Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Reverend Run of RUN-D.M.C. will headline the 2010 Coors Light Birds Nest on Wednesday, Feb. 24, as announced today by the host Thunderbirds.
RUN-D.M.C. is credited with earning rap’s first gold album (1983) and platinum album (1985) and their list of “firsts” also includes having been the first rap group nominated for a Grammy Award (Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group in 1986), featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and on Saturday Night Live.
Their biggest breakthrough, however, came when they collaborated with Aerosmith on the remake of “Walk This Way.” That single and hugely popular accompanying video brought down the walls between rap and rock, ushering rap into the musical mainstream. With “Walk This Way,” RUN-D.M.C. actually found themselves charting higher on the pop chart (#4) than the R&B chart (#8).
While RUN-D.M.C.’s songs centered on urban realities, they also spread positive messages about pro-education, anti-gang and anti-drug. Rev. Run, now a born-again Christian, launched a family-based reality series on MTV called Run’s House, which will be airing its 7th season later this year.
Tickets for the 2010 Coors Light Birds Nest are on sale now through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlet locations). General admission tickets are $25 for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. GA tickets for Saturday are $35 in advance, $40 the day the show available only at the Birds Nest ticket office and Birds Nest ticket sales booths located throughout the TPC Scottsdale golf course.
VIP tickets are $175, which includes exclusive access to the Ketel One Vodka VIP area. VIP guests are treated to a complimentary catered dinner provided by Sushi Roku, complimentary drinks and access to a premium viewing area for the show.
The Coors Light Birds Nest is a non-profit fundraising event with all proceeds benefitting Arizona charities.
Previously announced, nationally recording artist OAR will headline on Saturday, Feb. 27. Opening for OAR will be LA-based Kelley James. Making their 24th consecutive annual appearance at the Nest, Duck Soup will be opening for Rev. Run of RUN-D.M.C. and Steel Panther on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Collective Soul will be headlining on Thursday, Feb. 25 and Video DJ Roonie G will be performing each night. Additional bands for Thursday and Friday evening will be released soon.
The Coors Light Birds Nest is located directly across from the main Waste Management Phoenix Open tournament entrance at 82nd Street and Bell Road. The entertainment venue opens at 3:30 pm and closes at 10 pm Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27. Opening acts will take to the stage each evening at approximately 6 pm while the headliners will begin at roughly 8 pm. The Coors Light Birds Nest is a 21-and-over venue.
For information about the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Coors Light Birds Nest, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.
