blog.richspina.com

December started out with a weekend of shows in Oregon with the “Teen Idols”. And for those of you just dropping in for one of my blogs the “Teen Idols” are Peter Noone, Micky Dolenz and Mark Lindsay. And they put on 2 killer shows full of music, mayhem and laughs. On my way home I made a stop in Las Vegas to visit with Kellie for a few days. Now I’m back in C-Town for three weeks to enjoy the Christmas holidays before I head back out on the road.

I believe I’m going to call this Christmas “A Retro 80’s Christmas”. Why you ask? Well, to start things off, the premier Cleveland all-girl rock band from the 80’s “Lipstick” stopped by The Mad Cactus on Thursday to say hello. Though the band folded almost 20yrs ago, they were getting together for the Christmas holidays. Below is a picture of me hangin’ with them.

“with Lipstick. Jett, Donna, Linda & Kithy”

The next night I was invited to a reunion party of another 80’s band, “Quest”. I had not seen them all together in over 20 years. In 1986 I produced their single “All In Your Heart” up in Canada at The Metalworks, a recording studio owned by the Canadian band “Triumph”. Below is a picture of us together at the studio in ’86 and below that is a picture of us together last week at the party. We didn’t age too much, huh?!?

“with Quest in Canada 1986. myself, Dave, Jude, Bill, Bryant & Steve on the bottom.”

“with Quest 2009. myself, Dave, Bill, Bryant & Steve on the bottom.”

To continue with the 80’s theme, this Friday I’ll be sitting in on keys with the “New Century Beatniks” which has 2 of my former “Love Affair” band mates (Mike Hudak & John Zdravecky) in it. And of course, “Love Affair” was together in the 80’s. Then on Saturday, I’ll be a guest lead vocalist for “That 80s Band”. That one is kinda self-explanatory but it is lead by former “Love Affair” band mate (Wes Coolbaugh). And it doesn’t end there…because on December 23 I will be stopping at the Akron Agora reunion. That was a very popular club and concert hall from the 1980s. Some bands are reuniting to perform and others are just stopping by to say hello. Since “Love Affair” held their all-time attendance record there, I will stop by and will probably sing a song.

Anyways, have a very Merry Christmas and, if I don’t post another blog soon, have a wonderful New Year!!