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LAURA MCCALLUM: The attire ranged from black leather to black tie, and Jesse Ventura wore his party clothes, a fringed leather jacket, Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, three earrings, a bandanna on his bald head and sunglasses. His wife Terry, sported a mini-skirt and thigh-high boots. Ventura set the tone by reverting to his pro-wrestling days.

JESSE VENTURA: The Body's back for tonight.

[CHEERS]

Thank you, everyone. Let's party, Minnesota!

LAURA MCCALLUM: With that, fireworks exploded inside the Target Center and confetti rained down on pumped-up partiers. Tonight Show host, Jay Leno, sent his greetings by videotape, joking that both he and Ventura are nicknamed, "The Body." Vikings owner, Red McCombs said, 1998 was the year Minnesotans embraced purple pride and "Hooyah," Ventura's Navy SEAL catchall phrase.

The night included surprise appearances by Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner and the group, America, singing, Ventura Highway, of course, and Horse With No Name, as a tribute to the first lady and her other job, managing a horse farm. There were rumors of an appearance by the artist formerly known as Prince, but the only presence of the artist was his music, played between acts.

In the slot supposedly reserved for the artist, local group, Tina & the B-Sides, tailored their music to fit the evening.

TINA (SINGING): Well, I've never been to heaven

But I've been to Minnesota

Well, they tell me I was born there, yeah

But I really don't remember

LAURA MCCALLUM: Ventura, obviously enjoying himself, hammed it up for the crowd, at one point, joining Warren Zevon on stage for a rendition of Zevon's 1970s hit, Werewolves of London, altered to jab Ventura's November opponents.

BOTH (SINGING): To win the werewolves of Minnesota

WARREN ZEVON: Now--

JESSE VENTURA (SINGING): I saw a werewolf breaking--

WARREN ZEVON: Who pinned Norm Coleman to the mat?

JESSE VENTURA: I did.

(SINGING) Werewolf of Minnesota

I saw a werewolf--

WARREN ZEVON: Who put a flying head scissors on Skip Humphrey, huh?

JESSE VENTURA: Jesse "The Body", Werewolf of Minnesota.

LAURA MCCALLUM: When Ventura finally addressed the crowd, he said the next four years will be, in his words, a hell of a good time. He introduced the headline act, blues guitarist, Jonny Lang, making it clear that the reformer who billed himself as a political outsider, is realizing the perks of being Minnesota's head of state.

JESSE VENTURA: You know, being governor, you pretty much get what you want.

[CHEERS]

And the night that I won, I wanted Jonny Lang, and that's what we got, Jonny Lang.

[JONNY LANG, "STILL RAINING"]

(SINGING) Clouds, one by one, fill the sky

Just like these tears that fill my eyes

Well, I know by now she ain't coming back

And I watch my world slowly fade into black

Look out my window--

LAURA MCCALLUM: Some in the crowd said they came to celebrate Ventura's November upset. 18-year-old Pete Leitschuh, was one of the young, first-time voters, largely credited with Ventura's victory.

PETE LEITSCHUH: He's pretty cool, and I've seen a lot of his speeches. And he seems to be a nice guy, and-- so I voted for him. He's different. Rock on.

LAURA MCCALLUM: But others came more for the festivities and Jonny Lang, in particular, than as a show of support for the new governor. Tom Huffman and Louisa Johnson thought this would be the party of the year, so they paid $300 at a Wisconsin ticket broker for seats with a face value of $20.

Johnson wore a sequined-jacket with a leather skirt. She says the event called for elegance with a biker look. Johnson supported Republican Norm Coleman in November and also believes government has a role to help people in need. She's troubled by Ventura's libertarian streak.

LOUISA JOHNSON: For instance, before Jesse won, he was more of a-- the people's person, the average common person's representative. But now that he did win, I was kind of appalled to read that he berated a woman that was a single mom and destitute and said, well, forget welfare, go help yourself. Get out there and get a job and do it yourself. And I thought that was kind of cold-hearted.

LAURA MCCALLUM: Another partygoer said he was bothered by what he considers Ventura's "me first" philosophy. Tim Allen of Minneapolis got his ticket as a Christmas present and came to see Jonny Lang, not to support a governor he didn't vote for.

TIM ALLEN: And I mean, everything that he's brought up is, (IMITATES VENTURA) I'm sick of paying $50 for a vehicle permit, and I've got five watercraft and all that-- like, I don't care, what about me? He's working for me.

LAURA MCCALLUM: But regardless of ticket holders' motivation for coming to the people's celebration, most everyone seemed to agree that it was the place to be on Saturday night. And it lived up to its billing, big acts and a lot of flash in typical Ventura style. Patrick Harris of St. Paul says the inaugural bash shows how Minnesota is capturing the nation's attention.

PATRICK HARRIS: For the first time ever, the rest of the country is looking at us as different, as opposed to us trying to be like everybody else. So it's absolutely bizarre if you ask me. He's looking good, I'll tell you that much.

[AMERICA, "VENTURA HIGHWAY"] Ventura Highway in the sunshine

Where the days are longer

The nights are stronger than moonshine

LAURA MCCALLUM: I'm Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio.

- (SINGING) You're going to go I know, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

'Cause the free wind is blowing through your hair

And if days surround your daylight there

Seasons crying, no despair

Alligator, lizards in the air, in the air

Did di di di dit, did di di di dit

Did di di di di dit, did di di di di di dit

Did di did di dit, did di di di dit

Did di di di di dit, did di di di di dit

Wishing on a falling star

Watching for the early train

Sorry, boy, but I've been hit by purple rain

Oh, come on, Joe, you can always

Change your name

Thanks a lot, son, just the same