San Francisco Chronicle, October 3, 1987

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All-Star Rock Tribute to Roy Orbison


Robert Hilburn / Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles — The stage at the Coconut Grove was filled with a group of musicians that you could only picture in dreams.

More than a dozen of the most acclaimed figures in rock — from Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello to Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt — were paying tribute Wednesday night to Roy Orbison, whose classic recordings in the '60s reflected romantic anxiety with an intensity unequaled in pop music.

The encouraging aspect of the concert, which was produced for a Cinemax cable TV special that will air early next year, was that the musicians were saluting Orbison, 51, at a time when the veteran performer is still active — his voice is as powerful and persuasive as ever. This was not one of those nights where the artist is in obvious decline and the party has the sad overtones of a retirement.

However, the problem — as Orbison sensed during a rehearsal at the Grove the evening before the concert — was that some of the musicians were being too respectful.

At the end of the rehearsal at 1:15 a.m., Orbison walked over to a table in front of the stage where several of the musicians were seated. As his admirers gathered around him, Orbison gave them, in effect, a pep talk.

"The main thing for me in this show is that it's such a thrill for me that you guys are here ... I'm grateful that you came by to help me out. Don't worry about the music. Just relax. If we make a mistake, we can just leave it in the show. The idea is to have fun."

Even with that encouragement, the musicians seemed nervous Wednesday night as they walked on stage just before 8:30 p.m. for a show that was easily the hottest "invitation only" pop event of the year in Los Angeles. The 300 guests included both celebrities (Billy Idol, Kris Kristofferson, Leonard Cohen, Harry Dean Stanton and more) and record industry scene-makers.

It was clear during the opening number that many of the musicians were paying close attention to what was on their music stands. The only thing that broke their concentration was Orbison's singing.

Standing motionless on stage in his customary black outfit (a fringed leather jacket this time), the Texan, who now lives in nearby Malibu, hit the dramatic high notes with purity and evocative power as he sang his epic rock ballads of lovely and terrifying romantic dreams.

(It is no wonder that Blue Velvet director David Lynch, in trying to find music to convey the mood of a man hopelessly tortured by his own desperate search for romantic fulfillment, turned to a 20-year-old Orbison hit, "In Dreams.")

Time and again when Orbison would reach a dramatic point in a song or hit a particularly high note, the musicians would smile at each other in awe.

Despite frequent stops in the action to reload cameras, the individual numbers worked well — the musicians loosening up as the evening progressed. Still, the fun did not really begin until the second half, when Orbison switched from ballads to rockers.

Backed by Elvis Presley's old rhythm section (including James Burton on guitar), Orbison moved into tunes like "Dream Baby" (a duet with Springsteen), "Candy Man" (a vigorous Costello on harmonica) and "Ooby Dooby" (Burton and Springsteen trading blistering guitar solos).

At the end, the musicians and singers (also including Jennifer Warnes, Steven Soles and K. D. Lang) joined the audience in applauding Orbison. In a world of frequently synthetic "tributes," this evening at the Grove was a moment of genuine affection and warmth.


Tags: Roy OrbisonA Black And White NightAmbassador HotelLos AngelesBruce SpringsteenElvis CostelloJackson BrowneBonnie RaittBilly IdolKris KristoffersonLeonard CohenHarry Dean StantonElvis PresleyJames BurtonJennifer WarnesSteven SolesK.D. Lang

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San Francisco Chronicle, October 3, 1987


Robert Hilburn reviews the taping of A Black And White Night, Wednesday, September 30, 1987, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles.

Images

1987-10-03 San Francisco Chronicle page C3 clipping 01.jpg
Clipping.


1987-10-03 San Francisco Chronicle photo 01 px.jpg
AP photo.


Page scan.
1987-10-03 San Francisco Chronicle page C3.jpg


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