Rod Stewart Headlines the Real White Party

To Benefit Van Zandts’ TeachRock

By Katlean de Monchy–

The invitations came with an ask and a condition: $5,000 a person, and guests must wear white. The request came from Lauren Day Roberts and Bob Roberts,. Here was the sweetener: Drinks and dinner, of course, then Rod Stewart would perform. In addition, the money would go to the TeachRock Foundation. it’s an organization founded by Steve Van Zandt, who says teachers can enliven any subject via references to popular music. It wakes kids up. Gives them something to remember.

Van Zandt’s example: American History. The teacher asks the class “Who knows about this guy Bad Bunny?” The class erupts. Then the teacher asks, “So do you know where he comes from?” The whole class answers “Puerto Rico.” The teacher says, “…which is a territory of the United Statesl” Andthen the teacher says “Do you know how the United States got Puerto Rico?”

Puzzled looks, shrugs, mumbles. The teacher says, “The Spanish American War. Now Bad Bunny wasn’t born in 1898…”

Bob Roberts and Lauren Day Roberts, the hosts, with Steve and Maureen Van Zandt (Photo credit: Lane Oliveri)

Van Zandt’s theory is that students will remember America got Puerto Rico in the Spanish American war in 1898. Because of Bad Bunny. Some 200 people twigged onto that theory, or just wanted to see a private rock concert on Wednesday, July 29, so they paid up, and turned out, in white.

Everything about the evening was first class. It began with cocktails (Moet not prosecco) on the Roberts’ stunning grounds, Under a white tent, waiters served an exquisite dinner created by chef Daniel Boulud. As the sun set, guests headed for the stage for what became one of the most talked-about events of the Hamptons season.

Note that Rod Stewart is on his “One Last Time” farewell tour, and that he was headed for Jones Beach two nights later. You could say he was in the neighborhood. Farewell tour? Come-on, he’s 81.

Only the star gets to flaut the dress code: Rod Stewart, center with Bob and Lauren Day Roberts (Photo credit: Lane Oliveri)

But look at the show he put on that night. He brought his backup singers (and dancers, dressed in short, white dresses), two guitars,  who played riffs while Stewart talked. There was someone on violin, a saxophone, a big drum set and speakers, just in case you forgot this was a rock concert.

Stewart didn’t do a solo act; he brought his entire show with him.

Of course he sang his hits, “Maggie May,”  “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” “Forever Young,” “First Cut Is the Deepest,” and more with a vigor that made years fall away.

He mentioned his pal, the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, who died just a few weeks earlier at age 75, and sang her breakout 1977 hit, “It’s a Heartache” in her honor. His hoarse voice was a perfect match for her broken voice on the song.

Van Zandt, who made his rock career most famously with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, with Stewart. (Photo credit: Lane Oliveri)

The highpoint was when Steve Van Zandt climbed onto the stage to join Stewart in “Stay With Me” and “Having a Party.” The crowd danced, sang along, spun in place, cheered, clapped.

They knew the Robertses had given a privileged few a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend a private rock-n-roll concert. A number of guests weren’t even born when oldies stations started playing Rod Stewart hits. Maybe they knew his voice from ads for Target. In any case, they were dancing and wriggling along.

Steve Van Zandt at the dinner

I can’t think of any other fundraiser, which, by the way, raised $1.7 million for TeachRock, so joyful. Congratulations to Bob Roberts and Lauren Day Roberts for pulling it off. Next year, Mick Jagger?