HOME | REVIEWS | BAND BIO |EMAIL | 818-377-4467 "Great, raw, Lennon, rock n roll" . . . 350,000 fans in Liverpool, England, BEATLEWEEK "Tim Piper and Working Class Hero" BAND BIO
Tim Piper as "John"
Tim Piper as "John" Tim Piper's credits range from Sir Paul McCartney telling Tim Piper (in person), "Keep up the good work, lads!", to Tim being selected over all other Beatle and Lennon's to perform at private functions for Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Stephen Spielberg, and hundreds of top Hollywood celebrities, in the privacy of their homes. Aside from Tim's celebrity status what sets him apart from the others is his fun-loving charm, his professionalism and passion to entertain and perform. Tim Piper transports audiences beyond the wigs and mere impersonations of most Acts. Tim captures the very essence of John Lennon, whose music continues to win the hearts of millions and whose melodies provided the soundtrack for an era.Whether it's performing before an audience of 100,000 (Virginnia Beach - July 4, 2001), or showcasing their talents before a more intimate gathering at a community theatre or private event, being in the show business since early childhood and touring the world "as John Lennon" since 1988, Tim's motto is (from the words of his mentor), "A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All!"
Greg Piper - Bass Guitar Greg was born in New York City to a "show biz" family whose parents were traveling actors in their own theatre company, performing with Red Skelton on his television show, and then becoming co-creators of the game show "Concentration". His true love for music began in 1964 when seeing The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in front of all those screaming fans. Their music and their message entered his heart and soul immediately, and has remained there ever since.
Greg's other endevours are graphics and multimedia. He is co-founder of Unsigned Records Multimedia, where they specialize in animation, music video, enhanced cds and websites, including: Papercuts - The Illustrated Lyrics Online Magazine.
Greg Piper - Bass Guitar
Morley Bartnoff (Keyboards) PKA Cosmo Topper has been playing, recording, writing and appreciating music since he was knee high to an mono single speaker FM radio. He has been a contributing writer to both Strobe and Yeah Yeah Yeah Magazine. Born in LA, moved to Vegas from 71-76 went to UNLV, then Went To Pierce College where music and theater were his major and minors. Some of Morley's many credits include performing with The Sluff Bros. with Minnie Ripperton and George Benson drummer Hugh Morran and excellent former Kentucky Blue Grass and Sonny Charles guitarist Mark Miller, played piano with Capitol Records recording artist Maxine Sellers, performing at The Troubadour with Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, a 2-year residency at Studio City’s Bla Bla Café, Repo Man soundtrack Universal Records where he played Hammond B3 with a Leslie on Burning Sensations cover of the Jonathan Richmond song “Pablo Picasso”, played baby grand piano on two songs at the Derby in Loz Feliz Ca.for an unplanned Dramarama reunion, and is the piano player at radio station KLSX’s “Breakfast with the Beatles” movie screenings at The Silent Movie Theater in Hollywood, CA. Morley's Song "For The Time Being" is heard in the closing credits of The Rock Doc Mayor of The Sunset Strip 2004 - Image Entertainment & for the last 5 years has been performing and recording with Alt Rock Band Dramarama.
Morley Bartnoff - Keyboards
Don Butler - Lead Guitar
Don Butler - Lead Guitar My professional career started when I was 19. Now, I'm with Working Class Hero, a John Lennon Tribute Band. We play shows & concerts all over the United States and we've been to India twice to play a number of concerts to thousands of enthusiastic fans. We played the "Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame" in Cleveland, Ohio on John Lennon's Birthday in 2001! We performed a theatrical production about John Lennon in Hollywood, CA. Sept. & Oct. 2002! We appeared live on numerous radio programs and we are now represented by "The William Morris Agency".
I've also had the privilege to play guitar with sixties legend Gordon Waller of "Peter & Gordon", Spencer Davis of "The Spencer Davis Group" and Chris Montez (who toured with The Beatles in the U.K. in 1963). I was with MCA Recording Artist Sam Neely from 1982 thru 1985 and I was also the staff guitarist at RCA/ Hacienda Studios in Corpus Christi, Texas between 1980-1986 and I did three albums with Freddy Fender
I am a Gretsch Guitars Artist, and as well, endorse and use exclusively Vox Amps, Pyramid Strings, Fulltone Pedals & Epiphone "Elite Series" Guitars. I am on the Editorial Board of The Tonequest Report magazine. I also have my own column/section on The Rickenbacker Forum called Talk to the Toneman. I'm a proud sponsor of The Gretsch Pages. I'm also owner of "Toneman" vintage valve/tube amp & guitar service.You can visit my website www.tone-man.com
Don Poncher - drums
DON PONCHER - Drums (A true Los Angeles based drummer) – born in Chicago, rooted early in the 1960’s 70’s LA Rock Scene, this versatile musician has beat down with music legends. Poncher was with Arthur Lee on the acclaimed Vindicator album, which included “Everybody’s Gotta Live” a song co-written with John Lennon. He was with Joe Cocker during “Jamaica, Say You Will”, Bobby Whitlock’s band right after Derek & The Dominos, Dewey Martin’s “New Buffalo” and Jim Price on his solo album and other productions. Don credits drummer Tony Williams as his strongest musical influence. About 3 years after getting his first drum kit at age 10, Don would sneak into clubs where Tony was playing to absorb and learn. His love and appreciation of jazz stems back to that time. Other drummer influences have been Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner and Charlie Watts. Don turned “Pro” at age 16 and went out on-the-road with renowned country artist, “Tex” Williams. Poncher’s pre-metal strong beat merged with theatrical flare as Ming the Merciless in Lenny & the Squigtones with David Landers and Michael McKeon, pre-Spinal Tap. As stage and recording drummer in the Big Beat Band for the cult classic rock movie “American Hot Wax”, the story of Alan Freed and the birth of Rock N’ Roll, Don backed most of the greats of that era, including Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.
NOT AFFILIATED OR ENDORSED BY THE APPLE CORPORATION, YOKO ONO, THE BEATLES, CAPITOL RECORDS, EMI, THE JOHN LENNON ESTATE, OR THE GEORGE HARRISON FOUNDATION.
