GRAND ILLUSION - 500 Word BIO:
Since the 1990s, GRAND ILLUSION has been stunning local and regional audiences with their impossibly accurate performances of STYX tunes. Playing shows from northern Quebec, Canada to southern Pennsylvania, USA, and just about everywhere in between, GRAND ILLUSION continues to play to “fire-code-breaking” crowds, faithfully recreating the feel of arena concert events of the 1970s, earning them an impressive 8+ awards at the Buffalo Music Awards in just their first 3 years together!
By associations through friends of friends, a GRAND ILLUSION demo cassette tape found its way into the hands of STYX members backstage during their "Edge of the Century" tour and they were blown away.
During their first listen, an uneasy tension was felt by STYX members as if they were more than flattered by the tribute. Later, STYX guitarist James Young spoke of their trepidation confiding in the boys that GRAND ILLUSION sounded so hauntingly genuine to the original versions, for a few seconds after their first listening to the demo, JY and Dennis DeYoung among others thought the tape was an unauthorized bootleg recording of their own performance.
When they realized they were hearing a tribute band, they just HAD to meet these guys! Backstage VIP invites soon followed, and a couple of weeks later, GRAND ILLUSION was backstage partying with STYX. Ultimately, STYX was flattered beyond words and immediate friendships were forged. GRAND ILLUSION has been and continues to be a perennial favorite at large concert venues performing for thousands at outdoor rock festivals, and they were the opening act for HONEYMOON SUITE and CHEAP TRICK.
Occasional reunions dotted Buffalo’s local club scene from 2000 to 2011 when the itch to recreate the magic and constant urging from their devoted fans prompted them to “light up” their amps, and unroll the backdrops one more time.
During this period, with the addition of Ric Stave on bass guitar, Rick, Jon, Ric & former member of GRAND ILLUSION Brian Scranton put together an equally impressive SCORPIONS tribute band called BLACKOUT.
Jon and Ric currently perform together with recent GRAND ILLUSION addition JOHN DANIELS & his wife, local music icon CAROLYN DANIELS in the gifted local cover band PASSION WORKS.
After its members collectively have spent decades honing their craft, GRAND ILLUSION is better than ever, as comfortable on stage in front of arena sized crowds as they are in more intimate venues for only a couple of hundred guests.
With Ric Stave on bass guitar, Taurus bass pedals, keys & vocals, Jon White on drums & percussion working tirelessly on other projects, they still had room on their plates to answer the call when lead singer/keyboard player Rick Allen posed the question, “Wanna do it again?”
Fortunately for Rick and fans of STYX music everywhere, the unanimous reply was a resounding “YES !!” With the recent addition of world class virtuoso guitarist John Daniels, and the highly acclaimed performing guitarist/vocalist Scott Helfrich, this new and improved 5-piece lineup sounds bigger, fuller and better than ever!
With several great shows booked in and around Western New York you’re sure to catch them at a venue or event near you! Band Contact: Rick Allen Buffalo, NY 716-208-6582 [email protected]