Canton native Joe Vitale remembers when his son and namesake first displayed a ardour for music.
Vitale, a former touring drummer for the Eagles and a percussionist who has labored with Crosby, Stills & Nash and different artists, had stunned Joe Vitale Jr. with the Christmas present of a toy drum set from Sears, coloured blue and full with a snare and cymbals.
Solely 2 or 3 years outdated, the kid went full rock star − banging and blasting the drums with abandon till they have been destroyed.
“With these sorts of issues,” the daddy stated with a smile, “you may see this man is trending in direction of music for certain.”
Sitting facet by facet on a sofa within the again studio of Gattuso’s Music and Extra in Canton, the daddy and son recalled the anecdote with smiles and laughter that brightened the dimly lit room.
The second was additionally an instance of their love and connection by music, a relationship that has matured and solely grown within the subsequent a long time.
“That is a double bond,” Vitale Sr. stated. “We at all times have the household bond, however so as to add to that the musicianship and making music, that is an entire different stage and inseparable bond.”
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Added the son: “It is surreal.”
The youthful Vitale, a multi-instrumentalist with a solo profession, now heads the band Ravenwood, which performs a mix of business and various rock. Releasing its first album, “Ravenous” in 2021, the Akron-based band has carried out at Lock 3 and different Northeast Ohio venues.
He is additionally toured as an instrumentalist for Joe Walsh, Stephen Stills and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
However regardless of some visitor appearances and former excursions along with different artists, the Vitale duo has by no means carried out in a full-blown rock band of their very own till the latest formation of The Vinyl Machine.
Boasting members with ties to Walsh, Warren Zevon, Lou Gramm, Joe Cocker and the aforementioned artists, the All-Star ensemble will maintain its first live performance Oct. 19 at Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets price $25 and may be bought at https://www.akroncivic.com/reveals, however availability is proscribed. Tickets are additionally obtainable in-person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays on the Civic Theatre field workplace contained in the arcade at 182 South Principal St. (King James Approach) or by calling 330-253-2488.
The present will likely be on the John, James and Clara Knight Stage.
Becoming a member of the daddy and son within the The Vinyl Machine are: Duane Sciacqua (lead guitar, vocals), Jim Stapley (lead vocals, guitar), Stanley Sheldon (bass, vocals) and Tommy Stephenson (keyboards, vocals).
Sciacqua has carried out with Paul McCartney, Glenn Fry and Steve Lukather. Stapley has labored with Cactus and Kenney Jones of the Faces and The Who. Sheldon is greatest recognized for his work with Peter Frampton, together with the legendary album “Frampton Comes Alive” in 1976. Stephenson has toured with Walsh, Eric Clapton and Van Morrison.
Songs will embody “Life within the Quick Lane” by the Eagles, “Rocky Mountain Approach” by Walsh, “Woodstock” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Younger, “Love the One You are With” by Stephen Stills, “Werewolves of London” by Zevon and “Midnight Blue” by Gramm.
Vitale Sr. will likely be taking part in drums and serving to on vocals whereas the 45-year-old son describes himself as The Vinyl Machine’s “utility man,” splitting guitar, vocal, synthesizer and percussion duties, relying on the music and preparations.
‘Our band is liable for about 30 million data mixed.’
Contents
- 1 ‘Our band is liable for about 30 million data mixed.’
- 2 ‘We have all gotten actually cool tales.’
- 3 Stepping on stage at age 10 in entrance of 19,000 screaming followers
- 4 Donnie Iris praises Vitale drumming tandem
- 5 Rising up in his dad’s musical shadow
- 6 Music business goes from vinyl singles to digital downloads
- 7 Vitale and Walsh carry out ‘Rocky Mountain Approach’ with Stephen Colbert band
The 73-year-old Vitale Sr. was animated and energetic whereas discussing the brand new band.
“We have finished quite a bit,” he stated. “And we have been with main acts, and we have performed all of the venues, and large, small, all internationally, truly.”
However the group did not wish to be one other tribute or cowl band.
“Our band is liable for about 30 million data mixed,” stated Vitale Sr., who additionally sings and performs keyboards. “So … why not characteristic all these songs that we truly performed on. I respect tribute bands as a result of they’re superb, however they did not report these songs. They’re simply taking part in these songs. We truly recorded these songs.”
“The setlist is unbelievable, and it is nothing however hits, truly,” Vitale stated of the 24-song repertoire. “We’re excited as a result of it sounds good.”
Rehearsals went properly, though gathering in Nashville has been a logistical problem.
“It will get tough at instances since you’ve obtained individuals in Kansas, Atlanta, Nashville (and Stark County) … so we now have to get all of us collectively in a single place to work,” the youthful Vitale stated. “It has been a problem, however it’s additionally been loads of enjoyable placing that each one collectively.”
‘We have all gotten actually cool tales.’
The inaugural present in Akron is the one one scheduled in the mean time. Vitale Sr., nonetheless, is enthused in regards to the band’s touring potential.
“We particularly picked a smaller venue as a result of we wish to take a look at run it,” stated Vitale, who lives within the Canton space. “I keep in mind studying a number of years again The (Rolling) Stones, and I am not evaluating us to the Stones, however when the Stones did this main tour, their first gig was a bit of membership in Toronto, Canada, and I believed, ‘Wow, what a terrific concept.'”
“We figured … a small venue, intimate place, and loads of followers and pals, will probably be simply be a enjoyable night,” Vitale stated. “And we’ll take a look at run this present there, and that is what each band does. We might like to dive into the deep finish, however we’ll wade in a bit of bit at a time.”
