Neverland Express Lineup History

[mlbf]

Contacted a few people and listened to an ungodly amount of shows to try and piece this together. Let me know if anything is incorrect or if you know of any differences from reality and this list.

I might post it in parts due to the length.

AFTER JANUARY 1974 - BEFORE DECEMBER 1975 (UNNAMED COLLABORATION)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Piano, Vocals - Jim Steinman

DECEMBER 1975 - EARLY 1976 (MEAT LOAF & JIM STEINMAN)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Piano, Vocals - Jim Steinman
Backing Vocals - Rory Dodd

EARLY 1976 - BEFORE OCTOBER 1977 (MEAT LOAF & JIM STEINMAN)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elen Foley (Occasional Role)
Piano, Vocals - Jim Steinman
Backing Vocals - Rory Dodd

BEFORE OCTOBER 1977 - AFTER FEBRUARY 1979 (MEAT LOAF / MEAT LOAF'S BAND)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Karla DeVito
Lead Guitar - Bruce Kulick
Guitar - Bob Kulick
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Joe Stefko
Keyboards, Vocals - Paul Glanz (Paul Gene)
Piano, Vocals - Jim Steinman (Temporary break during Summer 1978)
Piano, Vocals (Summer 1978) - Paul Jacobs
Backing Vocals - Rory Dodd

BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1981 - BEFORE APRIL 1982 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Pamela Moore
Lead Guitar - Davey Johnstone
Guitar, Vocals - Mark Doyle
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Terry Williams
Keyboards - George Meyer
Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Backing Vocals - Eric Troyer
Backing Vocals - Ted Neeley

BEFORE APRIL 1982 - AFTER MAY 1982 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Pamela Moore
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Mark Doyle
Guitar, Vocals - Steve Hunter
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Terry Williams
Keyboards - George Meyer
Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Backing Vocals - Eric Troyer
Backing Vocals - Ted Neeley

AFTER FEBRUARY 7TH 1983 - AFTER OCTOBER 10TH 1983 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Kati Mac (Guitar in June 1983)
Lead Guitar - Bob Kulick
Guitar, Vocals - Mark Doyle
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Wells Kelly
Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Backing Vocals (June 1983) - Doreen Chanter

AFTER AUGUST 5TH 1984 - OCTOBER 28TH 1984 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Kati Mac
Lead Guitar - Bob Kulick
Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Bass, Vocals - John Golden
Drums - Wells Kelly
Piano, Keyboards, Vocals - Brian Chatten
Backing Vocals - Doreen Chanter

BEFORE NOVEMBER 10TH 1984 - AFTER SEPTEMBER 9TH 1985 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Kati Mac
Lead Guitar - Bob Kulick
Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Bass, Vocals - John Golden
Drums - Andy Wells
Piano, Keyboards, Vocals - Brian Chatten
Backing Vocals - Doreen Chanter

SEPTEMBER 1986 - DECEMBER 1987 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elaine Goff
Lead Guitar - Bob Kulick
Guitar, Vocals - Alan Merril
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Keyboards, Vocals - Frank Doyle
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

FEBRUARY 1988 - JANUARY 1989 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elaine Goff
Lead Guitar - Bob Kulick
Guitar, Vocals - Alan Merril
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Piano, Keyboards, Vocals - Domenic Chichetti
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

JANUARY 1989 - FEBRUARY 1989 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elaine Goff
Lead Guitar - N/A
Guitar, Vocals - Alan Merril
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Piano, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

FEBRUARY 1989 - OCTOBER 1989 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elaine Goff
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Pat Thrall
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Keyboards, Vocals - Martin Gerschwitz
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

OCTOBER 1989 - LATE NOVEMBER 1989 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elaine Goff
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Pat Thrall
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Keyboards, Vocals - Paul Jacobs
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

LATE NOVEMBER 1989 - VERY EARLY 1990 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Elaine Goff
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Pat Thrall
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

VERY EARLY 1990 - MID-AUGUST 1991 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Amy Goff
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Dave Gellis
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - Chuck Burgi
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Elaine Goff
Backing Vocals (parts of 1990) - Cindy Thrall

MID-AUGUST 1991 - FEBRUARY 1992 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Amy Goff
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Dave Gellis
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Elaine Goff

MID-1992 - BEFORE JULY 1993 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Guitar (Studio Sessions) - Tim Pierce
Guitar (Studio Sessions) - Todd Rundgren
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Elaine Goff
Backing Vocals - Amy Goff

ABT JULY 1993 - EARLY JULY 1994 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Ruso
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Pat Thrall
Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Piano, Vocals (New York & Canada) - Jim Steinman

