This page is going to have a year by year history of The Characters.It is currently under construction and information will be added on a daily basis .

*Please bear with us as the page takes shape.

Recording History

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['82] ['83] ['84] ['85] ['86] ['87] ['88] ['89] ['90] ['91] ['92]
['93] ['94] ['95] ['96] ['97] ['98] ['99] ['00] ['01] ['02] ['03] ['04]['05]['06] ['07]['08]['09] ['10]['11]['12] ['13]['14]['15]

The Characters1982 Birth of The Characters
September 12th 1982 Danny Solazzi(vocals/rhythm guitar),John Grecco(drums)Chris Roselle(lead guitar) get together for the the first time in Danny's basement.

Future Characters bass player Larry Muhlgeier attends the rehearsal to help John with his drums.

Although he does not own a bass nor know how to play one,he will eventually become the band's bass player within months.The boys are still teenagers and have know each other since Jr. High school. Sometime in December of 1982 they make their first recording in Danny's basement. The song is "Soldier of Love"originally by Arthur Alexander,but The Characters have learned The Beatles version from a BBC bootleg.

A few days after finishing the tape,Danny runs into Bruce Springsteen in Red Bank New Jersey and gives Bruce the tape.

/seton hall Feb 17,19831983 Playing out
The band does it's first live show at Seton Hall University on February 17th.Larry is now officially in the band. The set list consists of the bands favorite 60s and 50's cover songs.
Later that month they record in a proper studio for the first time.The songs recorded are Joan Jett's version of Nag,The Beatles I Should Have Known Better & Twist and Shout,The Rolling Stone's version of Chuck Berry's Around and Around,and a played from memory version of Wipeout.
This tape is made to get the band club work,and soon The Characters are playing night clubs around New Jersey.
During a show at Apples in Kenilworth NJ the band is seen by Billy Baker, a member of a top NJ area cover band "Strutter".He takes the band under his wing and The Characters finish out 1983 by playing their biggest show to date opening for Strutter.

/Railroad shot1984 The Characters Railroad poster

The Characters continue to add more original songs to the set list.

/seton hall Feb 17,19831985 The Characters on the Joe Franklin Show
In December The Characters perform "Maryann" on the Joe Franklin Show .

The Characters perform at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park New Jersey.

with Micky Dolenz1986 1st trip to California,Monkees and Rodney Bingenheimer
In 1986 Monkeemania was sweeping the country thanks to MTV airing "The Monkees" three times a day.A Monkees convention was being put together for August in Philadelphia.
The Characters auditioned to play the convention and got the job.
Up to that point the band was playing to audiences of 200 to 300 people.This was their first time in front of 1400 screaming (mostly teenaged) fans.
A convention was being planned in Los Angeles for September, and the producers booked The Characters for the show, and passed The Characters tape onto legendary disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ Los Angeles (106.7 FM). He started playing "Maryann" on the air and put The Characters in the opening spot for fellow New Jersey band Dramarama at The Roxy on L.A.'s Sunset Strip.. His support prompted the band to move to Los Angeles in 1987.Their song "This is Goodbye" appears on his album "The Best of Rodney on the ROQ".

The Characters returned to headline The Roxy in Los Angeles November.

The Characters fan club is started. The fan club put out four Characters Fanzines per year and a special Christmas cassette is give away free to all fan club members. Issue number one of Characters Fanzine is released in November and the 1986 Characters Christmas fan club cassette was released in December.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video1987 The Characters move to Los Angeles

The Monkee's Davy Jones,Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz join the Characters on Stage in New Jersey.

The Characters appear in The Monkees video Heart and Soul.

In April The Characters go to Hawaii for 2 months to record with The Monkee's producer Chip Douglas. "This Is Goodbye" will eventually be released on Rodney Bingenhiemer's compilation album "The Best of Rodney on the ROQ".

In August The Characters move to Los Angeles performing shows in Detroit Michigan and Seattle Washington along the way.

The Monkee's Davy Jones joins The Characters on stage at The Hollywood Place.

