The Key Club: "Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp" - Where Working Adults Can Live the Dream

If you're an average, forty-something American who long ago let go of the dream of stardom in favor of practicality and routine, I've got news for you. Just like Rex Smith once said, "You're never too old to rock and roll!"

At the very least, that's what music producer David Fishof wants you to buy into, as Sunday night celebrated the "graduation" of week-long campers from Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp. A group of people who had never met before a week ago were given the chance to rehearse, train, dress, and live like their favorite rockers, and got the opportunity to strut their stuff live at The Key Club, where adoring "fans" (spouses, spectators, and industry invites alike) got to cheer them on. You could tell many of these folks were new to the stage, almost like they were singing karaoke (the songs were covers, after all). That didn't stop most of them, however, from giving it their all, and bringing down the house.

The camp, founded by Fishof in 1997, has matriculated thousands of would-be rockers through its halls, where adults of all skill levels have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit with rock legends in an intimate setting, getting the first class treatment of stage life. Some of the more notable counselors have included Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Eddie Kramer from Led Zeppelin, and Bruce Kulick from KISS. During the intermission of the camper performances, I was able to sit down with one of the counselors - a founding member of The Wallflowers and renowned keyboardist, Rami Jaffee, to discuss his experiences with the camp.

Markus Eliance: How long have you been in the music industry? Where did it all start for you?

Rami Jaffee: It all started in the alley [behind The Key Club], right here on the Sunset Strip, back in 7th grade. That was many, many years ago. I used to play the strip all the time.

ME: You were hanging out backstage trying to get gigs with the big boys inside?

RJ: Of course! I always did. I spent about six years slugging it out on the strip in the 80's. Not much even happened then. But, in my late teens, I hooked up with Jakob Dylan, and started The Wallflowers, and that went on for fifteen years. Then, I ended up hanging out with Dave Grohl, and I've been playing with Foo Fighters for the past five years.

ME: That's amazing. The Foo Fighters are also one of the best bands of the past, well, two decades.

RJ: Oh, yeah. Dave's a great guy, and they're a great fuckin' band, so I was happy to play with them.

ME: So what brought you to the Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, with all these campers spending a grand for this experience to rock it out onstage?

RJ: I know, it's crazy shit. But I like it. I've been a camp counselor for three years. I was here all week with my "campers"... Half of them are older than me. I tell people about it, and they're like, "Oh, it's really good that you're working with kids!" I'm like, "No.. no kids. I'm the kid."

ME: Most of them were the same age as my parents.

RJ: I know, but it's cool. It's really cool, because I get to share all this insight, and all my crazy wisdom, even though I'm younger than them. But I've got all they need to know about being on the road for twenty years, and jamming with amazing people, and playing on great records. It's been pretty wild.

ME: What's been the response from the campers, as far as being able to hang out with all these established rock stars?

RJ: It's insane; they love every minute of it. Which is awesome, because I love to hear myself talk. [laughs] No, but they love it, and I just go crazy telling them all kinds of stupid stories and funny shit, like The Wallflowers opening for The Stones at Dodger Stadium and hanging out with Keith Richards until five in the morning. But I can't tell you about that.

ME: Damn, no one ever shares the good stories with me.

RJ: Ha! I also take it to another level [with the campers], and I'm like, "Let's just bail!" because we're sitting in a rehearsal studio all week, writing and playing songs, and we have special guests like Steven Tyler come in. After a while, I just go, "Let's get out of here and I'll buy you guys some sushi," and, "Let's go to my studio in Van Nuys," or "Let's go... Thai massage, now! No 'happy endings,' but it'll be nice!"

ME: This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. People come out here from all across the country to do this, and some of then are really talented. Do you see any potential stars out of the bunch?

RJ: Yeah, I do. It seems like almost all these people have day jobs. Huge day jobs; and it's funny because people keep saying the same shit. They go, "There's that one point where there was a job, while I was trying to be a musician when I was 18 (or 20, or 30). I had to choose. Do I keep trying to slug it out, and get a record deal? Or do I just take this weird bank job that pays $25,000 a year?"

ME: It's like, "How do I think about anything outside of my music?"

RJ: Exactly. I just never thought of it like that. I can't do anything else... there was never another option in my mind. But I think it's a blessing in disguise. If there's something you're good at besides music, and that pays bills, then you're kinda fucked because you're gonna take it. It doesn't come easy to hit hard in the rock scene. I guess for those people who are like, "I couldn't do anything else. I can't even hold a job at 7-Eleven without eating all the hot dogs," there's no other alternative; you just press on, and become a rock star.

ME: And for those people who took the job, this camp provided the opportunity to at least get some of that out of their system. To say, "I did it."

RJ: It's true. It's a great time hanging out with these crazy musicians, getting a Q&A session with Lemmy from Motorhead, and all that stuff. They're cheating, almost. They get to cross a line. Sure, they have a price to pay, but it's definitely the inside scoop. I know my campers are always getting crazy stories that I would never even write a book about.

ME: If only I could have been a fly on the wall. I'll just have to sign up next year. I wanna learn guitar, grow my nails and play Spanish-style.

RJ: Sounds perfect. We'll whip out some nylon strings for you, man! I'll whip out my accordion, and we'll get all crazy, and then it'll turn into a metal song with a Spanish intro.²

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Markus Eliance is a Live Show Correspondent for CWG Magazine. For his nightlife photography, visitYourProofItHappened.com, and visit his blog at MarkEliance.com.

Follow Markus Eliance on Twitter: @markeliance.