Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt To Perform National Anthem At Fenway Park
Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 12:01AM HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 23, 2012) – Boston’s very own Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt of multi-platinum recording band EXTREME are performing the National Anthem this Saturday, May 26th at 7:00 PM at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays game.
Most recently, in the celebration of Fenway Park’s centennial, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt and Daniel Bard joined forces and recorded a version of the song “Let The Good Times Roll” available on the 100 Year Anniversary Red Sox Commemorative album. A portion of proceeds benefits the Red Sox Foundation.
Bettencourt will also be celebrating his special fan Darren Parker, who has self-proclaimed himself as one of Nuno’s biggest fans. The band and fans know him as NunoFreak. Darren has an inoperable brain tumor rendering him unable to work as his medical bills are mounting.
A fundraiser is being held on June 23 at Sleep’s Bar & Grill in Bluffs, IL which will include an auction, donations and freewill. Darren’s dream was to have Nuno show up but unfortunately he will be in London on tour with Rihanna. Bettencourt came up with a solution to help.
Last Friday, Nuno surprised Darren by calling him on the phone and invited him to be his special guest with Gary for the Red Sox game. This generous offer includes Darren to be on the field when they perform the National Anthem. After the Anthem, Nuno will gift him one of his Washburn Nuno Bettencourt N4 guitars so Darren can auction it on eBay to help cover his medical expenses. The Red Sox has kindly agreed to let Darren come in the afternoon to watch sound-check and then stay in the park to watch batting practice. “We are making this real special for him.” states Bettencourt. After the phone call with Nuno, Darren sent management an email saying that he “Literally had to pull the car over on the side of the road for 20 minutes to just process the conversation he just had with Nuno.”
Here is Darren’s website to learn more about his situation and the fundraiser.
Reader Comments (1)
I'll give 'em two songs, however:
"Kid Ego" and "Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)"
Both show what a monster Bettencourt is. And there's no denying Cherone's talents. But the rest of their stuff really is pretty boring and these guys acted fairly jerky at the Cat Club back in their prime, thinkin' they were hot sh*t and all.
I probably sound envious but I just relate it to how other Rockstars I've had the pleasure of hangin' with back then like Jani Lane, Chris Robinson, Steve Stevens, the boys of Junkyard and Valentine, among others, comport themselves. They were a lot cooler and more down to earth.
I assume these guys have eaten humble pie long enuff since all their stuff sucked after their first album. Despite their seemingly unintentional self referencing in "Kid Ego", I'm glad to see these guys, particularly Bettencourt, care so much for Darren to make a special moment happen for him.