Electronic music pioneer/film composer BT hosted and performed at the NAMM Foundation's 29th annual Technical Excellence & Creativity awards. Presenters included Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everclear's Art Alexakis, T-Boz and Chilli of R&B group TLC.
That snazzy jacket belongs to veteran musician Todd Rundgren, who received the Les Paul Award during the TEC ceremony. The award was created to honor individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of recording technology. “It makes a big difference that I am being honored by my peers, especially when the namesake for the award is someone so influential and pivotal to my career,” said Rundgren, who recently launched The Spirit of Harmony Foundation to offer music education and support to school programs. He performed three of his classics: “I Saw the Light,” “Hello It’s Me” and “Open My Eyes.”
Electro-funk legend George Clinton was one of the TEC Awards presenters. Said the singer: "It's always a party at NAMM! It's so wonderful to see my old and new friends, musicians all having a good time. I was glad to hang out there!"
One of the remaining Doors members, Robby Krieger, jammed out with a mix of classics and songs from his band, Jam Kitchen. Krieger, who is soon to be opening a studio in Los Angeles, told THR he "felt like a kid in a candy store!"
Among NAMM's many night events was Bonzo Bash, which honored Led Zeppelin drummer John Henry Bonham. Presented by NATAL Music & Sound and Marshall Amps, and hosted by Dream Theatre's Mike Portnoy, veteran drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) and the show's creator, Brian Tichy (Whitesnake), the annual event features a slew of amazing drummers playing their favorite Led Zeppelin song.
After a busy day of artist signings at NAMM, the world's top guitarists and drummers then came together for "Randy Rhoads Remembered: A Celebration of a Legend," held nearby at The Observatory in Santa Ana.
Duesenberg Guitars USA held their annual Imperial Ball party featuring the Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) and special guests Johnny Depp and his all-star band that included Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper and Steven Tyler. "It was such a great night, they all want to come back and do it again!" quipped Nathan Fawley, president of Duesenberg Guitars of the private event, which was held nearby at Servite High School. Duesenberg also debuted a Johnny Depp guitar at NAMM.
Members of hard rock band Korn — James “Munky” Shaffer, Brian “Head” Welch and Reggie “Fieldy” Arvizu — were at NAMM to show off their new signature guitars from Ibanez.
The legendary Stevie Wonder visited ROLI's booth to test out the Seaboard Grand keyboard, one of the many unique new products at NAMM 2014. The keyboard, praised by a number of musicians and sound professionals, including Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, allows you to independently change any note's pitch, volume, timbre — all in real time — without ever having to reach for a joystick, wheel, knob, button or screen.
After attending several Grammy events, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler also showed up to NAMM.
Keith Emerson was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame following a performance at the annual Hammond USA “The Sound, The Soul, The Summit” concert. There, 14 of the world’s top keyboard players were featured on the stage’s three Hammond Organs with full rhythm section. Celebrating Hammond’s 80th year in business, the concert's finale featured Peter Keys of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Terry Lawless of U2, and David Rosenthal of Billy Joel’s band, performing an all keyboard version of Skynyrd’s epic “Free Bird,” sung by Hammond artist Alex Nester.
Alex Skolnick (Testament, Alex Skolnick Trio) spent his NAMM signing autographs, conducting guitar clinics and meeting fans at the ESP Guitars booth. "Some of the guitars are very unusually designed, everything from a race car to Italian architecture to medieval statues," he said. "I'd love to have these on my wall!" While Skolnick is known for his metal background, has an upcoming acoustic world music album he is working on.
Legendary percussionist Shiela E charmed fans at NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza with an energetic outdoor concert, after being honored by the Women's International Music Network at the 2014 She Rocks Awards earlier in the day. Janie L. Hendrix, current President/CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC and its affiliated organizations, and sister of the iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix, was also honored.