Even Steven: Press1

Adventures in booking bands: It was 1992 when I was asked to be one of the talent coordinators for the United Nations Earth Pledge Concert Series. After booking bands for the last couple of years at some of New York Cities hottest clubs (Limelight, Danceteria, Space at Chase) I felt this was not only the icing on my cake but it was one bite closer to having a mouth full. The goal was to book 22 - 25 acts to perform in New York City's Central Park in the course of a weekend concert and to be simulcast worldwide while interacting with the Earth Summit in Brazil. A grassroots effort to promote environmental awareness was the underlining theme. Everything seemed wonderful.

Gun's N' Roses bassist, Duff McKagen seen above (actually resting on the floor of an elevator) just after signing the Earth Pledge at the Hard Rock Cafe New York City.
Photo from life Magazine 40 years of Rock & Roll

The concert was mounting up to be a very special event. Suddenly everything changed. Our Nations President decided to boycott the Earth Summit in Brazil just as the Dinkins Administration suddenly realized additional licen$e$ needed to be applied for and the festival was to be rescheduled.

An alternative plan went into effect and a new concert site was located on a Long Island Native American Reservation. The entire show was rescheduled from re-establishing contacts to booking each artist and then the final logistics which included travel, lodging and equipment considerations.

Motorhead made it into town and jammed with me at Danceteria.

"That was the best thing to come from all of this."

In short the Earth Pledge Concert Series seemed like it was doomed, The concert became a concept more than a show. With politics clashing with ethics. The Earth Pledge became a concert without a home.

Suddenly the phone rang and a new venue was laid in our lap. This time in New Jersey.. Waterloo Village

With a shortage of time in front of us all we could do was do it all over agian. We knew we were facing embarrasment in the industry but we were so intent on putting this show on, we just kept going and finally rebooked the entire show for a fourth time...

It all seemed so worth it but when the States all but forgotten Anti - Woodstock law came out of the books and a mouth piece for the lawyers representing the people of the town of Bynam, it did not look good.

After winning the first bout in a court of law we won. Knowing what we knew and after everything we experienced, we also took into consideration the posibility that we still had to deal with the town of Bynam's appeal.. It was back to court. This time the venue pulled the plug.

We were exhausted and did not wish to persue.
It was time to move on..

The press to the right explains most of this. It is a little hard to read and I appologize.

There is a lesson to be learned here:

When the president does not support a world wide event promoting ecological awareness, do not book the corresponding concert.

Apparently this point was not in the book until now..

"The Bass Master General" Even Steven Levee

"The Bass Master General"
Even Steven Levee