Stryper, Lita Ford To Headline Roar on the Shore

Bands were just announced for the 13th annual Roar on the Shore Bike Week in Erie, Pennsylvania. The event happens July 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2019. Festival headliners include Lita Ford, Night Ranger, Steven Adler and Stryper. These concerts are free in what is called the general viewing area. Up close tickets are available for a small price. If you want tickets, click the Facebook below to be taken to the purchase page.

Judging by the website, it looks like Roar on the Shore is a large event. It is set for about the hottest week of the year, so there's that. Better pack some sunblock and a fan!

Comments

[Kixchix]

If it free it’s for me! Wish I were local to Erie. Shouldn’t Night Ranger headline over Lita?

[Him]

You created a visual there, Kixchix! I pictured the boys hovering over Lita while singing "Sister Christian." I kid. But, yes, that would make a lot more sense. Lita is rightfully celebrated (and/or feared). But Night Ranger have a catalog that can end a great night of music. Gillis is amazing.

And the weather, as Allyson noted, will not be wonderful. Hope they have some of those turbo fans blowing away the icky humid stank.

[Bkallday]

Gonna hafta agree to strongly disagree. Not that I really care much about either band. Night Ranger is known for one song, unless you're a big fan of the band. What are they gonna do if they open, play Sister Christian 5 times in a row, with a different re mix each time? Neither deserve to be an opener but Lita deserves it much more than any of those softies from Night Ranger do! I can't believe Night Ranger is even still around. What, was Loverboy not available??? Oh great, now I'm gonna offend the old Loverboy fans. Lol

[Shawn]

Back in 1982/83 whatever year it was that Dawn Patrol album came out it was rocking - Jeff Watson is underrated and Brad Gillis is still a monster on guitar. Thanks for introducing me to a rally I had not heard of - might have to look into that more. Can't find me a thrill that chunking driving guitar and Eddies coming out tonight are a couple of rockers off the Dawn Patrol Album.

[Steverox]

I think the solo to “Don’t tell me you love me” is one of the best ones out there, so I would go just to hear that song. It’s a decent lineup for Erie PA, right?

[fletch]

If I'm not mistaken...roar at the shore is a four day event, with one (1) band playing each day, therefore, each band listed is the "headliner" for the day they perform.

[Gogmagog]

I cannot adequately express how deep my hatred is for "Sister Christian,." I'd rather listen to Milli Vanilli than that. But "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "(You Can Still) Rock In America," and "Sing Me Away" are as good as anything from that time period, and "When You Close Your Eyes" is really good as well.

[bkallday]

You sound like a fan, Gog. Their fans are gonna be able to find plenty of songs they like. But im talking about the general public that hasnt dug deep into their catalog. I love all kinds of music from that era but have only heard of DTMYLM & Sister Christian. Only liking SC. I'd say most ppl are probably in that same boat.

[Metalboy!]

I would love to agree with BK on this as Night Ranger is, in fact, a totally overrated Cheese Metal, actually more of a hybrid AOR / Melodic Hard Rock band.

But wait, let me pause for a moment before I start chopping them to pieces again with the Ginsu sharp edge of my Metal knife ... It is important for us to remember, despite being in one of the corniest Rock bands to ever needed tractor trailers to tour, let us not forget Gillis IS a helluva guitarist, having shredded up a storm when he stepped in after the Rhoads disaster to keep Ozzy Osbourne touring.

And now let the slicing and dicing continue ...

But some of that Cheese is addictive with infectious pop characteristics that keep those feet tapping and mouths humming (particularly in the Midwest) despite their predilection for bringing D-U-M-B to a higher art form.

And what’s with the dude with the beret, Porsche Design sunglasses and white Candies?

Despite nearly falling asleep the last time I saw Night Ranger perform years ago at M3, here are my guilty pleasures from their canon (fodder) in no particular order ...

