Quite a night in the City of Angels. While Entertainment Weekly threw a swell bash at the Chateau Marmont for the SAG nominees, a different bunch of celebs helped the Eagles rock the opening night of the new, state of the art Forum.
And what a group: try Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson leading the charge, with Angelica Huston accompanied by Kelly Lynch and Mitch Glazer. No less than Steven Tyler mingled in the private green room, and Randy Jackson held court in the Forum Club. Cablevision’s Jim Dolan, who breathed life back in to the Forum, shared congrats with music industry legend Irving Azoff. David Crosby was in attendance, as was another legend, Bob Neuwirth.
I’d like to say I’d planned to run into all these people, but it was a total surprise when NY movie maven Peggy Siegal — on a rare night off after helping with George Clooney’s “Monuments Men” launch– and I wandered into this scene. Call it serendipity.
I was thrilled to see Randy Phillips, former head AEGLive, who I hear is being wooed for a great new job. But the biggest excitement of the night was One Direction’s Harry Styles hanging out with the –wait for it– Kardashians. Yes, there K’s all over the place. I am happy to report that young Mr. Styles is as polite and friendly as he could be. I guess that’s what makes him beautiful to his fans.
More names: Universal chief Ron Meyer, Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich with the show’s writer David Wilde, plus Jerry and Linda Bruckheimer. There was a Jared Leto spotting as well, plus Janie Buffet, Sarah Silverman, New England Pats owner Robert Kraft, and Earth Wind and Fire’s Verdine White.
And yes, Steven Tyler showed me his new titanium knee. He’s going to Hawaii for a special physical therapy. When he graduates, Tyler will be able to ‘walk this way’ better than ever and maybe even jump around on stage. Steven sure is a rock and roll survivor; it was great to see him suntanned and cool.
What about the Eagles you ask? They put on a three hour show of non stop hits culminating in “Hotel California,” “Take it Easy,” Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way” and Don Henley’s lush rendition with the band of “Desperado.” A female usher near me yelled out, with a big grin, “This is real music!” I remember the first time I heard “Take it Easy” and “Witchy Woman” in 1972. The songs are so well constructed they’ve lasted a lifetime. My personal favorite: “One of these Nights.”
For an east coaster like yours truly, the Eagles show was interesting. It was the equivalent of Billy or Bruce at MSG. The Eagles are the hometown heroes in L.A. Plus, the Forum is for them what the Brooklyn Barclays Center has become for us.
A great Hollywood night– and PS stealing the show at EW were Oscar winner to be Lupita Nyongo and the glowing pregnant Kerry Washington.