EARLY JULY 1994 - EARLY 1997 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Pat Thrall
Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Pearl Aday

1997 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Pat Thrall
Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander

ABT JULY 1998 - SEPTEMBER 2001 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Damona LaScot
Co-Lead Guitar, Vocals - Ray Andersen
Bass, Keyboards, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Tom Brislin
Backing Vocals - Pearl Aday

OCTOBER 2001 - DECEMBER 2001 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Damona LaScot
Co-Lead Guitar, Vocals - Ray Andersen
Bass, Keyboards, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Pearl Aday

EARLY 2002 - DECEMBER 2002 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar, Vocals - Damona LaScot
Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards - John Golden
Bass, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Pearl Aday

JANUARY 2003 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards - John Golden
Bass, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals (Amsterdam) - Pearl Aday
Backing Vocals - Sara Douglas

FEBRUARY 2003 - SEPTEMBER 2003 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - Renee Cologne

SEPTEMBER 2003 - JULY 2006 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Backing Vocals - C.C. Colletti-Jablonski

AUGUST 2006 - EARLY 2008 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Aspen Miller
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Kasim Sulton
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Mark Alexander
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Backing Vocals - C.C. Colletti-Jablonski

EARLY 2008 - SEPTEMBER 2010 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Backing Vocals - C.C. Colletti-Jablonski

OCTOBER 2010 - SEPTEMBER 2011 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther

SEPTEMBER 2011 - NOVEMBER 2011 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Violin, Vocals - Ginny Luke

EARLY 2012 - MAY 2013 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Patti Russo
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther

AUGUST 2013 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Lyssa Lynne
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Backing Vocals - Stacey Michelle

2013 ROCKTELLZ SEASON (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Lyssa Lynne
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Tish Diaz
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Backing Vocals - Stacey Michelle

2014 ROCKTELLZ SEASON (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Tish Diaz (Justin Avery for the last 3 shows)
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Backing Vocals - Stacey Michelle

EARLY 2015 - SPRING 2016 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther

SPRING/SUMMER 2016 (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Lead Vocals - Meat Loaf
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Tom Brislin
Saxaphone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther

[nightinr]

Great post! Really surprised at the lack of comments......

Does anybody know what CC Coletti is doing in recent years?

[Michael Marxen]

Respect!
And quite accurate though i.e. Ellen Foley joining Meat & Jim from 1975 (regarding a very reliable source).

[ajf33]

Great post! Really surprised at the lack of comments......

Does anybody know what CC Coletti is doing in recent years?

https://ccsings.cc/

[letsgotoofar]

Other people don't consider it the NLE without Meat (which is their issue, not mine), but he's top-billed as presenting it, and it does consist of members of the NLE both past and present... should we include the Caleb line-ups?

[Adje]

Caleb line-ups?
That answers the question for me. No.

Besides, they call it the Neverland Band, not Express
https://media.mlxxfc.net/front-cover.jpg

[letsgotoofar]

For the length of one album. Check their website again, or better yet, knowing you won't because... I dunno... pride, I guess, view this image:

https://imagery.zoogletools.com/u/310404/07ba41f30352f0b86f952a31a3d3c4b7a2042169/original/bat-bumper-11-4-18.png

Like it or hate it, at a certain point, it ceased to be a tribute and became the main outlet for his music in the live market. It's too early to say whether or not he'll return with anything besides a possible EP or album, but at present, there really isn't wiggle room. It is the NLE, it is his music, it does carry his endorsement. You can grow up or insist on holding your breath till your face turns blue, but it is what it is, at least until something changes.

[Adje]

I believe they changed it after it was clear Meat would not be able to tour with them (he would do some stories and Caleb would sing). So I just assume Meat didn't want his band name at the advertisement without him being part of it. So it seems the band with Meat is named NLE without Meat NLB

So the short answer still stands. No

The long answer: The Neverland Express is the name of Meat Loaf's band. That Caleb tour has no involvement of Meat Loaf. Just because some familiar faces play, it doesn't make it his band. So what now? Everytime John, Paul and Randy (I almost wrote John, Paul and Ringo :-P ) play a Meat Loaf song together, they are the Neverland Express? They do their thing and plenty of people think they do a good job. But I don't consider them to be Meat's band in this set-up. without the involvement of the leader of the pack. And I like the idea of the Neverland Band. It kinda says "This is who we are, this is who we miss" kinda thing.

