The “OFFICIAL” "Rock the Toy Box VII " a benefit for Toys For Tots was again a “HUGE” success, thanks to all of YOU and your generosity! This annual event produced by GreenStock Productions (Debra Stocker & John Green) started seven years ago at a little bar called McReds. Debra booked 5 bands there 1 night a month and thought how great it would be to do a special Christmas event in conjunction with Toys For Tots. Rock The Toy Box now, “SEVEN” year’ s later has become a “HUGE” event, growing bigger and bigger every year! It’s a GREAT cause, says many of LA's groups/artist that join us every year. All donating their time to raise “Toys For Tots” through their music! It’s so rewarding to know you helped put a smile on a child's face come Christmas morning!
This year’s event was made possible with the help of the US Marine Corps Reserve Center in Pasadena. Thank-you Sgt. Drummond, for supplying us with plenty of boxes, posters, stickers, cups and even a ½ dozen marines at our show. It’s always a pleasure to have the Marines in the house!
Our host, Harpers Bar and Grille made the perfect host for this year’s event! Located just West of Tampa behind El Torito’s at 19333 Business Ctr. Dr. in Northridge. This ALL DAY- ALL NIGHT - ALL AGES event was perfect in every way! Owner, Ron Harper arranged to have Santa Clause join us, with a HUGE beautiful 
decorated Christmas tree. It made perfect sense to have a “child’s” benefit at an ALL AGES venue and Harpers had the “Christmas Spirit“ from floor to ceiling happening! Other proud sponsors of this years event included FREEDOM STUDIO, GOTHAM GUITARS, PROFFESIONAL PRINTING CENTER, ESP GUITARS, COFFIN CASE and of course ALL ACCESS Magazine.
Admission was only $10.00 or 1 new unwrapped toy valued at $10.00 or more. Once inside 10 groups performed from 3PM till 2AM, including a very special performance from Madame Sunset’s Hollywood Kitten Show (Disney rated of course). Plenty of giveaways were tossed out. There were $1.00 raffles that included guitar giveaways, Coffin Cases, CD’s, T-shirts and more. Tons of fun and jolly ole’ Saint Nick was right in the middle of it all. Could it get any better?
I'm so glad you asked; first up was the Judge! JUDGE JACKSON that is. Performing an outstanding acoustic set! Just a taste of what these good ole’ boys have been tearing up the countryside with this past year, as well as the recording studio! I heard from Santa there were a lot of Judge Jackson fans requesting a copy of Judge Jackson’s (self titled) new CD. Coming in stores soon. Thanks Judge, always a pleasure! And Santa, be sure to put AAM on that pre-release list too please!
HEART BRIGADE (LA/Ventura’s finest tribute to Heart) & SLOW HAND (a tribute to Erik Clapton) where up next. These bands are definitely worth checking out, if you haven’t already. Danielle Sorbo is the lead vocalist for the band Heart Brigade
and what a voice! If you’re a Heart lover, HEART BRIGADE is a MUST see act! Ori, “Thank- You” for donating that beautiful child’s guitar to our raffle!
Our original line up included the tribute band Lady Smith, unfortunately they couldn’t make it this year. But that did leave the perfect spot for Madame Sunsets Hollywood Kitten Show. (a burlesque/vaudevillian & cabaret show). A special appearance by these ladies had everyone’s attention. Of course we keep it “Disney rated”, this being an All Ages event! But Disney or not these Santa helpers had a few of Harpers guest, “front row and center stage! Thanks for joining us girls. We’ll being seeing you again really soon!
BURNING SKY a tribute to Bad Company joined us after making their debut appearance only 1 week earlier. Let’s see, how’s the best way I can describe this new band? WOW, And, WOW again! You will definitely be hearing more about this band in AAM very soon! And judging by all the Bad Company lovers singing along I would have to say, LA’s in for a treat! “Keep your eyes posted for BURNING SKY” coming your way. Definitely, another MUST see act!
Running a little behind because of some technical problems our next band was ready to RoCk and did just that! JUST LIKE PRIEST is a tribute to JUDAS PRIEST, but I didn’t have to tell you that I’m sure. Is that you Rob Halford? No, it’s Frank Casciato. There Is no mistaken that voice! A Merry Metal Christmas song got us going and had “EVERYONES” attention and they were all focused on the stage! Just Like Priest is also a new tribute band making leaps and bounds these days! Here to support them was their entire neighborhood of family and friends! Thank you Rob Harper for allowing us the opportunity to bring the kids in. It was truly a treat for many artist and their families to see them perform on stage, all celebrating Christmas by giving to Toys For Tots!
