Revolving Rockers in Annual Benefit

Imagine a bunch of kids packed into a garage, watching other kids jam on some of their favorite rock tunes. Now picture the scene enlarged so that it fills up the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. That’s what it was like Saturday night for the Party Ninjas’ third annual benefit for Find the Children, an organization that helps locate missing and abducted children.

The Party Ninjas is a revolving group of musicians from well-known rock bands who gather every year for this event. Four Ninja combos played Saturday and included Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, Bruce Kulick of Kiss, Paul Shortino and Carlos Cavazo of Quiet Riot, Randy Castillo of Ozzy Osbourne’s band, Jeff Pilson of Dokken, Carmine and Vinnie Appice, Lorraine Lewis of Femme Fatale and many, many others. In addition to the Ninjas, the full groups Hurricane, W.A.S.P. and White Lion played short sets.

Many of the evening’s tunes were hard-rock standards--Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak,” Kiss’ “Strutter” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” The classic songs were entertainingly performed and well-received, with an emphasis on fun over artistry.