Raising the Roof--and a Lot of Money

The Scene: One of the year’s great, high-energy fund-raisers took place Wednesday at City of Hope’s “Spirit of Life” black-tie dinner. This is the West Coast music industry charity. With VH1 President John Sykes as honoree and a stellar “garage band” performing, the extravagant rock ‘n’ roll evening raised a record-setting $4.7 million.

The Setting: A football-field-sized tent on a parking lot adjacent to Universal’s CityWalk. The generously spacious venue was appropriate since only about a third of the 1,800-strong, relentlessly schmoozing crowd ever sat down to eat.

Who Was There: What MTV’s Tom Freston called “every nook and cranny of the music business.” Among the guests were DreamWorks’ Mo Ostin, MCA’s Zach Horowitz, EMI’s Charles Koppelman, Warner’s Bob Daly and Terry Semel, A&M;’s Al Cafaro, Arista’s Roy Lott and Atlantic’s Ahmet Ertegun, plus Matthew McConaughey, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Fred Rosen, Irving Azoff, Sumner Redstone and Judy McGrath.

Entertainment: “Politically Incorrect” host Bill Maher did a strong warmup. Headlining was the flagrantly talented City of Hope All-Star Garage Band. It included Steve Winwood, Eddie Van Halen, Me’Shell NdegeOcello, John Mellencamp, Max Weinberg, Don Henley, Bryan Adams, Melissa Etheridge, Bobby Keys, Tim Price, Tony Rich, Richie Sambora, Narada Michael Walden and Sheryl Crow. Though there was little time for rehearsal, leader Paul Shaffer said, “They have become a band.”

Observed: Before a searing, tent-shaking performance featuring such three-chord classics as “I Fought the Law,” “Shotgun” and “Get Ready,” there was some trepidation among the band members. Henley said there was a “generation gap,” since some younger members didn’t quite remember the oldies.

Quoted: “If you’ve been around for 20 years and you can’t learn four songs,” Adams said, “it’s time to get out of the business.”

Chow: Patina’s steamed salmon with asparagus risotto. One guest’s comment was, “At $500 a plate you don’t get chicken, man, you get something that swims.”