Hanging up Frontiers gig; Big surprise for next steps...

[Jeremey]

So as most of you could have surmised, the "waiting" to get my voice back in Perry performance shape has proved to be unrealistic in a market where a full time tribute needs to play a venue at least every six months. Dropping out for another year or so, IF my voice was to come back, would pretty much put us at the rear of the line again when it comes to bookings at our regular clubs (there's many regional Journey tribs out there able to fill the void in our schedule).

We announced today where we are going with all of this. I'm starting a new booking agency (www.bigbangbands.com) and the band that comprised Frontiers will be continuing on with some additional performers to pick up the mantle of a Tom Petty tribute, "The Waiting."

Here's details from the press release - our Facebook link is www.facebook.com/tompettyshow if you are a fan of Petty, and I hope to have the official site online in the next week or so. In the meantime, so long and thanks for all the fish! LOL...just kidding, I'll still be here on Melodicrock.com. Anyhoo...

From www.bigbangbands.com:

Big Bang is proud to announce the first exclusive signing of the agency.

The Waiting | The Music Of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is the amazing tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and the first act to sign exclusively to Big Bang Agency. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have sold over 60 million records during an epic 36 year career, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame during their first year of eligibility. Over 10 million copies of the group’s Greatest Hits compilation have been sold, launching the band into the rare company of acts that regularly perform two hour sets of hits to generations of music fans. The band has a successful legacy of sold out tours, recently topping 2010′s Billboard chart of top grossing acts for the year ($44 million overall). The band’s last album, 2010′s Mojo, debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts, selling over 100,000 copies in the first week alone. A sign of the band’s timeless success and popularity, the act is one of the few bands ever to have charted in the Billboard Top 10 across five consecutive decades (1970s-2010s).

The Waiting is a band formed out of the immensely successful Journey tribute, Frontiers. Frontiers recently announced their retirement after a decade of building one of the most popular tribute acts in the country. In the midst of their career, Frontiers vocalist (and Big Bang founder) Jeremey Hunsicker was asked to join the band Journey (2007). With a writing collaboration on the Platinum selling 2008 CD Revelation, Jeremey and Frontiers took to the road full time and quickly became the nation’s most popular tribute to Journey. In 2011, Jeremey suffered a voice injury while performing, and after two unsuccessful surgeries (and a period of intense therapy), decided to move on in a different direction.

“It sounds strange, to be known as a Steve Perry soundalike, and suddenly I’m out there singing Tom Petty songs,” acknowledges Hunsicker. “If you’ve known anything about my career, though, you’ll know that I’m a performer first and foremost, and a vocal impressionist as a close second. I’ve always kept a few of my favorite voices in my back pocket, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are a group that I grew up listening to and loving. Anyone of a certain age who grew up in Florida is going to have a bit of that music imprinted on their DNA. Tom’s also been immensely influential to me as a songwriter, and the sound of The Heartbreakers is so distinctive and pure. It’s great, honest, American rock and roll. In some ways, it’s a lot more accessible than the music of Journey; it’s stayed classic and consistent over the years, but like Journey, it’s music that was written expressly to be performed live on stage.”

The Waiting will rely on many of the tricks that made Frontiers such a popular draw – That is to say, not many tricks or gimmicks at all. “We are on focusing on the music, the songs, and the sound that people expect,” says Jeremey. “Just like with Frontiers, we were able to channel those songs through our collective energy and come out with something that people really connected to. We are a live rock and roll band, built for the stage, and we are working over the Petty catalog and coming up with things that really capture the spirit of a live Heartbreakers concert.”

The Waiting carries over the current lineup of Frontiers, featuring Frontiers co-founder Greg Eanes on bass guitar, Chris Castelda on drums, and David Thomas on guitar. Another co-founder of Frontiers, keyboardist Chad Campbell, is helping to establish the band’s sound as they continue to search for a permanent keyboard player and second guitarist.

Big Bang is now booking available dates for The Waiting beginning October 19th, 2012. Please contact the agency directly for further information.

[RPM]

This is a really smart move. You know the great ones learn to adapt as the body changes, when
Jordan couldn't fly over everyone, he perfected the fadeaway, when Ali fought stronger younger
fighters, he used the rope a dope. So Jeremey, best of luck to you and the band, i think you will
do great.

[slucero]

J - I think the management part of the equation with BBB is a great addition. You already have the contacts and the rep with the venues and management.. good way to leverage it


best of luck!