That said, if you want to add them to the NLE list, nobody is stopping you. You merely asked a question about other's opinions which I answered ;-)

[mlbf]

I was going to add them to the list but their membership is confusing
It's hard to lay it out
Like Pat and Steve are in it but not
And Justin Avery and Tom Brislin are in it but never play and
It's all so confusing, if anyone knows their lineup history (neverland band, 2018-)
then please tell me :)

[letsgotoofar]

I can do that, if you want. It's not nearly as hard as people who seem to forget that I was mainly directing my question at you and not them make it out to be.

[letsgotoofar]

Now, saying it was easier than people thought didn't mean it wasn't hard, so bear in mind:


The initial lineups did not tour. I have thusly indicated when in the timeline they occur, and what these preliminary lineups were associated with.
When I list "Possible NLE Alumni 'Guests'" below, this refers to veterans of the NLE who were announced as having some level of possible participation. To this day, the band's website maintains that "We'll be adding more guest musicians here as well as other NLE alumni as their schedules open, giving them a chance to perform with us." This does not necessarily indicate they ever appeared with the band, merely that the door was open enough for them to be listed on the website at one time or another. (For example, Dave Luther has always been listed, but never -- to my knowledge -- appeared.)


Okay? Okay. Here goes...

JUNE 2018 (initial announcement as "Bat Out of Hell: The Concert"; DID NOT TOUR)
Lead Vocals - Caleb Johnson
Lead Vocals - Lyssa Lynne
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Danny Miranda
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxophone, Keyboards, Vocals - Dave Luther
Backing Vocals - Cian Coey
Possible NLE Alumni "Guests" - Steve Buslowe (Bass), Pat Thrall (Lead Guitar)

LATER IN JUNE 2018 (re-branding as "Back Out of Hell," from riders and equipment rental list at booking agency; DID NOT TOUR)
Lead Vocals - Caleb Johnson
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Vocals - Justin Avery

AUGUST 2018 (line-up featured on the album BAT: CALEB JOHNSON AND THE NEVERLAND BAND PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF MEAT LOAF)
Lead Vocals - Caleb Johnson
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Electric Guitars, Motorcycle Guitar - Paul Crook
Electric Guitars, All Acoustic Guitars - Randy Flowers
Bass - Steve Buslowe
Drums - John Miceli
Piano, Organ, Synth, All Backing Vocals - Justin Avery
Saxophone - Dave Luther
Strings (on "For Crying Out Loud") - Tom Brislin

SEPTEMBER 2018 - ?
Lead Vocals - Caleb Johnson
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Nick Dimichino
Drums - John Miceli
Keyboards, Vocals - Justin Avery
Possible NLE Alumni "Guests" - Steve Buslowe (Bass) (initially announced, but then replaced by Dimichino on the website), Danny Miranda (Bass), Pat Thrall (Lead Guitar), Tom Brislin (Keyboards), Dave Luther (Saxophone), Lyssa Lynne (Vocals)

It admittedly gets somewhat murkier from here on out. I don't recall seeing him listed on the website, but by comparing pictures of some 2019 gigs on their Facebook page to the headshots currently shown, it would seem Andy Ascolese stepped in on keyboards to replace / fill in for Justin during that tour.

DECEMBER 2019 (a list of band members per autographs on a "Christmas card" posted to Facebook)
Lead Vocals - Caleb Johnson
Lead Vocals - Cian Coey
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Nick Dimichino
Drums - John Miceli
Keyboards, Vocals - Andy Ascolese
Possible NLE Alumni "Guests" - Justin Avery (Keyboards), Tom Brislin (Keyboards), Lyssa Lynne (Vocals)

JANUARY 2020 - PRESENT
Lead Vocals - Caleb Johnson
Lead Vocals - Ginny Luke
Lead Guitar - Paul Crook
Guitar, Vocals - Randy Flowers
Bass, Vocals - Nick Dimichino
Drums - John Miceli
Keyboards, Vocals - Andy Ascolese
Possible NLE Alumni "Guests" - Justin Avery (Keyboards), Tom Brislin (Keyboards), Dave Luther (Saxophone), Lyssa Lynne (Vocals)

If anyone who saw the concerts remembers anything different or has something to add (the Wayback Machine only started covering the band website in the summer of 2020, apparently; setlist.fm and my own memory helped a little, but not much), chime in! If nothing else, it gives mlbf a list of leads to talk to. :P

[Adje]

2014 ROCKTELLZ SEASON (THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS)
Piano, Vocals - Tish Diaz (Justin Avery for the last 3 shows)

For the sake of completeness ;-) Justin joined them for the last shows in 2013. Tish only did the first -almost- six weeks. :cool:

[candlefrost]

Not really a member of the Neverland Band but a funny evening. At a show in San Francisco in January of 2020 (before the world closed down) they had no female vocalist so they brought a woman up from the audience to sing with Caleb and she was outstanding!