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We just finished our last tour date of 2011 and did it in style as Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone headlined Bowzer’s Christmas Show in Clearwater, Florida. The Ruth Eckerd Hall was packed!! Dewey Bunnell of the group “America” stopped by to catch Peter’s show…it was so cool meeting him!

“with Jana & Dewey Bunnell of America”

“with Peter having fun on stage”

I actually have a few weeks off to enjoy Christmas and New Years Eve here in C-Town with my family and friends before I hit the road again in January. One of the best things about all the traveling I do is greeting I get from my dog Diva when I get home as you can see below.

“Diva greeting me after a long road trip”

Before I go, I want to tell you that long awaited “Love Affair” reunion has finally been scheduled…it will be on April 28, 2012 at Tangiers in Akron, OH. It will feature all 5 of us performing together for the first time since 1984…I can’t wait!!! Tickets should go sale soon….you can contact them here: http://www.thetangier.com/entertainment.php

“Then & Now!!!”

Everyone have a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Years!!!

I’m flying to Little Rock, AR right now and realized that once again, it’s been a whole month since I posted a blog. But what a month it has been!! Traveling, rehearsing, performing in a few different projects, meeting new people…I sure had a good time!

While performing at the Cannery in Las Vegas I had the pleasure of meeting a man that I’ve admired for a long time, Frank Luntz. And let me tell you, he knows his rock-n-roll history just as well as he knows his politics and how people think. It was truly an honor!!

“with Frank Luntz”

After Vegas, Billy and I flew to Texas for a “Spina & Sullivan” performance a Betty Brown’s (I call her El Presidente) 60^th birthday party…everyone had a grand time!!!

“with Billy, Mo, Betty & Jana”

Before the party, Jana & Mo had to work the fields…luckily; I was able to capture the moment.

“Mo & Jana working the fields in dress clothes!”

And last week, the concert I had been excitedly waiting to perform for months: Wally Bryson and Friends. It was a benefit concert for R.O.A.M. We performed Wally’s music that spanned his entire career along with some of the musicians from the bands he performed in. Dann Klawon, Dave Burke & Kenny Margolis of The Choir performed a couple of numbers. Later on, Scott McCarl (The Raspberries) & Lex Marchesi (Fotomaker) joined us for a few songs and added to the memorable evening. The Beachland Ballroom was packed and Wally rocked the house. His son, Jesse, also performed that night with his own band. Needless to say, he’s a chip off the old block as his original songs are well written, he kicks butt on guitar and he has a great voice.

“Wally Bryson & Friends ”

“on stage performing Might As Well”

Local Notes: Don’t miss the “Spina, Sullivan & Hudak” reunion show the night before Thanksgiving (11/23) at The Mad Cactus. The music & mayhem begins at 9:00pm. Also, I’ll be performing around town throughout the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays so please check my calendar often to see when and where.

Go check out the haunted houses, eat lots of candy, find a silly costume and have a happy Halloween!

Wow, September’s already here…where did the last couple of months go? It sure was a busy summer of touring. I was in so many states over the last 2 months I lost count. But I did find time while in Denver to spend some time with some old friends Chuck Ciepiel & Jeff LaQuatra.

“with Chuck Ciepiel, Jeff LaQuatra & Billy”

And what little time I was home I made count. In early August I was able to celebrate my dear friend Paul Fayrewether’s 60^th birthday at his surprise party.

“with Paul Christensen & Paul Fayrewether”

I was also able to attend my hometown’s Brook Park 70’s Reunion Party. I had a blast visiting with old childhood friends that I haven’t seen in years!!

“with Chris Marotta at the Brook Park 70’s Reunion”

“with Mark Price at the Brook Park 70’s Reunion”

And lastly, the party I never like to miss, Buddy Maver’s annual musician’s party.

“with Ron Iafornaro, Hank LoConti & Ravenna Miceli at Buddy Maver’s party”

Upcoming events to mark on your calendar:

On October 22 at the Beachland Ballroom I will be performing with the legendary Wally Bryson for the ROAM benefit. We will be performing songs that span his entire career…from his days with The Choir, The Raspberries, Tattoo, Fotomaker, The Sittin’ Ducks. I can’t wait!!

On the eve of Thanksgiving, “Spina, Sullivan & Hudak” will have a reunion show at our old favorite haunt, The Mad Cactus. The musical mayhem will begin at 9:00pm.

