Later that night Aaron broke out a dusty old box FULL of vintage “Old S**T” as he put it! We got to see the guys sitting at Creative for one of there first jam sessions, the Hurricane David tape. We got to see the Monique tape. (For those of you not up on your history Monique was voicing Mitzi before Shalisa was even discovered. From watching the video it was Obvious why she didn’t work out, but it was amazing to hear them discussing what to do now that Monique wasn’t working out…) We even got to see the guys playing wheelbarrow derby, the creative minds behind the Rock-afire definitely had some weird ways of spending time together! During all the videos it was wonderful to hear the commentary by Aaron. We all learned some amazing things about the evolution of Creative and the Rock-afire. The night finally ended with a “Campfire” out back!
Most of us were awake pretty early Saturday because like David already stated the sun does turn those tents into little ovens! Before we left for the Creative tour Aaron found another amazing piece of video. We got to see the 2nd Generation Dook in action! OH MY GOODNESS if he had only made it. He had 32 movements! He was amazing! He had 4 drums and 4 cymbals. He could play them all!
Off to Creative we headed. Grabbed some pizza’s on the way (gotta have pizza to watch the show). When we arrived there was still some final work being done to the exterior of the building which looks amazing now with its new paint job, fixed windows, and cleaned up grounds. We all walked in and just stood there looking around at Aaron’s Museum of Mayhem! Starlauncher there, Moonrockers over here, wait there is the New Rock-afire from Looney Birds too many things to name…. Its all there… Just sitting around. This place is any Rock-afire fans most amazing dream!
We settled into the Programming room where the Full Classic Rock-afire and New Rock-afire stages were sitting, just waiting for us to watch. Aaron fired up the show and we settled in watching and eating. Geez we had to have watched the show for 2 hours before we ever really began the tour. We had to wait a few minutes for Aaron to flip all the breakers and get all the lights working (well at least those that did work). We got to see the Bin Laden basher, parts corner, costume room, tech room, Conference room, and Aaron’s office. Aaron told us his story of the Anti-Gravity Freedom Machine as well as some history on the Original Looney Birds. We saw other rare characters from the Hard Luck Bears show, Lazzo, and Wolfman Jack. We got to see the Complete Collection of his Dolls all sitting on a shelf in his office and who could forget the Mini Billy Bob show prototype! Then it was down to the Mysterious and DARK basement. We got to see the old studio, the few remaining new characters are still crated up sitting down there, the Mask making room where the 2nd generation Mitzi is now sitting, and with the aid of a flashlight we got to see the 2nd generation Dooks hid in a back corner room. Unfortunately our time in the basement was short because we had to leave to go to the Sound Studio and because most of the lights in the basement didn’t work…. But oh the wonders that sit in that Dark basement! Many of Creative’s other robotic wonders are still down there in a corner: Bubba, the Wizard of OZ bots, the Green Dragon, and of course the Santa Klunks!
We left heading to the Studio where the Gee Our First Album was produced. We were all amazed that the place was still exactly the same as it is on the LP cover… Right down to the carpet! It was only a short stay but still wonderful to see where more of the Rock-afire’s history took place. Back over to Creative we headed… and lo and behold who is sitting in the parking lot waiting on us. Burt “Whoop Ass” Wilson better know to all as Fatz!
We all piled back into the building where we began watching more shows. Aaron and Burt did an impromptu skit and we all just got to sit back in amazement watching them play off each other! Burt was really a character! We all enjoyed getting to hear some of his stories. He was obviously touched with the whole gathering as were we all. After he left we watched another couple hours of shows, Aaron got the girls up for an amazing round of the Macarena, then we finished up the CEI day with a late night ride on the Freight Elevator all the way to the roof. Man we all had visions of Tower of Terror from MGM! We were just waiting for it to drop!
The evening finally came to an end with the, what was it, 2am IHOP breakfast!
This trip was a Once in a Lifetime opportunity! I hope all the attendees: David and Matt, Mike, Wendy and Candice, and Shonna enjoyed themselves as much as I did. We want to thank all those that helped with Donations: Chris, James, and Beth! You all made this trip possible! Last but most certainly NOT least we want to thank Aaron Fechter and Kerry Green. He really went all out to make the weekend a memorable one for all of us. We will all remember your hospitality for a long time! Thanks again!
So who is up for Round 2 in 2007?
- Damon & Shonna Breland |
