Features
Raspberries Redux
Seventies power-popsters The Raspberries are the latest to forgive and forget, and they’ve lined up three new gigs, including their first West Coast shows in 30 years.
The band’s recent reunion brought together all four original members – singer Eric Carmen, drummer Jim Bonfanti, bassist Dave Smalley and guitarist Wally Bryson – for a series of shows in the Midwest and East Coast, starting last winter with three shows at House of Blues in Cleveland and Chicago.
In July, they did a pair of packed shows at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York City.
This fall, The Raspberries have three concerts on the books, the first of which takes place at Atlantic City, N.J.’s House of Blues September 17. The following month, they’ll head to California for another House of Blues show in West Hollywood and a performance at San Diego’s 4th & B.
The foursome played its last show together at NYC’s Carnegie Hall in 1973 before Smalley and Bonfanti left the band.
After the split, Bryson and Carmen kept the name alive for two years and one more album before disbanding in 1975.
Carmen went on to chart several solo hits, but the Raspberries name wouldn’t go away. The list of stars who have professed their love for the band over the years includes Kurt Cobain, Bruce Springsteen and Mötley Crüe.
This summer, the group commemorated its return with a best-of collection, appropriately titled Greatest.