And in early April of next year, “Love Affair” will be performing a reunion with ALL the original members: Wes Coolbaugh, Wayne Cukras, John Zdravecky, Mike Hudak and yours truly. We plan on making it a truly memorable reunion. As soon as all the details are worked out and the date and venue are finalized I will let you know.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth Of July holiday.
The June tour schedule lightened up a bit so I got a chance to get back in the studio and resume recording my new upcoming CD. I still have hopes of releasing it by fall but the hectic tour schedule starts back up this weekend and continues throughout the rest of the summer…so it could be Christmas before I have it finished! I also got to reconnect with some olds friends that I haven’t seen in a while. That was great.
Last month I went back to Del Sangro’s where I used to perform at regularly years ago for a special Tuesday night performance. Well, I’ve been there every Tuesday since then and it looks like, for the time being, I’ll be there every Tuesday that I’m in town. Stop by and enjoy some music, great food and wonderful people. I start at 8:00pm.

“performing at Del Sango’s (photo by DJ)”

On a sad note: Last week rock journalist Jane Scott, a Cleveland legend passed away…she was 92. I grew up reading all of her articles on both the local and national artists dreaming of someday making music my career. I was 20yrs old when she first wrote about our band. I was both humbled and awed that day. Later on I was blessed to call her friend. Not only was she a brilliant writer respected not only in Cleveland but all around the country, she was a wonderfully beautiful person that made everyone she came in contact with feel special. Below are a couple of pics by Janet Macoska of Jane and I on stage at her 80^th birthday bash in 1999.

“On stage with Jane”

“Dancin’ with Jane on stage”

There will be a memorial for Jane Scott at the Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Fame on Sunday August 28 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Hope to see you there.

I keep saying that I’m going to blog more often but the road becomes one long blur and I forget that 2 months have gone by without a post…that will change…hopefully!!!Since I’ve last posted we’ve really been racking up the frequent flyer miles traveling in and out of the country…let’s see…we’ve been to Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo & Kelowna; all in British Columbia. Then we went to Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, back to Canada for a show in Calgary, Florida, Mississippi and currently I’m back in Wisconsin for 3 days of concerts in Green Bay. Below are a few pics from our performances at Epcot last week.

“On stage at Epcot”

“still on stage at Epcot”

In between all my traveling I was able to attend a few important things at home in C-Town and finish a couple more tracks for my new CD…I’m now hoping to have it completed by September.
One of my stops home…all of 41 hours…I attended the listening party to celebrate the release of my friend, Scott Hanson’s new CD “Revival”. Scott and the band were great and the new CD is killer!! On another stop home I took part in the “Jammin’ for Japan” benefit performing with friends Jim Bonfanti, Norm Isaac, Bob Palumbo & Rick Montanari to help raise money for Japan.

“talking with Jim & Barb Bonfanti while Norm & Michelle Popela (who put on the benefit) pose for the pic.”

“with Norm Isaac & Dan Hrdlicka”

Also, on my last stop home I attended the annual Taurus Party. I hadn’t been able to attend the past couple of years due to my tour schedule but I sure had a blast this year!! It was so nice being able to visit with old friends.

“with John Gorman & Ravenna Miceli”

“with Peanuts & Helen Marketti”

Local notes: I’ll have 2-week break from touring in the first couple of weeks in June so I’ll be performing around town. A couple of notable dates will be a Spina & Sullivan reunion at the Mad Cactus on Thursday June 2^nd and on Tuesday June 7^th I will be returning to Del Sangro’s for the first time in almost 7 years for a special Tuesday night with my piano bar. I’ll also be performing a couple of weekend dates around town with Don Krueger.
Rumor mill: To all Love Affair fans, I believe we will finally be scheduling a Love Affair reunion for next April 2012. I still need to get all the guys together to hammer out the details but I’ll keep you posted.

I’m at 30,000 feet flying to Las Vegas and once again I realized that I’ve not posted a blog in a long, long time. I’ve been traveling so much the last 2 months I still thought it was February! But it sure has been a lot of fun so far.

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. Sorry I haven’t posted anything in a month but as our tour schedule wound down I took some time off to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends and re-charge my jets!! Below is a beautiful Christmas card the wonderfully artistic Rita Layman made for me.

“Merry Christmas!!”

For those of you that have Sirius Satellite Radio you might’ve heard our “Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone” New Years Eve show that was pre-recorded during our concert at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA on November 27. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear it as I was on vacation in Las Vegas ringing in the New Year with my girlfriend and friends at Giuseppe’s Bar & Grille…the best restaurant in all of Vegas!!!

