Rossdale gets glimpse of leukemia group’s good works at benefit

Groups of twentysomething women descended on the House of Blues on Thursday night eager to see the guy who made many of their hearts flutter when they were in their teens, former Bush front man and now solo artist Gavin Rossdale.

Rossdale — who is married to Gwen Stefani and seems to get more press for being “Mr. Mom” to their two kids, Zuma and Kingston, than for his music — got to showcase his singing chops at the Dare 2 Dream Concert benefitting the Illinois chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Rossdale met with kids from the foundation during a pre-show meet-and-greet and got a chance to see firsthand who his efforts would affect. “They [Dare 2 Dream] called, and I signed on,” explained Rossdale as he strummed a guitar backstage. “Any decent human being would.”

The show was on the tail end of his tour to promote his debut solo album, “Wanderlust.” Although reports have said the Bush breakup was a messy one due to recording rights disputes, Rossdale insisted that he and the guys are still on good terms. “I just put in a call to all of them last week. Haven’t heard back yet, though.”

Rossdale is now 42, and a bit thinner than in his mid-’90s heyday, but he is still just as dreamy with his dark piercing eyes and long locks.

Playing a smattering of his new music mixed with old favorites such as the hit songs “Glycerine” and “Comedown” from Bush’s debut album “Sixteen Stone,” Rossdale kept heads bopping and the girls cheering through the hourlong set.

Tickets to the event were $60, which included entrance to the afterparty at the Underground hosted by Rossdale, where fans got their chance for some face time with the friendly star as he stayed through most of the evening.

source: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES BY ELIZABETH HAMEL