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Moondance attracts the biggest
names in classic rock
by Dean Morrill, Editor
The Pilot-Independent
Tuesday, July 18th, 2006
For the last 12 years, Moondance Jam has attracted some of the biggest
names in classic rock. .38 Special, Alice Cooper, The Beach Boys, Boston,
Cinderella, Cheap Trick, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, John Fogerty,
Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton, Poison, REO Speedwagon, Ted
Nugent, Tesla, Twisted Sister and ZZ Top are just some of the bands
who have taken the stage in front of 20,000-plus crowds.
Those responsible for taking Moondance Jam from a regional band festival
to the biggest outdoor rock 'n' roll concert are Jack Jordan and Jack
Thibault of T.E.A. Productions.
T.E.A. Productions works very closely with Bill Bieloh to sign the bands
who perform at Moondance.
"For me, it's the best festival we put on," said Jordan. "Every
year the people who work make it that way."
The process of looking at bands for the upcoming Jam
begins in September. Jordan and Thibault meet and try and get ideas
from Bieloh about who he and his wife Kathy would like to see and also
to review the acts who are touring. "We try match up these acts to other events we have
going on," Jordan noted. "We start the buying process, the
bidding in December. Most of the time the major classic rock bands don't
decide until after the first of the year about their summer tours."
Jordan, who said he and Thibault promoted more than 250 events last
year, believes Moondance is one of if not the best run classic rock festivals
in the United States.
Not everything goes without a hitch. The last two years there have been
problems as replacement bands had to be signed.
In 2005, The Doors of the 21st Century were forced to cancel after legal
problems arose with a former band member. Twisted Sister was signed and
put on a great show. This year, Elliot Easton of The New Cars was injured
in a traffic accident and could not continue on tour, and the band had
to cancel. Poison, who T.E.A. has promoted before, said they were available
and wanted to play Moondance, even though it was their scheduled day
off.
"We felt it would be a home run, not only for ticket sales, but
increasing the demographics of our market," Jordan said. "Talking
with Bret [Michaels] after the show, he said it was one of the neatest
events they played, and they would love to come back."
Stage Director Mark Kirchhoff agrees that the Moondance lineup just
gets better and better each year.
He said his first concert he ever went too was Alice Cooper back in
1974.
"To see him a couple of years ago here and then to have him come
back again is neat," he said. "You have all your childhood
heroes, the music you grew up with. And then you have a chance to listen
to them live and, in some cases [to] actually meet the people; it's exciting."
Jordan, who like Bieloh has a pulse on what Jammers would like to see,
talked about Tom Petty, John Cougar, ZZ Top and others for Moondance
Jam Sweet 16, scheduled for July 11-14.
MOONDANCE NEWS
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