Rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest stars in the world has become a bit of the norm for businessman Tony Cochrane.
He’s met all the A-list celebrities – everyone who’s anyone – in the past four years, since a company he has a stake in, AFMLA, started sponsoring the Grammy Awards.
But even he was left speechless at the latest 58th Annual Grammy Awards event at The Staples Center in Los Angeles – when Dave Grohl got into his lift playing a drum with a full band.
Tony, who owns city nightspots Club Tropicana, Vogue, Sin City and Private Eyes, said: “My business partner Ken and I were heading up to one of the suites backstage for refreshments when the lift began to descend.
“The further down we went, the louder the music was, but because we were backstage we just thought it was one of the bands warming up. Next thing I know, the doors open and Dave Grohl saunters in beating a drum with a crowd of musicians who were also playing instruments!”
Tony concedes the impromptu performance has to be the most surreal experience of the past four years since he began attending the event.
“I instinctively just started to record what was before me, you couldn’t make it up if you tried!”
Dave, who is the frontman of rock band Foo Fighters and former drummer with grunge band Nirvana, never missed a beat as he accompanied the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Trombone as they kicked off the start of the awards ceremony.
And Tony was delighted to be given a private performance ahead of the packed out arena.
He said: “I now know one thing about the awards, elevators are the place to meet people in LA!”
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