Lady Gaga had a few good personal reasons for purchasing
a $13,000 dinner with E-Street Band member Steve Van Zandt Thursday night when she attended the "Right To Rock" charity auction.
According to Forbes,Van Zandt used to frequent New York's Parma restaurant, where Gaga worked as a waitress when she was 19.
Additionally, the "Born This Way" singer's donation
benefits the Little Kids Rock non-profit that supports music programs in
schools.
Gaga's connection to the E-Street Band goes way back. Saxophonist Clarence Clemons was her late "The Edge Of Glory" collaborator (he died of complications from a stroke in June). Clemons inspired "Right To Rock"'s "Big Man Of The Year" award. Gaga is this
year's recipient.
During her acceptance speech Gaga recalled: "My first experience with music was my father playing vinyl of the
E-Street Band. My dad used to swing
me around the living room while gravy was boiling in the kitchen." She
described Clemons's saxophone playing as the "sound of her youth."
Gaga thought about Clemons when working on "The Edge Of
Glory" and invited him to play on the song.
Clemon's widow, Victoria, said her husband opened up to
Gaga during the recording process and was comforted by her encouraging words. "Lady
Gaga grabbed his hands, looked into his eyes, and said, 'I believe in you seven
days a week, not just five.' Those words meant the world to Clarence and helped
him get through a lot'," Victoria said.
Gaga dedicated her "Big Man Of The Year" award to
Victoria. "As much as I appreciate this award for me, I believe that the true
woman of the year is Victoria," Gaga said. "You are very strong - and you've
been stronger for longer than this year."
Gaga also celebrated another iconic male figure this week,
former President Bill Clinton. Gaga joined Bono and The Edge, Usher, Juanes,
K'naan, Kenney Chesney, and Stevie Wonder at the Hollywood Bowl Saturday to
perform at Clinton's A Decade Of Difference concert.
Two of Gaga's fellow pop divas, Rihanna and Britney
Spears, both released controversial videos this week. Rihanna's "We Found Love"
visual pairs her with a love interest with a striking resemblance to her bad boy
ex Chris Brown, and Britney's "Criminal" has been compared to Eminem's "99
Bonnie & Clyde" and contains violence and nudity.
Lastly, Gun N' Roses frontman Alx Rose joined the ranks
of Steven Tyler when he slipped on stage during a concert in Mexico City,
adding a bit of comic relief to the show.
Yes, this was an awesome week of music news. For more
info on this week's stories, please see the links below. Otherwise, we'll see
here back next weekend for another news roundup.
THIS
WEEK'S TOP 5 MUSIC NEWS STORIES
1) Meal Ticket -- Lady Gaga donates $13,000 for dinner at
charity auction.
2) Pledge Of Allegiance --Lady Gaga, Usher, Edge and Bono play
President Clinton's A Decade Of Difference concert.
3) Hopeless -- Rihanna fights with Chris Brown look-alike in
"We Found Love" video.
4) Toxic -- Britney Spears releases violent "Criminal" video.
5) Getting The Axe -- Axl Rose takes a fall during a concert.
Lady Gaga photo credit: Getty Images
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