Dive Bar Romeos Bio

DIVE BAR ROMEOS

The Dive Bar Romeos are the leaders of the pack for delivering exciting, passionate rock n roll and rhythm and blues. Based in New York City, their performances have entertained audiences of the New York Metropolitan area and the entire Northeast for decades. Featuring a powerful and extensive repertoire which includes a cavalcade of rock and r & b classics combined with sizzling original tunes, the band takes you on an exhilarating, freewheeling ride through music history at every show.

Rising through the ranks from iconic landmarks such as CBGB'S, Max's Kansas City, The Bitter End, Mudd Club, and Peppermint Lounge all the way to the stages of the Ritz, The City Winery, and even Madison Square Garden, the Dive Bar Romeos' inimitable force of seasoned veteran rockers developed a unique combination of rich harmonies, musical showmanship, and undeniable authenticity.

In addition to their extensive club experience, the Dive Bar Romeos specialize in outdoor concert performances at public parks, festivals, wineries, breweries, classic car shows, and other special events.

Band Bios

joey kelly - dive bar romeosJOEY KELLY (lead vox) is a prolific singer-songwriter with one of music's most distinctive voices. He has garnered worldwide acclaim as the charismatic lead vocalist for bands including Magic Tramps, Billy Rath's Street Pirates, and Joey Kelly All Stars. As "Buddy Love," Joey fronted a power pop quartet to national success in the 80s; the group reassembled in 2007 and continues to record and perform their classic numbers as well as new original material. Joey's latest solo release, the soulful blues "Amanda," appears on the compilation Max's Kansas City: 1976 & Beyond. Currently Joey is working with Peppy Castro and rock show business icon Steve Leber to bring the musical Rockin the Planet: The Greatest Story Ever Sung to Broadway.

In his decades-spanning career Joey has toured and recorded with dozens of stellar musicians including Kenny Aaronson (The Yardbirds), Mark Bosch (Mott the Hoople), Ricky Byrd, Tommy Byrnes (Billy Joel), Peppy Castro (Blues Magoos), Paul Collins (The Beat, The Nerves), Gene Cornish (The Rascals), Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel), Anton Fig, Benny Harrison, Steve Holley (Wings), Will Lee, Walter Lure (The Heartbreakers), Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge), Eddie Munoz (The Plimsouls), Christine Ohlman,Tommy Price, Johnny Rao (David Johansen), Marge Raymond, and Kasim Sulton.

dave donen - dive bar romeos DAVE DONEN (drums, vox) started his career at age 14 at the New York World's Fair. By 16 he was backing up strippers and go-go girls at clubs like the Peppermint Lounge and the Wagon Wheel. At 17 Dave played for Chuck Berry at the world famous Fillmore East. He continued his rock and roll education touring with Chubby Checker and Bo Diddley. At 21 he traveled to London to join a band comprising Alan Kendall and Blue Weaver of the Bee Gees, Clive Taylor of Amen Corner, and fellow American Barry Lynch.

After a return to the New York club scene, Dave spent a year with Kevin Keane and Frank Carillo on Tim Hardin's comeback tour. The three formed the group Carillo, releasing Rings Around the Moon in 1978. Dave later spent seven years working with Patti Smith's guitarist in The Lenny Kaye Connection, playing venues from New York (The Ritz) to San Francisco (The Warehouse), and co-writing on the band's 1984 album I've Got a Right. Dave remains active in several bands, but says of his gigs with Dive Bar Romeos, "It's great to feel like you're twenty years old again and just play balls to the wall rock and roll!"

jimmy mcelligott (jimmy mack) - dive bar romeos JIMMY McELLIGOTT (guitar, vox), known to the New York music scene since 1978 as Jimmy Mack, was a founding member of the Tommy Ramone-produced power pop band The Propellers. The group appeared on The Uncle Floyd Show and were finalists in WLIR-FM's StreetBeat competition. Currently Jimy records with legendary rocker Genya Ravan, appearing on her critically acclaimed Icon album. SiriusXM's Underground Garage featured her single "Throw Your Dog a Bone" as "The Coolest Song in the World".

Jimmy has performed, toured, and recorded with rock 'n' roll's finest including Carlos Alomar (David Bowie), Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane), Moose Bowles (Lou Reed), Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish (Rascals), John Ford Coley, Steve Gadd, Steve Holley (Wings), Mark Hudson (Ringo Starr), Tommy James (Shondells), Denny Laine & Laurence Juber, Albert Lee (Eric Clapton), Will Lee (Fab Faux), Ian Lloyd (Foreigner, Stories), Ian MacDonald (Foreigner, King Crimson), Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge), Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister), Tommy Ramone, Earl Slick, Rob Stoner (Bob Dylan), Terry Sylvester (Hollies), Tommy Tutone, Gary Van Scyoc (John Lennon).

mike muller - dive bar romeosMIKE MULLER (bass, vox) is a sought-after player for live gigs and studio sessions. He completed three projects during the Covid lockdown, playing bass and producing for French rocker Manu Lanvin, Brazailian guitarist Mario Rossi, and New York songwriter Sylvie Yannello. He also appears on Too Many Lauras's recent release Living in Sin.

A Long Island native, Mike was a gigging guitarist in his local Smithtown scene while still a teenager, but quickly gravitated to bass, playing with rock and blues rock bands throughout New York City (Kenny's Castaways, Tramps, The Ritz), Boston (Jack's, Cambridge, Alston), and Connecticut (Agora Ballroom). After graduating from SUNY Stonybrook, Mike toured the Northeast before moving to the Fan District of Richmond, Virginia, where he established his rock cred on the RVA club scene and the Georgia and Carolinas juke joint circuit. Joining the pop rock band Single Bullet Theory in 1981, Mike focused his songwriting on pop-y, melodic songs, contributing three compositions to SBT's first release with Nemperor Records. Mike has toured extensively, throughout North America with the Bullets in the 80s, and in Europe with various blues and Americana acts in the 2010s. A speaker of passable French, Mike remains in regular contact with many European friends and contacts, and looks forward to a new European tour post pandemic.

david stoler - dive bar romeosDAVID STOLER (keys) is a classically trained pianist and master of many genres. A tutee of Jon Cobert, David studied music composition under Robert Starer, Jacob Druckman, and William Schimmel at Brooklyn College before graduating from Neupauer Conservatory of Music. David currently performs with the American band Joan Caddell and the Midnight Choir.

David played in the progressive/rock fusion band White Gold at venues including CBGBs, Max's Kansas City, and The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, and opened for Blondie, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Bruce Springsteen. With lyricist Andy Tory, David created the power pop band The Shades whose 1985 debut single "When You're Gone" was produced by Richard Termini (Cyndi Lauper). David's songwriting partnership with Troy produced material for numerous artists including Laurie Beechman, as well as songs David recorded with the studio band Double Agent.