By Jeff Stolowitz
Did you know that The Daytona Beach Bike Week rally started as the Daytona 200? Ed Kretz from California won the race riding an Indian motorcycle. Next year will be 78 years and counting this event is a tradition, a USA tradition much like the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Can you imagine that being cancelled or moved to Long Island? Well much to our chagrin, in a less than stellar move by the Daytona Beach News Journal we have learned that it was true, that the City Council voted to stop vendors from participating on Beach Street. This was via an article they published during the middle of Bike Week. http://www.news-journalonline.com/opinion/20180318/our-view-beach-street-without-bikes The article has caused many to think about returning. One traffic officer even thinks Bike Week was canceled. She obviously didn't read the article correctly. The timing of the release of this article begs questioning. The deal with Brown and Brown and the city stinks to high hell, it reeks of collusion. It is not sitting well with residents, business owners or Bikers from around the world. Pat Rice and his paper published the story smack dab in the middle of the event. Shame on you all, we know what your up to next. Our sources tell us of plan to cancel Bike Week on Mainstreet using the guise of having to rebuild the bridge and a very shoddy redevelopment plan. Are City and County managers in bed with developers? A classic land baron maneuver. Hashtag (#keepbikeweekonmainstreet) Bike Week 2018 by all accounts was cold, colder than normal. However if you were here the entertainment was incredibly hot. Behind Daytona covered Bike Week like it was the greatest show on earth and it was. We plodded along into the event determined to show everyone the great enthusiasm and support and entertainment there is on Mainstreet. To start here is list of bands that we saw. It may just have you saying a jaw dropping wtf. Leaving Eden Hairball Nova Rex Jasmine Cain Diesel 4 Play Jeff Vittolo and the Quarter Mile Rebels Microwave Dave and the Nukes Mark Chirico Dave Alexander Ashley Young Crashrocket Cat 4 Band Star 69 Moonshine Bandits Thunder Jack Razorbacks Living Deads Blandini Bawdy Boys Crush Miss Intent NY Rockabilly Rockets Papa Wheelie Selwyn Birchwood Bobby Friss Hayfire Cherry Bombs ETC For Behind Daytona opening night was at Main Street Station with the NY Rockabilly Rockets who will be opening for Dick Dale at the now opened Hard Rock Hotel, unbelievable the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach. By all accounts the hotel is beautiful, even if the politics behind it are ugly. Smaller acts such as Dave Alexander and Ashley Young. played gigs all over town at places like Burgey's Tiki Hut and Sunsetters Riverfront Bar and Grill Bands such as the gritty Microwave Dave and the Nukes could be heard almost every day at Main Street Station and then there was the Cherry Bombs a group of beautiful woman who performed on stage with dancing, fire play and more. When the Moonshine Bandits took the stage with Michael Ballard of Full Throttle Saloon looking on, we were asked to go on stage and take photographs. A definite highlight for all of us. The Moonshine Bandits absolutely killed it. New, refreshing with a West Coast feel something not seen here in Daytona till now but you may have seen them if you've ever been to Sturgis. We felt like we were part of the show thanks guys that was pretty awesome. We also witnessed Rock and Roll history as Nova Rex an 80’s Glam Rock Rock Cover Band and part of Roll Hall of Fame played. Kenny Wilkerson the original member was on fire. Kenny’s Jacket is now hanging at the Hard Rock Hotel. For those into memorabilia the Hard Rock has a plethora of it. Diesel with the venerable Ronnie Rodriguez on vocals and local phenom of Nirvanna a Tribute to Nirvana, Clayton Sturgeon rocked Full Moon Saloon multiple nights playing to a raucous audience. While attendance was down, up went the sounds. Star 69, Cat 4 Band, Selwyn Birchwood. Regardless of where you went great music could be heard. Calling all Led Zeppelin fans… their music was played more than anyone's by everyone But Blandini a band headlined by Jeff Blando and a drummer by the name of Zoltan who wowed the hell out of the crowds, but it was their renditions of Led Zeppelin my favorite band of all time that got everyone in the spirit. There was Leaving Eden yes they played Zep. We got to take pictures from the second-story balcony of Victory Tattoo You're also able to give you drone coverage from Ormond Beach to Cackleberry Campground up and down Main Street from the roof to the river. Tropical Willie's Chopper Show was a hit as was the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Miss Bikini USA Contest at Main Street Station There was no lack of great eats either whether it was at Sunsetters Riverfront Bar and Grill, Burgey's Tiki Hut, Off The Hook at Inlet Harbor, Cocina 214 Daytona or Sazòn Latino Restaurant in Port Orange and Smoked Turkey Legs, Gator Bites, Pulled Pork and meat on a stick from the food vendors made you phat. One of our favorite vendors was Rocco's Pizza Truck who served up a mean version of Parmesan Garlic Fries. Let's not forget the bikes and the characters and there were plenty of them. The Good the Bad and the Ugly as we encountered Outlaws, Pagans, Mongols, Enforcers, lions tigers and bears Oh My! There nuns flipping the bird, cops and firemen also. We thank them for what they do, as they kept everybody safe as they could. A big shout out to the hero Uber drivers picking up and dropping off everyone. Unfortunately there's always one stick in the mud and this year it was the Daytona Beach News-Journal dropping the story in the middle of Bike Week about Bike Week shutting down which nobody wants to see. While progress is necessary and we understand that at Behind Daytona, there is always a compromise that can be made. We hope that everyone can return for another 78 years. We're looking forward to Biketoberfest. We heard that the lineup of entertainment is already set. See everybody next time Behind Daytona For more photos of Bike Week you can visit us at https://www.facebook.com/BehindDaytona/ or https://www.facebook.com/STKNTHE80sRockPix/ on Facebook.
