... and have to write about it all. I am exhausted from the glad-handing and picture ops and overall intensity of the extraordinary adventure Caryl and I had in la-la land. There was so much happening I will try to give you all a blow-by-blow of events as I remember them.
As all of you who read my Road Words from this summer tour know, I had dinner with Tipper Gore while I was in Washington DC in May. After dinner we decided on putting together "A Tipper Moment" at the democratic convention. The Gores are fun-loving people who also love a good groove and music. As many know, Tipper is a drummer. I had arranged with Remo drums to have 5,000 hand drums made with "Tipper Rocks" printed on them. They were to be handed out before she hit the podium and we were to have at it. Of course the secret service heard about this and went ballistic. Drums, I said, not guns. All they could see was 5,000 people creating havoc while the vice-president was making the most important speech of his life. Also, some higher-ups thought that they might possibly be used as weapons. This was not going to be an easy sell. Tipper insisted and we made a compromise. The drums would be held back and handed out after the Veep spoke—during the final celebration and that I could drum with some kids while Tipper made her entrance. Ok, I thought… I didn’t want to be responsible if anything weird was to happen so I chilled for the time being. I thought this could be the largest drum circle in the world at first, but had to lower my expectations unless I wanted a knockdown drag-out with the secret service. Anyway I was in the middle of rehearsals for TOO and had no time. Tipper was in the midst of the Leiberman nomination frenzy and we sort of let the forces take their shot. It wound up pretty cool except for some minor weirdness at the last minute. More on this later.
I received a call from this fellow Gary Smith, the Hollywood producer for the event He says that there will be 200 school kids with the small hand drums who will be with me and Poncho Sanchez and Teri Lynn Carrington on the podium. The choice of music was left to our camp. The song "Turn the Beat Around" sort of jumped out at us. I called Tipper and played it on the phone to her and she loved it, so that was set in motion. I worked out the details with the musical director and we agreed on an arrangement.
The Veep had asked me to play for his Tennessee party at the Warner Brothers studio lot on Wednesday afternoon on the 16th. The MHB set up while the veep was still in the air on his way from the mid west. Burbank was hot and the delegation from Tennessee was now thrown together with the Connecticut delegation on this giant movie set. Cops and secret service everywhere. What a job, total paranoia required. They earn their pay and are dammed good at a most difficult task. No jokes, but very polite. The backstage area was reserved for the Gores and the Leibermans and they informed us we couldn’t hang there. I asked the SS guy who was back tage if not the band then who will be back here…he says to me that I ask a lot of questions. I told him I sure did and that this was America the last I checked. Still no smiles. This patriotic stuff is not so easy. You gotta really want it and not let the small stuff get in the way. As I looked out over this crowd I immediately saw they needed a little spike, as it were. I said hi and gave them a little message that I said came from the Veep. I said the Veep just called me from AF 2 and wanted them all to take off their ties and jackets and get loose. He was expecting a party and wanted them to get down. I don’t know if they believed me or not but it broke the ice. This was strange. Then we played Friend of the Devil and some folks started mouthing the words and I felt a lot better. We played for a half an hour then HE slid in backstage, undetected. He wanted to see me so the SS came and escorted me backstage where Caryl and I said hi to Tipper and Al. They were very happy to see us again and we had a chat about the Joe Leiberman choice, and talked over the next day’s expectations.
I then asked the crowd to come up close to the stage for the Veep’s entrance and they did just that. He, Tipper, their family, and the Joe Leiberman brigade came from backstage and took over for 30 minutes of meet and greet with their respective delegations. We then began the music as the Veep worked the crowd, as they say. He stayed for another 30 minutes and shook every hand on the lot. So much for the party. Now the real fun and business at hand was before us. Tomorrow would be the big moment.
As the Gores left, someone said that Senator Leahy was throwing a party and Sheryl Crow was going to play. I asked Jonathan Adelstein, an aide to Senator Daschle, if he knew where they were all staying. It seems as though both senators were staying at the same hotel and a call was placed to Pat Leahy. Leahy has always been a good friend to me in Washington and I thought this would be a chance for him to be my ticket into this event. It turned out that the event was a tribute to the senator himself and he wanted to meet me at the back door at 9 o’clock that evening.
Back to the hotel for a shower and change. The night’s festivities are about to unfold. Tonight Joe Leiberman is going to speak and the electricity begins to flow though the delegation. This is my first foray into presidential politics and my first convention. Caryl and I were involved with the two billion dollar state parks bond on the California ballot in March and I realized then just how important an election can be.