A storytelling component will likely be featured on the live performance with band members who’ve collectively carried out greater than 30,000 reveals worldwide whereas having written or carried out quite a few hit songs with chart-topping artists.
“We have all gotten actually cool tales,” Vitale Sr. stated. “You could possibly be a fly on the wall within the studio or a backstager on a bus and all that, like what’s in my (2008) e book, ‘Backstage Move.’ However to inform these tales, lots of people are doing that now. They’re doing music and tales, and the viewers actually enjoys that.”
“This will likely be fairly a number of attention-grabbing tales, I assure you,” he stated with one other huge smile. “There’s some humorous stuff.”
Stepping on stage at age 10 in entrance of 19,000 screaming followers
Vitale Jr. grew up realizing his father was knowledgeable percussionist. Not just for the Eagles, but additionally whereas performing or recording with Dan Fogelberg, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wooden, Ted Nugent, Boz Scaggs and different basic rock elite.
Vitale and Walsh co-wrote the hit music “Rocky Mountain Approach,” in addition to “Fairly Maids All in a Row” from The Eagles’ iconic album, “Resort California.” Vitale additionally co-produced albums for Walsh, Stills and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Younger.
At age 10, the son joined his dad on tour for the primary time, witnessing the spectacle of a serious live performance. That was additionally when he stepped onto the Blossom Music Middle stage with Crosby, Stills & Nash to play tambourine on “Train Your Youngsters” in entrance of 19,000 individuals.
“Seeing simply the group screaming, it was actually superb,” recalled Vitale Jr., who lives within the Portage Lakes space of Summit County.
Moments like that finally dissuaded the teenager from pursuing his first dream of changing into an astronaut, even after attending House Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
“That did it,” Vitale Sr. instructed his son affectionately throughout the joint interview. “You have been completed.”
A mutual musical admiration has developed between the 2.
“There’s by no means a day that goes by when he does not pull out a (drum) fill that’s insanely good,” Vitale Jr. stated. “And I am going, ‘The place did that come from?'”
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Particularly memorable was when the daddy and son drummed facet by facet final yr at a Donnie Iris and The Cruisers live performance on the MGM Northfield throughout “Love Is Like a Rock.”
“We did not strive to do that,” the daddy stated of the uncanny twin timing. “We’re synched up − completely each single drum motion … and we’re so locked.”
Donnie Iris praises Vitale drumming tandem
Throughout an interview final summer season about opening for Journey at Tom Benson Corridor of Fame Stadium in Canton, Iris raved in regards to the drumming tandem.
“Junior’s a terrific drummer,” he stated. “He actually takes after his dad.”
Vitale Jr. has crammed in on percussion for Donnie Iris and The Cruisers when drummer Kevin Valentine is not obtainable.
“I feel it is a matter of really feel,” Iris stated of expert drummers. “Numerous them have a terrific really feel to play drums, and it doesn’t matter what it seems like, it will be good as a result of the tracks really feel good. I feel Joe junior and Joe senior, they indisputably have a really feel, which I really like.”
Rising up in his dad’s musical shadow
Vitale Jr. admitted to feeling the strain of being in comparison with his dad.
On the identical hand, the Jackson Excessive Faculty graduate stated he realizes being the son of an completed musician has “opened doorways.”
“However I nonetheless should ship,” he stated.
Vitale Jr. stated he not will get nervous about making music and performing in his father’s shadow. “I simply exit and convey it,” he stated.
Strain has by no means come from his father, Vitale Jr. stated. “He solely pushes me in a very good sense. He is solely pushed me to do one of the best I can do.”
Added the dad: “My solely judgment of what he does is what he does on stage and the way he sounds.”
Music business goes from vinyl singles to digital downloads
Vitale Sr. stated the music business has modified dramatically from the ’60s and ’70s.
In these days, when vinyl singles have been launched, it wasn’t uncommon for cash to be slipped to radio stations in trade for airplay, the elder Vitale stated matter-of-factly.
“That’s simply the way in which you probably did it,” he stated. “Our complete band would go to radio stations and say, ‘Please play the only.'”
Digital music, streaming and social media have reworked the distribution of music, Vitale Sr. famous. “I do not know if that is a double-edged sword,” he stated.
“It isn’t simple these days to do this stuff,” the daddy added. “Younger bands are getting inventive on learn how to do stuff.”
“We needed to wrestle to get something finished,” he stated of his early profession. “… We grew up in a special time.”
However regardless of the modifications, rock and roll is “alive and properly,” Vitale Sr. stated, referring to reveals at each arenas and small golf equipment and bars. “It is simply modified.”
Vitale and Walsh carry out ‘Rocky Mountain Approach’ with Stephen Colbert band
Vitale Sr. has been holding busy musically, together with performing “Rocky Mountain Approach” with Walsh on The Late Present With Stephen Colbert throughout a one-week August residency by which he performed keyboards.
He additionally will carry out within the VetsAid 2022 Joe Walsh & Buddies live performance on Nov. 13 at Nationwide Area in Columbus, that includes the James Gang, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, 9 Inch Nails, The Breeders and The Black Keys.
“We bought it out in a half hour,” Vitale stated, noting the present will likely be streamed on-line. “This yr, as a result of it is in Columbus, Ohio, it is … all Ohio personalities. I’ll play with Joe, however then he is obtained the James Gang taking part in … (and) it will be a unbelievable present.
“That is what’s arising,” Vitale stated. “And I do not know what is going on to occur subsequent yr. Hopefully a bunch of Vinyl Machine reveals, and we’ll see what occurs.”
Attain Ed at 330-580-8315 and [email protected]. On Twitter @ebalintREP.
This text initially appeared on The Repository: Joe Vitale’s new band has ties to the Eagles, The Who and Rod Stewart