Showing posts with label Amato (Dave). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amato (Dave). Show all posts

Dave Amato


1980:  promo shot with B.C. Rich guitar
Dave hails from the East coast, born and raised in Boston, Mass. His first band was called "Dave and the Essex". For lot of great priceless photos of Dave in his youth... see this article written by Tom Brodeur "Dave and the Essex", and "Ice". Dave was just 11 when he put this group together. He was in several bands when he was a teenager. Early bands also included "Ice", "Sledge-hamma", and "August".
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August

1978 - 1980: Formed in August (hence the name) of 1978, the band featured members of three of New England's most well known club bands. Jimmy D'Angelo (guitar/vocals) and Louie Santoro (drums) from PRETTY POISON, Jamie Pease (bass/vocals) from BUCK, plus Dave Amato (guitar/vocals) from ICE. Shortly after recording a 4-song demo in New York for Atlantic Records with Bobby (Foreigner) Warner, Dave Amato left the band and headed out to California to replace Jim Dandy in Black Oak Arkansas. After a stint with Ted Nugent, Dave joined REO Speedwagon and has been in the band since 1989.

1981: After the departure of Dave Amato, August continued to play out as a trio and packed the central MA clubs like The Sanctuary in Worcester, Cinema Room in Leominster and The Mohawk Club in Shirley. The band went into Blue Jay Recording Studios in Carlisle, MA and recorded a 6-song EP titled "Sunny Days / Hot Nights" which features three songs by Jimmy D'Angelo and three others by Jamie Pease.




1982: Scott Hanley (guitar/vocals) joined the band. This photo was also the album cover of the EP. "Who's Going to Cry" (Jamie Pease/lead vocals) debuts at #1 on WBCN's Local Top Three. August finds themselves opening for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Krokus and The Joe Perry Project while headlining at some of the larger clubs like Mr. C's Rock Palace in Lowell and Uncle Sam's in Nantasket Beach.





1983 - 1985: Scott Hanley and Louie Santoro are replaced by Jeff Houck (guitar) and Dave Balcom (drums). August's sound becomes much heavier as they continue to headline at clubs like The Channel, Bunratty's and The Paradise. Opening slots include Quiet Riot, Cheap Trick and even Spinal Tap. Jimmy D'Angelo and Dave Balcom still play together in Deep 6. Jamie Pease died of cancer in 2006.







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Ice


1976 (clockwise from top): Steve Neitz (bass),
Dave Amato (guitar), Tom Brodeur (drums),
 Tim Leavitt (guitar)


A kicked up full-time cover band performing tunes by Queen, Yes, Beatles, Bad Company and Led Zeppelin. For a couple of years, ICE was untouchable as a local band…literally filling night clubs all over New England with big Marshall stacks, Flying V's, synthesizers, smoke shows, great vocal harmonies, powerful guitars and expensive lights.


1979 (front to back): Lee Vachon (guitar),
 Steve Neitz (bass), Tim Leavitt (guitar),
Peter Fowler (drums)




1980 (left to right): Rick Larrimore (drums),
Tim Leavitt (guitar),  Steve Neitz (bass),
Johnny Barnes (guitar)



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Sledge-Hamma




1976: Richard Ramuno (keyboards), Dave Amato (guitar/vocals), Bruce Howe (bass), Louie Santoro (drums), Steve Bremner (guitar)











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Velocity

 1983-1985: Johnny Press was starving and struggling to put together an all original rock act. He wanted his dream band. Finally getting management with The Philips group (family). He put together a group that included Bobby Edwards (Thundertrain), John Foster (Bass) Jay Dumas (Guitars) and himself on guitar. Writing songs every day, he had enough material for a couple of albums, REO Speedwagon guitarist Dave Amato sang 7 tunes and played guitar on a couple for demo's mixed by engineer John Convertino. Dave also brought Yale Beebee, keyboardist extraordinaire, aboard. Dave went back to the west coast, and after extensive auditions the band found singer Phil Balzano, a truly gifted singer. Jay Dumas was now gone also, so John handled all the guitar chores himself now.

The group spent most of it's time writing and recording their music. when they did appear live it was usually at the best venues ( the Channel, the Paradise, Bunrattys etc.). They had gained a huge following and recieved great reviews and airplay. Many thought they were going to be the next big Boston signing. As with all bands their was some friction between members and management. management dropped some of the artist until only Johnny was left.  Eventually dropping him as well. They all remain friends and have a mutual respect for what they accomplished together. The band also had a video out for their single Chic for Now that recieved national play.

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  Chic For Now



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