CITY OF HOPE TURNS ON THE RED LIGHT

At City of Hope’s lavish Santa Monica gala—during which Red Light topper Coran Capshaw received the Spirit of Life Award and a dazzling array of music-biz potentates promenaded around a converted airplane hangar—$4.8m was raised via the Spirit of Life Campaign for cutting-edge cancer treatment and research on the heels of $113m previously raised for COH, while Capshaw announced a $500k endowment to launch the Chip Hooper Memorial Fund to fight neuroendocrine cancer.

Red Light's Bruce Flohr served as MC; last year's honoree, Joel Katz, offered a greeting and benediction by video; Warner Bros.' Peter Gray spoke and introduced lung cancer survivor Emily Bennett Taylor, who spoke movingly of her fight and the brilliant treatment she received at COH; artist Dave Matthews offered a warmly rambling speech that detailed his personal and professional admiration for Capshaw.

Matthews, Trey Anastasio, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Joseph performed; many drinks were consumed.

We, meanwhile, carry on our pioneering work in the field of goofy trade-photo captions.

Seen exuding enough collective industry power to plunge adjoining neighborhoods into total darkness are (front, l-r) Bruce Eskowitz, Phil Quartararo, Zach Horowitz, John T. Frankenheimer, Amanda Marks, Evan Lamberg, Capshaw, artist Dave Matthews, Don Passman, UMe's Bruce Resnikoff, CAA's Rob Light, Irving Azoff and (back, l-r) City of Hope's Robert Stone, OVG's Tim Leiweke, Spirit Music Group's David Renzer, Warner Bros. Records' Peter Gray, Jason Morey, Clark Miller and AEG's Larry Vallon.

“I say we move Australia and New Zealand closer together, which would reduce jet-fuel costs significantly,” suggested Live Nation chief Michael Rapino during this mind-blowing medley of machers. “Seconded,” declared Azoff MSG Entertainment kingpin Irving Azoff. “Now UTA’s Jeremy Zimmer will outline our plan for a music festival on the planet Neptune.” Meanwhile, OVG chief Tim Leiweke decided to pick up three of four hangars just like this one, just to have around the house.

UMG premier Sir Lucian Grainge and Irving Azoff discuss the various paths to a knighthood. “There are a few ways to do it,” LG noted. “You can be an industry leader who does philanthropy. You can do innovative work in a scientific field. Or you can write ‘Crocodile Rock.’”

UMG EVP Michele Anthony and UMPG boss Jody Gerson decided to charter a nearby plane for a sushi run.

Recording Academy head Neil Portnow, CBS exec Jack Sussman, Irving Azoff and PR legend Larry Solters experience an intense sensation that first appeared to be a Grammy premonition but was later attributed to the halibut.

Capitol Music Group chief Steve Barnett and better half Nancy enjoy one of UMG Nashville topper Mike Dungan’s colorful anecdotes, not one syllable of which is printable in a family publication.