LAST HURRAH
The L.A. Music Awards celebrates 25th year with goodbye party at Whisky, as Jack Russell, Sean McNabb and Mitch Perry are among the honorees

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., USA — What a celebration on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Whisky for the 25th annual L.A. Music Awards, as Jack Russell, Sean McNabb and Mitch Perry were among those granted a lifetime achievement award.

Russell is the singer for Jack Russell’s Great White, which is still touring in addition to second version of Great White. In its prime, the band sold milions of records, toured arenas and enjoyed a series of hit singles and popular MTV videos with “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Save Your Love” and “Rock Me.”

Russell has overcome a series a personal problems, including drug addiction, illnesses and lawsuits. Yet he continues to tour successfully.

“I don’t know if I’m the comeback story of the year — maybe the decade,” Russell said. “Here at the Whisky, this place brings back a lot of memories, some good, some not so good. I rememger doing a show here with Ratt when Stephen Pearcy first came up with their new logo. He was like, “Check out our new logo, man!” We were like, “That’s great man. What are you going to do with that?”

Russell jumped on stage to perform a few songs, part of several jams that including Perry, McNabb and fellow lifetime achievement winner Debby Holiday (Stiletto, John Waite) teaming together for “Frankenstein” and “Somebody Call Me a Doctor.”

Jack Russell of Great White and Krigger

Mitch Perry “I used to live right up Clarke Street in the same
infamous building as Motley Crue.”

Andy Dick

“Jack Russell is so amazing. He hasn’t lost any of his chops,” event organizer Al Bowman said.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, Andy Dick and members of Steely Dan all participated, too.

For Bowman, this was it. He said he has sold L.A. Music Awards to an investment group who plan to make it an annual television special.

“I’ve enjoyed my career up to now. It’s been good,” Bowman said. “But it’s very challenging to market anything in L.A. It’s a tough town, yet we did put a lot of success stories into the business.”

Through the years, McNabb, now with Burning Rain, has played bass for Quiet Riot, Great White, House of Lords, Lynch Mob, Montrose, Queensryche and others.

“I am absolutely honored,” McNabb said. “For me, it all started in 1985 when i got the gig with Quiet Riot. I am so blesed. It’s incredible. What an honor. We all had a dream when we first came out here to L.A., and mine worked out. I am one of the luckiest guys you’ll ever meet, and I’m still doing it 30 years later.”

Perry, now the guitarist in Sweet after stints with Cher, Lita Ford, Edgar Winter, MSG and others, said he remembers moving into an apartment just behind the Whisky when he first arrived.

“Great memories. I used to live right up Clarke Street in the same infamous building as Motley Crue — we never got our security deposit back,” Perry said. “It’s pretty cool to get this award. It’s nice. Al has put on an event that recognizes everyone who busts their butt around here for a long time.”

Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv