April 2007 News

You only turn 21 once.

So U.S. Cellular decided to celebrate the company's 21st birthday with a free rock concert Saturday at World's Fair Park. The U.S. Cellular Rox Knox concert included rock veterans JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, Knoxville-based band Jag Star and popular rock band Lifehouse.

The company decided to host the event because it "wanted to celebrate with the community that helped us become so successful," said U.S. Cellular regional vice president Tom Catani. "This is a very changing industry, but one thing that hasn't changed is U.S. Cellular and this town."

Although the gates were not scheduled to open until 2:30 p.m., some music fans got in line as early as 7 a.m., said Scott Brooks, account executive with Moxley Carmichael. By the time the gates opened, the line wrapped from World's Fair Park along 11th Street all the way up Cumberland Avenue toward Henley Street.

Stephanie Hatcher said she was worried she would not be able to get in. Hatcher said she grew up listening to JOAN JETT, and when she heard about the free concert, she "went right away" to get tickets for herself and her mother-in-law, Diane Hatcher, who is also a Jett fan. Decked out in Jett T-shirts, they parked themselves early in front of the stage and decided to "make a day of it," Diane Hatcher said.

Vicki Galyon of Maryville got in line at 11 a.m. Saturday with her daughters, Kelley Quiett, 18, and Jessie Quiett, 16. As soon as the gates opened, the trio claimed their spot in the front row.

"JOAN JETT is the only person I came here for. I've been a JOAN JETT fan since I was 13," said Galyon, now 36. Her daughters grew up listening to Jett, said Galyon, and Jessie Quiett has been "waiting on (the concert) since (U.S. Cellular) first announced it."

Today Steve Berkowitz, the Senior Vice President of Microsoft’s Online Services Group led the discussion of Microsoft’s vision and goal to become the leader in the online space. The Ex-CEO of Ask.com discussed the innovative ways Microsoft will deliver the best products and services to our customers. Berkowitz was also the keynote speaker at this year’s Search Engine Strategies (SES) conference in New York earlier this month. Excited about the upcoming vision the executive panel answered pressing questions from the audience. Being an analyst it was exciting to hear Berkowitz discuss the data. As a former accountant Berkowitz understands that the truth is in the numbers.

Of course in Microsoft tradition we work hard and also play hard. After the group meeting we were escorted to a private concert with JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS in Seattle’s WAMU theater. JOAN JETT is best known for the hit "I Love Rock N’ Roll."

The '70s teenage band the RUNAWAYS has a new gig. Producers Art and John Linson will be bringing their rough and tumble coming-of-age story to the bigscreen in "Neon Angels."

Floria Sigismondi, who directed videos for David Bowie, the White Stripes and Marilyn Manson, will write and direct the drama about girls brought together by Kim Fowley, creating a band that would set the stage for girl groups like the Go-Go's and the Bangles.

The Linsons secured music rights and deals that allow them to tell the stories of members JOAN JETT, Cherie Currie and the late Sandy West. An unpublished memoir written by lead singer Curie will be used as a resource for a drama that intends to bare all the drugs, sex and heartache experienced by girls who struggled to be viewed as musicians, not sex kittens with guitars.