FOREVER YOUNG

A Tribute to the Music of Neil Young

2008 Motif Music Award Winners for Best Cover/Tribute Band

2009 Motif Award Nominees

Performing the best of Neil Young’s ACOUSTIC & ELECTRIC songs!

"Forever Young" takes you back, gets you singing, and puts those Neil Young songs in your head to linger long after the show!

“The talent of five AWARD WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITERS and an AWARD WINNING BAND channeling the harmonies of CSNY and the instrumentation of Neil Young's bands: Crazy Horse, Buffalo Springfield, the Stray Gators and the International Harvesters; performing their interpretations of Neil Young's classic hits and rare gems.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: John Fuzek at or 401-949-0757

PRESS PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Please e-mail John Fuzek at

~Please credit DENISE J. R. BASS for the photos.

FOREVER YOUNG BIO:

Conceived after Mark Cutler, John Fuzek and Dan Lilley performed the Neil Young classic “Powderfinger” as a group set closer for a RI Songwriters Association show at Stone Soup Coffeehouse in Pawtucket, RI, “Forever Young” is a group of performers that pay tribute to the songs of Neil Young. In addition to Cutler, Fuzek and Lilley, Forever Young original members also include Becky Chace and Pete Vendettuoli. John Amitrano and Phil Hicks were added to the band in December of 2007 to give the show a "Crazy Horse" kind of feel. All of the musicians performing as part of “Forever Young” are staples of the Rhode Island music scene and veterans national touring acts. In addition, they are all fans and have been influenced by the music of Neil Young. Drawing on the 40+ year career of Neil Young; the show highlights many of Young’s popular songs and a few of the more obscure numbers. The show is presented with the full seven -piece band doing both ACOUSTIC and ELECTRIC SETS. The show is reminiscent of the "Four Way Street" live album recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and of Neil Young with his many back-up bands.

"FOREVER YOUNG" is:

* John Amitrano – acoustic & electric bass, vocals

* Becky Chace – acoustic guitar, vocals, tambourine

* Mark Cutler – electric & acoustic guitars, vocals, mandolin

* John Fuzek – 6 &12 string acoustic guitars, vocals, keyboard, 6-string banjo

* Phil Hicks – drums, percussion and vocals

* Dan Lilley – electric & acoustic guitars, vocals, harmonica

* Pete Vendettuoli – electric & acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, vocals

Becky Chace – guitar & vocal (Barrington, RI)

Chosen Best Local Female Vocalist 5 times in 6 years (2000-2003, 2005) by the readers of the Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll, Becky Chace has an unforgettable voice. Compared with Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Raitt, she plays a blend of folk, rock, and blues that is soulful, insightful, and intimate.In 2007, Becky released 2 CDs, “A River Under Me,” her seventh independent release and "The Best of Me," a collection of her best work as well as previously unreleased material. You can find all 87 of her published original songs on her website for download. In 2008, Becky and Brian collaborated with filmmaker Rachel Ferro to make a video for their song Some Time. The video premieres February 09. Becky and Brian continue to tour New England and beyond. Recently they've been collaborating with RI music scene staples John Amitrano (bass guitar) and Mike D'Albergaria (drums). Together the four-some are playing out mixing originals with some interesting choice covers. They're having a blast and finding audiences extremely supportive of the new outfit. Becky also plays with the seven piece Neil Young Tribute band Forever Young which also includes Amitrano on bass. Her CDs have received critical acclaim from publications including The Boston Globe who called Chace's Take Your Shot "a stunning collection of original roots rock, folk, and blues." Chace has opened for such national acts as Joan Jett, America, Judi Collins, The Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Littlefeat, Delbert McClinton, and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes to name a few

"It's an honor to be asked to do a show with such quality artists and also great fun to explore the Neil Young catalogue!"

Mark Cutler – guitar, vocal, mandolin (Riverside, RI)

Mark Cutlerhas been singing and playing now for most of his life. He still occasionally plays with his old band, The Schemers and his current band The Dino Club. Mark was also a member of The Raindogs (with Johnny Cunningham on fiddle) who released two critically acclaimed records on ATCOrecords(Buffalo Springfields label as well!). The band toured with Bob Dylan,Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan, Don Henley, The Georgia Satelites, the Waterboys and many others.He has won the Motif Music Award for best Singer-Songwriter 3 years in a row (2006-09).

