The Fishing Line
Band
with Rich Johnson & Friends
If you would like to book the band
or Rich Johnson for an appearance at your business or home party,
electric
or acoustic contact us at 516-889-6895.
Starting in the 70's, Rich
Johnson of The Fishing Line radio & television shows
actually
made
a living playing in rock and roll bands traveling around the Midwest and
then in the 80's was a regular in many of the famous 80's hangouts of Long
Island like the Beach Club, Sandpiper in Long
Beach, the OBI in Oakdale & Hamptons, Half Crown Pub
and made special appearances to jam sessions with
the Island's hottest bands like Phase 4, Broken Arrow and others before
joining the Sunrise Highway Band in 82'
in which he stayed with till 86'. After sitting
out more than a decade weary of road travel and then with the huge success
of The Fishing Line shows and internet sites, Rich never had time to play
the way he wanted. Well in 2002, Rich got the itch to start playing again
and like the Blues Brothers...decided to "put the band back together."
The Fishing Line Band (TFLB) has been
a main act at several major events over the years
including
the Bud Festival at
Pindar Winery in 03', NY State Park's Captree Seafood
Festival each year as well as
Long
Island Assemblyman Joe Saladino's fund raising events.
Rich continues to play guitar
around the Island fronting and leading TFLB
as well as sitting in many open mic and jam sessions such
as the weekly Wednesday night jam at Jessie's Roadhouse in Merrick, Long
Island, Giacomo's in Amityville and DJ Riders in Oceanside. Rich just returned from a few of these held in Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina. TFLB
specializes in classic rock and
country rock goodies
and good times from the Beatles, ZZ Top, Stones, Bob Seager, Eagles,
Buffet, CCR and many, many others of your
favorite all time songs from the 60, 70's & 80's. If you are
interested in booking the band for a backyard home event,
club, dinner (yes we can be mellow), outdoor event, party or Bar-B-Que
contact Rich through his e mail address which is
rich@thefishingline.com.
TFLB's line up includes bass, drums,
two guitars and piano along
with special guest friends that sit in from time
to time. The TFLB lineup includes:
Rich Johnson
,
Founder: Lead vocals, harmony vocals, rhythm and lead electric guitar,
acoustic guitar and bass. Influences: "I didn't start playing guitar
till I was 21 years of age and living in the mid-west, Emporia KS. to be
exact, so I do have a country "twang" to my style. Gary Richrath of REO
Speedwagon said it best when he said rock guitar is just country licks sped
up. My musical influences stem from the early British Invasion and of course
include the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Rod Stewart & the Faces, Paul
McCartney along with Moody Blues, ELP and others. I was always a huge
Beatles fanatic and collector and was a Beatles over the Stones
fan for a long time, but my appreciation for the Stones and what
they were then and now grew as I aged. My American influences included Beach
Boys and their harmonies, CCR, Seager, REO, Jackson Browne, Eagles, the Band
and Kansas with my country influences being early Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,
Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings. Turn
Off's: Loud playing, never ending lead solos and guitar players that
don't know how to play or hold a good rhythm. Best Memory: Saving
up for my first stereo (69') and playing Sgt. Pepper over and over and over
again and hearing the separation. Hearing the crowd roar when I hit the
hard and high notes in "Night Moves" at an outdoor festival in Kansas back
in 1976 and hosting Rick Derringer in my home (93') playing my Les Paul and
then being back stage with Rick and playing his guitar. Favorite Albums:
Beatles "White," Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, The Faces "A Nod is As Good As A
Wink" (73'), Ten Years After, Eagles "On the Border" & Sticky Fingers.
Rick Shutter, Drums
& Percussion
:
Rick is one of the leading percussionists in the business today and has been
playing most of this life. Having toured and played with many regionally
known named bands, Rick makes his main living with a highly successful DJ
business. Rick can play anything and everything from country swing to heavy
metal is called for, Rick has to be one of the most versatile and well
rounded drummers in the business playing and sitting in for "on-call" duty
with some of the biggest acts on the Island and the region. Don't let his
smaller stature fool you...Rick can pound with the best of them, but is well
rounded experience allows him to do what is needed for whatever song or
crowd request comes his way.
