Martha Davis and The Motels, Styx and More Join bergenPAC's 2013 Lineup

By: Apr. 30, 2013
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Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood New Jersey announces two new shows on sale, reserve your tickets now to see The Awesome 80's featuring Martha Davis and The Motels, Bow Wow Wow and Gene Loves Jezebel on Tuesday July 2nd and don't mix Rock n Roll superstars STYX Saturday October 19, 2013 tickets go on sale Friday May 3, 2013 at 11AM at Ticketmaster.com or call the box office at 201 227 1030.

Led by the charismatic Martha Davis, the Motels were one of the most successful and acclaimed bands to emerge from the fertile Los Angeles new wave scene, reaching the Top Ten in 1982 with their biggest hit, "Only the Lonely."Davis formed the group in 1972 while living in Berkeley, California, recruiting guitarist Dean Chamberlain and bassist Richard d'Andrea; originally dubbed the Warfield Foxes, they became the Motelsupon relocating to L.A., but despite interest from a number of record labels, the group suffered through endless lineup changes, finally disbanding in 1976. Davis soon formed a newMotels roster with guitarist Jeff Jourard, his saxophonist/keyboardist brother Marty, bassist Michael Goodroe, and drummer Brian Glascock; signing to Capitol, in 1979 the group issued its self-titled debut LP, scoring a minor hit with the ballad "Total Control." Guitarist Tim McGovern, formerly of the Pop, replaced Jeff Jourard prior to the release of the 1980 sophomore effort Careful. After Capitol rejected the Motels' third album, Apocalypso, McGovern exited, and the group re-recorded the album with guitarist Guy Perry and assorted session musicians.

Bow Wow Wow were a quartet organized by U.K. manager Malcolm McLaren (best known as the mastermind behind the Sex Pistols) at the start of the '80s. McLaren matched the trio of musicians who had constituted Adam Ant's Ants -- Matthew Ashman (b. 1962, d. 1995) on guitar, Leigh Gorman (b. 1961) on bass, and David Barbarossa (b. 1961) on drums -- with teenage singer Annabella Lwin (b. Oct. 31, 1965), retaining the earlier group's African-derived drum sound. In 1983, Lwin quit the group for a solo career, and the remaining three changed their name to the Chiefs of Relief. Both Lwin and the Chiefs issued their own albums. In 1995, Ashman passed away due to diabetes. Headed by Lwin and Gorman, a re-formed Bow Wow Wow resurfaced in 1998 with Wild in the U.S.A., which featured both remixes and concert performances from the reunion tour; guitarist Dave Calhoun and drummer Eshan Khadaroo filled the other slots. Another tour was announced in 2004, with No Doubt drummer Adrian Young and Common Sense guitarist Phil Gough joining Lwin and Gorman; the group toured through 2006, although by September 2005 Devin Beaman had replaced Young. In January of 2007 the first new Bow Wow Wow recording in over two decades -- a cover of the Smiths' "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" recorded the previous year -- was made available via digital download as the b-side to an "I Want Candy" (1982) maxi-single.

Gene Loves Jezebel Originally called Slav Aryan, Gene Loves Jezebel was formed in 1980 with the Aston brothers, guitarist Ian Hudson, bassist Stephen Davis and drummer Snowy White. The Astons grew up in Cornelly, Wales, making the move to London in 1981. With a new home, and shortly thereafter, the new name, the trio with bassist Steve Radwall and drummer James Chater (left in 1982/3 and was replaced by Richard Hawkins), played several live shows and were signed by Situation Two. Gene Loves Jezebel underwent numerous line-up changes between 1981-1985. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel's demo single "Shaving My Neck". The band then added bassist Julianne Regan followed, briefly, by a keyboardist, Jean-Marc Lederman. Regan left within a year to form All About Eve, leaving Ian Hudson briefly playing bass and Albie DeLuca being the guitar player until Stephen Marshall joined. This line up went on to perform some 100 gigs and recorded the first album Promise, along with their first John Peel session and the B-side "Stephen". Peter Rizzo joined in 1984.
The band released two more singles in 1983 before Promise peaked at number 8 in the UK Indie Chart. In 1984, the group recorded a John Peelradio session for the BBC and toured America with fellow Welsh artist John Cale. Their second album, Immigrant, was released in mid-1985. However, during an agonizing American tour for Immigrant, founding member Ian Hudson left the band and was replaced by former Generation X andChelsea guitarist James Stevenson (who later also played rhythm guitar on tour with The Cult).

Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums of the 1970s and 1980s. The Chicago band was known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and the flair of a Broadway musical. Over the years they have released 15 studio albums, 6 live albums, 14 compilation albums and 31 singles.

They became known for their popular hit songs "Lady" (#6, 1975), "Come Sail Away" (#8, 1977), "Babe" (#1, 1979), "The Best of Times" (#3, 1981) and "Mr. Roboto" (#3, 1983). Other hits such as "Show Me the Way" (#3, 1991), "Don't Let It End" (#6, 1983) and "Renegade" (#16, 1978) are recognizable as well.

In January 1981, Styx released "Paradise Theatre," a concept album that became their biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard pop albums chart and yielding five singles, including the top ten hits "The Best of Times" by DeYoung (#3) and "Too Much Time on My Hands" by Shaw (#9).

From 1977 to 1981, Styx released four consecutive albums that have been certified Multi-Platinum, for at least 2 million units sold each, by the RIAA: "The Grand Illusion," "Pieces of Eight," "Cornerstone" and "Paradise Theatre." Styx were the first band to release four consecutive Multi-Platinum albums.

bergenPAC is located at 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ. Call (201) 227-1030 or visit www.bergenpac.org or www.ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.

Founded in 2003, the 1,367-seat Bergen Performing Arts Center, or bergenPAC, is the area's cultural mecca. Housed in a historic Art Deco-style theater boasting one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States, bergenPAC attracts a stellar roster of world-class entertainment. The jewel in our crown is The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC - the innovative, educational performing arts initiative that reaches more than 30,000 students annually. The Performing Arts School provides community youth, age 2 months to 21 years, with unique, "hands-on" training in music, dance and theater by industry professionals. It is through the ongoing generosity of sponsors, donors and patrons that the not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation bergenPAC and The Performing Arts School are able to thrive and enrich our community.



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