Before Friday's benefit concert for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, members of the legendary Beach Boys and former "Full House" star John Stamos took a tour of Madison County to get a first-hand look at the damage left behind by tornadoes.
"You feel like you're on a set in a disaster movie," Stamos said after stopping in Anderson Hills. "This is heartbreaking."
Mike Love, one of the original members of the Beach Boys, said the devastation he saw was "heart-wrenching."
For about 15 minutes, Beach Boys band members and Stamos talked with neighbors about their experience and shared hugs with those left cleaning up debris.
Stamos and the band accompanied Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong through some of the most ravaged parts of the county, stopping for media interviews in the Yarbrough community. Their backdrop was a home where a woman was killed in the storms.
"We're glad to do these things and show humanity," Love said. "We're happy to lift spirits."
And that's exactly what they did. After greeting neighbors, signing autographs and posing for pictures in damaged neighborhoods, the band played "Kokomo" for Sparkman High School students affected by the storms.
"This shows they care," said Sparkman student Ashley Weld, whose home was severely damaged in the storm.
Sparkman student Alecia Ewing lost her home and is living in a hotel with her family. "They're here to help, and that's cool," she said.
Ewing, Weld and their friends gathered around Stamos for autographs and photo opportunities in the library. They sang along to "Kokomo" with smiles on their faces.
"I'm blown away by the attitude of the kids," Stamos said after the driving tour. "These kids all lost stuff, and they're just amazing."
Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston said he tried to hide his tears. "You have to put up a brave face."
Johnston said he took away sadness, happiness and hope from the 90-minute tour.
"These people have been through so much, and they're carrying on," he said. "They're picking up the pieces and moving forward."
Johnston said the tour would change Friday night's concert at the Von Braun Center.
Proceeds from the show will be used to purchase a mobile medical unit for Huntsville Hospital, something that was in the works before the tornadoes hit, said Melissa DeBolt, director of marketing for the foundation. After April 27, it's even more important to have the mobile unit in place, she said.
"You feel like you're on a set in a disaster movie," Stamos said after stopping in Anderson Hills. "This is heartbreaking."
Mike Love, one of the original members of the Beach Boys, said the devastation he saw was "heart-wrenching."
For about 15 minutes, Beach Boys band members and Stamos talked with neighbors about their experience and shared hugs with those left cleaning up debris.
Stamos and the band accompanied Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong through some of the most ravaged parts of the county, stopping for media interviews in the Yarbrough community. Their backdrop was a home where a woman was killed in the storms.
"We're glad to do these things and show humanity," Love said. "We're happy to lift spirits."
And that's exactly what they did. After greeting neighbors, signing autographs and posing for pictures in damaged neighborhoods, the band played "Kokomo" for Sparkman High School students affected by the storms.
"This shows they care," said Sparkman student Ashley Weld, whose home was severely damaged in the storm.
Sparkman student Alecia Ewing lost her home and is living in a hotel with her family. "They're here to help, and that's cool," she said.
Ewing, Weld and their friends gathered around Stamos for autographs and photo opportunities in the library. They sang along to "Kokomo" with smiles on their faces.
"I'm blown away by the attitude of the kids," Stamos said after the driving tour. "These kids all lost stuff, and they're just amazing."
Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston said he tried to hide his tears. "You have to put up a brave face."
Johnston said he took away sadness, happiness and hope from the 90-minute tour.
Johnston said the tour would change Friday night's concert at the Von Braun Center.
Proceeds from the show will be used to purchase a mobile medical unit for Huntsville Hospital, something that was in the works before the tornadoes hit, said Melissa DeBolt, director of marketing for the foundation. After April 27, it's even more important to have the mobile unit in place, she said.
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