David Nesdall
:
Lead and rhythm guitar, lead and harmony vocals. Thanks to my
grandmother, I started taking guitar lessons at the age of 5 and as the
years went on, and with lots of ear training, I learned to sing as well.
Influences: Well i have so many that it would be very hard to
mention them all. I’d have to say Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Warren
Haynes, Jimi Hendrix and Dickey Betts would be my top 5 favorite guitar
players. Fondest Memory: Hanging out with
Eddie Van Halen for a week in 1998 as his peer and not just another pain in
the ass fan. Hanging out in Dickey Betts' tour bus, talking about Les Pauls
and playing his favorite Les Paul and I guess playing guitar on stage with
Steve Vai and Larry MItchell. Special Thanks: D'Adarrio
and Planet Waves for the strings and picks. Carrie for putting up with my
crap all these years. Mom, Dad, Tony, Eddie, Alex, and Brandi. Tommy, Mark.
Very special thanks to Grandma R.I.P.
Bob Heller, Lead Guitar: Lead and rhythm
guitar, vocals and back ground vocals. Bob started guitar around 12
years of age and was playing jazz before rock & roll. He was introduced to
the music of Charlie Parker, George Benson, Pat Martino, and Wes Montgomery
at the age of 13, and dove into it head first, studying first with Peter
Rogine, and later with Joe Monk. He was fortunate to have two younger
brothers, Bill who plays keyboards, and Barry, who plays bass, so at a young
age they would entertain family and do an occasional gig starting at the age
of 14. Over the years Bob has played with several bands including The “Mudmen,”
a well known Motown/R&B band on Long Island and “Steppin' Out,” “The Next
Faze” both of which being top notch entertainment bands "I'm looking
forward to playing some good rock n' roll with Rich and having some fun!"
The Fishing Line 2008 Band Schedule:
Here are
the starting dates for our tour this season. As we
get more we will plug them into this page schedule, so keep checking back.
If you would like to book the band or Rich Johnson for an
appearance at your business or home party, electric or acoustic contact us
at 516-889-6895.
April
Giacomo Jack's in Amityville (best kept secret
in Amityville)
- The Fishing Line Band with Rich Johnson
- Sunday afternoon / April 13
- 4 to 8 p.m.
- Two piece acoustic and classic rock
- Half Mile south of Merrick Road (Montauk Highway)
- So. Ketchum Ave.
- Amityville, Long Island
- 631-691-2722
May
Giacomo Jack's in Amityville (best kept secret in Amityville)
- The Fishing Line Band with Rich Johnson
- Saturday evening / May 10
- 4 to 8 p.m.
- Four piece rock band playing and classic rock
- Half Mile south of Merrick Road (Montauk Highway)
- So. Ketchum Ave.
- Amityville, Long Island
- 631-691-2722
Atlantic Beach Club Memorial Day Party
- Saturday evening / May 24
- 8 p.m. to midnight
- Atlantic Beach, Long Island
- Sorry Folks, private party
My Joanne Charters Memorial Day Party
- Sunday afternoon / May 25
- 3 to 10 p.m.
- Long Beach, NY
- 516-851-4392
June
The Fishing Line Rock Band (4 piece) With Rich Johnson
The Fishing Line 2 Piece Acoustic With Rich Johnson
-
Sunday afternoon / June 22
-
4 to 8 p.m.
-
Giacomo Jack's in Amityville
-
Half Mile south of Merrick Road (Montauk Highway)
-
So. Ketchum Ave.
-
Amityville, Long Island
-
631-691-2722
The Fishing Line 3 Piece Acoustic Band With Rich
Johnson Calamity's 1st Sunday Beach Party
-
Sunday afternoon / June 29
-
5 to 8:30 p.m.
-
Calamity's (new tavern & new owners)
Former Oak Chalet
-
3026 Merrick Rd.
-
Wantagh (across street from Causeway B&T)
-
917-548-8194
July
The Fishing Line Rock Band (4 piece) With Rich Johnson
August
The Fishing Line Band with Rich Johnson
-
Saturday evening / August 2
-
9 p.m. to midnight
-
Four piece rock band playing and classic rock
-
Giacomo Jack's in Amityville
-
Half Mile south of Merrick Road (Montauk Highway)
-
So. Ketchum Ave.
-
Amityville, Long Island
-
631-691-2722
