Legendary Pgh. Rocker Donnie Iris Planning 80th Birthday Concert

PITTSBURGH, PA — Donnie Iris would like you to attend his upcoming birthday bash with his band The Cruisers. A Western Pennsylvania rock icon for decades, Iris will celebrate his 80th birthday with a March 11 concert at the UPMC Events Center on the Robert Morris University campus in Moon.

It was not how he expected the momentous event to occur in his younger days.

"Years ago, I saw Chuck Berry on TV and he was turning 60," Iris said in a recent interview with Patch. "I thought, man, I can't see myself doing this at 60. I never, ever thought this would happen, but we still like to perform."

If you're a Pittsburgh-area rock radio fan, you know the songs, which have been popular for decades: "Ah! Leah!" "Love Is Like a Rock," "The Way Love Ought To Be," and "My Girl," which approached the top 20 on Billboard's singles chart.

Iris said the 80th birthday celebration, which also will feature The Clarks and The Vindys, has been in the planning stages for about a year. "We're still playing, so we thought why not do it up big?" he said.

This isn't a victory lap for the Coraopolis resident, however. Iris and the Cruisers have gigs planned later this year with REO Speedwagon and Foreigner.

"As long as I'm healthy, I'm going to keep doing it," he said. "For now, everyone in the band is still having a blast."