MUNCIE - And then there were three. A trio of bands will perform at the End of Summer Jam, replacing original headliner Lynyrd Skynyrd.
John Kay and Steppenwolf, Loverboy and Foghat are now on the bill for the Sept. 24 show.
"Is he going to wear those leather pants?" asked Bethany Yohler, 33, referring to Loverboy's lead vocalist, who was known for sporting a skin-tight red pair in the 1980s.
Perhaps.
Lynyrd Skynyrd backed out of the Jam on Aug. 25 after an announcement that lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant would require throat surgery. More than 5,000 tickets were sold for the End of Summer Jam before Skynyrd pulled out. Cheryl Crowder of Downtown Development said, as of last week, only about 170 people have asked for refunds.
Those who held onto their "Lynyrd Skynyrd" Summer Jam tickets will be able to use them for this show.
"It's definitely going to be a party," said Brian Lough of Downtown Development, organizers of the annual downtown concert. "Come on, they have some of the top rated party songs ever with Working for the Weekend and Born to be Wild."
Lough added that although each band appeals to a different "taste," they all have something in common. "Each one of these bands can rock," he said.
Who hasn't belted out "Get you motor runnin', head on down the highway" during a road trip? Steppenwolf hit the scene in the late 1960s and delivered the classic road tune Born to Be Wild, along with Magic Carpet Ride, Rock Me and Monster.
The band has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide and is still led by one of its founders, lead vocalist and guitarist John Kay.
Loverboy made leather pants and bandanas must-haves in the 1980s. The band also offered up a string of hits including Working For The Weekend, Lucky Ones, Take Me To The Top, Lovin' Every Minute Of It, Turn Me Loose and The Kid Is Hot Tonight. The band, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, features originals Mike Reno on lead vocals, Paul Dean on guitar, Doug Johnson on keys and Matt Frenette on drums.
Foghat has been rolling out rock since 1971. The band's biggest hit was Slow Ride, but it was joined on the Top 40 charts during the 1970s by Fool for the City, Drivin' Wheel and I Just Wanna Make Love to You. Foghat recently released Family Joules, an album of 13 new tunes. The band features original members Roger Earl, drums, and Tony Stevens, bass.
To say that the days following Skynyrd's cancellation were stressful for folks at Downtown Development would be an understatement. The phones rang off the hook. Other potential bands were promising - Journey, Cheap Trick - but eventually fell through. They were able to pull together a deal with Steppenwolf and Loverboy (Foghat was already on board) in a matter of hours Thursday evening.
Skynyrd fans should get another shot at Skynyrd next summer. Lough said that the band has offered Muncie a concert date for 2006 "if all goes well" with Van Zant's surgery. Downtown Development and Ticketmaster will offer a chance to buy tickets to the 2006 date before they go on sale to the general public to those who hold their tickets for the 2005 End of Summer Jam, he said, adding that more details on that will be announced soon.
