Vitale father, son bond through music while forming All-Star band The Vinyl Machine

Canton native Joe Vitale remembers when his son and namesake first displayed a passion for music.

Vitale, a former touring drummer for the Eagles and a percussionist who has worked with Crosby, Stills & Nash and other artists, had surprised Joe Vitale Jr. with the Christmas gift of a toy drum set from Sears, colored blue and complete with a snare and cymbals.

Only 2 or 3 years old, the child went full rock star − banging and blasting the drums with abandon until they were destroyed.

"With those kinds of things," the father said with a grin, "you can see this guy is trending towards music for sure."

Sitting side by side on a couch in the back studio of Gattuso's Music and More in Canton, the father and son recalled the anecdote with smiles and laughter that brightened the dimly lit room.

The moment was also an example of their love and connection through music, a relationship that has matured and only grown in the subsequent decades.

"That's a double bond," Vitale Sr. said. "We always have the family bond, but to add to that the musicianship and making music, that's a whole other level and inseparable bond."

Added the son: "It's surreal."

The younger Vitale, a multi-instrumentalist with a solo career, now heads the band Ravenwood, which plays a blend of industrial and alternative rock. Releasing its first album, "Ravenous" in 2021, the Akron-based band has performed at Lock 3 and other Northeast Ohio venues.

He's also toured as an instrumentalist for Joe Walsh, Stephen Stills and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

But despite some guest appearances and previous tours together with other artists, the Vitale duo has never performed in a full-blown rock band of their own until the recent formation of The Vinyl Machine.

Boasting members with ties to Walsh, Warren Zevon, Lou Gramm, Joe Cocker and the aforementioned artists, the All-Star ensemble will hold its first concert Oct. 19 at Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at https://www.akroncivic.com/shows, but availability is limited. Tickets are also available in-person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the Civic Theatre box office inside the arcade at 182 South Main St. (King James Way) or by calling 330-253-2488.

The show will be on the John, James and Clara Knight Stage.

Joining the father and son in the The Vinyl Machine are: Duane Sciacqua (lead guitar, vocals), Jim Stapley (lead vocals, guitar), Stanley Sheldon (bass, vocals) and Tommy Stephenson (keyboards, vocals).

Sciacqua has performed with Paul McCartney, Glenn Fry and Steve Lukather. Stapley has worked with Cactus and Kenney Jones of the Faces and The Who. Sheldon is best known for his work with Peter Frampton, including the legendary album "Frampton Comes Alive" in 1976. Stephenson has toured with Walsh, Eric Clapton and Van Morrison.

Songs will include "Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles, "Rocky Mountain Way" by Walsh, "Woodstock" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, "Love the One You're With" by Stephen Stills, "Werewolves of London" by Zevon and "Midnight Blue" by Gramm.

Vitale Sr. will be playing drums and helping on vocals while the 45-year-old son describes himself as The Vinyl Machine's "utility guy," splitting guitar, vocal, synthesizer and percussion duties, depending on the song and arrangements.

'Our band is responsible for about 30 million records combined.'

The 73-year-old Vitale Sr. was animated and energetic while discussing the new band.

"We've done a lot," he said. "And we've been with major acts, and we've played all the venues, and big, small, all across the world, actually."

But the group didn't want to be another tribute or cover band.

"Our band is responsible for about 30 million records combined," said Vitale Sr., who also sings and plays keyboards. "So ... why not feature all these songs that we actually played on. I respect tribute bands because they're very good, but they didn't record those songs. They're just playing those songs. We actually recorded those songs."

"The setlist is incredible, and it's nothing but hits, actually," Vitale said of the 24-song repertoire. "We're excited because it sounds good."

Rehearsals went well, although gathering in Nashville has been a logistical challenge.

"It gets difficult at times because you've got people in Kansas, Atlanta, Nashville (and Stark County) ... so we have to get all of us together in one place to work," the younger Vitale said. "It's been a challenge, but it's also been a lot of fun putting that all together."

'We've all gotten really cool stories.'

The inaugural show in Akron is the only one scheduled at the moment. Vitale Sr., however, is enthused about the band's touring potential.

"We especially picked a smaller venue because we want to test run it," said Vitale, who lives in the Canton area. "I remember reading a few years back The (Rolling) Stones, and I'm not comparing us to the Stones, but when the Stones did this major tour, their first gig was a little club in Toronto, Canada, and I thought, 'Wow, what a great idea.'"

"We figured ... a small venue, intimate place, and a lot of fans and friends, it will be just be a fun evening," Vitale said. "And we're going to test run this show there, and that's what every band does. We'd love to dive into the deep end, but we're going to wade in a little bit at a time."

A storytelling element will be featured at the concert with band members who have collectively performed more than 30,000 shows worldwide while having written or performed numerous hit songs with chart-topping artists.

