Van Halen: My Future Brother-in-law?

Yup...

That's my sister, Kim, hanging with Eddie.

She's the VP of marketing for Activision, which will be rolling out the new edition of Guitar Hero featuring Van Halen (Eddie, Alex, David, and Wolfgang).

And now that I take a second look at this photo, I think they'd make a good couple too...

Sorry Pete...

Benefit Concert for VHL Family Alliance Cancer Research Fund a Success!

On the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, my 17 year-old nephew Calvin plugged in his guitar and took the stage at VHL-stock, an event he helped arranged to raise awareness of Von Hippel-Lindau disease, and garner donations for the VHL Family Alliance Cancer Research Fund.

Calvin has the rare genetic disease that leaves him vulnerable to tumors on his eyes, spinal cord, and adrenal glands, and has already had three surgeries to remove such growths.

The event raised over $11,300 for the cancer fund.

I think the ghost of Hendrix would have approved of our appropriating the Woodstock moniker, as the Fender Stratocaster-wielding Calvin opened the night’s set of music with cover tunes by Ryan Adam, Elvis Costello and Tom Petty.

Calvin was backed by his dad, D-Rave on drums, his uncle Brian (Switch2PlanB) on guitar, and his cousin Joe on keyboards, with a band that also featured Nick of the Pink Floyd tribute band, “Which One’s Pink?” on keyboards and guitar:

The show turned into a reunion of sorts, as D-Rave and Brian (below) played together again for the first time since they shared the stage in L.A. rock bands True Confessions and Painted Horses.

The VHL-stock band rocked the house with some original tunes by Calvin…

And Joe sat in, playing a song written in tribute to his dad—our brother Gary…

(sorry for the blurry photo, Joe!)

Rocky Peak's Wes, was awesome on bass...

And Lauren sang lead and backing vocals...

Thanks to Joel Lifter for all the photos--and awesome brownies!

After the show, rumors of a VHL-stock II were already in the air...

Thanks to everyone who attended, and all who donated so generously!

(For more pix, go here...)

VHL-stock wrap up

For you Switch-heads out there asking how the VHL-Stock concert went, I'll post a complete report as soon as I get some pictures...

For now, I'll just tell you that we had a great turn out, the band had a blast, and we helped raise a tidy amount of money for a great cause...

Some of my relatives hit the wine bar a little too hard, but that's another story.

Anyway, there's talk of maybe even doing it again next year!

Until then...

VHL Family Alliance Cancer Research Fund

http://www.vhl.org/