On Friday May 8th, Musicares held their 4th Annual Musicians Assistance Program (MAP) Benefit concert and they once again brought together a fantastic lineup of musicians performing together to raise awareness and funds, for a much needed cause. For 2008's benefit show, Alice Cooper was honored with the Stevie Ray Vaughn Award for his dedication to and support of the Musicares MAP Program and for his devotion to helping other addicts and their recovery process. Legendary guitarist, Slash formerly of Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver, received the Musicares 'From the Heart Award' for his unconditional friendship and support of MAP's goals. Alice Cooper and Blind Melon performed at the event as well as the All Star band Camp Freddy, which along with members Matt Sorum, Chris Chaney, Donovan Leitch and Billy Morrison included guests Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Billy Duffy of The Cult and Slash.
We caught up with Alice Cooper on the Red Carpet, just before receiving The Stevie Ray Vaughn, to get his thoughts on how much he could of used MAP when he was in trouble years ago.
Alice Cooper On Musicians Needing Musicians Assistance Program
"No we didn't have that at all. We could have used it you know. But now I think it's one of those things that I think have found it's place because now we're thirty years later or twenty years later and everybody...you know you were saying 'What does music need? What do these musicians need?' Well, they need this. There's a lot of guys out there that are really suffering. There's guys right now, that would have been here that are held up in their house sick because they can't get here. I feel sorry for those guys because I used to be one of them."
We also caught up with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith just before his performance with Camp Freddy to get his thoughts on helping friends when they're in need, like he was at one time.
Steven Tyler On Helping Friends In Need
"Certain people that I know well, I'll give them my phone number and tell them if you got any problems at all, just give me a call and I'll stop what I'm doing, wherever I'm doing it because I remember when I needed it myself."
We also caught up with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park to get his thoughts on how much MAP helps addicts and musicians in their time of need and why it's so important.
Chester Bennington On Importance Of Map
"I think it's important because there's a lot of musicians out there who are struggling with addiction and it's really nice to know that there's a group of musicians in this organization within the music industry that can actually help you out. And so it's helped a lot of people out and it's really important."
Fans, musicians and industry insiders were treated to performances by Blind Melon, Camp Freddy and Alice Cooper, who performed songs from his catalog and was joined on stage by fellow honoree, Slash. Stand up comic, Tommy Davidson, formerly of 'In Living Color' hosted the event as well.
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