1) “Sister Christian” (made hip by it’s inclusion in the most memorable scene in “Boogie Nights”)
2) “You Can Still Rock In America”
3) “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”
4) “Eddie’s Coming Out Tonight”

Lita fares better as she has a legit Rock & Roll pedigree as a former member of The Runaways and her solo stuff, which is far better than any of Night Lameger’s crap.

And in no particular order ...

1) “Kiss Me Deadly”
2) “Shot Of Poison”
3) “If I Close My Eyes Forever”
4) “Lisa”

[Him]

Fletch is right: Lita headlines/solos on the 17th. Night Ranger on the 18th (Adler and Stryper the nights thereafter). Thanks for clarifying.

Now . . .

Lita fares better? After Torme skedaddled from Ozzy, post-Rhoads, who entered that maelstrom? Well, Gillis did, and he made a fine showing on SotD. But others note that he is great, so I won't make too much of that.

Lita is a career constantly in crisis, save for the Alice Cooper-styled reboot she did in the late-80s. Remember her first solo record? Remember the "I'm punk but sexy" look in those videos? She and Ozzy finally shared the stage when they both went with the Liz Taylor 'gauze-effect' "Close Your Eyes Forever" thing (you remember, when Ozzy looked like Liza with frosted tips?). Sure, it still holds up. But it is also schmaltz. And let's not spend too much time on her career the past few decades. Time has not been kind to her, nor have her sons. That sounds like a low-blow. But I suspect there are lots of lingering issues that hamper her from ever achieving greatness (again?). When James Gillette is the adult in the room, you have to start wondering. And when former members of her best band won't even stop to pick up the phone, methinks a pattern is developing. Ozzy was on Jet Records and Joan Jett won't talk to Lita. See, I am making some crazy connections here?!?!

Granted, Night Ranger are AOR-leaning rockers. So what? Is Jack Blades a hack because of it? He keeps pretty good company. And I also grant that "Sister Christian" is the their breakthrough hit, unfortunately. But, as others note, they have a few others that even some casual fans know.

Night Ranger consistently holds a mid-tier spot on package tours. Lita travels light and lower on the festival bracket list, but also has Bob "Not the Producer" Rock handling the skins. So there's that (and his involvement with another AOR-infested band, Nelson).

Legit pedigree? It is what you do with it that counts. Resting on your laurels and baying at the moon aren't going to move mountains.

[Metalboy!]

Gotta disagree with you here, HIM. I’ve seen Lita a few times since her reemergence and she ROCKS way harder than cornball traveling minstrel show, Night Wanger, who I also saw during the same time period.

Red Leather jumpsuit, Tattoo logo / symbol assumingly designed to cover up her ex’s name.

She’s way more legit than stage rag doll midget, Jack Blades or any of those other clowns aside from Gillis who should have split off from Nigh Plunger after his stint with Ozzy and formed GILLIS in big bright chrome lettering! Talk about sitting on your laurels!

If there’s ever a story waiting to be turned into a Netflix movie, it would be “LITA”, From The Runaways to her painful period married to Gillette with all her family problems and finally her return to the stage, it’s a helluva plot line meant for the silver (er, rather, computer) screen, her’s would be it, that is, if the truth could ever accurately be portrayed.

The fun question is, who could play her?

Kristin Bell? Kinda looks like her and can sing (sorta). Talk about star turn potential as most of her career, aside from a short murder ballad worthy performance on HBO’s “Deadwood” and, more recently, James Franco’s brilliant “The Disaster Artist”, has been of the saccharine Disney variety.

The funnier question is who would play Unrock & Troll Ragdoll, Hack Fades (translation - Rock & Roll Ragdoll, Jack Blades)? Tom Cruise could certainly play the clown with the beret and stupid sunglasses and Ron Perelman could play Gillis.

But why on Mars would those guys ever do it when the movie would be even more boring than watching Night Ranger perform no matter what star power you could unrealistically apply to the cast.