Purple hue added to Wrecking Crew performance

Bald heads predominated in last night's Wrecking Crew revue, with a climactic tribute to the Purple One.

The Fabulous Armadillos delivered a stunning tribute to Prince last night as the finale to their sold-out Chanhassen production reviewing the work of the legendary Wrecking Crew. After two days of “Purple Rain” we were ready for something different, but this grizzled gang of rock veterans put their hearts to an emotional arrangement of the iconic song and brought the house down.

Vocal arranger Bill Scherer and guitar slinger Paul Diethelm went off the worn chart to draw new blood in a lengthy rendition worthy of the late master's memory and fittingly presented just down the road from Paisley Park -- where Doves Cry and mourners still gather.

The Wrecking Crew was an informal group of talented LA studio musicians called upon for decades to anonymously provide production-quality background for hundreds of tracks backing the Beach Boys, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Herb Alpert, Sonny and Cher, the Monkees, Elvis, and many, many more. Last night's mature audience knew all the songs as the versatile, talented Armadillos took us on a history tour of the mundane, the familiar and the sublime. "Wichita Lineman," with its punchy bass, or the melancholic "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" may have been our favorites. Go see the Armadillos if you get a chance, senior rock at its finest.
The Fireside Room now provides an intimate, comfortable venue for these ear-splitting musical treats, in the 70s the room was the romping stomping Bronco Bar, where rock bands ruled nightly. . . and Stan’s brother Steve had an unlikely part-time gig as a bouncer -- armed, badged and deputized by the sheriff of Carver County.

Now there's a trip down Memory Lane.

Our gang. Sorry about the unfortunate cropping, Kathleen, but it's only rock and roll.
And thanks for getting us these seats.