1-2-3 DRINK (.com) and get ready for, FULL HOUSE! They rocked the BUS, The Toy Box and the house! 
FULL House with a Full Bus load of guest and presents! Yes, in deed its all about the "KIDS" here today at Harper’s Bar and Grille, and Full House was here to RoCk! A BIG thanks to Full House and all the artist/groups for giving up their time during a very busy holiday season! One thing’s for sure, come Christmas morning there will be ton’s of kids with “BIG” smiles on their faces!
Now a Toys For Tots benefit just wouldn't seem right without ThundHerStruck The ultimate all-girl tribute to AC/DC! Including a special guest appearance by SIMON WRIGHT on drums, WOW! And how about that Lance Corporal Rene Florez! An outstanding performance on the guitar playing us the National Anthem! I know all of you loved those little surprises happening all day and night! Whether you are an AC/DC lover or not one things for sure, THESE GIRLS ROCK! Each and every one of them, as talented as they are lovely! Coast to coast, these girls have been on a NON-STOP worldwide tour for over 3 years! GreenStock Productions thanks you for adding Toys For Tots to your tour calendar every year! ThundHerStruck, we salute YOU! #1 in our heart’s. You are simply amazing! We’ll be listening Dec 11th 8-10AM on 95.5 KLOS - The Mark and Brian show! Simon Wright, truly an honor! Thank YOU for hanging out with us to sign a few autographs and your wonderful donations to Toys For Tots!
Up next the JOE WALLA Band, bringing all of us center stage dancing and singing along! Everybody loves Joe Walla. What’s not to love! Thank YOU Joe, thank You very much. AAM knows there’s a ton of great things happening for the JOE WALLA Band these days. And will be there to bring you all the news! You just keep tossing out those great songs Joe! "Wild Guy", "Nasty Girl" and everyone’s fav, Lil' Crack Whore" and will do the rest! I saw Santa had a list going for your fans too! Get your copy of “Reverend J. Wicked III at www.joewalla.com. Thanks Joe Walla Band, always a pleasure!
DAMAGE INC.(a tribute to live METALLICA) was up next and “RoCk” the house they did with new guitar player Chris Brightwell, now that’s METAL in YOUR face! Metallica lovers were all over this band after hearing about their debut performance last week! Guess word does travel fast when you’re the BEST! The pleasure was all ours. Thanks for joining us all the way from Orange County. 
Yes in deed, DAMAGE INC. yet another MUST SEE ACT! Thanks for joining us guys. AAM looks forward to seeing you again real soon!
Now a real treat! LIGHT’S OUT (a tribute to UFO) featuring original members Rob Stanard, Tommy Leblanc, Steve Thorton, Mark Muniz And on bass AAM’s photographer- good friend and birthday boy, Ernie Manrique! Is there a Doctor, Doctor in the house? We may need one for Ernie tomorrow! And Thomas Leblanc on drums, WOW! James Kottak your right, Thomas was on fire tonight! To take our night out we planned a special birthday jam with Ernie for his birthday! Unfortunately, that didn’t get to happen too much! Guess that’s just “RoCk ‘N’ RoLL the way it goes sometimes! AAM would like to thank YOU, and some very special guest for hangin out with us! Stuart Smith, Keith St. John, Richie Onori, Joe Petro (Heaven and Earth), always a pleasure! Athena & James Kottak (Kottak), Chaz West, Vinny Appice, Krigger, Jimmy Bain, Carlos Cavazo (The Hollywood AllStarz) Ken Steiger, RockinQueen, The Cauze, Bobby Richards, and many more…
I’m not sure who had the most fun here tonight. The kids, the adults, Santa Claus, Ernie Manrique or Thomas Leblanc. But I do know, Rob Harper “You Are The Man”! Thank YOU Harpers Bar and Grille and all your wonderful staff for making this years “OFFICIAL” ROCK THE TOY BOX VII the best one ever!! Rob is it to early to book us a date for next year?
Happy Holidays everyone and "Thanks" for believing with us that, "Every Child Deserves A Little Christmas"! Jeannie Austin (Heart Brigade) a special thanks from Olivia and Ayden Green, for an emergency ride to the store. You RoCk on and OFF stage! A "HUGE" thanks to Tina, Nancy and Wall Mart in Covina, “UNBELIEVABLE!” There will be tons of happy faces this Christmas morning for sure! "Thank-You" HARPERS BAR AND GRILLE, Santa Claus (Bob) and all of YOU for once again making this years "Rock the Toy Box VII" a huge success! We’ll see you again NEXT YEAR! For more info www.ALLACCESSMAGAZINE.COM
Have a SAFE and wonderful Holiday!