[JRNYMAN]

Very wise and commendable decision J! The managers I have respected most throughout my life were the ones who were once doing the same job as I was. And with you having been a performer, you will undoubtedly be able to manage the various acts you sign from an artist's perspective. It's sad to see the performance side of your life taking an indefinite break but it's also nice to see you are able to take your knowledge and experience to the next level. Best of luck in all your endeavors.

Does this mean that all your recorded performances and studio work is now going to be worth more since they're now "collectibles"...?

[Jeremey]

This is a really smart move. You know the great ones learn to adapt as the body changes, when
Jordan couldn't fly over everyone, he perfected the fadeaway, when Ali fought stronger younger
fighters, he used the rope a dope. So Jeremey, best of luck to you and the band, i think you will
do great.

Thanks so much man, this is a whole new bag so to speak, so in a lot of ways I'm learning a new way of doing things from scratch. But I do have the experience and stage chops of the past ten years to fall back on, so in a more accurate way, I'm not really starting from scratch, I'm just learning a new set of skills. Thanks again!

[Jeremey]

J - I think the management part of the equation with BBB is a great addition. You already have the contacts and the rep with the venues and management.. good way to leverage it


best of luck!

Thanks man, the past year was a pretty big eye opener that I would need to develop a livelihood that wasn't based on my physical ability to sing...I guess over the years I always figured when my voice would go it would be a noticeable decline over several years that I'd have to adapt to, but the whole instantaneous catastrophe that fucked me up made me realize not to assume anything. Hopefully this other business will grow and turn into something really positive.

[Jeremey]

Very wise and commendable decision J! The managers I have respected most throughout my life were the ones who were once doing the same job as I was. And with you having been a performer, you will undoubtedly be able to manage the various acts you sign from an artist's perspective. It's sad to see the performance side of your life taking an indefinite break but it's also nice to see you are able to take your knowledge and experience to the next level. Best of luck in all your endeavors.

Does this mean that all your recorded performances and studio work is now going to be worth more since they're now "collectibles"...?

Thanks so much man! I will actually be singing and playing guitar for the new Petty tribute, so I won't be taking an indefinite break from performing per se, only from the Journey material. Though as I mentioned to Lucero, hopefully the agency will grow into something that can stand on its own regardless of my performing schedule. As far as collectibles, I hear those discs make great novelty coasters! LOL, seriously though, I'm still very much involved in music and I hope that in another year or so I'll take another stab at another original release...

[JRNYMAN]

I will actually be singing and playing guitar for the new Petty tribute, so I won't be taking an indefinite break from performing per se, only from the Journey material.

That's what I get for not completely reading your post and instead just skimming it like I was some sort of Evelyn Woods Speed Reading savant.

As far as collectibles, I hear those discs make great novelty coasters!

Ooooo.... I had forgotten all about THAT market! I'll have to be sure to get a couple of them signed so they'll REALLY be worth something!

[scarygirl]

I don't mean to sound confused. So you are hanging up singing for good or are singing in the new band since the Perry material is no longer possible? Glad I got to see you last summer..

[Enigma869]

Thanks so much man! I will actually be singing and playing guitar for the new Petty tribute, so I won't be taking an indefinite break from performing per se, only from the Perry material.

There, I fixed it for you Best of luck with your new venture, Jeremey. I've been saying for years that Perry's material is absolute MURDER on anyone's voice. My first reaction when I heard Perry's voice for the first time was "how the hell does anyone possibly sing like that without it hurting". I got my answer many years later when I learned from Perry's departure that it hurt like hell to be Perry.

[Jeremey]

I don't mean to sound confused. So you are hanging up singing for good or are singing in the new band since the Perry material is no longer possible? Glad I got to see you last summer..

Thanks SC, no I am starting and singing in the new Tom Petty tribute because it's unclear how long my voice will take to get back into Perry shape (if I could ever get back to where people wouldn't listen and say, "well, that was good, but he used to sound waaay better!"). I'm glad you got to see us last year also!

[Jeremey]

Thanks so much man! I will actually be singing and playing guitar for the new Petty tribute, so I won't be taking an indefinite break from performing per se, only from the Perry material.

There, I fixed it for you Best of luck with your new venture, Jeremey. I've been saying for years that Perry's material is absolute MURDER on anyone's voice. My first reaction when I heard Perry's voice for the first time was "how the hell does anyone possibly sing like that without it hurting". I got my answer many years later when I learned from Perry's departure that it hurt like hell to be Perry.

