Porno Karaoke

Last Wednesday night I was flying home from Los Angeles and I had a very interesting person sit next to me on the plane (well not next to me since I had the window seat and he had the aisle but you know what I mean). His name was Chas West and for lack of a better term he was a rock star - literally.

Chas is probably best known as the lead singer of the band Bonham. This is the band that was formed by Jason Bonham, the son of Led Zeppelin drummer and rock legend John Bonham. Like many rock legends - John Bonham died way too young.

When you sit next to a rock star you talk about rock music. We spoke about every subject that I could think of. I asked him how he got the gig with Bonham - he said it was simple, "I was the only one who could keep up with Jason when he was drinking." I asked if Led Zeppelin was ever getting back together with Jason Bonham taking his dad's spot in the band. Chas told me that they came close but this was back when Bonham was just starting out and Jason was seriously partying. Robert Plant was afraid that Jason was going down the same path to an early death as his dad and Plant wanted nothing to do with contributing to another tragedy. Now that Jason Bonham is clean and sober - the two concerns are tarnishing the bands legacy as the greatest rock band in history and Robert Plant's concern about hitting some of those high notes in some of the songs. Chas wouldn't rule out the band getting back together but if it happened he said it would be done the "English way" - with very little forewarning or publicity.

I mentioned that one of my favorite bands was The Cult and that if any band should get back together it should be The Cult. Chas said I was in luck because Ian Asbury is a friend of his and that they are in fact getting back together. He told me that the manager of The Doors of the 21st Century was a genius and was getting the band $150,00 a night and the same manager was going to handle the reformed Cult.

We talked family. I showed him pictures of my kids. Chas said he has two kids and that his son was recently in the new Goo Goo Dolls video (which I still haven't seen).

Chas and I drank the whole flight and he asked me about my trip to LA and where I went at night. I told him I didn't know the town well enough. He told me the best club to go to was the Burbank Bar and Grill (damn I was staying in Burbank!) and that on Tuesday nights Porno Karaoke at Sardo's was a must. This isn't the Porno Karaoke fad that is hot in Germany - Chas explained that this is actual porno stars singing karaoke. He told me that Sardo's has karaoke on Tuesdays and one night some porno stars came in (still dressed for "work") and started singing karaoke. They had such a good time they asked the owner if they could make it a regular thing. The owner said sure as long as he could advertise it. So now Tuesdays is Porno Karaoke Night at Sardo's. Since today is Tuesday - I thought I'd pass the tip to any of my readers who may be out in LA.

Chas West has been playing with the Hollywood Allstarz and has a new band that is called Three Legged Dog that should be coming out with a CD soon. When it comes out - go out and buy it. I know I will.

Thanks for a great flight Chas.