Joe Vitale's Backstage Pass

By: Jay Minkin
Date: 02/02/2009 I had to break out the vinyl and listen to 1974’s Roller Coaster Weekend when I heard that Canton native and Rock ‘n Roll All-Star drummer Joe Vitale will be signing his new book, Joe Vitale Backstage Pass, at Borders Books & Music on February 6 in North Canton from 7-9 p.m., and in Fairlawn on February 7 from 2-3 p.m.

Over the past several years, Vitale’s wife, Susie, has been recording and writing Joe’s “history in stories” from the road and in studio sessions that span a 40-year career.

Backstage Pass is a beautiful 488 page book that includes over 750 color and
black and white photographs mixed with stories recounting Joe’s behind-thescenes personal and humorous career performances with the likes of Joe Walsh, The Eagles, Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Dan Fogelberg, Ringo Star, Ted Nugent, Keith Richards, Rick Derringer and many other artists.

Not only is Vitale considered the “consummate drummer,” but his songwriting credits include the classic Walsh hit “Rocky Mountain Way” and “Pretty Maids All In A Row” from The Eagles’ Hotel California record. The foreword for the book was written by long-time friends and touring pals Crosby, Stills and Nash. Vitale will also be discussing his new album, Speaking In Drums—his third solo album and latest since 1982.

Vitale continues to tour, record, write, produce and has no plans to slow down. One of his projects has been producing the debut album for multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale, Jr., who will also be on hand at the book signings promoting his Dancing With Shadows CD.

Joe Jr. has toured with Walsh and CSN, and received critical acclaim for digital audio editing and engineering on two of Stephen Stills’ solo projects.

Over the last nine years, he has worked for Sony Creative Sofware creating loop libraries and is a highly respected speaker at music industry conferences, discussing audio and video production, mastering, marketing, and other areas of the business.

So enjoy a moment with the Vitale family this weekend, and remember that summertime and riding wooden rollercoasters is just an album play away.

Reach Jay at blues4bird@aol.com.

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