Eddie Vedder, Chad Smith + Will Ferrell Bring the Percussion to Depeche Mode Classic
Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith can keep the beat with the best of them. His doppelganger Will Ferrell has been known to play a pretty mean cowbell. And then there's that "local, homegrown kid" that Ferrell brought out for a tambourine assist at the recent One Classy Night benefit in Seattle. This fresh-faced upstart named Eddie Vedder joined in the all-star band, bringing the crowd to their feet, as the group rocked through a performance of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus."
Seen in the fan-shot video above, the impressive percussion on the song was bolstered by singer Brandi Carlile, Vedder's Pearl Jam pal Mike McCready, the Dave Matthews Band's Stefan Lessard, Carlile's band members Tim and Phil Hanseroth and Smith's Red Hot Chili Peppers cohort Josh Klinghoffer.
According to Billboard, the benefit also included a Q&A session with some of the musicians on hand sharing their funniest stories about rock star encounters prior to what turned into a covers-filled evening. Carlile and the rocking crew of musicians worked through songs from Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, R.E.M. and more.
Proceeds from the event went to the Cancer for College charity, which helps fund scholarships for students who have survived cancer.
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