My Journey Through Life in a Classic Rock Experience

Growing up on the North Shore in the 60’s was great. There was everything a kid could want, friends and space to run and play; things we all take for granted now. I lived in Lynn and we could get money and go to the movies, yes there were 3 of them there, then. I remember in 1964, like every other kid seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, then a couple of years later seeing the Stones at Manning Bowl in a very brief show.
Going through high school in the late 60’s and early 70’s, in Peabody, the music was everywhere. I remember CYO dances, high school football victory dances, school vacation dances at local armories, etc. The music was everywhere and it didn’t matter that it was some local band, 3 years older than you performing, you thought they were GREAT, on top of it the girls always looked great and I fell in and out of love weekly. Give me a girl and a car to travel in and a beer to drink and life couldn’t get any better.
Little did I realize that having loved that music would someday turn into a career for me and actually allow me to meet a number of the performers my friends and I used to hear on the radio and at the dances. The music did not remain as fun, as it had been when I was younger and carefree; but the experience was unbelievable.
After getting out of the service and finishing college, it was off to California for sun and fun at the beach. Little did I realize that within weeks of arriving I would fall into a job of booking concerts for bands like Steppenwolf and the Guess Who. Doing that for a short time let me know that as much fun as it was; it was boring to me. Traveling around the country a bit more; I called home one day and my folk’s asked me if I knew a Bob Dylan, he’d been trying to reach me and left a number to call. It seems a girl from his office had taken a liking to me while I was out in California. Stupid me, I turned down the job. Friends I was crashing with in Colorado tried to beat me up over it. I hopped in my van and headed back off to CA. to see if I could salvage the job; but to no avail. Some opportunities only present themselves once.
After hanging around LA a little while longer, I was hired to tour with Steppenwolf, so I headed home for a while to relax. Due to rock and roll, the tour never went off, but someone I knew back her who had been touring hooked me up with a sound and light company for some shows and life took off. Though it was a business and it was always important to remember that, the fun you could have doing the job was unexplainable. Going into a nightclub, concert hall or even a stadium and putting together a finished product that brought so much pleasure to others was like a drug. That first note played and the crowd would go wild. Short of pitching in the World Series, I don’t think work could ever be like that.
Over my career I got to travel the US and some international touring getting to work with acts I’d grown up listening to such as Mitch Rider, the Animals, Three Dog Night, Badfinger, the Band, Jefferson Airplane and Ten Years After plus a list I am sometimes amazed to realize I’d worked with. I’d also developed a working relationship with the Beatles, through my work with Badfinger and their ownership of our publishing, never thinking some years earlier watching them on Ed Sullivan, I’d be dealing with them or given a luxury box as a guest at a Paul McCartney concert at Giant Stadium. Though what I did is not unique around here, I probably know a dozen others who do or did the same job. But as always, it was a job. It included months away from home, 20 hour days, exhaustive travel and immense responsibility.
As I’ve reached middle age, or what passes for it I’ve come to realize I wanted to have a life where I could be irresponsible again, have some fun and share the music. Due to wanting to extend my childhood for another 20 or so years I began an organization called “V is for Veterans” to help those who weren’t as lucky getting out of the army intact and we have been doing concerts to support various Veteran’s support organizations throughout New England. Due to my enjoyment of the music of my youth we have been working with Baby Boomer generation acts. It has been fun and I’ve gotten to work with a number of people that go back 40 or so years into my past or when I had hair, could hear and weighed less than Vince Wilfork.
So now that you have been totally bored by hearing about my life; let me tell you about our event, Classic Rock Experience.

It is being held, locally, Friday June 23 at 7:00 PM at the Holy Ghost Society Hall in downtown Peabody, MA and it will be to help support Operation Troop Support of Danvers, a local 503 C charity, in their efforts towards helping our deployed troops and their loved ones back home.

If you’re interested in the show, why we do it and who’ll be performing click for more info(http://gimmelive.com/classicrockpeabody.cfm). I guarantee you, in my lifetime there has never been a show in such an intimate hall in this area.

Hope you’ll come and join us and yes, there is plenty of room to get up and dance to the hits.