We have passes for the Gores’ skybox. We enter the box and sit down for our first look at the convention floor of delegates. Quite a scene really. All these people from all over this country trying to elect their man. It struck me how all these views and all these people could peacefully elect a president. What an interesting and well thought-out system to allow a peaceful change of power. Ok, there should be protest, there should be passion and tempers will flare, but nobody should get hurt. To some of them it was a fever of sorts. I could see it in their eyes. They were political animals, and I was becoming one myself. There is something contagious about this process and I started to think of myself becoming a lean, mean, fighting, political machine (Tipper wants me to be a political tiger shark. She’s very funny). The box is so far away from the stage that you have to look at the in-box monitor or the big jumbotron that is over the podium. Speech is hard to hear this high up. In walks Warren Christopher, the former chief of state. Things are warming up. Here comes Al’s mom. Intros are made and I feel a little awkward to be taking up the precious few seats reserved for the family. We are here and here we will stay for now. Caryl and I are just soaking it in up, watching the speakers unload on the delegates. The rhythm is building up to Joe Leiberman. I start to watch out of the corner of my eye the old political folks gathering in the box. I wonder for a moment what it must be like for Mrs. Gore to be going through this process again. Her husband, Al’s father, was a powerful senator and she has seen it all. Will she be on the edge like the rest of us or will it be just another night? I stay tuned to this channel. The Gores’ eldest daughter Karenna Gore makes a beautiful speech and the fun begins. Then Leiberman takes the stage and the energy is rising. Everyone in the box is now looking at the stage and getting to see firsthand what this guy is all about. The day before I spoke with the Veep about his choice and mentioned that it would add a strong soul to the partnership and he agreed and was overjoyed with the reception that Joe has been receiving. Joe Leiberman is not tall but carries himself confidently and gives off an air of warmth and openness. He is articulate and will make Al stretch. A very good choice was made. A beautiful speech was given and the chills were felt in the booth. Everyone was really there. Real emotional content from that man. The Gore crowd was ecstatic. Mrs. Gore was into this moment, big time. I could see her eyes light up and she was smiling broadly. Leiberman sounded confident and humble, yet delivered a strong message. The delegates were priming the pump. After the speech Tipper came back up to the box and Stevie Wonder and Sean Penn made an appearance. Smiles all around.
Back to the hotel and then on to meet Sen. Leahy.
Lines all around the block as we arrive for the Leahy party. I try the back door and the waters part. In we go. This great club holds about a thousand people. They call it the Sunset Room and it is plush. Sheryl is to play outside--acoustic on a small stage. We go in and mill around for awhile, sign some autographs, chat with the fans and then Leahy and his wife arrive. We party, talk over convention issues and have a blast. He tells marvelous Grateful Dead stories and introduces me to all of his friends. He retells the story of me playing at RFK stadium: "Mickey is having at it in front of 6o thousand people and he is now making love to this large stringed instrument he calls the beam and says this stuff is really hard on my manicure." I was actually scraping this beast at the time and my nails were shredding to bits. He loves the idea that he could be my ticket tonight. Senator Daschle shows up. The Senator is the minority leader in the Senate and a wonderful upbeat guy. He was the one who gave me my appointment to the LOC. We chat and catch up on things. The evening grows late and the people are closing in…time to go. On the way out I see Sara the youngest of the Gore children and mistake her for Karenna and I say what a beautiful speech you made today. Mickey it’s Sara, not Karenna, Caryl says. Sorry Sara, my tired old eyes are playing tricks on me. These girls have all grown into women while Al was in office.
Now for the main event. Thursday morning and everyone is on the edge. All eyes will be on the Veep to see if he has the right stuff at speech time. The hotel is buzzing. The Highway Patrol is covering every square inch of downtown. I wonder what the radar machines are doing now? No radar in this world? They are polite, but on guard. They said that the governor wanted a visible police presence…they’ve got one now.
The three surdos (large bass drums from South America) arrive at the hotel and are loaded into the car for the rehearsal this morning. My chief of staff, Deborah Klein, is now on the scene and in control. The drums are on legs to facilitate their entrance on to the stage. Also Teri Lynn Carrington is on crutches from an encounter with a rose bush that attacked her and she can’t carry her drum as one normally would. Senator Barbara Boxer shoots by us as we await our ride with rush, rush, rush on her mind. On to the convention floor for the rehearsal. On the way in the security is massive again. The drums pose a definite threat to these guards. They do look dangerous to the uninitiated. They have to get special dogs and machines to check them out. As we wait I friendly up the main guard and crack jokes. We bond. On to the floor and on to the podium. The drums were heavier than I thought and Teri Lynn is on crutches. The drums are finally put in place and the kids enter to the groove. We start Turn The Beat Around. The orchestra is primed and we have a run through. The kids are all over the map rhythmically and spiritually. No rhythm and no energy. It is time for a gathering of the minds. I talk them through the basics…smile, drum in time, and move your moneymaker. We are drumming the Veep into office, in rhythm. Now all together with me. After 3 or 4 tries they are catching on, even singing the lyrics with the singers who are perched up in the orchestra stand above the podium proves to be a chore. All seems well and everyone is primed. We leave the stage and run into Tipper for a few hugs and words then she is off to do her rehearsal. I go back to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes.
4;30 we are back at the convention. On my way through security I see that same guard that I was talking to earlier. I say watch out he’s got a drum…everyone freezes and the looks were made of steel…I said DRUM, not gun. Bad joke. As we enter Senator Harry Reid is on the podium. Now Harry is an old friend. He gave Rhythm For Life a million dollars once for the study of rhythm therapy while he was chairing the subcommittee on aging. I testified in 1992 on the powers of rhythm as a way of helping the aged and the medicinal properties that are enjoyed during group drumming. He invited me to his home for a wonderful and memorable lunch during that visit. He has a beautiful family and is a Mormon. I rush backstage to see him after his speech and we renew our friendship. He is a huge Garcia fan and has followed us for many years. He loves all the bluegrass stuff of Grisman and Jerry. The pizza tapes are one of his favorites. He is so warm and happy, I really have a good feeling when I am around him.
