t just a brilliant musician, he was a cultural genius. With an ever changing persona his style and his music influenced generations. spanning a period of over 50 years. ” — UJN
“A Frame” was the first opening act Mike Smith on drums, David Barcai on bass, and Tommy Gibbons on guitar from Phoenix, AZ. Mild panic set in when Paulie Z did not come out to introduce the band, but UJN staffer Forrest McKinnon did a fine job.
UDR Records and Motorhead Music’s BUDDERSIDE followed their set. Established as one of the true “bands to watch” in 2016 with released singles that have captured attention, They played to 80,000 as part of the famed Wakken Festival with the supremely talented Patrick Stone on vocals and guitar, Rich Sacco on drums, “Stoneman’ Michael Stone on bass, Johnny “Johnny 5” Santoro on guitar.
The Bowie segment show started with HANG ON TO YOURSELF and ZIGGY STARDUST with the emergence of MC Paulie Z and house band drummer Matt Starr bassist Captain Chuck Wright, Bobby Blotzer’s Ratt’s guitarist Mitch Perry and Survivor’s Walter Ino.
CHANGES from 1971’s Hunky Dory album was next with Kevin Stevens on drums (Natasha Bedingfield, Wayne Kramer, and Bobby McFerrin) with Johnny Martin on bass (Tracii Guns and Frankie and the Studs) with Derek Holiday and Steve Dawson on guitar, Buster Akrey on keys — an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Katja Rieckermann (Rod Stewart) on sax, who played with Lady Gaga during this year’s Grammy Award’s Bowie Tribute, Koi Anunta on violins (Adam Lambert) , and the multi-talented Walter Ino on vocals.
Occasional UJN host Jesse Snider duetted with Amanda Hardy on 1997’s I’M AFRAID OF AMERICANS, which featured Mike Dupke (WASP and John Mellencamp) on drums, with Shane Soloski on bass Buster Akrey on keys with Ira Black and Steve Costello on guitar.
SPACE ODDITY was next with the evenings MD, bassist Carmine Rojas,who was a member of David Bowie’s band from 1983-1987 performing on such hits as “China Girl” , “Let’s Dance”, “Modern Love”, and “Blue Jean” and has also worked with such greats as Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and Joe Bonamassa. He was joined by Marcus Nand on vocals, with Michael Martinsson on guitar (Dilana), Mike Dupke and Koi Anunta and Emily V on violins
Drummer Christopher Allis (Deana Carter and Denny Laine) to joined with Carmine on the rhythm section for LIFE ON MARS with Steve Dawson on acoustic guitar we bring back CJ Ramone’s Steve Dawson and Bowie impersonator Julian Taylor on keys and vocals.
JEAN GENIE was next with Julian Shah Taylor, Kevin Stevens on drums, with Carmine Rojas, Michael Martinsson and Mitch Perry on guitar and Smashmouth’s Michael Klooster on keys.
REBEL REBEL was released in 1974 from the album Diamond Dogs and is cited as Bowie’s most covered track with Julian, Tal Bergman (Simple Minds, Rod Stewart, and Billy Idol), on drums, Oliver Lieber (Sheena Easton, Paula Abdul, and Rod Stewart) on guitar andof Guns ‘N Roses fame, Gilby Clarke.
Gilby then sang SUFFRAGETTE CITY with Matt Starr on drums, Mitch Perry on guitar, Carmine Rojas on bass with Anne King on trumpet, Daniel Heffernan on Baritone Sax, and Katja Riekermann on Alto Sax
Matt Starr, the Captain Chuck Wright, and Walter Ino joined in with Gilby Clarke back to Layla Allman on DIAMOND DOGS
Oni Logan sang MOONAGE DAYDREAM with backing from Matt Starr and Walter Ino,Johnny Martin, Buster Akrey and Ira Black.
The Rolling Stones’ Bernard Fowler then performed STAY and WIN with Neil Daniels, and Spanish guitar player Gabi Martinez. Anyone that stayed for that clearly won.
Bernard performed HEROES adding Robert Davis to the mix.
UNDER PRESSURE featured Derek and Debby Holiday with Matt Starr on drums, Shane Soloski on bass, Walter Ino on keys and The Sunset Jam’s Erik Himel (Monday’s at The Viper Room) joined by Brent Woods (Sebastian Bach) on guitar.
The house band rejoined Debby for 5 YEARS with Steve Dawson and the string section of Koi and Emily…
Amanda Hardy sang ALL THE YOUNG DUDES with Neil Daniels, Carmine Rojas, Gabi Martinez, Steve Costello and Steve Dawson.
Eric Dover sang WATCH THAT MAN with the marvelous Joe Travers on drums (Missing Persons, Duran Duran, and Zappa Plays Zappa ) Johnny Martin on bass, Derek And Steve Dawson on guitar, Smashmouth’s Michael Klooster on keys
BLUE JEAN —Bassist Carmine Rojas played on this song which was part of Bowie’s album, “Tonight”. With drummer Christopher Allis, on keys from Sabrina Carpenter, Mathew Jordan with Steve Dawson on guitar and Matthew Mayes on vocals.
YOUNG AMERICANS continued the show with Walter Ino back up on acoustic, and Michael Klooster on keys, Katja Rieckermann on sax, and Tom Rossi on percussion..
Brett Copeland sang WHITE LIGHT WHITE HEAT with Christopher Allis, Shane Soloski on bass, Nazim Chambi & Michael Martinsson on guitar ,trombonist Ken Tussing and Anne King, and Katja Rieckermann.
FAME was next with Carmine Rojas on bass,Erik Himel from the Sunset Jam and Matt Fuller from Puddle of Mudd with a duet from Amanda Hardy and Derek Holiday…
LET’S DANCE saw Sabrina Carpenter’s keyboardist Mathew Jordan joined by Tal and Carmine on stage with Oliver Lieber on guitar, Ken Tussing on Trombone and Paul Z sang.
And the “dancing” continued as Carmine was joined by the amazing Joe Travers on drums with Oliver Leiber and Matt Fuller on guitars, Matthew Jordan on keys, and horn section of Anne King, Daniel Hefferman, Ken Tussing, and Katja Rieckermann, percussionist Tom Rossi, with vocalists Debby Holiday and Eric Dover to finish the show with ‘Dancin’ in the Streets’ . Thank goodness nobody got hit by a car dancing on Sunset, because that would have caused the ultimate traffic jam.
More Pictures by MANNY DOMINGUEZ
The next UJN will be an all-KISS show with Bruce Kulick.
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