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| Left to Right: Tony DiGiulio, Richard Hofherr, Tony Davis, Mike Mooshey |
| Band members this year |
Richard Hofherr - Guitar/Vocals
Mike Mooshey - Drums
Tony DiGiulio - Vocals
Tony Davis - Bass/Vocals
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| Photos from this year |
1985 Photo Album
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| Songs we wrote/played this year |
Shadows of War
Closing In
We're here to Rock For You
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| Videos from this year |
Coming Soon
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| Crew this year |
Matt Zelinski
Tony Kees
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| Shows this year |
Dec. 7, 14 or 21, 1985
Kirk Center Christmas Party |
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1985 was the birth of 7th heaven. But you need to go back to 1978 at Brentwood Elementary School in Des Plaines, Illinois, where Richard Hofherr and Mike Mooshey were in 3rd grade together. Both shared a love for the band "Kiss" and thought it would be so cool to be in a band one day. After getting in trouble for drawing "Kiss" pictures on the desks (which both had to stay after school to clean up) it was agreed that one day a band would ne formed. Mike picked up the drums right away. It was a few years later (1983) that Richard would pick up plaqying guitar. Right after getting the guitar Richard & Mike would start jamming together. The concept of the band was starting to take shape.
Then in 1984 Richard and Mike became friends with Tony DiGiulio, who now was in school with them at Friendship Jr. High in Des Plaines. (Richard had met Tony back in 1976 playing in a baseball league, but it wasn't until 1984 when music created the bond that ultimately became 7th heaven.). While attending Friendship Jr. High all three were in the same art class. After the teacher had a stroke and was put on disability the school hired a temporary teacher Tony Kees who would take over the class. The very first day of class Tony Kees brought in a boom box radio and asked if it would be ok if he played Van Halen while everyone worked on art....everyone agreed. Tony Kees then suggested to the class that for a school project the class should put on a rock concert where selected people from the class would be certain acts to perform at the concert. It was called "The Friendship Jam". Each person that wanted to be in the concert had to audtiion to perform. Richard was selected to be Eddie Van Halen and Mike Mooshey was to be Alex Van Halen. It was a great lesson to learn how to market and advertise the show. Each sign, poster and flyer was made in art class. In fact Richard built the Eddie Van Halen guitar in Wood Shop class. Mike had also performed as Ozzy and was involved with the show in a few aspects. Mike had became friends with Tony Davis thru the show.
After graduating from Friendship Jr. High Richard & Mike decided the start building a real band. Mike and Richard got together in the summer of 1984 and discussed who should play in the band. It was thought that Tony Davis should be the singer and Tony DiGiulio should be the bass player. During this time a TV show called "Puttin on the Hits" became very popular around America, so much that a local club called Olivers in Des Plaines was having a battle of the bands. "Puttin on the hits" was a TV show based around acts who lipp synced to their favorite acts and won awards for doing a good job.
After getting a slot to perform it was thought that the band should record the performance in the back yard of Richard's house to see how the act looked to a audience and see what the band can improve. After recording themselves that summer, it was decided that Tony DiGiulio would be better fit to be the lead singer and Tony Davis would be better suit playing bass guitar.
Now the band was set, all that was left was a band name. After many days and long lists, the band came down to 3 names: Mystic Spirit, Atomic Mass and 7th heaven. It was agreed that 7th heaven was the best name. Mike Mooshey had came up with "7th heaven" from the Bill Haley and the Commets song "Rock Around The Block" where the lyric is: "... six and seven we'll be riding in 7th heaven, we're gonna rock aroudn the clock tonight..."
Now the bands name was set. The line-up was set. 7th heaven went on to win the "Puttin on the Hits" contest at the bar (Oliver's in Des Plaines, IL) 3 times which put them into the finals. The winner of the finalist was decided by crowd participation and went on TV. 7th heaven came in 2nd because the band 14 and 15 years old and no friends were allowed into the over 21 bar to support the band (which is how you won.. by votes). Just moms and dads. In fact the band had to stay in the coat room until show time and then right back to the coat room right after since they were too young to be in a bar. Even though 7th heaven never went on TV at that time, after winning $750 it was a great feeling to perfom for people and get paid for it.
In 1985 the four band members now wanted to get shows playing for real . After having 4 performances under their belt and not having any nerves to perform for a audience the band went out and started booking shows. At first, most shows were thru people the band knew.
7th heaven's first live show was in December of 1985 at the Kirk Center in Palatine, Illinois. Tony DiGiulio's mother was the bus driver for the kids at that school, which was a special educational school. A perfect match for a new band performing at their first full concert. It was a christmas party and the show was such a success that the band agreed it should keep moving forward.
(story continues in 1986) |