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Article and Photographs Contributed to By Karen Romano Adams, John Livengood, Monty Montgomery. Written by Jeff Stolowitz The 25th anniversary of Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach according to most accounts was a huge success. The magnitude of the event was championed by the thousands and thousands of incredible people who attended, from the local bikers to the world traveling enthusiasts the colorful array of Hundred Thousand Dollar Steel Horses paraded up and down the streets from Flagler to New Smyrna and roared down Daytona’s Main-Street. And by all estimates the local business community is reporting a nice uptick in revenue from the previous year. Read More COMEDIAN “RON WHITE” TO PERFORM AT THE PEABODY January 6, 2018 @ 7:30 p.m. Behind Daytona Press Release Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL – August 10, 2017…Chart-topping comedian Ron White comes to The Peabody Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Attendees can expect an all new stand-up comedy show intended for mature audiences. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 6, 2017 at 10 a.m. They call him “Tater Salad.” Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White first rose to fame as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking funnyman from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon, but now as a chart-topping Grammy-nominated comedian and a feature film actor, Ron White has established himself as a star in his own right. White has always been a classic storyteller. His stories relay tales from his real life, ranging from growing up in a small town in Texas to sharing stories of his daily life to becoming one of the most successful comedians in America. All 4 of his comedy albums charted #1 on the BillboardTM Comedy Charts. He has sold over 14 million albums (solo and with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour), been nominated for two Grammys, and over the past 9 years (since 2004) been one of the top three grossing standup comedians on tour in America. Ron White began performing comedy in 1986 and was quickly opening for legendary comedians Sam Kinison and Jeff Foxworthy. After eventually becoming a comedy club headliner, in 2000 White was asked to join the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy. The show toured for over three years to sold-out audiences in over 270 cities and grossed more than $35 million. In 2003, Warner Brothers filmed the show, Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie for a theatrical/TV/DVD/CD release. The film premiered as the most-watched movie in Comedy Central’s history. In 2005, the video Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again was filmed and released on TV and DVD/CD. In November of 2003, White released his breakthrough comedy CD Drunk In Public followed by his first one-hour TV comedy special They Call Me Tater Salad. The special had the highest viewership for a Sunday program in Comedy Central history. The DVD version was released in 2004 and reached #1 on the BillboardTM Comedy Chart. In 2005, White’s second one-hour special You Can’t Fix Stupid aired on Comedy Central to 4.5 million viewers, making it the third largest audience in Comedy Central’s history and the #1 show on primetime basic cable. The CD reached #1 on the BillboardTM Comedy Charts and remained there for 9 consecutive weeks. This success also earned White his first Grammy nomination. Ron received his second Grammy nod for the show Blue Collar Comedy Tour - One for The Road. In June 2006, Penguin Books released Ron’s first book Ron “Tater Salad” White: I Had the Right to Remain Silent…But I Didn’t Have the Ability, which landed him on the New York Times Best Seller List. In 2009, Ron released his 3rd album Behavioral Problems, which reached #1 on the BillboardTM Comedy Chart. In 2013 Ron’s 4th album, A Little Unprofessional, also reached #1 on the BillboardTM Comedy Chart. All of Ron’s DVDs are certified Platinum. Ron has been a passionate supporter of the US military troops for more than 20 years, donating his time and resources. In 2008, he created an annual charity show Ron White’s Comedy Salute to the Troops. The profit from ticket/DVD sales is donated to the Armed Forces Foundation to assist troops and their families. Many of White’s celebrity friends have participated in these shows: Lewis Black, Dave Attell, Kathleen Madigan, Brian Regan and Rascal Flatts. In 2011, the show was recorded for TV/DVD and was the second highest-watched show on CMT that year. The taping location that year and the next was the historic Grand Ole Opry. In 2013 the show was recorded in Las Vegas and premiered March 2013. As an actor, Ron White had supporting roles acted in the major theatrical films Horrible Bosses and Sex and the City 2. He also had a principal role in Jayne Mansfield’s Car (written/directed by Billy Bob Thornton), He is a co-Executive Producer of Bridegroom, a Linda Bloodworth–Thomason documentary, which debuted at the 2013 NYC Tribeca Film Festival and won the Audience Award. In 2016, Ron White’s acting talents were showcased alongside Luke Wilson, Carla Gugino, and Imogen Poots, in music-industry veteran Cameron Crowe's Showtime series, Roadies. White played road-tested tour manager Phil in a critically praised performance. Tickets: Tickets ($65 and $45 plus applicable charges) will go on sale to the general public at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 6, 2017 at PeabodyDaytona.com, 800-982-ARTS or The Peabody box office. For mature audiences. Peabody members will have first access to pre-sale tickets starting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 4 at PeabodyDaytona.com. For complete pre-sale details or to become a Peabody member, visit www.peabodyauditorium.org/member-chart.html. For more information on this concert or other Peabody events, contact the box office at 386-671-3471 or at 600 Auditorium Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. Press Release Contact Helen Riger 386 671-8252 rigerh@codb.us www.peabodydaytona.com By Staff Writer
Port Orange The Jeep and Eats event is a Food Truck and Jeep show being held at the Sunshine Park Mall in Port Orange. Vendors, a DJ, kid activities and good food. Come check out the Jeeps and meet your neighbors. 2400 South Ridgewood Avenue South Daytona, Florida 32119 By Staff Writer
Ormond Beach Looking for something cool to do this weekend. These girls know how to skate. Old School Rumble Sunday Aug 5th Beachside Brawlers vs J-Villians Skate and Shake Skating Center 250 N US Highway 1 Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 |
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