03/27/2004 TEN PLUS

TEN PLUS

By JOHN GRAFMAN Photos courtesy of WireImage

GM has pulling power. Pulling power and a big checkbook! For the third year running, General Motors bares its soul just a week prior to the Oscars. Showcasing the very best in talent, not just in its vehicles, but also in Hollywood celebrities. The GM Ten is one-half fashion show, one-half cocktail party, and one-half rock concert. Sure, I can add! However, this is more than one would expect. It is an overdose on life, liberty and rock and roll.

From the red carpet entry to the last licks of the band, GM set out to impress even the most jaded in our fair city. In fact, the celebrities were so overwhelming that the cars took a back seat to them. This wasn't a simple task given the cars GM brought out for the event. From Earl Harley's Y-Job, to the latest H3T Hummer concept, GM brought out several examples of some of its most inspirational designs.

Tied-in with the presentation was a plethora of stars. Escorting the vehicles down the runway was one celebrity after another. Models for the evening included Kim Cattrall, Matthew Perry, Heather Graham, Dave Navarro, Molly Shannon, George Lopez, Kelis, Erika Christensen, Roselyn Sanchez, Anne Hathaway, Devon Aoki, Rodrigo Santoro, Ginnifer Goodwin, Michelle Branch, Jacqueline Obradors, and Laura Bell Bundy.

Some of the celebrities who also were partaking in the good life that night were Demi Moore, Dennis Hopper, Marcus Allen, Kelly Osbourne, Anthony Keidis, Susan Holmes, Carmen Electra, Ashton Kutcher, Hayden Christensen, Mekhi Phifer, Henry Simmons, Antonio Saboto, Jerry O'Connell, Topher Grace, Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Kelly Hu, Eduardo Verastegui, Julia Ormond, David Silvera and Vivica A. Fox, to name a few.

To insure that everyone was having a good time, the event was also sponsored by Tanquery. When the band made it on stage after the fashion show had ceased, alcohol or not, an amazing time was all but inevitable. Camp Freddy was the cover band for the night. Never heard of them? Well, the band hasn't been around much, yet the band members are more than just a little familiar. How about the likes of Dave Navarro, Billie Joe Armstrong, Billy Morrison, Duff McKagen, Juliette Lewis, Macy Gray, Mark McGrath, B-Real, and even Steven Tyler.

The unfortunate part of the event, in retrospect, was this was an invite-only affair. I don't know anyone under sixty who wouldn't have been moved, if by nothing else, the closing song of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" preformed by Steven Tyler. This was an epic performance and far beyond the performance GM presented just last year. Now, if we can just coincide the Greater LA Auto Show with this for all to enjoy, we might just have our cake and eat it too!

GM came damn close to hitting the nail on the head this time around. Cars and rock music go together like mom and apple pie, so who better to dish it out than General Motors? All right, I do acknowledge their cross-town competition has been at it a while too. Given some of the recent vehicles coming out of GM lately, I think they are getting the big picture. Cars are meant to inspire, excite and get the blood pumping - not just exist as a means of getting from A to B. Just like rock itself.

It appears that a snowball effect has grabbed a hold of this affair. It just keeps getting bigger and better. Another year of development and this event might just eclipse the Oscars! Next year, if there are a few empty seats at the Academy Awards ceremonies, chalk it up to another wild a time at the GM Ten.

For more on GM, check out www.gm.com