17 Nov 2025
Friday 3 October 2025: Backyard Benefit, Pacific Palisades, CA
Show Report: 3 October 2025, Pacific Palisades, CA
Well, well, well . . . It seems that every year The Who or Roger or Pete come through L.A. we get another TCA event. These fundraisers for the Teen Cancer America project are a huge deal, the major moment when funds make everything they do possible. You probably all know about the charity, founded originally as the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK. But America has its own related wing, and does its part for as many families as possible. It’s always growing, each year new hospitals and wings are added, each one a significant part of someone’s life.
Our donor home is a mansion, with pretty sizeable estate grounds (for Los Angeles) in the area above the beaches. Pacific Palisades is definitely a wealthy area, but not ostentatious. It’s an area that was absolutely devastated by the famous fires this year. This town and Alta Vista were almost completely wiped out. As it happens, the fire didn’t touch this precise area, and we have a place once again. Lucky, I suppose, but we have a lot of work to do. The Teen Cancer America people have been working hard to get the fundraiser to be the greatest ever – and they just might do it. Every little bit helps, but every GIANT bit helps more. So here goes . . .
Months ago, I heard rumours of an exceptional lineup for this event: Get this for a show (in a backyard!)
The Who
The Doobie Brothers
Cheap Trick
Def Leppard
Peter Frampton
John Fogerty
and
Eddie Vedder!
Each is a headliner. Each has many millions of records sold (and not just a few million). And this even seems like two or three more BIG artists than we’ve ever had. It’s promising, and a little scary.
To tell the truth – it was slow in coming, and a little strange. At one point, they’d asked Cheap Trick to back up Rog and Pete, to keep things simpler (but they don’t have a keyboard player, and they already have two guitarists) Soon enough, that thought went away. I heard The Who would be playing acoustically, but the others would be rocking out, except maybe the Doobies on acoustic. NONE of that happened, but it’s how stories and plans go. Just wait until the real thing happens. Planning ahead can be foolish, to an extent.
The day before, we have a day off post-desert, so instead they bring us in ahead of time to set up and soundcheck. Not a bad idea – with so many acts, doing on the day of the show would be impossible, even though we usually do so. We’re one of the first in, being the last/headlining group, so we can finish and be gone. Setting up “in reverse order” of the acts means the earliest/first performers come in last and set up – then stay for their opening set. Tonight Cheap Trick will start – and that’s a hell of a show. They are all good friends of mine and I love to go see them everytime they play. Rick is a HUGE Who fan – and Pete loves to see him. Robin tells me he wants to join and sing “’Cut My Hair’ at one of our shows someday, but also that he likes to quote and sing Who songs over the end-jams of Cheap Trick live tunes! Tom Petersson, a fine bassist, told me he’d seen The Who on their very first tour in 1967 when they were opening for Herman’s Hermits! He said the band seemed to be just finding out who they were . . . but the next year, 1968, he saw them headlining and said they were already the greatest group in the world already. Daxx is their drummer – and he and Loren Gold used to be in a band together! The Cheap Trick show is fun and short – a powerful set. Robin told me he’d picked out the songs specifically to match the sound and feel or The Who. As another band with a brilliant “lead guitarist who writes the songs but isn’t the lead singer” – there’s a great parallel between Rick Nielsen and Pete.
Up next – we have young Peter Frampton! Well, he’s younger than The Who by a little. In fact, one year I saw a gentleman and two ladies wandering around apparently lost backstage. (They had the right passes so it didn’t seem serious.) “Can you show me to Roger and Pete’s dressing rooms?” the guy asked. I knew that voice right away – Peter Frampton. “Sure, come with me . . .” then I asked him how long he’d known them. “Since 1965 when I was in The Herd. Our first tour was around England supporting The Who. John and Keith sort of adopted me and took me under their wing. It was the ultimate way to learn how to tour.” I bet. Tonight he’s out with his band. Peter sits during shows, as his mobility is limited, but not his energy. There are many memories of good-looking Peter and his distinctive voice singing, but I think he’s one of the best lead guitarists out there. Not in a “shredder” fast way, but in the way his guitar sings out and the parts are always memorable and well thought-out. He’s got that tonight, and everyone out there seemed to have a ball.