Mark has been a fan of Neil Young since the BuffaloSpringfield days. From the fringe jacket and mutton chop side burns to the grizzled graceful rocker of today, Neil has been an inspiration and example of integrity. His guitar solos straight from the nervous system and the visions in his songs always reward the listener with a transcendental experience.

John Fuzek – guitar, vocal, harmonica (Greenville, RI)

John has been performing his own style of music, either solo or as part of a duo, around the Northeast and various points of the US for over 25 years. He was part of the popular duo Fuzek•Rossoni for seven years and still occasionally performs with Mary Ann Rossoni. He produced the Hear In Rhode Island Music Festival for eight years, showcases and workshops for the Rhode Island Songwriters Association (he is currently Co-Chairperson of RISA), worked with other festivals and helped produce a few CDs by other artists. His first solo, full length CD, “A Dog’s Age”, was released in May 2004 and was chosen by the Providence Phoenix as one of the BEST ACOUSTIC CDs in RI. He has also been nominated for the Providence Phoenix’s Best Music Poll several times and has won twice in the Best Male Vocalist category. He has shared the stage with notables such as: Judy Collins, Richie Havens, Kevin Bacon, Steve Forbert, Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul & Mary), River Phoenix, Tom Rush, Marshal Crenshaw, Livingston Taylor and many more…

John wanted to be a “rock star” until he heard Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “4-Way Street” album. After that he went acoustic and never looked back. Neil Young became a huge influence on his music. Young’s “Cowgirl in the Sand” was the song that got John out of his bedroom and onto the stage.

Dan Lilley– guitar, vocal, harmonica (East Providence, RI)

Dan Lilley grew up in the rural town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island listening religiously to folk music by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Donovon, Bob Dylan, Lindisfarne, and of course, Neil Young. Something about the potato fields of his home town, along with the SakonetRiver that flows alongside it, and the Newport Folk Festival influenced Dan to want to listen and play nothing but acoustic guitar music. So, for many years he scorned any music with an electric guitar in it and remained a folk purist, or so he thought. The problem was, if one keeps buying Neil Young and Bob Dylan records and continues to worship these guys the way Dan did, one will eventually be exposed to lots of electric guitar playing, real good electric guitar playing. So it was that the pure-at-heart country boy eventually came to embrace The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, The Who, Led Zep, and the entire canon of Classic rock geniuses. Now Dan owns a couple of killer electric guitars himself, along with his trusty Gibson acoustics. But it all goes back to the beautiful tone of the acoustic guitar. That, along with the sweet fields of Portsmouth and the SakonetRiver, form the basis of Dan's very soul. Try to imagine the wonder he experienced upon first discovering the immortal song books "Neil Young Complete, Volumes 1 and 2". Countless hours were spent hunched over those books, studying the photos of Neil with The Buffalo Springfield, Neil and Steve Stills, Neil with early Crazy Horse, CSN&Y and of course, learning the songs! He spent his teenage years wearing flannel shirts and patched jeans, trying to become the back cover of Neil Young's "After The Goldrush" album. Everyday after school it was home to his Yamaha guitar and the Neil Young songbooks. Practicing, practicing, practicing. Strumming that E minor chord over and over again. Trying to learn "The Needle and the Damage Done" note for note. Straining his voice to hit those inhumanly high notes the way Neil does so effortlessly. He has fronted many bands such as original bands Tyger Tyger, The Flying Ditchdiggers, and currently, Lovetrain. Lovetrain is a 4-piece rock and roll band from Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The band was started in 1993 and released its first cassette, entitled “Off The Track” in 1995. Shortly afterwards the band underwent lineup changes, transforming themselves from a country-tinged rock band to a harder edged rock and roll outfit. The band is now Dan Lilley on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; John Amitrano on bass and vocals; Mike Sullivan on lead guitar and Phil Hicks on drums.

In many ways, the "Forever Young" Young Tribute show is the culmination of a lifetime of devotion to a type of music, Neil Young music, for sure, but also, the pure tone of a mysteriously wailing voice, accompanied by the lushness of a Martin D-45 acoustic guitar, singing songs about Mother Nature, sadness, and lost love. If that isn't the essence of folk music, and of life itself, then I don't know what is.

