WE PLAY...
Classic Rock by:
Motley Crue
Ted Nugent
Ozzy Osbourne
Pink Floyd
U2
Van Halen
Whitesnake
ZZ Top
AND MANY MORE...
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PETE MANUEL
Guitarist Pete Manuel started his musical interests at the very early age of 3 when he began to play his brothers drum set. At the age of 10 Pete got his first electric guitar and made the switch to guitar as his main instrument. He was influenced by the music his older brothers were listening to around the house: Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top,etc. In 1975 he bought his first Lynyrd Skynyrd record and the three guitarists in Skynyrd became a huge influence on his guitar playing, along with Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Carlos Santana, Alvin Lee, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Jimmy Page and Randy Rhoads.
Pete made a point to listen and be influenced by his guitar heroes but to develop his own style and sound, which was more original than just copying other guitarist note for note. Over the years Pete has played in various bands in the Rochester area including HURRICANE and ROCK N’ ROSE; he was most successful with the band MORIAH in the late 1980’s, early 1990’S. MORIAH became one of Rochesters most popular bands, packing clubs and recording and releasing two compact discs independently. The first CD, featuring the song “Sun Always Shines” received heavy airplay on WCMF, including being in their top 50 most requested songs in 1991. When MORIAH disbanded in 1993 Pete formed a band called BACKLASH which was short lived and then in 1994 he joined the band TALON which he played with up until its demise in 1997.
Pete now decided to form a band playing classic rock along with the modern rock that was taking over the airwaves and CATCH 22 was formed in the summer of 1997.
10 years later and with various member changes the band is at what Pete feels musically better than ever.” We now have four members who respect and appreciate the band and give 100% every night, musically and performance wise”.
ANDY RAMIREZ
Andy Ramirez has been involved in music since a young age. Watching his brother play the drums, Andy knew he was destined to be a musician. Starting out playing the drums then guitar, he finally ended up playing the bass as all of his friends were guitar players also, he knew there was a void to be filled and he did just that. Influenced by The Beatles, Aerosmith, Deep Purple and Van Halen, his bass playing took on a whole new level when he started listening to Iron Maiden. Learning their songs note for note, he practiced for hours upon hours (and to this day he still does!) and became a very efficient bass player.
Playing in local cover bands throughout the 1980’s, in 1991 he joined the legendary British blues band SAVOY BROWN (who at one time included three out of four members of FOGHAT) recording the compact disc “Let It Ride” and toured the United States and Canada for three years. Also playing a gig in Norway his bass playing was recognized and applauded by music critics. In 1995 he collaborated and recorded with Shrapnel Recording artist Greg Howe on the guitarist “Parallax” compact disc. Andy joined CATCH 22 in 1999 and has been an essential member of the band since.
DAN MAYER
Dan Mayer started singing in rock bands in his sophomore year of high school, covering Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and was always interested in almost every genre of music. He has performed with countless musicians throughout his tenure in the music business and he studied voice at Hochstein music school for 3 years and taught voice at the world famous House of Guitars.
Trinity, Psycho Path and December Sun were some of the bands he fronted in Rochester, when on a radio tip he left for Georgia, eventually performing on the east coast circuit as well as the Midwest states four to six nights a week, living in hotel rooms. Performing in Florida allowed him to meet and perform with Guns-N-Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Sebastian Bach from Skid Row and even comedian Pauly Shore. He also performed at some of Florida’s premier clubs such as Penrods, The Button South, and Club La Vela in Panama City. While in North Carolina he was lead vocalist in a group called Quiet Thunder (typical crappy early 90s name) that featured Clint Lowery (formerly of Sevendust). He also recorded at Morrisound studios in Tampa, Florida with Jon Oliva (Savatage, Atlantic Records, Trans Siberian Orchestra). Dan’s focus with Catch 22 is to try to reproduce as much as the original feel and tones of classic and modern hits.
RICK DE BELLIS
Rick DeBellis has been playing music ever since his introduction to percussion in the fifth grade. By Jr. High school, he was jamming and finding his own sound on the drum set with guitarist Paulo Almeida, who introduced him to the music of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Santana, and other Classical and Jazz guitarists. Together they jammed and performed around Rochester in many different styles of music such as rock, jazz, country, fusion/funk as well as originals. Rick has also studied drums and percussion with John McNeil of the RPO and John O'Conner, and performed in the Webster Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Orchestra. Professionally, Rick has performed both locally and regionally in the North East states and while on tour with a band called The Sydneys opened for Blue Oyster Cult, the B52's, Starship, and Dick Dale. Rick's influences include RUSH, Yes, the Rippingtons, Dave Matthews Band, and drummers: Dave Weckl, Buddy Rich, Anton Fig and Steve Gadd. Some of his most memorable moments were performing at CBGB's in New York City, recording at Rainbow Studios in Niagara Falls and on his birthday, getting to meet Dave Matthews in a Seven-Eleven in Pittsburgh, PA after playing a show.
One thing that sets Rick's drumming apart from others is his attention to subtle details in music. This is where he feels the "magic" of the original recording is held. To create a full live sound, he uses not only his acoustic drums and vocal ability, but also incorporates an arsenal of electronic triggers and loops to create another layer of sound that would otherwise be lost.
Rick is very excited to be given the opportunity to perform again with such talented musicians and hopes you can come out to enjoy the energy of Catch 22.
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