Thank you man, I'm looking forward to a change and I've always been a huge fan of Tom and his music. It's a different gig to be sure, but a lot less baggage really, if that makes sense. I also want to mention - I know people will believe me or not believe me, I guess it really doesn't matter at this point, but I DID injure my voice during a show due to a fog machine...Surely if I didn't have to sing Perry, the injury would not have had as much of an impact, but I did want to mention I hear a lot of times that the catalog kills singers, etc. Yeah, it changed my voice over ten years, which had a lot to do also with being 30 when I started and 40 when I quit...But I think Scarygirl (above) can attest, she saw a Frontiers show 2 weeks before I got injured and I was very capable of performing that show. Unfortunately between June 30th and July 2nd, I got pretty seriously fucked up, and then continued performing with that injury for another 5 months. I don't think people realize that there's a real danger with those older fog machines that use a chemical compound, and sucking it directly into your lungs while singing has an immediate and disastrous effect. I just didn't know how bad it was at the time. Just this past weekend, a malfunctioning fog machine made national news at
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.1119664
Anyway, I'll continue to improve and get better - Basically what prevents me from singing Perry right now is that there is a muscular injury in the mid-lower range of my voice that chokes off and strangles my voice. Above it, I'm fine, and below it I'm fine. But that section of my voice is where MOST of the Perry material lies. It will take an unpredictable amount of time to get back to where I was, but I continue to improve...Unfortunately, we can't just go away for another year or whatever it will take. I'm really looking forward to a change of pace and singing some new music in the meantime!

[JohnH]

Hi Jeremy,

Congrats for keeping it going, singer in my Doors tribute lost his voice once because of those fog machines. They are not allowed period , no matter what kind they are at our shows. I have followed these threads and sorry about your voice. Hope it continues to heal.

[chynablue]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

[scarygirl]

Thanks so much man! I will actually be singing and playing guitar for the new Petty tribute, so I won't be taking an indefinite break from performing per se, only from the Perry material.

There, I fixed it for you Best of luck with your new venture, Jeremey. I've been saying for years that Perry's material is absolute MURDER on anyone's voice. My first reaction when I heard Perry's voice for the first time was "how the hell does anyone possibly sing like that without it hurting". I got my answer many years later when I learned from Perry's departure that it hurt like hell to be Perry.

Thank you man, I'm looking forward to a change and I've always been a huge fan of Tom and his music. It's a different gig to be sure, but a lot less baggage really, if that makes sense. I also want to mention - I know people will believe me or not believe me, I guess it really doesn't matter at this point, but I DID injure my voice during a show due to a fog machine...Surely if I didn't have to sing Perry, the injury would not have had as much of an impact, but I did want to mention I hear a lot of times that the catalog kills singers, etc. Yeah, it changed my voice over ten years, which had a lot to do also with being 30 when I started and 40 when I quit...But I think Scarygirl (above) can attest, she saw a Frontiers show 2 weeks before I got injured and I was very capable of performing that show. Unfortunately between June 30th and July 2nd, I got pretty seriously fucked up, and then continued performing with that injury for another 5 months. I don't think people realize that there's a real danger with those older fog machines that use a chemical compound, and sucking it directly into your lungs while singing has an immediate and disastrous effect. I just didn't know how bad it was at the time. Just this past weekend, a malfunctioning fog machine made national news at
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.1119664
Anyway, I'll continue to improve and get better - Basically what prevents me from singing Perry right now is that there is a muscular injury in the mid-lower range of my voice that chokes off and strangles my voice. Above it, I'm fine, and below it I'm fine. But that section of my voice is where MOST of the Perry material lies. It will take an unpredictable amount of time to get back to where I was, but I continue to improve...Unfortunately, we can't just go away for another year or whatever it will take. I'm really looking forward to a change of pace and singing some new music in the meantime!

You killed it, in a good way! Which makes me wonder........Is that what happened to Steve Perry's voice? I mean, with the middle and all? I think his lower register still sounds amazing, and based on the snippet we heard earlier this year, some of his top notes still gotta it going on too.

[scarygirl]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

Does that mean Jeremy is going to have bottles of ketchup thrown at him now instead of panties?

[Liquid_Drummer]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

Does that mean Jeremy is going to have bottles of ketchup thrown at him now instead of panties?

What snippet are you talking about ? From recently ?

[Liquid_Drummer]

Jeremey,

Sorry to hear about the vox man. Glad you have found a new outlet though. I think your Tom Petty demos were damn good and was shocked at how well you pulled it off. Journey music needs a fucking warning label...

"Singing the songs contained on this cd can cause permanent damage to your voice." Dont try this at home kids...

I am sure if Jason Kelty had not stepped away from it for so long he would be in the same boat. Singing Journey is risky business. It appears no one is immune and you have to be super human to even pull it off in the 1st place..

