The Kings Of Classic Rock

About

Considering all of the gold, platinum and R&R Hall of Fame bands that these guys are former and current members of, we can safely say that you've definitely seen or heard one or more of them at some point. Whether in concert, on TV, or on a CD or DVD, for over 25 years the members of The Kings Of Classic Rock have played for many of the great legends in rock.

They’ve toured and/or recorded with bands such as Iron Butterfly, The Animals, Edgar Winter, Sheryl Crow, The Fixx, Tears For Fears, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Vanilla Fudge, Genesis, Chuck Berry, Meatloaf, Percy Sledge, Lita Ford, Peter Gabriel, Olivia Newton John, Spencer Davis, Gary Myrick and The Figures, Loverboy, Buddy Miles, Manhattan Transfer, Thelma Houston, Jennifer Love Hewitt, DeBarge, Sugarloaf, Bobby Kimball and Simon Phillips (Toto), The British Rock Symphony, Brand X, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Eddie Van Halen, Steve Lukather (Toto), Brian Auger, Jonatha Brooke, Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band), Dwight Twilley, Walter Trout, Eric Sardinas and more.

The Kings Of Classic Rock met while playing for Eric Burdon and The Animals, and a strong musical bond was forged. After years of very successful worldwide touring, the guys felt that somehow they had to stay together rather than go their separate ways and end up playing as hired guns for other artists as they had done for so many years.

The concept behind The Kings Of Classic Rock is simple; play the very best songs from each of their former bands, throw in some other great songs from the era, and create an irresistible set, as much fun to listen to as it is for them to play, and make it appealing to anyone who is a fan of rock music from the 60's, 70's and 80's.

The band was put together with the intention of being the ultimate classic rock band, and they are guaranteed to leave a great, unforgettable impression at corporate events, festivals and concert showrooms.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS -

NICK D'VIRGILIO - LEAD VOCALS
The diverse background of this band covers a lot of musical territory, and therefore requires a very versatile singer. They found this voice in Nick D’Virgilio. Nick is currently the lead singer for the critically acclaimed band Spock’s Beard, where he also plays guitar and drums. Nick has also lent his talents to artists such as Sheryl Crow, Tears For Fears, Genesis, Manhattan Transfer, Peter Gabriel, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Debarge, Jonatha Brooke, Brand X, Eric Burdon and many others. He is a clinician for Mapex Drums and Sonic Reality, and has recorded two solo CD’s and a DVD.

BERNIE PERSHEY - DRUMS
The foundation of the band is BERNARD PERSHEY on drums. Hailing from the Midwest, Bernie found early success with Olivia Newton John’s band at the height of her career. Later Bernie moved to Chicago where he perfected his highly energized and impeccable technique in music as varied as jazz fusion to blues, hard rock to Salsa. Later, those wide-ranging musical skills would come in handy on countless recording sessions as well as playing on tour with Chuck Berry, Edgar Winter, Dwight Twilley, blues great Walter Trout, Eric Sardinas and others before being recruited into The Animals in 2001.

DAVE MEROS -
The other half of the rhythm section is bassist DAVE MEROS. Dave toured for 16 years with one of the most influential bands of the British Invasion, The Animals as well as with multi-platinum artists such as Bobby Kimball and Simon Phillips (Toto), Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and The Raiders), Iron Butterfly, Sugarloaf, Gary Myrick and The Figures, Spencer Davis, Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and keyboard legend Brian Auger (Oblivion Express / Trinity). He is also an original member along with Nick in the progressive rock band Spock’s Beard, who have 9 studio CDs to their credit as well as numerous live CD’s and DVD’s.


MARTIN GERSCHWITZ - KEYBOARDS
Playing keyboards we have our high performance German import, MARTIN GERSCHWITZ. A classically trained pianist and violinist, Martin also had a successful career in Germany playing in rock bands before heading across the Atlantic in the mid 80’s to pursue the American Dream. He quickly achieved his goal, winning high profile positions with platinum recording artists Meatloaf, Lita Ford, Vanilla Fudge, Percy Sledge, Spencer Davis, Loverboy, Eddie Van Halen, and blues great Walter Trout before joining The Animals in 1999. Currently, Martin is touring as keyboard player and lead singer with the group that defined the psychedelic era, Iron Butterfly. He also leads his own solo project that records and tours, with 3 studio CD’s and a DVD to his credit.


DEAN RESTUM - GUITAR
On guitar, Mr. DEAN RESTUM. Besides being a versatile guitarist, singer, and record producer, he is equally comfortable composing for film and television. You’ve heard his work on A&E Biography, FBI-The Untold Stories, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Disney’s Race to Space, Bounty Tracker, and jingles for Blockbuster Video and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Dean has also toured with recording artists The Fixx, Spencer Davis, art rocker Gregg Tripp, Thelma Houston, Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band), the British Rock Symphony and 12 years as Musical Director/Guitarist for The Animals. Dean and Bernie also have an original project called The Mustang Brothers who are currently rocking the LA club scene and have released two CD’s.