"We've all gotten really cool stories," Vitale Sr. said. "You could be a fly on the wall in the studio or a backstager on a bus and all that, like what's in my (2008) book, 'Backstage Pass.' But to tell these stories, a lot of people are doing that now. They're doing music and stories, and the audience really enjoys that."

"This will be quite a few interesting stories, I guarantee you," he said with another big smile. "There's some funny stuff."

Stepping on stage at age 10 in front of 19,000 screaming fans

Vitale Jr. grew up knowing his father was a professional percussionist. Not only for the Eagles, but also while performing or recording with Dan Fogelberg, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Ted Nugent, Boz Scaggs and other classic rock elite.

Vitale and Walsh co-wrote the hit song "Rocky Mountain Way," as well as "Pretty Maids All in a Row" from The Eagles' iconic album, "Hotel California." Vitale also co-produced albums for Walsh, Stills and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

More:Joe Vitale Jr. releases new album featuring industrial, alt-rock and guest Neil Zaza

At age 10, the son joined his dad on tour for the first time, witnessing the spectacle of a major concert. That was also when he stepped onto the Blossom Music Center stage with Crosby, Stills & Nash to play tambourine on “Teach Your Children" in front of 19,000 people.

"Seeing just the crowd screaming, it was really amazing," recalled Vitale Jr., who lives in the Portage Lakes area of Summit County.

Moments like that eventually dissuaded the youngster from pursuing his first dream of becoming an astronaut, even after attending Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

"That did it," Vitale Sr. told his son affectionately during the joint interview. "You were finished."

A mutual musical admiration has developed between the two.

"There's never a day that goes by when he doesn't pull out a (drum) fill that is insanely good," Vitale Jr. said. "And I go, 'Where did that come from?'"

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Especially memorable was when the father and son drummed side by side last year at a Donnie Iris and The Cruisers concert at the MGM Northfield during "Love Is Like a Rock."

"We didn't try to do this," the father said of the uncanny dual timing. "We are synched up − absolutely every single drum movement ... and we're so locked."

Donnie Iris praises Vitale drumming tandem

During an interview last summer about opening for Journey at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Iris raved about the drumming tandem.

"Junior's a great drummer," he said. "He certainly takes after his dad."

Vitale Jr. has filled in on percussion for Donnie Iris and The Cruisers when drummer Kevin Valentine isn't available.

"I think it's a matter of feel," Iris said of skilled drummers. "A lot of them have a great feel to play drums, and no matter what it sounds like, it's going to be good because the tracks feel good. I think Joe junior and Joe senior, they without a doubt have a feel, which I love."

Growing up in his dad's musical shadow

Vitale Jr. admitted to feeling the pressure of being compared to his dad.

On the same hand, the Jackson High School graduate said he realizes being the son of an accomplished musician has "opened doors."

"But I still have to deliver," he said.

Vitale Jr. said he no longer gets nervous about making music and performing in his father's shadow. "I just go out and bring it," he said.

Pressure has never come from his father, Vitale Jr. said. "He only pushes me in a good sense. He's only pushed me to do the best I can do."

Added the dad: "My only judgment of what he does is what he does on stage and how he sounds."

Music industry goes from vinyl singles to digital downloads

Vitale Sr. said the music industry has changed dramatically from the '60s and '70s.

In those days, when vinyl singles were released, it wasn't unusual for money to be slipped to radio stations in exchange for airplay, the elder Vitale said matter-of-factly.

"That is just the way you did it," he said. "Our whole band would go to radio stations and say, 'Please play the single.'"

Digital music, streaming and social media have transformed the distribution of music, Vitale Sr. noted. "I don't know if that's a double-edged sword," he said.

"It's not easy nowadays to do that stuff," the father added. "Young bands are getting creative on how to do stuff."

"We had to struggle to get anything done," he said of his early career. "... We grew up in a different time."

But despite the changes, rock and roll is "alive and well," Vitale Sr. said, referring to shows at both arenas and small clubs and bars. "It's just changed."

Vitale and Walsh perform 'Rocky Mountain Way' with Stephen Colbert band

Vitale Sr. has been keeping busy musically, including performing "Rocky Mountain Way" with Walsh on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert during a one-week August residency in which he played keyboards.

He also will perform in the VetsAid 2022 Joe Walsh & Friends concert on Nov. 13 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, featuring the James Gang, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, The Breeders and The Black Keys.

"We sold it out in a half hour," Vitale said, noting the show will be streamed online. "This year, because it's in Columbus, Ohio, it's ... all Ohio personalities. I'm going to play with Joe, but then he's got the James Gang playing ... (and) it's going to be a fantastic show.

"That's what's coming up," Vitale said. "And I don't know what's going to happen next year. Hopefully a bunch of Vinyl Machine shows, and we'll see what happens."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter @ebalintREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Joe Vitale's new band has ties to the Eagles, The Who and Rod Stewart