#mitchryder

Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I can’t stop smiling. How I adore Liberty DeVitto, and would even if he wasn’t one of the greatest drummers of all time––Billy Joel's, iconic partner in music for 30 years. 

I’ve known Lib for 30-something years and every time I see him it’s better than the last. Like fine wine, except neither of us is having any––unlike how it was when we met. We talk about that - his climb to stadium rock, the magnums of red, throwing up on his shoes––before Billy, Mitch Ryder, Vanilla Fudge, meeting Billy, Stevie Nicks, Only the Good Die Young, what Lib brought to it, love and their marriages, and marriages, and marriages, Richie Cannata, Russell Javors, Doug Stegmeyer, The Billy Joel Band, how Billy gave up an enormous opportunity out of love, loyalty and respect for them, and how it fell apart after 30 years of stellar music, fame & friendship. Sobriety, perhaps contributing to Lib’s demise.

We talked about the silence between them in the years that followed, Lib’s resurrection, NYC Hit Squad with Ricky Byrd, The Lords of 52nd Street with the original BJ band, his bestselling memoir,   https://amzn.to/2CP8qrg, upcoming book about Santa https://amzn.to/3dS13li, and, his girls, girls, girls. Wife, daughters, and a new baby granddaughter, that is. The reconciliation with Billy, the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Band— playing and getting inducted into the Long Island off-shoot, and being featured in the rock doc, Hired Gun.

Life is grand, better than ever. Lib is happy and grateful. And so much damn fun! Couldn’t adore him more. Sitting down with Lib is like going home and being with family. The one you dig. 

Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/24/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

Today, Live! 1 of the greatest iconic rock drummers of all time, Billy Joel's, Liberty Devitto, also a bestselling author, and a long-time great friend, will be sitting down & banging it out with moi.

Liberty's an active session and touring musician who's worked with Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Karen Carpenter, Stevie Nicks, Rick Wakeman, Bob James, The Beach Boys, Meat Loaf, and more, more, more. His memoir, LIBERTY, Life, Billy, and the Pursuit of Happiness, hit #1 on Amazon [https://amzn.to/2CP8qrg](https://amzn.to/2CP8qrg), and his upcoming Love, Santa Claus: A humble-hearted Christmas story is poised to do in kind. https://amzn.to/3dS13li

A drummer’s drummer, Lib, along with Sax player Richie Cannata and the rest of the Billy Joel Band, was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Liberty's an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the USA. Along with Billy Joel Band members, Richie Cannata, and Russell Javors, Liberty formed The Lords of 52nd Street and play their original hits. Additionally, along with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd, of the Blackhearts, Liberty plays with the NYC Hit Squad and Ricky’s Clean Getaway. Liberty remains a band member for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, lectures globally for Sticks and Skins, and the Sessions panel, and is a founding member of The NYC Hitsquad. Lib was featured in the rock doc, Hired Gun.

More than all that, Liberty's a gas. He's funny, a great storyteller, a devoted father and husband, and a fabulous human being. I've loved this man for decades, watched him slay the sticks innumerable times, and witnessed him besting the best in "battle." A big juicy slice of home, my heart, and no doubt my accent will be on my sleeve.

Can't wait for the laughs, the fun, and the stories!

Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 8/24/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streaming Live on my Facebook

http://bit.ly/2y47ZCi

January 1966 - Mitch Ryder releases “Jenny Take A Ride”