By Tim Schmitt>
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
Many of the elder statemen of the senior concert circuit are missing integral pieces to the lineups that comprised them when at their peak.
For example, a recent appearance of the Guess Who at Artpark's Tuesday in the Park series saw the band with only the original bassist and drummer, yet the name remains the same.
Give credit, then, to Creedence Clearwater Revisited, a band that simply wants to play homage to the songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the popular group that produced a string of hits throughout the 1960s and into the early '70s.
Since the Fogerty brothers — rhythm guitarist Tom and his charismatic brother and lead singer John — have never been a part of the project, former CCR bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford decided to change the name right from the new band's inception.
Creedence Clearwater Revisited, founded in 1995 after a friend was trying to promote some concerts, never set out to record new music or fool people into thinking they're the original CCR.
“One of the premises of this project is to honor the original band’s work,” Cook told the Biloxi Sun-Herald. "And that’s the way fans want to hear it."
The new lineup — if you can call it that, considering the 15 years the band has been touring – once featured Cars' guitarist Elliot Easton, but he's long since left. Now, Steve Gunner (guitar), John Tristao (vocals), and Tal Morris (guitar) have joined Clifford and Cook.
Expect a number of the classics when the band plays Artpark on Tuesday, with "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," "Suzie Q," and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" among the possibilities.
The band's mantra has been simple in its 75-or-so dates it plays each year.
"Come party with us," Clifford said.
Although the experience will be different than the original CCR, the band is still banking that fans will appreciate it.
“You’re going to hear your favorites and maybe some you’ve forgotten about,” Cook said. “We cover the most popular and then throw in some we like that may have gone by under the radar, depending on how much of a fan you are."
