Take a trip through rock ’n’ roll history
Andrew Martin, the Rev-Tones and John Rowlands on the Showplace stage
On Nov. 23 at Showplace something that has never been seen before anywhere will hit the stage, and for those who like the music and stories of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s or like to learn about it, this will be the place to be.
Not only will The Decades Show feature internationally acclaimed singer Andrew Martin with his band the ’70s Revolution, but the local group The RevTones will play and world renowned music photographer John Rowlands will be talking about the people he got to know through the decades of touring with groups.
The show, with former Fugitives lead singer Geoff Hewitson as MC, is the brainchild of Martin but being promoted by Peterborough’s George Sicker, the leader of the Rev-Tones and the awardwinning musician/singer Martin who is marketing the show and putting it on for the Peterborough audience as a test for future performances.
“We’d like to take it on the road,” says Sicker, who thought Peterborough would be the perfect place for the first show.
Sicker, lead singer and guitarist who once led a Travis Tritt tribute show, has been playing with the Rev-Tones for several years. He is nervous about this gig even though he and his band members have performed many times for various bands and audience over the decades.
It’s a three-part show with something for everyone and, being the person pushing for it to debut in Peterborough, he’s hoping it finds an audience.
Martin, who also runs Rat Pack Entertainment, says he spent two years “writing the concept for this show. To find the right combination of talent and songs to put together a world class theatre show.”
For those of you who don’t know Martin he has toured Canada, Europe and had top 10 hits in both. His vocals and albums have won several GMA awards and 15 nominations. He was also cast in the theatre run of Return to Grace, a biography of Elvis Presley.
He and the 70s Revolution band will focus on the music of Elton John, The Eagles, Neil Diamond, Elvis, and many others of the ’70s.
The Rev-Tones meanwhile, featuring George, former Fugitives keyboardist Danny McCarthy, Doc McCallum, J.R. Rob- ertson, saxaphonist Cam Brien, and backup singers Warren Sweeting, Cliff Walsh and Jeff Craft, will turn their almost 200 combined years of music experience to the songs of Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Sam Cooke, Ricky Nelson and other preBritish Invasion rock ’n’ roll songs.
“That was the first real rock ’n’ roll,” says Sicker.
But what’s truly unique about this show is having one of the world’s best known rock ’n’ roll photographers, John Rowlands, as a guest.
Sicker and Ed King, the former lead guitarist for rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and the man who played with the old rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock (Incense, Peppermint was a big hit), were chatting on Facebook one day about two years ago when Rowlands, who had toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd, joined, and they’ve been friends ever since.
Dan McCarthy and Sicker heard Rowlands telling his stories on a Toronto stage and saw how the audience was “riveted by him, without an exagerration, he held that audience for every story.”
He will not only be showing some of his most famous photos but talk about the people in them from Brenda Lee, The Beach Boys, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Kiss, David Bowie, Bill Haley; exclusive stories from behind the scene and his friendship with them. And tell how he got his start thanks to Brenda Lee.
“It’s so fascinating, just incredible,” says Sicker.
Martin also has a Peterborough connection, telling the story of performing a gospel music concert 18 years ago at the Selwyn Outreach Centre that started other appearances including at Showplace.
“I can safely say if it wasn’t for Peterborough I might not be here today,” he says. “Because of my start here, I have been blessed to tour this country and Europe, and have had songs reach #1 and others in the top 10.”
There are a variety of ticket packages from $35 to $45 at Showplace including a VIP meet and greet with Rowlands.
“If the first show is successful,” says George, “we will try it elsewhere.”