If you would have joined Journey they would have run you like a mule and you might not have anything left at all and I doubt they would even give a shit. Arnel will end up in the same boat as everyone else that has tried this. Just a matter of time.

[Rick]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

Does that mean Jeremy is going to have bottles of ketchup thrown at him now instead of panties?

Which did you throw?

[scarygirl]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

Does that mean Jeremy is going to have bottles of ketchup thrown at him now instead of panties?

Which did you throw?

Left over "Magic" underwear from the Mormons for Mitt charity fundraiser.

[Rick]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

Does that mean Jeremy is going to have bottles of ketchup thrown at him now instead of panties?

Which did you throw?

Left over "Magic" underwear from the Mormons for Mitt charity fundraiser.

[Rick]

Good luck with both new ventures, Jeremey. The Petty covers you have posted are just excellent. I know you'll do well.

[scarygirl]

Good luck buddy! I know you've been through a lot, and this new reinvention will be a whole new adventure. Just remember, "The Waiting" is the hardest part....c'mon, someone had to say it! Rock on!

Does that mean Jeremy is going to have bottles of ketchup thrown at him now instead of panties?

Which did you throw?

Left over "Magic" underwear from the Mormons for Mitt charity fundraiser.

Yeah, they had that Mormon I am in a covenant with daddy funk. Sorry Jerermy.

I need to go to my prayer closet now.

[Michigan Girl]

Good Luck to you, Jeremey ...and The Waiting. I can't wait to
hear/see you guys. My sister, Tom Petty nut that she is, will
be thrilled !!

[Jeremey]

Yeah, they had that Mormon I am in a covenant with daddy funk. Sorry Jerermy.

I need to go to my prayer closet now.

LOL! No worries SG!

[Jeremey]

Good Luck to you, Jeremey ...and The Waiting. I can't wait to
hear/see you guys. My sister, Tom Petty nut that she is, will
be thrilled !!

Thanks MG, hope to see you all in Loosiyana next year some time!

[ForceInfinity]

Jeremey, do you ever see yourself doing additional solo albums in the future?

[Jeremey]

Jeremey, do you ever see yourself doing additional solo albums in the future?

Hey man, thanks for asking. I won't ever stop writing songs or demo'ing stuff on my own but at this point in time, I'd be hard pressed to say that I'd make another fully produced CD. There was a lot of work that when into that, not only from me but from a lot of people, and circumstances being what they were, I just wasn't able to perform live to really promote the music. It left me with the internet, and no matter what people say about the liberating possibilities of the internet for artists without labels - If you aren't on a label, if no one has ever heard of you, they're not even going to take the time to download a copy for a review. And these days when there's 100 releases a day, pretty much the masses look to see if there's any reviews or buzz about a release. Outside of my own little circle of friends, there really was no buzz, no interest, no reviews, and so that was a lot of work, money, and heart poured into something that reached less than a couple hundred people. The alternative take to that was that it just wasn't good enough to stand out and get the interest of any press...With few exceptions though, I couldn't even get a download from websites let alone a review, so I'm not sure anyone even knew how good or bad it was.

I am glad that I have those songs recorded professionally though, for my own personal and family archives and of course the people who enjoyed the music as well. Maybe someday when I'm out performing again the circumstances will be different than what they are today, but it just wasn't very successful and it took a big part of my life to make it.

[Abitaman]

Jeremey, do you ever see yourself doing additional solo albums in the future?

Hey man, thanks for asking. I won't ever stop writing songs or demo'ing stuff on my own but at this point in time, I'd be hard pressed to say that I'd make another fully produced CD. There was a lot of work that when into that, not only from me but from a lot of people, and circumstances being what they were, I just wasn't able to perform live to really promote the music. It left me with the internet, and no matter what people say about the liberating possibilities of the internet for artists without labels - If you aren't on a label, if no one has ever heard of you, they're not even going to take the time to download a copy for a review. And these days when there's 100 releases a day, pretty much the masses look to see if there's any reviews or buzz about a release. Outside of my own little circle of friends, there really was no buzz, no interest, no reviews, and so that was a lot of work, money, and heart poured into something that reached less than a couple hundred people. The alternative take to that was that it just wasn't good enough to stand out and get the interest of any press...With few exceptions though, I couldn't even get a download from websites let alone a review, so I'm not sure anyone even knew how good or bad it was.

I am glad that I have those songs recorded professionally though, for my own personal and family archives and of course the people who enjoyed the music as well. Maybe someday when I'm out performing again the circumstances will be different than what they are today, but it just wasn't very successful and it took a big part of my life to make it.

It has been in my top 2 releases this year!