the Rockets EPK

Coming Soon

Rocket power is covered in success
By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

It was the summer of 1983 when Billy Stott played the saxophone and sung for a fledgling "red-hot" oldies band, the Rockets.

A lot has changed since then.

Stott, a former Far Northeast resident, has become a well-respected booking agent/manager for cover bands. He's credited with inventing the musical version of "one-night stands" -- where bands play a different nightclub each night, rather than weeklong bookings at the same club.

One thing, though, hasn't changed. The Rockets are continuing to entertain crowds in the Philadelphia area.

The names and faces have changed a lot over the years, but the music has stayed good enough to keep the band busy six nights each week.

The current band has largely been together for 18 months. It consists of singer/guitarist Tony Costello, sexy singer Christine Bushie, guitarists Christian Lynch and Rob Patterson, drummer Tony Marco and a newcomer, keyboardist Tom Wagner.

Dave Asimos has handled sound, finances and other unlimited duties for 11 years. Noah McFadden works the lighting and stage, and is a potential future guitar player in the band.

The band, sponsored by Bud Light, plays largely in Philadelphia, the suburbs and South Jersey, but is branching out to North Jersey and Ocean City, Md.

Its "Super Sundays" at the Route 1 Cafe, 8212 Roosevelt Blvd., are perhaps the highlight of the week. It's a tradition that has continued for 12 years at area bars.

"Anyone who's lived in the Northeast for over a year knows that Sunday with the Rockets is the place to be," said Marco, a South Philadelphia native living in Rhawnhurst.

REAL CROWD-PLEASERS

The Rockets play to their audience. On Nov. 14, they appeared at Wade's Irish Pub, at 2711 Comly Road. This was a crowd that was there to play pool and watch the Flyers, but most of all to enjoy $1 22-ounce draft beers.

In other words, this was a crowd that wanted to hear some hard rock.

"This isn't the music you'll hear at a wedding," Lynch, a Holme Circle resident, said before going onstage for the first set.

Yet, the Rockets play an estimated 30 to 50 weddings every year.

The band is versatile enough to play Ozzy Osbourne at nightclubs, then sing Frank Sinatra, Englebert Humperdinck and Kenny Rogers at weddings and private affairs. The group even plays at "wetdowns" -- celebrations by fire departments when they get a new truck.

The Rockets try to appeal to everyone from 21 to 65 and over.

"The band wears a couple of different masks," said Costello, of Parkwood.

The Rockets have a large following, witnessed by the 5,000 or so names on their mailing list. After each set, band members enjoy mingling with the crowd.

The band's goal is to make folks happy, whether it's a bride, a corporate executive or a barfly.

"It's the crowd's night," Patterson said. "We're part of their great night."

Stott keeps the Rockets busy. They often play at local clubs like Callahan's and John's Boardwalk Bar & Grill. Last week's gig at Wade's marked the 13th consecutive night that the band played.

The Rockets logged about 19,000 miles on their van in the summer. A typical weekend was a Friday night at Jimmy's in North Wildwood, followed by a Saturday afternoon taping of VH-1 Cover Wars in New York.

WHO NEEDS REST?

Despite the hours of traveling, band members say they are ready to hit the stage as soon as they step out of the van.

In between their busy performance schedule, the band members find time to rehearse every Sunday for three to five hours at Wyld Studios, at 8348 State Road.

The Rockets wouldn't have it any other way.

"If we work seven days a week, that's not enough," Costello said.

The Rockets will never run out of material, since their song list tops 400. They play pop, rock and cutting-edge music. You might hear them play big-band music, a Motown medley, the Village People and Air Supply.

There are traditional favorites like Brickhouse and I Will Survive.

The band will add anything popular to its list. Asimos recalls seeing the positive reaction of a crowd when a DJ played Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me.

"We've been playing it every night since," he said.

The Rockets know they're competing against other cover bands, along with television and the movies, for the consumer's entertainment dollar.

That's why they try to make every evening special. They do that by feeding off the energy of the crowd.

The Rockets love what they're doing. It's their life.

They're good enough and busy enough to perform full time. There are no side jobs waiting tables for these guys.

At the same time, the band would like to produce its own music and pursue a record deal.

For now, the Rockets are content entertaining crowds and enjoying one another's company.

Perhaps this collection of Rockets will keep it going for another 18 years. The band members sense a certain chemistry.

"It's not a band," Lynch said. "It's a family."