Rock 'n roll fantasies can come true - it can happen in Baltimore

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Did you ever dream of becoming a rock star?

Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp can make that dream come true - at least for one day.

The tour hits Baltimore Aug. 2, giving campers the chance spend the day with rock star tutors ranging from Simon Kirke of Bad Company and Free, Mark Slaughter of Slaughter, Chris Slade of AC/DC and The Firm and Mark Hudson, a Grammy Award-winning writer and producer who worked with Aerosmith.

At the end of the day, bands formed by campers will perform as the opening acts for real rock bands. At Ram’s Head Live the camp bands will open for Extreme (“More Than Words”) and King’s X.

Kirke has come to eight camps. “They say a man never walks as tall as when he stoops to help a child-or a middle-aged rockstar wannabe,” he said.

Camp founder David Fishof worked with Ringo Starr 15 years and with the Monkees, and used those connections to build up a base of rock stars willing to come and jam with his campers. What he didn’t anticipate was the level of interest from the professional rockers.

“The rock stars loved it,” he said. “That’s what makes [the camp] successful-the stars come back.”

The catch?

It’ll cost you.

The price of one day’s fame is $1,999.

Want to do the deluxe five-day tour? It’ll run you almost $10,000 - not including accommodations and travel.

“It’s huge. I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for Extreme,” said Jack Healy, 54, a networking analyst in Philadelphia. “I just had a good sales year and it’s a strain, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The price is not that extreme, Fishof said.

“That money pays for rock stars, that money pays for musical equipment, drum sets, roadies, meals, eight hours of jamming, rehearsal studios, the main stage at Ram’s Head, the theater-it’s a very expensive operation,” he said.