The Who – yeah, they’re next, not at the end. Oddly enough, The Who are not going on last. They moved their slot up. No idea why, but I have the feeling Rog and Pete realize it’s going to be a looooong night and they don’t wanna wait; it’s their party and they’ll play if they want to. And it’s a scaled-back version in many ways. Only seven songs today; it’s not a full/real concert. Even Pete has only one of his two amps, and Loren doesn’t have the full Hammond organ rig, it all just wouldn’t fit. But the show – in a backyard – is low-pressure, fun, and about bigger things than musical prowess and perfection. Simple stuff, no drama, and no video screens. Even Fuji is lighting us tonight with some pretty simple light “cans” hanging over the stage – not much. They always know to play a general set for a public audience – this is not a crowd that probably knows much about ‘Silas Stingy’ or ‘Whiskey Man’ . . . So the hits hit, and the show goes well. Eddie Vedder comes out for ‘The Kids Are Alright’ – he’s got his own along as well and his lovely wife. Ed’s always down to support this band, and he’s right at home with any Who song. He probably knows them better than the band. Speaking of experts, quite a few of our regulars in the audience are right down-front. They have good taste in music, we can say that with certainty. Luckily, we have master photographer William Snyder out to catch this final show of 2025 (all the great photos are his, the rest are mine!)
Auctions! How could I forget. Hosting the show is famous actor guy Judd Apatow. He’s great at this role, famous enough and funny enough and caring enough – he gets the job done and more. Between all the musical acts (setup time is needed) he explains what items are being auctioned live at that moment. Trips/vacations, rare experiences, concert trips with backstage access, a day with a movie or sports star – all kinds of thing.
Backstage is made up of a casual set of areas; part of the house, a weight/exercise room, patios, guest rooms – all now dedicated to dressing rooms of a kind. However, everyone seems open and cool here – sociable and friendly. There’s a lot of rock stars walking around saying hello to each other and catching up. Pretty much everyone has a previous connection – much of it being Roger – and it’s easy to talk to others who share mutual respect and a similar role in music. There are some families along, as it’s a pretty special night of things to see and do – but mostly bands and crew.
The poor crews! Well, it’s a pressure show – and yet it isn’t. It’s not like a big night at The Forum or Madison Square Garden – it’s a different kind of garden! But despite the casual and short-show nature, every band wants to be good, to keep up with the others, and to be seen doing well. Pressure on the crews to make this happen in a very, very tight space. Credit to our stage managers for somehow figuring out how to make things load/unload/store/roll-out for use. It’s a puzzle and things just somehow worked out. If I was a betting man, I would bet they wouldn’t! Lucky us – it did.
I talked to the Def Leppard guys about the one time they opened for us: in Porto Alegre in Brazil. Our South American tour (the only one, ever) was pretty minimal but super-memorable. And that specific shows was absolutely stunning! With Def Leppard watching from side of stage, The Who just rocked the place. In my life, I’ve seen between 600 to 700 Who shows, and this was in the Top Five. And even a strong, experienced band like Leppard were just floored. At their age (years ago, but still “not young anymore”) Pete and Roger just stormed the place, and the crowd of rabid fans went wild. Def Leppard remembered it well! But tonight, they’re a little worried in a different way “because now we’re going on AFTER The Who?” Joe Elliot explains. He said they’d been told it was just a little backyard event and they should play acoustic. Joe Elliot said that Roger invited them to sing at a “small backyard gathering” type thing – and they’d agreed to do a simple acoustic set. Not knowing that all these bands would have ALL this equipment – and only Leppard would be the ones without the horsepower. Still they will do what they need to very soon.
Def Leppard – maybe they are the champions of the day. As I mentioned, things changed around a lot. However – they really were superb. Stripping away the production (and there is a lot) of drums, vocal layers, keyboards, guitars, reverb – you’re left with some pretty classic songs, and well-constructed ones at that. So I think maybe better than playing their hits the “right way” – showing us this side of themselves was a great thing. It’s rare to see them this way – every other band here plays many shows a year, and essentially the same things we saw tonight – but not with Def Leppard. They brought their special side, and it feels good to have seen it.