Pete Vendettuoli – banjo, mandolin, guitar, lead and backing vocals (Perryville, RI)

Pete Vendettuoli has been a fixture in the New England Music Scene for over a decade, playing in bands such as "No Shamus", "Josie Crosby Band", "Rank Strangers", "Fat Glass" and "Garda Band". As the owner of PM Recording in North Kingston, Pete has his finger on the pulse of the RI Music Scene and has accompanied many of the area's finest talent. He is also the owner of the RI based Ethnic Concepts stores.
Influenced by Neil Young's music in High School, Pete began to play guitar and harmonica. This lead to many other musical incarnations. He is a singer / songwriter and is proficient on a variety of instruments. A song written by Pete and performed by his band "Fat Glass" appears on Neil Young's "Songs of the Times"

John Amitrano– bass, lead and backing vocals (resident of West Greenwich, RI),

John has been around playing in clubs and halls in the Rhode Island area since 1983. From 1983-1990he was a member of Tyger Tyger, an original rock band based in Providence, RI and performed in PVD, Boston, Portland Maine, New London Connecticut and the areas in between. The band had a recording deal with a company called Tropical Records.They recorded 23 songs over two years including a few of Amitrano’s originals (Better Place, Garbage Boys and Up In Smoke). In 1992 he joined the Flying Ditchdiggers. In 1992 I started playing with his brother Mark Cutler doing an open mic at a place called the Met Café on Tuesday nights, eventually this lead to a band called Buddy Holiday. In 1994 John got back together with Dan Lilley formerly of Tyger Tyger and the Flying Ditchdiggers and formed a new band called Lovetrain. This band evolved, and by 1999 it essentially contained all the main members of Tyger Tyger with Mike Sullivan on lead guitar, Phil Hicks on drums. Today, John plays constantly; writing and recording in the basement with his sons, on stage with; Becky Chace, Lovetrain, and Forever Young.

Phil Hicks – drums and vocals (resident of Cranston, RI),

Phil is a member of the band Lovetrain with Dan Lilley. He is also an occasional drummer for Mark Cutler’s various bands and Geri Verdi & the Villians.

QOUTES

"...a fantastically successful and wildly entertaining show ...“Forever Young” sold

out the CourthouseCenter for the Arts, and the talent — Becky Chace, Dan Lilley,

John Fuzek, Mark Cutler, and Pete Vendettuoli — came through with brilliant

interpretations of Neil’s music."

~ Bob Gulla, The ProvidencePhoenix

"...Mark Cutler, Becky Chace, John Fuzek, Dan Lilley, and Pete Vendettuoli - Forever Young capture the power and passion of Neil Young's 40+year career of music and activism."

~Jim Vickers, MOTIF Magazine

“Forever Young combines superb musicianship, great arrangements and a well

chosen set list of hits and rarities in finely saluting one of rock’s legends. They are

also a lot of fun”

~ Patrick Norton, President, NarrowsCenter for the Arts

“Forever Young isn't your average cover band or tribute band...the group consists

of Rhode Island's most prolific and best known songwriters”

~ Rick Massimo, The Providence Journal

"Forever Young truly captures the spirit of Neil Young and his music. Our South

County audience embraced the show with great enthusiasm packing a full house.

Great show for fans of all ages!

~The CourthouseCenter for the Arts

FOREVER YOUNG SONGLIST:

  • Alabama
  • Birds
  • Cinnamon Girl
  • Comes A Time
  • Cortez the Killer
  • Cowgirl In The Sand
  • Don't Be Denied
  • Don't Cry No Tears
  • Down By The River
  • Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
  • From Hank To Hendrix
  • Good To See You
  • Harvest
  • Harvest Moon
  • Heart Of Gold
  • Helpless
  • Homegrown
  • I Am A Child
  • Like A Hurricane
  • The Loner
  • Long May You Run
  • The Losing End
  • Love and Only Love
  • Love Is A Rose
  • Motorcycle Mama
  • My My, Hey Hey
  • The Needle and the Damage Done
  • Ohio
  • The Old Laughing Lady
  • Old Man
  • Only Love Can Break Your Heart
  • On The Way Home
  • Out On The Weekend
  • Pocahantus
  • Powderfinger
  • Rockin' In The Free World
  • Sail Away
  • SugarMountain
  • Tell Me Why
  • Time Fades Away
  • Too Far Gone
  • Walk On
  • War Song
  • When You Dance, I Can Really Love