On 11/27/87 The Characters recorded "This Could be the Night," a song originally recorded by The Modern Folk Quartet (featuring Chip Douglas, who produced The Characters earlier in the year, and Henry Diltz, who sang the song,famous rock photographer who took the back cover of The Characters album. The song was written by Harry Nilsson, and produced by Phil Spector. Rodney Bingenhiemer asked the band to back Henry up on a new version of "This Could be the Night" for his "Best of Rodney on the ROQ" CD. Harry Nilsson attends the session and sang on the song too. "Frosty the Snowman" is recorded at the end of this session, and on 12/2/87 most of the skits for the 1987 Christmas Cassette are recorded.

Characters Fanzines issues number 2,3,4 and 5 and the 1987 Characters Christmas fan club cassette were released.

1988 Christmas with The Characters1988 Cover of The 1988 Characters Christmas fan club cassette

The Characters play several shows at The Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles.

Joan Jett and manager Kenny Laguna are guest on Rodney Bingenhiemer's Los Angeles radio show "Rodney on the ROQ" on KROCK. During the show Rodney plays The Characters song "Maryann". Kenny Laguna expresses and interest in the band and The Characters return to New Jersey to begin opening shows for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts.

The Characters open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at The Chance in Poughkeepsie NY, Bettey's in Winston-Salem NC, Johhny B. Good in Durham, NC, Nathan Goff Armory,in Clarksburg, WV, Mansfield University in Mansfield PA, US Naval Base in Groton, CT.

Lead Guitarist Frank King joins The Characters replacing founding member Chris Roselle .

Characters Fanzines issues number 6,7,8,and 9 and the 1988 Characters Christmas fan club cassette were released.

19891989 16 Magazine,Best Of Rodney on the ROQ

Rodney Bingenhiemer's compilation album "The Best of Rodney on the ROQ" featuring The Character's "This Is Goodbye" is released on Posh Boy records. " The Characters also play on Henry Diltz's "This Could Be the Night."

The Characters appear in 16 magazine. The Characters open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at York Fairgrounds in York, PA.

Characters Fanzines issues number 10,11,12 and 13 and the 1989 Characters Christmas fan club cassette were released.

with Joan Jett1990 Danny with Joan Jett

The Characters open for The Kinks In Maine and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at Lake Compound in Bristol, CT and West Point Military Academy NY.The Characters also play The Roxy in Los Angeles for the sixth time."Stuff This In Your Stocking" featuring The Character's "Home For Christmas" is released on Skyclad Records.

Characters Fanzines issues number 14,15,16,and 17 and the 1990 Characters Christmas fan club cassette were released.

19911991

Bassist Joe Russo replaces founding Member Larry Muhlgeier.

The Characters play CBGB's several times.

Characters Fanzines issues number 18 and 19 were released.

with Micky Dolenz on the set of Heart and Soul video1992 With Micky Dolenz on the set of Heart and Soul video

The Characters open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at Tuxedo Junction in Danbury,CT and Boppers in Stanford,CT

Hillside sound studio1993 In the studio with producer Jonathan Daniel

Recording begins on The Characters 1st Album.

Bassist Craig Colandro joins The Characters.

CD cover1994 The Characters release their 1st album.

The Characters release their 1st album and open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and The Chance in Pougkeepsie, NY.

Characters Fanzine issue number 20 was released.

Danny John Frank Craig1995 John,Danny, Frank, and Craig

The Characters play the Old Homestead,open for John Eddie, appear on WRLC radio.

John's basement1996 Frank,John,Craig,Danny

The Characters open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at Tickets in Amenia NY,The Metron in Harrisburg PA,Birch Hill in Old Bridge NJ and Cheer's in Wildwood NJ.

Santas Got a GTO1997 Santa's Got A GTO - Rodney on the ROQ's Favorite Christmas Tunes

Rodney Bingenheimer's compilation CD "Santa's Got A GTO - Rodney on the ROQ's Favorite Christmas Tunes" is released on Dionysus Records featuring The Characters' track, "The Characters visit Rodney". It is from their 1986 Christmas tape.

The Characters open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at The Tradewinds in Seabright NJ

Farchers1998 Past and Present members of The Characters

The Characters open for Peter Tork at Farcher's Grove in Union NJ and a show in Morristown NJ.

