Thursday, February 16, 2012
Staff report
BOARDMAN
Local band Guys Without Ties will celebrate 20 years of music this year.
The band was started in January 1992 by Dale Janus, Bill Hrusovsky and Dr. Tom Abruzzi, who wanted a horn-driven rock band that would integrate the power of a brass section with all varieties of rock and pop music.
The band played its first gig at a block party that year, before it had settled on a permanent name. Janus’ daughter, Aimee, then 12, recently had seen an MTV video by Men Without Hats. Since her dad and Dr. Abruzzi wore neckties to work every day, she suggested Guys Without Ties. And they have been that ever since.
The band started with six pieces but now has a standard lineup of eight. There have been 22 members over the years, with an additional 25 or more substitute members for various gigs.
The band has played a great variety of shows over the years. In addition to nightclubs and weddings, it has played for corporate functions, summer concerts in parks, the US Air Force, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a funeral and a nudist camp.
Guys Without Ties will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a sold-out benefit show for Hospice of the Valley at Mr. Anthony’s banquet hall in Boardman on Saturday. Many alumni band members are returning to sit in.
Playing for Hospice of the Valley has special significance for the band. Original guitarist Russ Parish suffered a stroke in 2010 and passed away at Hospice of the Valley in Boardman. So when the band was looking for a charity to co-sponsor the 20th anniversary show, it contacted Hospice.
In honor of Parish and Hospice’s involvement in his care, the band will have his guitar set up and plugged in as a memorial.