Musical Profile

The Kings of Classic Rock have 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.

So “The Kings Of Classic Rock” was born. The concept was 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In addition to lots of touring, youve wseen and heqard them with their previous bands on numerous VH1 and MTV music videos, VH1 documentaries “Storytellers” and “Behind The Music”, PBS music specials, concert DVDs and many music CDs.

Besides their work in bands, members of KOCR have also written and/or played on many TV and major movie soundtracks. Film credits include productions by Disney Films, New World Pictures, Miramax, Paramount, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. Television productions include The Grammy Awards, Larry King and multiple programs produced by NBC, ABC, FOX, The Playboy Channel, and A&E.

With all this combined experience in front of an infinite variety of audiences, The Kings Of Classic Rock know how to deliver an entertaining, dynamic and powerful performance packed with hit after hit. 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.

 

Clocks - - Coldplay

Speed Of Sound - - Coldplay

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

One Thing Leads To Another - - The Fixx

Red Skies At Night - - The Fixx

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - - Tears For Fears

Sledgehammer - - Peter Gabriel

Summer Of ’69 - - Bryan Adams

Rebel Yell - - Billy Idol

White Wedding - - Billy Idol

Mony Mony - - Billy Idol

Higher Ground - - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Jump - - Van Halen

Ain’t Talkin’ About Love - - Van Halen

Roll With The Changes - - REO Speedwagon

Workin’ For The Weekend - - Loverboy

Message In A Bottle - - The Police

Rock The Casbah - - The Clash

Power Of Love - - Huey Lewis And The News

Dancin’ In The Dark - - Bruce Springsteen

Lovesong - - The Cure

Pour Some Sugar On Me - - Def Leppard

Free Ride - - Edgar Winter

Hush - - Deep Purple

Magic Carpet Ride - - Steppenwolf

Born To Be Wild - - Steppenwolf

Kashmir - - Led Zeppelin

Comfortably Numb - - Pink Floyd

Come Together - - The Beatles

White Room - - Cream

Doctor My Eyes - - Jackson Browne

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

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

When A Man Loves A Woman - - Percy Sledge

Green Eyed Lady - - Sugarloaf

Gimme Some Lovin’ - - Spencer Davis Group

I’m A Man - - Spencer Davis Group

Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo - - Rick Derringer

No Matter What - - Badfinger

Them changes - - Buddy Miles

Funk 49 - - Joe Walsh

Feelin’ Alright - - Dave Mason

The Letter - - The Boxtops / Joe Cocker

Rock On - - David Essex

Slippin’ Into Darkness - - War

China Grove - - Doobie Brothers

Born On The Bayou - - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Love Is Alive - - Gary Wright

Midnight Hour - - Wilson Pickett

Mustang Sally - - Wilson Pickett

Knock On Wood - - Otis Redding

Soul Man - - Otis Redding / Blues Brothers

Hold On I’m Comin’ - - Sam And Dave

Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone - - Temptations

What’s Goin’ On - - Marvin Gaye

Shout - - Otis Day and The Knights

The Thrill Is Gone - - B.B. King

Boom Boom - - John Lee Hooker / The Animals