(Press release)
The first-ever Rock Legends Cruise in support of the work of the Native American Heritage Association is slated to depart Fort Lauderdale on December 1 of this year aboard The Royal Caribbean Line’s Liberty of the Seas. Headlining the five day cruise is “That little ol’ band from Texas,” Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and George Thorogood and The Destroyers who bring their “Bad To The Bone” approach to the high seas. The unprecedented cruise will benefit NAHA’s mission to provide emergency assistance and self-help programs to the Sioux Native Americans living on reservations in South Dakota. Along with ZZ Top and Thorogood, the Rock Legends Cruise includes multiple performances from John Kay and Steppenwolf, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Foghat, Johnny Winter, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, Blackfoot, Pat Travers, and SwampDaWamp.
It is expected that upwards of 3,200 music fans will be aboard the ship, one of the biggest, fastest and most luxurious passenger vessels in service today, served by a crew of 1,300 on 18 decks. With a gross tonnage of 160,000, it can truly be said that the rock-themed benefit voyage will be a “heavy” experience for both bands and fans. The ship, almost as long as four football fields, cruises at 21.6 knots, is scheduled for port stops in the Bahamas that include Coco Cay and Nassau. The main attraction of the cruise is, of course, multiple performances by the Rock Legends bands aboard in four different on-board venues, The Deck, The Platinum Theater, Studio B and The Sphinx. The ship also features on-board surfing thanks to its FlowRider wave generator, an ice skating rink, a boxing ring, a full-sized volleyball/basketball court, cantilevered whirlpools and range of gourmet restaurants.
NAHA President David G. Myers commented, “We are very excited to be offering music fans and friends a unique opportunity to experience five days of brilliant musical performances from these true Rock Legends in a setting that is without equal. Our hope is that this innovative approach to fundraising will increase our ability to serve Native American communities in need tenfold.”
Rock Legends Cruise info/ticket purchase: www.rocklegendscruise.com
Rock Legends Cruise toll free number (888) 666-1499
About the artists:
ZZ Top – Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard came together as ZZ Top in Houston, TX 41 years ago and have the distinction of being the longest running unchanged personnel line-up of any major band in history. Their numerous hits include “LaGrange,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and others. The band has been named Official Heroes of the State of Texas and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
George Thorogood and The Destroyers – George Thorogood has released twenty-six albums over the course of a career that began thirty-five years ago in his native Delaware. Among the hits associated with Thorogood are “Bad to the Bone, “ “Move It On Over,” “House Rent Boogie,” “Who Do You Love,” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” Band members include Jim Suhler, Buddy Leach, Jeff Simon and Billy Blough. The last named members have been with The Destroyers since the mid-1970s.
John Kay and Steppenwolf – The origins of the band date back to 1968 when East German-born John Kay (nee Joachim Fritz Krauledat) formed the original Steppenwolf in Los Angeles. Their initial hits included the biker anthem “Born To Be Wild,” (featured in the film Easy Rider) as well as “Magic Carpet Ride, “Rock Me” and “Monster.” The band’s current line-up includes Michael Wilk, Ron Hurst, Danny Johnson and, of course, “the alpha wolf” John Kay.
The Marshall Tucker Band – The band, since its formation in Spartanburg, SC in 1971 has been one of the standard-bearers of ‘Southern Rock.” Their eclectic approach which fused jazz and country with rock has earned them legions of fans as did their touring with the Allman Brothers Band. Their albums have sold in the millions and their big hits “Can’t You See” and “Heard It In A Love Song” are staples of the classic rock radio format. The current MTB line-up is Doug Gray, Pat Elwood, B.B. Borden, Marcus James Henderson, Stuart Swanlund and Rick Willis.
Dickey Betts & Great Southern – A founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts is the writer and voice of the group’s breakthrough hit “Ramblin Man.” He also wrote the band’s Grammy-winning “Jessica” and, among other compositions, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Blue Sky.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and is listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Foghat – Founded in the UK as a spin-off from Savoy Brown in the 1970s, Foghat’s blues-rock/boogie approach earned the band five gold albums. Their hits include “I Just Wanna Make Love To You” and “Fool For The City” and their current Anglo-American line-up, including founding member Roger Earl, has been in place for the past six years.
Johnny Winter – Beaumont, TX was where Winter began a musical career that is totally rooted in the blues. Widely known along his native Gulf Coast, his big break came in 1968 when Mike Bloomfield invited him to join with him at the Fillmore East for a “Super Session” concert that included Al Kooper. He was soon signed directly to Columbia Records and given what was then the largest advance in the history of the recording industry. He was a featured performer at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 1988
Molly Hatchet – The band was founded in Jacksonville, FL in 1975 and would, after signing with Epic Records, chalked up a string of three consecutive Platinum-certified album: their self-titled debut, Flirtin’ with Disaster, the follow up that went Double Platinum, and Beatin’ The Odds. Today, Molly Hatchet is Bobby Ingram, Phil McCormack, John Galvin, Dave Hlubek, Tim Lindsey and Shawn Beamer.
The Outlaws – Formed in Tampa, FL in the earlier 1970’s, The Outlaws broke through nationally with “Green Grass and High Tides” and earned a reputation as one of the greatest touring live bands of all time fueled by guitar-driven country-rock and stellar three-part harmonies. Today’s Outlaws are original singer/guitarist Hendry Paul and original drummer Monte Yoho with Chris Anderson, Billy Crain, Randy Threet and Jon Coleman.
Blackfoot – Jacksonville was also the site of Blackfoot’s founding. The band transcended the Southern Rock genre with its hard-edged approach. The group’s name is a reflection of the Native American heritage of three of its founding members including Greg T. Walker who is of Creek ancestry and remains with the band today. Other current members include Mike Estes, Charlie Hargrett and Kurt Pietro.
Pat Travers – As a child, the Toronto-born guitar great saw Jimi Hendrix live in Ottawa in 1968, an event that changed the course of his life. He was a proficient guitarist by the age of 14 and moved to London to pursue his rock ‘n’ roll dreams in the 1970s and has released more than 30 albums during the course of his career. His music is metal-infused so it’s no surprise that Metallica’s Kirk Hamment has called Travers one of his favorite guitarists.
SwampDaWamp – Though their history does not extend as far back as the other Rock Legends Cruise bands, this six-piece group from Charlotte, NC band reflects the blues/rock/country heritage that all of the bands have in common. Their blue-collar ethos and fun-loving sound make the party band, nonpareil. Their self-assigned mission is to “ROCK THIS COUNTRY!”
About the Native American Heritage Association:
Since 1993, Native American Heritage Association worked with Lakota (Sioux) Reservations strengthening the Native American communities and families one member at a time. The challenges are difficult as unemployment rates on the Reservations are at 80%, 70% have no transportation, the average life expectancy is 58 years of age, infant mortality is 10 times the national average and 31% of Native American children under the age of 4 are obese because of lack of proper nutrition. NAHA, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, in partnership with Feeding America and Gifts In Kind International, has provided food, clothing, heating assistance, personal care items and home care items to the many Native Americans in need. NAHA has a 17-year history of executing its mission in a fiscally responsible way, outperforming most other charities. Thanks to its financially sound business practices, NAHA has earned 6 consecutive 4 star rating with www.charitynavigator.org 92.4% of all NAHA revenue goes toward its program services. More at www.naha-inc.org
