News Segment

DAVE MENIKETTI 50TH BIRTHDAY DVD:

February 29, 2004

Last December, Dave Meniketti had a spectacular weekend of sold-outshows celebrating his 50th birthday with his fans. If you were luckyenough to get tickets, you know just how special the entire weekendwas.

Those in attendance were treated to Dave’s kick-ass solo band”Meniketti” who wowed the crowd with songs from Dave’s two solo CDs; akiller video that his wife Jill produced where pals who couldn’t makethe bash wished Dave a happy 50th birthday including Queensryche,Twisted Sister, Don Dokken, Cherie Curie (The Runaways), Budgie, racecar driver Ron Capps, several producers/engineers and DJs, plus guitartech Allen Craft created his own little segment while working on theG3 tour where he captured birthday greetings to Dave from YngwieMalmsteen, Steve Vai, Tony MacApline, Billy Sheehan, and John Petrucciwho said his wife once named her band after a Y&T song (Mean Streak);a special tribute where Dave was roasted by Y&T’s own Phil Kennemoreand John Nymann who took the stage with friends Dave Notary (from manyBay Area bands including Vital Signs–the band that made their breakwith a catchy little tune on the Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventuresoundtrack–Notary was the lead singer), Gary Cambra (The Tubes) onguitar/keys/vocals, and pal Gino Finley (producer/songwriter/guitarplayer) on guitar; Jimmy DeGrasso joined the Meniketti band and thenlaunched into a few more tunes with John and Phil and Dave (and playedtunes from one of Dave’s favorite Y&T albums–Musically Incorrect);and to top it all off the original Y&T (yes, Phil, Leonard, and Joey)joined Dave onstage and whipped the crowd into even more of frenzywith several Y&T songs.

When all was said and done, Dave Meniketti had been onstage each nightfrom 9:00pm to 12:30pm–that’s THREE-and-a-half hours! A fabuloustime was had by all.

Dave has recently been sifting through hours and hours of home videofootage taken that fantastic weekend by friends and family. Keep youreyes peeled to the web site as he may be releasing a DVD of thatweekend very soon. Be sure to check the discussion forum as Dave willpost the latest info there.

There are still a few Birthday Bash tee-shirts available for sale onthe web site. These are event shirts so once they are gone, they’regone.

EUROPEAN RELEASE

Y&T fans in Europe and the UK will be thrilled to learn that Y&T’sUnEarthed, Volume 1 will soon be readily available in record storesin their part of the world. Dream Catcher Records (who releasedDave’s two solo CDs) is releasing the CD next month. So, those of youacross the pond can begin checking your record stores in April.http://www.dreamcatcher-records.co.uk/index.php

Courtesy of meniketti.com