“At The Canyon Club”

Also, while I was off the road I was able to further along the recording of my new CD, tentatively titled, “My Accidental Life”. It’s about two-thirds complete and should be out by spring. Of course, I’m on the road a lot in February, March & April, so the release date could change, but I’ll keep you posted.  Talk to ya soon!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone…I hope everyone forgot about their diets and filled-up on turkey and stuffing. Wow, the last 2 months went by in a flash!! We were on the road constantly in October and though we had an eighteen-day break in November, it flew by as I was in the studio with a few different projects along with beginning the tracking for my new CD.

“on stage somewhere in October”

Because November always begins with my birthday, I’d like to thank the hundreds of friends that sent out birthday wishes and made it such a special day for me….thank you so much!! I am truly blessed.

Here in C-Town things are changing a bit on my Thursday nights at the Mad Cactus. Whenever I’m in town I will by hosting, along with Don Krueger (Eric Carmen, Euclid Beach Band), a musician’s appreciation night. Don and I will play for about 90 minutes and then bring up friends of ours from the music community to join us.

“with Don Krueger at the Mad Cactus”

“Billy Sullivan & I clowning around backstage about 20yrs ago”

The only exception will be on Thursday, December 16 as my partner in crime Billy Sullivan will return to Cleveland and we will perform together again. As usual, it will be a night of our own special blend of music & mayhem.

Hope to see ya…..either around town or on the road!!!

The month of September was filled with lots of fun and special moments both on the road with Herman’s Hermits and at home performing with and for friends of C-Town’s musical family. Plus, I was able to take a week off from all the mayhem and spend some quality time in Las Vegas with my girlfriend. While in Vegas I was also able to catch Cheap Trick’s St. Pepper’s show at the Paris with my dear friend Billy Hufsey…one of the best shows I’ve seen in years!!!!

“Peter and I sharing a laugh on stage”

On the home front I was able to share in a 2 very special musical moments. The first was doing one last show with the talented Debi Lewin (Wayne Newton, Cover Girls) along with another “Cover Girls” alumni Jennifer Lee (Michael Stanley, Raspberries). In October Debi moves to Florida to continue with her musical career. It would’ve been a full “Cover Girls” reunion had Billy Sullivan not already taken his talents and moved to Chicago. But unlike LeBron, Billy still performs for his fellow Clevelanders.

“with Debi & Jennifer”

The second was in the form of a benefit for a special friend and C-Town musical alumni Bill Pettijohn; a cancer survivor. And what a special evening it was as Cleveland’s musical community came out in force to support one of our own. Below are some snapshots of that night.

“group shot of performers with Bill Pettijohn”

“Paul Pope, George Yunis, myself & Billy Sullivan”

“on stage performing”

“with Lipstick members Donna & Lynda”

“with Dave Brooks of The Breakfast Club”

September is here, summer is almost over and as I was flying home today I realized that I didn’t post a single blog in August. That’s because I was so busy I didn’t notice that the month had evaporated as we traveled through Nevada, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Ohio.

We performed at Lock 3 Live in Akron and it was especially fun for me because it was in my hometown state. I even had to autograph a few of my old albums and 45’s. The girl that brought the 45 for me to sign wasn’t even born yet when it was originally released. So, needless to say, I was touched. Below is a pic of me showing Vance what a 45 record actually looked like as Billy looked on in amusement.

“Myself, Vance & Billy”

“autographing an old Richard & The Heartbeats single”

Speaking of albums…I am in the process of recording a new CD, which should be out around the beginning of next year. Haven’t decided on a title yet, but I’ll keep you updated on the progress. Right now, you can hear a couple of the new songs on www.RockandRollHeaven.net, an internet radio station. Also, I’d like to thank everyone that continues to visit my “MySpace” site to listen to my music. At the beginning of this month my songs finally reached over 100,000 plays. Thank you!!!

C-Town news….this Thursday, Sept 9, Debi Lewin & Jennifer Lee, (my cohorts in the Cover Girls), will be joining me at the Mad Cactus as my guest artists for the evening. It will be the last time we will be performing together because Debi is about to move to Florida. First, Billy moved…then LeBron abandoned us…now Debi…who will be the next person to leave C-Town? It will be a very loose & fun evening with the three of us just enjoying making music together for the last time.

Cheers!!!