Caryl is still up in the VIP section below the box so I go back and join her. We sit still for a while and watch the wheels of the convention spin. All of the Leiberman family has filed into their seats and we talk to one of their daughters. She is pleasant and very excited to be here. She tells Caryl that it has been a whirlwind these last two weeks. They have never been in this kind of maelstrom. I see Sheryl Crow behind me and we chat for a moment, then I am tapped on the shoulder. Time to go to work. I get down to the podium with the help of Perry Wood, III, my aide that was provided by the convention. He has a headpiece on with a microphone and clears all barriers before I get there. He is young and this is his first convention. Good man. As I hit the stage I sense something is wrong, something is out of whack. Sure enough, the Boyz to Men group has not made it past security and is probably in traffic or worse. We begin the dance of a thousand showers. Everybody is moving in a new rhythm now. The producers are sweating and I am told to standby, things are in flux. As I stand by at the side of the podium I sign autographs for the deadheads manning the stage communication banks and give an on-camera for Fox TV. I can’t tell you how many of our fans are in the ranks of these dems. I am truly surprised at the number of fans with good wishes that appear at every turn. These encounters make me feel good. Our constituency is taking a role in the making of the next president. Now it is show time. Karenna Gore is at the mike and begins Tipper’s intro. Here we go. Poncho, Terri Lynn and I make it to the drums as Tipper enters stage right. I count the groove off and we are into it. Turn the beat around, let me feel percussion…but where is the band? No sound on the stage. I know the monitors are not on and the sweat starts to flow. Is the orchestra with us or on Mars? I have arranged it so that we drummers are the rhythm cue or metronome and the band should follow us. The kids come out from all sides and are clearly psyched. They are in la-la land and are not listening to the groove we are laying down. They seem overwhelmed with the whole spectacle. Nothing left to do but put down the mallet and try to put the Staples Center on the beat. I move to center stage with Tipper and do the "everybody clap with me" routine…it seems to work and the place is now throbbing with the united feeling of 22,000 people clapping and stomping together in time. I think the Staples Center is sprung very much like Madison Square Garden as I feel the vibration come up through my legs. It was if there was an earthquake on the move. After a minute or two the monitors on stage kick in and Tipper is smiling that smile and we are rockin’ the house. She is so happy to be there and in the groove. Finally the four singers’ mikes are turned on and the last chorus of vocals can be heard. The sound mixer either was asleep at the wheel or the Boyz to Men miscue rattled him. This moment was amateur night. I jump up in the air at the end of the tune and we all end together. Surprise. I tell Tipper, go get em’ and leave the stage. Back up to the stands where Caryl is and take my seat next to the Leibermans. Jesse Jackson is in front of me next to Gray Davis. Ted Danson behind. Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna. To the left in front. Lots of Hollywood movers and shakers all around. Tipper is in the middle of her Life With Al segment which is very sweet. She now intros the Veep. Come on Al, throw away the speech and talk from the heart I keep thinking, but this is not his way. He does a great job and I rate it a good double, maybe a triple with a slide to the bag. I like the"I am my own man" part. He has a tough act to follow with the Clinton baggage still holding on. Clinton is such a natural speaker and Al is not as smooth. Clinton has muddied the waters for Al and now he must get out of his wake and make some fresh waves of his own without dissing the man. Delicate. He does a fine job and then the 150,000 balloons fall, the confetti drops from the ceiling and the 5,000 drums are handed out. I start to hear a faint rumble of mass drums coming from the floor, but alas it is too late for a mass rumble. The music is smaltzy and the drums cannot find the groove. The moment is passed. They try but the drums are too small and the evening is late. At least they will have a souvenir to take home with them. We sit and watch the families of Gore and Leiberman gather on the stage to say goodbye. They must be exhausted by now, but the adrenaline is flowing and they all look radiant. We are exhausted for them. We have done what we came to do. We wait for the crowd to file out and then make our exit. Delegates stream out of the center carrying their Gore, Leiberman, Hadassah signs to show off at home. Lots of smiles and all eyes now turn on the next 80 days. We skip the Streisand party and go to our rooms. Tomorrow is TOO rehearsals and I want to be there for that. Al and Tipper go to the party and are on the campaign trail in Mississippi or Missouri the next day. They are really party animals in the true sense of the word. The election will be won or lost in the Midwest, so they don’t skip a beat in making their exit from LA to that riverboat. I wish them good luck on their journey.
Back in Novato for two more days of rehearsal and I now watch the wake of the convention boost Al Gore to dead even in the polls. It feels good to be a part of this surge. Caryl and I believe that all concerned citizens must get out and vote. They must use their vote to guide this country into the future. The alternative is not acceptable or bearable. I will get information booths and voter registration tables at all Other One shows on this tour.
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