Retrofest1999 On stage at Rhino Records Retrofest in Santa Monica California

The Characters open for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at Birch Hill in Old Bridge NJ. Original Characters bass player Larry Muhlgeier rejoins the band.The Characters play Rhino Records Retrofest in Santa Monica California. The show is drummer George Messinsa debut show with The Characters.

Ray Manzarek2000 On Stage with Ray Manzarek of The Doors

Ray Manzarek from The Doors performs with The Characters on stage in Newark NJ.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2001 Larry,Rob,Danny,Frank,George

The Characters play Used to Be's, Joe Pops,Savoy's.Steve Lukather from the band "Toto" plays with The Characters at Used To Be's

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2002 Halloweeen at The Firehouse Pub Rahway New Jersey. Larry,Danny,George,Rob,Frank under mask

The Characters back The Monkee's Peter Tork up for a show in Newark New Jersey.

Cartoon2003 Atlantic City Rhode Island North Carolina and more!!!.

The Characters open for comedian Gilbert Gottfreid.The Characters open For The Nerds. Peter Tork of The Monkees plays with The Characters at The Super Mega Show 9/20/03

Sparro2004 Borgata Atlantic City,Jenkinsons

The Characters play regularly at Borgata Casino in Atlantic City and Jenkinson's in Point Plesant New Jersey. Drummer Dennis Diken of The Smithereens sits in with The Characters

Early Characters2005 The Early Characters released,playing The Hilton in Atlantic City.

The Early Characters released,The Characters play the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City and The Hilton in Atlantic City.David Bryan of Bon Jovi plays with The Characters at Used To Be's August 5th 2005

The Characters play with Peter Tork of The Monkees at The Firehouse Pub 11/19/05 & Penn Plaza Pavilion 11/20/05.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2006 The Characters

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub,Rhythms of the Night,Funky Monkey.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2007 The Characters

The Characters play The Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay Jamaica May 27th 2007

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub,Rhythms of the Night.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2008 The Characters

The Characters play with La La Brooks of The Crystals at The Firehouse 9/20/08.

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub, The Surf Club.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2009 The Characters

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2010 The Characters

The Characters with Phil "Fang" Volk of Paul Revere & The Raiders, Mary Wilson of The Supremes,Andy Kim, Hilton Valentine of The Animals,Ron Dante of The Archies, Elmo Shropshire Billy Hinsche of Dino, Desi and Billy, Walter Egan Beverly Bremers, LaLa Brooks,Johnny Barbata from The Turtles,Ian Lloyd from STORIES and John Ford from Strawbs,The Human Beinz at ROCK CON 7/30/10,7/31/10,8/1/10

The Characters play with Shirley Jones, Peter Tork and Don Ciccone at The Super Mega Show July 11th 2010 Fairfield NJ

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2011 The Characters

Davy Jones of The Monkees plays 5 songs with The Characters on October 8th at Cherry Hill Comic Con.

Songs include Daydream Believer, I'm a Believer, Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow, Cuddly Toy and A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.

The Characters open for Peter Tork of The Monkees on December 16th at Vail-Leavitt Music Hall Riverhead, NY.

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's,The Firehouse Pub.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2012 The Characters

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2013 The Characters

The Characters open for Three Dog Night April 12th Ridgefield Play House Ridgefield, CT

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2014 The Characters

The Characters open for Micky Dolenz of The Monkees At the Ridgefield Playhouse 8/2/14

The Characters play The Brady Bunch convention Hilton Meadowlands East Rutherford,NJ August 16th.

The Characters play with original E Street Band drummer Vini Mad Dog Lopez and Artimus Pyle from Lynyrd Skynyrd at Rock The Farm Benefit concert at Regan's Hallow Farm in Farmingdale NJ.

The Characters play with original E Street Band drummer Vini Mad Dog Lopez December 20th at The Firehouse Pub In Rahway NJ.

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's,The Firehouse Pub.

with Peter Tork on the set of Heart and Soul video2015 The Characters

The Characters play Session 73,Used To Be's ,The Firehouse Pub.