Personnel

Nick D'Virgilio: Lead Singer
Dave Meros: Bass / Vocals
Dean Restum: Guitar / Vocals
Martin Gerschwitz: Keyboards / Vocals
Bernie Pershey: Drums

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 60 - 240 minutes

Very solid rock band with three lead-quality vocalists as well as great players. All very memorable and danceable classic hits, mainly from the 60's through the 80's but also songs from the 90's and 2000's. Lots of fun and high energy delivery.

Stage/Setup Requirements:
Please contact me for info

Additional Notes:
Please contact me for all technical information and I will send you a complete rider with all requirements for each particular engagement, including input list, stage plot, etc.

Basically for larger shows we will need a stage, all lighting and PA gear provided. We can arrange to bring a PA system to smaller venues but we'd still need a stage and lights provided.

We can bring our own backline (drums, guitar amps, keyboards) to Southern California shows. Fly in dates require backline as well as the above mentioned stage / lights / PA.

Set/Song/Sequence List:
Listed first are songs that we do from bands that we've been members of. After that the songs are listed by era (60s/70s, 80s/90s/2000s, R&B classics).

SONG TITLE - - - FEATURING FORMER MEMBER(S)OF

House of The Rising Sun - - The Animals
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - The Animals
It’s My Life - - The Animals
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals
Free Ride - - Edgar Winter
One Thing Leads To Another - - The Fixx
Red Skies At Night - - The Fixx
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - - Iron Butterfly
Kicks - - Paul Revere and The Raiders
Hungry - - Paul Revere and The Raiders
Keep Me Hangin’ On - - Vanilla Fudge
Hush - - Deep Purple
Workin’ For The Weekend - - Loverboy
When A Man Loves A Woman - - Percy Sledge
Green Eyed Lady - - Sugarloaf
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - - Tears For Fears
Sledgehammer - - Peter Gabriel
Gimme Some Lovin’ - - Spencer Davis
I’m A Man - - Spencer Davis

MORE CLASSIC SONGS FROM THE '60s AND '70s -

SONG TITLE - - - ORIGINAL ARTIST

Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo - - Rick Derringer
No Matter What - - Badfinger
Magic Carpet Ride - - Steppenwolf
Born To Be Wild - - Steppenwolf
Kashmir - - Led Zeppelin
Comfortably Numb - - Pink Floyd
Come Together - - The Beatles
White Room - - Cream
Them changes - - Buddy Miles
Funk 49 - - Joe Walsh
Doctor My Eyes - - Jackson Browne
Feelin’ Alright - - Dave Mason
The Letter - - Joe Cocker
Rock On - - David Essex
Slippin’ Into Darkness - - War
China Grove - - Doobie Brothers
Born On The Bayou - - Creedence
Love Is Alive - - Gary Wright

SONGS FROM THE '80s, '90s, 2000s -

SONG TITLE - - - ORIGINAL ARTIST

Clocks - - Coldplay
Speed Of Sound - - Coldplay
Take It To The Limit - - Hinder
Kryptonite - - Three Doors Down
American Girl - - Tom Petty
Breakdown - - Tom Petty
Suicide Blonde - - INXS
What You Need - - INXS
Hard To Handle - - Black Crowes
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - - Jet
Vertigo - - U2
Beautiful Day - - U2
Are You Gonna Go My Way - - Lenny Kravitz
Summer Of ’69 - - Bryan Adams
Rebel Yell - - Billy Idol
White Wedding - - Billy Idol
Mony Mony - - Billy Idol
Higher Ground - - Chili Peppers
Jump - - Van Halen

- - - R&B CLASSICS- - -

SONG TITLE - - - ORIGINAL ARTIST

Midnight Hour - - Wilson Pickett
Mustang Sally - - Wilson Pickett
Knock On Wood - - Otis Redding
Hold On I’m Comin’ - - Sam And Dave
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone - - Temptations
What’s Goin’ On - - Marvin Gaye
The Thrill Is Gone - - B.B. King
Boom Boom - - John Lee Hooker

Performance Schedule

Past Booked Dates:

05-15-2009 — Birthday Party / Riverside, CA
01-13-2009 — Tracht's Restaurant, Long Beach CA - Corporate Event
11-15-2008 — City Of Fontana - Art In The Park (Outdoor art festival)
10-15-2008 — Ritz Carlton Hotel - Lake Las Vegas, NV - Corporate Event

Available for Your

Anniversary Party, Awards Night, Bar/Lounge, Birthday Party, Casino, Club/Nightclub, Concert Venue, Convention, Corporate Event, Cruise, Festival, Fundraiser, Grand Opening, Hotel, Launch Party, Private Party, Restaurant, Studio Session, Trade Show, Wedding Reception

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Additionally, the quote/agreement sent from your Classic Rock Band to you using the Gig Salad platform, should outline performance fees, extras, arrival and departure times, cancellation policy, insurance information and other details.