| 1985-1987 |
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MARK ONE SONGS: Rock & Roll Train Lollipop Jungle Words Are Dangerous Ain't Got No Time Don't Talk To Me About Love Looking For My Baby Doll Cowl Neck Sweaters Never Never Acts Of Faith D.C.N.C. Iron Gates (Dominic Macrone) Never Satisfied (D. Macrone/J. Rizzo/C. Natale) Second Chance (DRIVE)
MARK TWO SONGS: Your Life I Can See You (J. Rizzo/C. Natale) Thinking About You Hideaway (Joe Rizzo) This Time (Chris Natale) Just A Phase Night After Night (J. Rizzo/C. Natale/R. Lombardi) Wait Beg For Mercy (Rob Lombardi) Dreamer (J. Rizzo/C. Natale/G. Alberts) Modern Woman (C. Natale/R. Lombardi) Don't Let It Slip Away (J. Rizzo/G. Alberts) Show Me (J. Rizzo/R. Lombardi)
WATCH OUT FOR THE LIVE/STUDIO "DRIVE" COMPACT DISC COMING SOON!!
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Band Bio: In 1985 I was in a cover band called "Streetrocker" that was playing the Philly/New Jersey club circuit. I was playing Drums & singing, but I have always been interested in "original" bands. So when I got a call from my high school friend Dominic Macrone asking if I was interested in joining his new band "DRIVE" as it's bassist, I was into it. I had never played bass in an original band before & was itching to get out from behind the drum kit! I went to their rehearsal space & hit it off really well with the rest of the band which was Joe Rizzo, Chris Natale & Guy Alberts. I have always referred to this band as "The Paisano's" for obvious reasons! Anyway, since Dominic & I had been in a lot of bands together, we were familiar with each others music & songwriting styles, so I think it took me about a week to learn all of their material! We spent the rest of the summer getting the show together & on 10/31/1985 we debuted at the infamous "Central Park" in Wayne, Pennsylvania. We did so well there that we pretty much became one of their "house" bands. We played there steadily until around spring of 1986 & always had a crowd at our shows. During that time I was also attending Temple University in Philly as a film student. My student project was, you guessed it, a music video featuring "DRIVE" !!! My co-director of this project was my good friend (& former "Streetrocker" guitarist) Greg Cianfrini, who was also a film student. We were either headlining or opening for bands like "Radio Rodeo", "The Heartbeats" (with ex-"Hooters" members), "Tommy Conwell" & "Foghat" (yes, I said "Foghat"!) I have a few shows on video & audio that I will try to get out soon. Just when we were looking at playing venues like the "Empire Rock Club" & "The Cabaret" clubs, Dominic decided to quit the band!! Dominic & I come from the school of "let's jam", where Joe & Chris graduated from the "let's work on the song for 6 months until it's perfect" academy!! So, exit Dominic, exit the live shows, exit the following we built up... I decided to hang in there with the other 3 guys in the band & try to make it work. We practiced & practiced (& practiced some more) throughout the rest of 1986 into 1987 writing new material. We should have dumped the name "DRIVE" & started fresh as it was a totally different band without Dominic. Outside of a photo session & one article in "Entertainment Talent Connection" featuring the new "DRIVE", we did nothing... I was getting frustrated due to the endless "basement" rehearsing, so when Jean Pierre Reimer of "The End" called and asked me to participate in the recording that turned into the reformation of that band (and eventually "BRAT") I again said "Sure" !! Jean had been to a couple of "DRIVE" shows, so he knew I could play bass. I did the session with "The End" & went back to the "basement" with "DRIVE" until early 1987 when Jean called and asked me to permanently join "The End"... "DRIVE" did replace me with another bassist named Scott Ferris & played a few shows. They even recorded a 3 song demo that was, as expected, "perfect"! I think the band finally ended when Guy joined Dominic in the band "Rail".
THIS WAS THE FIRST ORIGINAL BAND I PLAYED BASS IN. IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO GET "OUT FRONT" - I FOUND OUT FAST I WANTED TO STAY THERE! I NEVER PLAYED DRUMS IN A BAND AGAIN....
I HAVE KNOWN DOMINIC SINCE WE WERE BOTH 15 & IN HIGH SCHOOL. THE FIRST BAND WE WERE IN TOGETHER PLAYED AN ALBUM FULL OF ORIGINAL SONGS. IN HIGH SCHOOL WE WERE IN "ECLIPSE", "THE OUTSIDERS" & "NATIONAL FRONT". SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN IN "RED SKY", "WHITE LINES", "FORCE FIVE", "LOST IN AMERICA" & "ROAD TRIP". DOMINIC IS A PROLIFIC & TALENTED SONGWRITER AND HAS AN EXTREMELY UNIQUE SINGING VOICE. HE HAS ALSO BEEN IN THE BANDS "RAIL", "LILY" & "ONE WORLD".
GUY WAS ALREADY IN "DRIVE" WHEN I JOINED THE BAND. HIS BACKGROUND IS MORE IN THE JAZZ ROCK AREA & I KNOW HIS FAVORITE BAND IS "CHICAGO". SINCE "DRIVE" GUY HAS BEEN IN "RAIL" WITH DOMINIC (THEIR ALBUM IS GREAT) & "ROBINSON STEELE" AS WELL AS JOINING BOTH DOMINIC & MYSELF IN "RED SKY". I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM GUY SINCE HE MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED AND/OR QUIT "RED SKY" IN 2001. HE EVEN LEFT HIS DRUMS BEHIND...
I MET JOE ON THE FIRST DAY OF REHEARSAL WITH "DRIVE". ASIDE FROM GOING TO SEE "DRIVE" IN 1987, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER BAND JOE HAS BEEN IN. HE IS A GOOD SONGWRITER THOUGH & A TALENTED KEYBOARDIST. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE 1987...
AS WITH JOE, I MET CHRIS ON THE FIRST DAY OF "DRIVE" REHEARSAL. I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT CHRIS & JOE WERE SIMILAR TO DOMINIC & MYSELF. PLAYING IN BANDS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL ETC... AGAIN, A TALENTED MUSICIAN & WRITER THAT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HAPPENED TO OR IF HE EVEN PLAYS MUSIC ANYMORE....
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