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Roll over, Beethoven--make room for The Classics

By Shannon Burkey

Watching The Classics rock out to the hit tunes of the 1960s and '70s in front of adoring fans, you would never guess that by day you can find these guys in suits and ties working in some of the area's largest technology companies.

"It's quite remarkable. During the day we're all Silicon Valley executives, and at night we're 16 and 17 again," Classics lead guitarist Steve Stone said.

Stone, a Santa Cruz resident and the lone American in the band that is made up of British and Scottish men from Saratoga, Los Gatos and Campbell, said he won't be quitting his day job anytime soon, but that he and the rest of the guys knew they could make the band a success.

The Classics came about three years ago when Saratoga resident Barry Jones' wife told him he needed to get a hobby because she didn't want to see him hanging around the house doing nothing once he retires from his job at Sun Microsystems.

Jones took her advice to heart and began to think about what he might want to do. As a youngster, he always longed to learn to play the guitar but was never able to get the hang of it. He decided to try again.

"I bought Guitar for Dummies and decided to give it a go," Jones said, adding that he surprised himself with his abilities to learn it so quickly this time.

Since he was now able to get the hang of it, he decided to take it a step further and start a band.

"No one had really met each other before, but the chemistry worked and we put together a band," Jones said. "We've been solid ever since."

The group began practicing in Jones' garage, then held its first gig in his living room with 12 people in the audience.

"It was such a hit that we started doing it every few months," Jones said. "I've always hoped we'd get to something like this. I think we've got a formula."

Saratoga resident Eddie Sweeney, who by day is a senior vice president for National Semiconductor, said playing drums in the band is a great way for him to let his hair down after work.

"It's fun playing with a bunch of old guys who share the love of the same type of music," Sweeney said. "There are so many people who remember the music from the '60s and '70's, so it's like reliving our teen years."

Since their first show in Jones' living room, the group has developed a following of people who love the music of the Drifters, the Searchers, the Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison that they play. They have also branched out to play corporate gigs and played at Touch My Heart fund-raiser in Los Gatos last year.

Carmel Scott, Jones' longtime friend, has turned into a big fan of the band and often attends the living room parties they throw.

"There are a lot of us 50-plus-year-olds around, and they play the music we grew up with," Scott said. "It gives us a chance to let our hair down and have a little fun."

Stone said the response to the band is tremendous, and he thinks they really have discovered a musical niche.

"We're in a demographic of baby boomers, and you don't find this type of music out there. I think that's why we're getting the response we are," Stone said.

The band is now gearing up for its biggest show yet, a benefit to raise money for the American Heart Association.

Eighteen months ago, Jones had to undergo open-heart surgery. After his recovery, he and the rest of the guys felt lucky and decided to do something good with their music.

"It was a shock to have one of our very close friends discover within 24 hours that he had to have open-heart surgery," Sweeney said. "We have a lot to be thankful for and want to support what the American Heart Association is doing."

Stone said that if all goes well with this benefit he would like to see them do more in the future.

"We enjoy playing professionally, but how much money we make isn't significant. So doing something like this is really good for us," he said.

The Classics will be joined by the BBC, a Beatles tribute band, at a concert to benefit the American Heart Association on April 14, 7:30-11 p.m. at the Saratoga Community Center, 19655 Allendale Ave. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/13246 or by calling 800.838.3006.