A birthday bash had been planned in his honor. The guest list included some of John’s closest friends including The Bangles, Peter Case, David Paich (Toto), Jude Cole and Al Stewart among others. If memory serves, Clem Burke was there, too. Unfortunately, John’s passing in October of the prior year meant that February’s birthday party would become a memorial celebration.

It was a bittersweet evening as these friends, some of the most talented performers on the planet, performed in John’s honor. They laughed and cried as stories and memories were shared. One of the more memorable ones came from Al Stewart as he told of their conversation upon first meeting John backstage at The Birchmere in Virginia.

BELOW, You’ll find video of Al as he tells the story. Immediately after, he performed his hit “Year of the Cat” for all of us. It’s all captured right here.

Happy Birthday, John.