RASPBERRIES PREP THEIR RETURN
The Beat

By Melinda Newman

In our humble opinion, "Go All the Way" is one of the best power pop songs ever, which makes it all the more exciting that the Raspberries are reuniting for their first show in 31 years.

Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson, Jim Bonfanti and Dave Smalley are rehearsing for a Nov. 26 gig that also serves as the grand opening of a House of Blues venue in Cleveland.

And Carmen tells Billboard that there may be more shows coming, given the tremendous response to the 1,200-seat HOB date, which sold out in less than an hour.

A second Cleveland show is in the works, and "talk has turned to doing a House of Blues club tour including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago," Carmen says. "Someone also suggested Japan."

The Raspberries first considered a reunion four years ago, but Carmen says the offer from promoters would not have allowed the band to put on a show with the production values it felt its fans deserved. "My caveat has always been that there's a mythology about the band, and I don't want to burst that bubble. If we couldn't put on a good concert, I didn't want to do it."

But after playing HOB clubs with Ringo Starr in 2001, Carmen loved the venues' vibe. So when HOB approached him about the Raspberries' Cleveland show, "I thought if ever we were going to do it, this is the time."

Although tour plans are still tentative, Carmen admits he loves the idea of a group from the '70s that actually features all original members instead of a frontman and fill-in players. "But the best part is that for the first time in 30 years, here are these old dear friends who can be friends again."

While Carmen has made his living as a musician, his bandmates have found other careers: Smalley is a respiratory therapist, Bryson works with the handicapped and Bonfanti is a
car buyer.

But Carmen says they've all kept their chops. "Thanks to good attitudes and new technology, we sound better than we ever did!"

As for a new Raspberries album, Carmen says no one's thinking that far ahead—yet.

Billboard / October 30, 2004