A little about the musicians appearing is below.
Detroit, Michigan may be known as The Motor City, but the area is as famous for music as it is for car engines! Derek St. Holmes being influenced by the local music scene honed his skills in his parent’s basement, he could not have fathomed that in a little more than a decade he would take the world of rock ‘n’ roll by storm. Motown was the sound of Detroit in the 1960s, but by the end of the decade, and into the ‘70s the area was a hotbed of hard rock that included The Stooges, The MC5, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes. Soon, that scene would also include Derek St. Holmes.
It all began in 1974 when St. Holmes’ opened a gig for Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes. Nugent making a name for himself around the Midwest had been unable to take his music to the next level. After hearing St. Holmes, he knew what was missing and invited Derek to join his band. Derek brought a strong set of pipes, solid musicianship and songwriting skills to Nugent’s music. In March of 1975 the world was introduced to him via Nugent’s self-titled debut album. While it was Nugent slinging down the guitar licks, it was Derek’s voice all over FM radio singing the soon to be classics “Stranglehold,” “Stormtroopin” and “Just What the Doctor Ordered.” In addition, Derek wrote, arranged and sang the classic tune “Hey Baby.” Derek quickly became regarded as one of the best voices on the international rock scene at the age of 22. Nugent and St. Holmes continued their winning combination for three more iconic albums, Free for All in 1976, Cat Scratch Fever in 1977 and Double Live Gonzo in 1978. St. Holmes left the band and the in-demand St. Holmes quickly teamed up with Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford to form Whitford /St. Holmes. In 1981, they released the album Whitford/St. Holmes, which was well received and remains a cult classic to this day. Derek also continued his on again/off again relationship with Nugent in both the 1980s, and ‘90s, co-writing several songs on Ted’s comeback album Spirit of Wild in 1996.
After years of Nugent fans begging Ted for Derek’s return, St. Holmes was invited by the Motor City Madman in 2011 to once again take his place on the Nugent stage and appeared on Nugent’s 2014 album Shut Up & Jam, singing the tune “Everything Matters.”
In 2015, Derek began writing and recording new music with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Brad Whitford for the long awaited follow up to 1981’s Whitford/St. Holmes album His voice remains as powerful as it was in 1974 when Nugent knew he had to snag him for his band. While Derek will always be a rocker identified with the iconic classic rock staples “Stranglehold” and “Hey Baby” he has the heart, soul and voice of a true bluesman, something the world heard first hand when “Hey Baby” was released way back in 1975.
He is one of this generation’s greatest voices and a true unsung hero on the six-string.

Danny Klein the “Ace on Bass” and a founding member of Boston’s legendary J. Geils Band has helped provide the thumping bass lines to the band for their 50-year history. Klein has continued to provide a steady backing on such Geils’ hits as “House Party” and “Hard Drivin’ Man” as well as on their chart topping hits “Centerfold” (# 5 Billboard song for 1982 and Grammy nominated for Best Rock Song and certified Gold Record) and “Freezeframe” (# 49 Billboard song for 1982 and certified Gold Record)
Klein, NY born and NJ bred moved to Massachusetts to attend Worcester Polytech. There he met musicians John Geils and Richard (Magic Dick) Salwitz and while attending college the three formed a jug band.
With the addition of Peter Wolf, Seth Justman and Stephen Jo Bladd the band changed their name to The J. Geils Band where Klein has remained as a continuous member. Danny and the Geils Band toured the world over performing at one point as support for the Rolling Stones.
Throughout the 1970’s, 80's and 90's, during breaks in the Geils touring, Klein recorded with artists such as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Debbie Davies.
Geils, though known as a Boston band has become global upon being nominated over the last few years for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Paul Nelson considered to be among the list of today's top guitarists; Paul is a Grammy Award winning artist who has toured the world live and appeared on recordings alongside artists such as Eric Clapton, Leslie West, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Joe Perry, Brian Setzer, Billy Gibbons, Dicky Betts, Joe Walsh and Slash among others. Nelson has also appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Paul spent the better part of a decade as the driving force behind Johnny Winter and as guitarist for the Johnny Winter Band he produced and played on several of Winter’s albums, including "Step Back", winning him a 2015 Grammy Award for Best Blues Album and debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart for Blues Albums and Independent Albums, winning the Blues Music Award for Best Rock Blues Album. Nelson was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame and received the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) award from the Blues Foundation.

