Randall RobertsView the Ducati All Stars slideshow by Timothy Norris here.
Last Saturday night a scrum of rockers and Ducati motorcycle enthusiasts rolled into Pahilhouse in West Hollywood for a pre-show meet-and-greet and crotch-rocket enthusiasts happy hour. The rock-star looking ones, as opposed to the cyclist-looking ones (two different breeds), were members of the one-night-only Ducati All Stars band — a few Camp Freddy dudes and Sunset Strip fixtures who dig the Italian-made Ducati motorcycles. Well, mainly three: punk rocker and radio show host Steve Jones, gossip show host and Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath, and Camp Freddy guitarist/Ducati obsessive Billy Morrison. The band converged at Palihouse before rolling over to the Roxy for a show.
Jones didn't ride his bike. He probably didn't feel like it. He told us that his first cycle, which he bought after the Sex Pistols broke up, was a Harley Davidson. But eventually he switched to Ducati — he's got two of them, and still one Harley. He and a couple West Coast Ducati execs are friendly with each other. They mentioned doing something rock & roll and Ducati related in LA, and from there this thing grew naturally. (And no, Jonesy still hasn't landed back on terrestrial radio after Indie 103.1 shuttered last year, though he says there may be something on the horizon.)
Billy Morrison on his muh-muh-muh-muh-motorcycle.; Credit: Timothy Norris
Ah, men and their motorcycles: a bond so strong, so pure, between human and machine, these chrome and gear beauty queens, so red, so hot, so smooth, so honest and reliable, unlike people. Feel the hum between your legs. Rock & roll. Motorcycles. Easy Rider.
Mark McGrath rides an Italian rocket.; Credit: Timothy Norris
After a bunch of poses in front of banners and the typical Hollywood mugging for the cameras, the group mounted their rides and rolled to the Roxy, where they performed.
Ducatis at the Roxy; Credit: Timothy Norris
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