(Just) Carter Remembered

REMEMBERING (JUST) CARTER: It was an evening of hobby stamps, two-headed cows, Neutra architecture and plenty of reminiscences about getting high with the evening’s beloved guest of honor in absentia, who passed away last month at 65 from cancer. Sammy Hagar, Melissa Etheridge, The Motels and Paula Cole paid tribute to the late music industry legend at last night’s “Just Carter” send-off at the Roxy on Sunset Strip, organized by his good friend, manager Bill Leopold. Among those testifying were MC Davitt Sigerson, ex-Capitol A&R exec Rupert Perry, Johnny Barbis and Tom Vickers, along with his tearful wife Christy, reading from her iPad, and daughter Crosby. A 30-minute video featured testimonials from a variety of artists he championed, including Tina Turner, whose comeback Carter steered as co-writer and A&R exec on her Grammy-winning Private Dancer album. Etheridge dedicated a solo performance of “Bring Me Some Water,” while Cole led the audience in a gospel chant of “good friend.” The Motels’ Martha Davis sobbed openly through "Total Control,” marking the first performance in years featuring original members Jeff and Marty Jourard. Hagar closed with two sets, one featuring his band doing a pair of Carter co-writes, “Turn Up the Music” and “Red,” before being joined by Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith for a four-song Chickenfoot rave-up, including “Soap on a Rope” and “Sexy Little Thing,” that honored Carter’s hell-raising, compassionate spirit the only way they knew how...by rocking out. (6/8p)