Jeff Howell began his bass playing career as a teenager in upstate New York, over the years building a reputation that brought him to the attention of national acts. He eventually hooked up with Kim Simmonds, of Savoy Brown fame, spending several years with them before departing the band and venturing off to Vermont for some R&R.
Soon after returning home, Jeff received a call to say Foghat needed a bass player. So, off to Boston he ventured to beat out approximately 30 other musicians and get the gig. This is where Jeff met his mate, Roger Earl. "Roger and I got along very well. Every show was euphoric” states Jeff. Howell toured every state several times with Foghat. "I headlined so many shows I can't remember, but I have video tapes for souvenirs." Once again, all good things come to an end, but not before, Jeff fell in love with his wife, while playing the showroom at Harrah's Casino, in South Lake Tahoe, NV in 1990.
Shortly after leaving Foghat, Jeff rejoined Savoy Brown and left on a European tour. "It was incredible", commented Jeff. "When we got back from Europe, we left for Hawaii and then a mainland tour. It was a lot of fun, but it too ended." "One day while soaking up the sun, Roger called and asked Jeff to come back to Foghat for their upcoming tour.
After his reunion with Foghat, Howell returned to Lake Tahoe only to receive a call to see if he was interested in playing for The Outlaws. Off to Florida Jeff trekked and out on tour. "The next thing I knew; three years went by". While playing with The Outlaws, he recorded three albums. The Outlaws disbanded in 1996,
In 1996, Jeff returned to upstate New York to work on the recording of other artists' projects. During the latter portion of 2009 and most of 2010, Jeff performed on Foghat's blues CD “Last Train Home”, and returned for a while as a touring member of the band. He would return home to continue on recording projects but rejoin Foghat periodically over the years as a touring band member.

Bobby T Torello, who’s unleashed his considerable talent at music venues around the world received, in 2017, a permanent place in the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in recognition, according to Classic Drummer Magazine, “of his important contributions as one of music’s great drummers.”

No surprise, considering he’s toured the globe, driving the sound of bands featuring Michael Bolton, Jefferson Starship’s Grace Slick, and the iconic fleet-fingered bluesman Johnny Winter. He’s also shared the stage with Aerosmith, Foreigner and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Fellow 2017 inductees include Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler; Papa Jo Jones, a pioneer in jazz percussion who anchored the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section; and Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band, among other luminaries.

Ted Armstrong, a graduate of the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, has been a nationally touring, in demand keyboardist for the past twenty-five years.
Armstrong is currently touring with Billy Gilman who finished second on the NBC show The Voice. He has also been manning the keyboard duties for the last 15 years as a member of the Doug Flutie Band. As well, he has toured with Bo Diddley, Johnny Johnson, Carey Bell, Littlewolf and Ian Mitchell of the Bay City Rollers.

Andrew (A.C.) Clark is a sax man not to be messed with. He is the full package; skill, style and swagger. Over the years he has shared the stage with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers “the Beach Boys”, “the Coasters” and Aerosmith’s “Joey Kramer”. As well he has supported the James Montgomery Band, the Mohegan Sun All-Stars, Johnny A and Gary “US” Bonds.

Don (D.C.) Culp, the Ninja Drummer, out of Providence joins us again. Mostly known for his time as a supporting member of John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, DC is a well-respected musician who performs with a wide variety of performers in the RI and Connecticut area. As well as his strong involvement in working on projects helping musicians with health care, Don is a Black Belt holder who trains in several martial arts practices.

Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt the President and Co-founder of the Vizztone Label Group, along with pals blues musician Bob Margolin and publishing magnate Chip Eagle, started out as a harmonica player on the greater Boston blues scene of the 1970’s. He was lucky enough to record with Sunnyland Slim and back up Hubert Sumlin, John Lee Hooker, Luther Johnson, Otis Rush and others during that wild time.
Rosy set up a basement recording studio and started Tone-Cool Records in 1985. Spending the next 20 years as CEO of Tone-Cool and releasing more than 50 records, getting to work with some amazing artists, including Susan Tedeschi, North Mississippi Allstars, Double Trouble, Sean Costello, Hubert Sumlin, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Bernard Allison, Monster Mike Welch, Mark Hummel, Tony Z, David Maxwell, Toni Lynn Washington, Rick Holmstrom, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and lots more.
Still playing harmonica Rosy appeared on lots of Tone-Cool records, as well as a few Luther ‘Guitar Junior’ Johnson CDs recordings by Sunnyland Slim. In recent years he’s done some very cool gigs with Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, Dave Gross, Gina Sicilia and others.

Tyler Morris a local guitar prodigy has taken the stage with Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Gary Hoey, Joe Stump, Sammy Hagar, Leslie West, Rudy Sarzo, Vince Neil, Johnny Winter, Vernon Reid, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Ronnie Montrose and others.
At the age of 15, Morris wrote his first studio album, And So It Begins which was featured in Guitar Player Magazine, Vintage Guitar Magazine, Heavy Riff Magazine and other worldwide media outlets.
In 2016, Tyler was asked to perform in the 2016 Guitar Gods Festival with Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Nicko McBrian, Rudy Sarzo and others on June 14, 2016, in Miami Beach.