familiar faces

Familiar Faces and Names

Tony LaRussa

Sammy Hagar and his band are good friends of Dave. Dave is a huge sports fan, here he is with St Louis Cardinal's Manager Tony LaRussa and family.

Tommy Shaw of Styx and Dave. Photo from the Summer 2003 tour with REO, STYX, and Journey. Dave and Tommy have been good friends for many years. They have a lot in common as they both did time with Ted Nugent. Dave played in Ted's band, and Tommy Shaw was in Damned Yankees with Ted. Dave is holding his new Fender Custom Shop Double Neck Telecaster. Good friend Tommy Shaw

Rick Springfield Circa 1983 Dave did backing vocals for Rick Springfield.

Clowning around with Kim Carnes. Dave has the utmost respect for Kim, who he said acted more like "One of the guys" This photo was taken in 1984.

Julian
Lennon It must have been a thrill for Dave to work with Julian Lennon on the 1985 American Music Awards. John Lennon is the artist that Dave admires most. On the left is Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, on the right is bass player Ricky Phillips.

Left to right are guitarist Neal Schon (Journey, Santana), Dave, Johnathan Cain (Journey), and Mugs Cain. They all bet up at the NAMM show in LA. With buds at NAMM

Johnathan Cain With good friend Johnathan Cain of Journey. Johnathan was an important member of the network that got Dave started in the L.A. music scene.

Ted Nugent Promo

Ted Nugent promotional photo from 1986. It was Ted who gave Dave is first really big break. They remain friends to this day. This webmaster had the honor of meeting Ted in 2001. Ted was most gracious when he threw his arm around me, and said that any friend of Amato's is a friend of his. Thanks Ted for opening that door for Dave!

Richie, Dave, and Norm

Dave and Buddy Richie Sambora often meet up at Norm's Rare Guitars. Photo by Jason Gutierrez.

Neal Schon (Guitarist, Santana, Journey...) with Dave prior to the Volunteers For America benefit concerts. Photo courtesy of Tommy Shaw (Styx)and the Styxworld webpage. Dave with Neal Schon

March 2001, Dave participated in Mark and Brian's Celebrity Golf tournament. Dave's team took first place and raised over $31,000 for the charity. Last year's winner "Meat Loaf" had a hard time believing he'd been beat! :-) Photo courtesy of the Mark and Brian morning radio show on KLOS Radio, LA, CA.

Way to go Dave!

Dave with Larry Walker Dave with his buddy; Colorado Rockies baseball player Larry Walker. Taken in the REO dressing room Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, by Terri McGee December 30th 2000.

August, 2000, Def Leppard and REO were playing the same venue in La Cross, Wisconsin, but different nights. Dave ran into Phil in the hotel lobby, and mentioned a great guitar store around the corner. Off they went to "Dave's Guitars". Phil invited Dave to the Def Leppard show. He was blown away by how fantastic the DL show was. Dave admits he is hard to impress, but this was "impressive". The good folks at Dave's Guitars were kind enough to send this photo. Visit their webpage at www.davesguitar.com Dave with Phil Collen

Dave Pablo and Bob Here are Dave and his good friends, Pablo Gamboa, and Bob Quandt. Pablo is the tour manager for ZZ Top, and Bob is the tour manager for Ted Nugent. Many years ago, Dave toured with Ted as ZZ Top's opening act.

Dave with Bassist Bruce Hall's Mother. The young lady on the right is long-time Hall family friend and Speedwagon fan "Little Bitt". This is an updated photo from 2002. Dave with Bruce Hall's Mom and Little Bitt

Dave with Cher Sorry for the poor quality of this photo which was taken from the TV screen. Dave is performing with the Cher Extravaganza, Live at the Mirage from 1992. Dave was the Lead guitarist for Cher for several years even after joining REO in 1989. I'm trying to get a better photo of Dave and Cher, anybody got one?

Dave is having a little high school reunion with these ladies. Dave with High school Buddies


Sammy Hagar and his band are good friends of Dave.	Dave is a huge sports fan, here he is with St Louis Cardinal's Manager Tony LaRussa and family.
Tommy Shaw of Styx and Dave. Photo from the Summer 2003 tour with REO, STYX, and Journey. Dave and Tommy have been good friends for many years. They have a lot in common as they both did time with Ted Nugent. Dave played in Ted's band, and Tommy Shaw was in Damned Yankees with Ted. Dave is holding his new Fender Custom Shop Double Neck Telecaster.
	Circa 1983 Dave did backing vocals for Rick Springfield.
Clowning around with Kim Carnes. Dave has the utmost respect for Kim, who he said acted more like "One of the guys" This photo was taken in 1984.
	It must have been a thrill for Dave to work with Julian Lennon on the 1985 American Music Awards. John Lennon is the artist that Dave admires most. On the left is Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, on the right is bass player Ricky Phillips.
Left to right are guitarist Neal Schon (Journey, Santana), Dave, Johnathan Cain (Journey), and Mugs Cain. They all bet up at the NAMM show in LA.
	With good friend Johnathan Cain of Journey. Johnathan was an important member of the network that got Dave started in the L.A. music scene.

Neal Schon (Guitarist, Santana, Journey...) with Dave prior to the Volunteers For America benefit concerts. Photo courtesy of Tommy Shaw (Styx)and the Styxworld webpage.
	March 2001, Dave participated in Mark and Brian's Celebrity Golf tournament. Dave's team took first place and raised over $31,000 for the charity. Last year's winner "Meat Loaf" had a hard time believing he'd been beat! :-) Photo courtesy of the Mark and Brian morning radio show on KLOS Radio, LA, CA. Way to go Dave!
	Dave with his buddy; Colorado Rockies baseball player Larry Walker. Taken in the REO dressing room Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, by Terri McGee December 30th 2000.
August, 2000, Def Leppard and REO were playing the same venue in La Cross, Wisconsin, but different nights. Dave ran into Phil in the hotel lobby, and mentioned a great guitar store around the corner. Off they went to "Dave's Guitars". Phil invited Dave to the Def Leppard show. He was blown away by how fantastic the DL show was. Dave admits he is hard to impress, but this was "impressive". The good folks at Dave's Guitars were kind enough to send this photo. Visit their webpage at www.davesguitar.com
	Here are Dave and his good friends, Pablo Gamboa, and Bob Quandt. Pablo is the tour manager for ZZ Top, and Bob is the tour manager for Ted Nugent. Many years ago, Dave toured with Ted as ZZ Top's opening act.
Dave with Bassist Bruce Hall's Mother. The young lady on the right is long-time Hall family friend and Speedwagon fan "Little Bitt". This is an updated photo from 2002.
	Sorry for the poor quality of this photo which was taken from the TV screen. Dave is performing with the Cher Extravaganza, Live at the Mirage from 1992. Dave was the Lead guitarist for Cher for several years even after joining REO in 1989. I'm trying to get a better photo of Dave and Cher, anybody got one?
Dave is having a little high school reunion with these ladies.