Auctions – I’m watching one go down: It’s a refrigerator on the big screen. This one has a big Who logo across the door! It’s a one-of-a-kind design by the maker. One of one, there is no other. And, $30,000 later, someone can host their Heinz and Rex Beans in the coolest refrigerator ever! Yeah, it’s excessive. But raising big money is why we’re here. And what an idea – a Who refrigerator. I’ve seen so many things, signed photos, MANY signed guitars, tour jackets, famous actor dinners, huge art books – it all adds up. Something for everybody. (And backstage, they have rooms full of stuff for the rockstars to sign; these can be used for later auctions and events during the year, it keeps on helping throughout the year.)
Then, John Fogerty is up and he’s pretty much THAT GUY – the Fogerty you knew is the Fogerty we still have. His look, his voice, his manner – it’s all there. His band is strong and playing well. They do the hits, the stuff you know – so he knows the game; for general audiences, play the hits! People love it. Eddie Vedder comes out to join him and sing along on ‘Proud Mary’, and Eddie himself asked to do ‘Fortunate Son’. Ed’s a big Fogerty fan, and bowed down to him in honor. Roger’s a bigger fan – famously claiming that Creedence was “the best band” at Woodstock. Every time we are asked what to play with Roger around, mention any Creedence song and he’ll agree! It’s great stuff and perfectly suited for Roger’s voice.
Speaking of Roger – Ed Vedd presents Roger with one of those huge checks you seem to get when giving big money. Raised on behalf of TCA, Ed donated this QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS to TCA from his sources. Wow! In return, Roger gives Ed his personal Buddy Holly acoustic guitar; one of very few made by the Holly Foundation.
Doobie Brothers! There’s a name that’s been around a long, long time. It’s bringing back memories of many classic songs, hooky and yet still strong on vocals and instrumental prowess. Mike McDonald is with them, pulling things in a soulful pop direction – as it was when he joined in the late ‘70s. He sounds great, they all do, and the younger/newer members are carefully chose, of course. Everyone up there is a top-level pro at this. I can’t imagine how many shows they’ve done. Audience singalongs was unavoidable – seems like everyone knows their songs, young and old. Indeed among this yard-full of giants, they are as big as most anyone here. They and we all show some age – but the music is LOUD and strong, and they are actually well-suited to be “the headliners” tonight. Everyone knows all the songs, and it’s pretty powerful stuff live. Go see them if you can!
Well, we made it – a long night of food, auctions, people, music, crews, equipment, parking. In total, this event raised over SIX MILLION dollars for the charity. And it’s a lean and mean charity – they don’t overspend on themselves or the organization; it goes to the hospitals and wings. Regardless, hats off to the many volunteers here, the TCA regulars that we work with, and The Who crew – my road family who always make it work, and make it better.
At the end, we’re packed up and leaving – a sort of goodbye? I live in L.A. so I just drove home. Our remaining crew (remember no video crew tonight) took a shuttle bus back to the hotel – all leaving at different times for different places. So there was no final “hang” or whatever – just various waves, a “see ya soon?” or a hug – and The Who crew is . . . gone. Maybe for now, and if there is more – who will be there or not? I guess mystery means we can wonder – and hope.
Onward! . . .
TONIGHT’S SET LISTS
CHEAP TRICK
Dream Police
Stiff Competition
I Want You To Want Me
Surrender
PETER FRAMPTON
Show Me The way
Do You Feel Like We Do
Baby, I Love Your Way
THE WHO
I Can’t Explain
Who Are You
I Can See For Miles
You Better You Bet
The Kids Are Alright
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Baba O’Riley
DEF LEPPARD
Armageddon It
Hysteria
This Guitar
Two Steps Behind
Pour Some Sugar On Me
JOHN FOGERTY
Bad Moon Rising
Joy Of My Life
Down On The Corner
Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
Proud Mary
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
Long Train Runnin’
China Grove
Black Water
Takin’ It To The Streets
Listen To The Music