Backstage Spotlight™
Concert Promoter Gina Zamparelli
Gina Zamparelli has worked in the live concert
industry for 23 years and was the first woman in the Los Angeles market to produce
concerts with national-level artists. Shows she produced at the legendary Perkins Palace
are still talked about in rock circles, including a Guns ‘n’ Roses show credited
amongst GNR fans as being the one that put that band on the map. Gina is active in
historic preservation and has been a theater financial consultant for 13 theaters around
the US. She heads Friends of the Raymond Theatre, a non-profit group dedicated to saving
the former vaudeville theater (built in 1921) that was known in the 80’s &
90’s as the concert venue Perkins Palace (which Gina’s company managed for more
than a decade). Once her preservation work with the Raymond Theatre comes to a close, she
will start producing concerts in LA once again.
MBADC: Who were some of the artists who performed at Perkins Palace (or at other
shows you produced) and then later went on to big success?
GZ: I have worked with older artists like Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac,
Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Toto, etc. But the bands of the 80’s and 90’s
which we helped go on to larger fame, were bands like Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses,
Great White, Brian Adams, Stone Temple Pilots, Metallica, Whitesnake, Megadeth, W.A.S.P.,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ratt…and many others.
MBADC: Tell us some stories about the early days of some of the artists you worked
with.
GZ: Where do I start! Don’t all of us in this business have stories?
Let’s see, there was a night at the Raymond Theatre (Perkins Palace). W.A.S.P was
playing and I got a bomb threat and the police and I opted to let the band go on vs.
causing a riot by telling the crowd to leave the building. Luckily it was a prank. I guess
you aren’t a real promoter unless you get one good bomb threat.
There was the night the Plasmatics wheeled a car on stage and covered it with a huge
cloth. I thought, "hum, that’s strange, we didn’t discuss bringing a car
onstage." I asked what exactly the car was doing onstage. Wendy O’ Williams
said, "it’s just a prop, nothing more." With no notification to me or the
theatre owner, they blew up a car onstage.
There was the evening Stevie Ray Vaughan was playing guitar onstage after a video shoot
just to pass time. I shut him down (not knowing who he was) and asked him to remove
himself from the venue.
One of my favorite moments, The Raymond (Perkins Palace) was Van Halen’s (and in
later years David Lee Roth’s) place to rehearse before tours. On the last date of
David Lee Roths Eat `Em & Smile tour rehearsal, Dave asked me if I would allow five
(yes five) of his friends into the theater to see the rehearsal. I said "no." I
went out for dinner and came back see a line of 2,000 people around the block.
I have been locked in a venue with Van Halen, Motley Crue, Gladys Knight, Toto, Prince and
others for months of rehearsals at the Raymond Theatre (Perkins Palace). I used to hang
out with Motley Crue, W.A.S.P., Guns N’ Roses and others. I need to book to tell you
all the stories-- maybe someday!
MBADC: What were some of your favorite shows you were involved with?
GZ: They may or may not be the public’s favorite, but my
favorite show was my first show at Perkins Palace, which was W.A.S.P. (with special guests
Motley Crue) Ratt and Armored Saint). Another special show to me was headlining Armored
Saint to celebrate their signing to Chrysalis. I discovered them playing a battle of the
bands at the Ice House. They did so many shows in the opening and support slot for me. I
wasn’t sure they could sell out on their own. Chrysalis asked me to surprise them and
headline the band as a celebration of their signing to the record label. We sold out 2,000
tickets the first day the tickets went on sale. That show was amazing, you can still by
the bootlegs on ebay. Guns N’ Roses was a great show also, we sold out two nights in
a row. It’s so hard to choose; I am sentimental about all my shows, especially the
early ones.
Photo courtesy M. Zamparelli
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