In celebration of their 70th anniversary, Klipsch Audio presented an intimate night of conversation with three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees hosted on Wednesday, April 6th at the John Varvatos’ flagship Bowery store and former space of the iconic CBGB.
The conversation, moderated by John Varvatos, included 2012 Hall of Fame inductee, Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses drummer and 2016 inductees Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick. Before the Q&A event, guests at the packed venue enjoyed cocktails, a display of Klipsch Auido products mixed with Varvatos’ collection and some classic rock.
The conversation covered early influences, best memories as well as a large dose mutual admiration. When asked who their early influences are both Zander and Sorum noted that seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan had a major impact. Sorum also named John Lennon and Detroit artists Iggy Pop, MC5 and Alice Cooper as influencers. Zander added John Bonham, Ringo Starr, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Hughes noted that his influences game from black American music, naming Al Greene, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.
For their most memorable concert, Zander recalled opening for AC/DC, The Scorpions and Deep Purple in 1978; Hughes noted opening for The Moody Blues at Carnage Hall; and Zander named the Freddy Mercury tribute.
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, a 2012 Hall of Fame inductee, joined the group toward the end of the discussion. Smith and Sorum both pronounced their admiration for Hughes and Zander and expressed that the induction of Deep Purple and Cheap Trick to the Hall of Fame was long over due. Also at the event was Skid Row’s Rob Affuso.
About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees:
Rob
in Zander is lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Cheap Trick. Cheap Trick has sold more than 20 million records. They just released their 17th studio album, Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello, their first in 7 years and currently on tour across America. Cheap Trick was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Glenn Hughes is vocalist and bassist for Deep Purple, considered to be among the pioneers of 
heavy metal and modern hard rock. The band has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Hughes was part of the Deep Purple line-up between 1974-1976, and performed on the acclaimed albums Burn (1974), Stormbringer ((1974), and Come Taste the Band (1975) and will be on a solo tour in August of this year. Deep Purple was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Matt Sorum, Guns N’ Roses drummer, performed on the 7x platinum and Grammy nominated albums Use Your Illusion I and II (1991), as well as The Spaghetti Incident? (1993). Sorum also played drums for the Grammy Award winning rock supergroup Velvet Revolver and will be launching a new music blog and magazine, called The Musician’s Ear. Guns N’ Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, the first year they were eligible.
