20 Years and Counting
Shooting Star celebrated their 20th year as recording artists in 2000 with the release of Leap of Faith and a fall tour.
Shane Michaels joined as the band's new violinist in May 2000, replacing Christian Howes (1999–2000), who had replaced Terry Brock. Original drummer Steve Thomas returned to the fold in 2004 and singer Keith Mitchell left in the summer of 2005 after reported voice problems. In 2006, the group released the album Circles with Kevin Chalfant (ex-member of 707 and The Storm) handling the lead vocals. He was replaced in 2007 by Ronnie Platt who left the band in 2011 to work with Chicago band Arra: Shooting Star vocal duties were then split between Van McLain and Janet Jameson. Keith Mitchell returned as lead vocalist in 2012. Violinist Shane Michaels left the band in June 2008 to concentrate on another project, Flannigan's Right Hook, and was replaced by Janet Jameson. Bassist Ron Verlin, who'd left the group twice before (in 1984 and 1991), has taken temporary leaves of absence since his return in 1994. Dennis Laffoon covers the bass parts on keyboards when Verlin is not available to tour.
Original keyboardist Bill Guffey (William Guffey III) died on April 12, 2007.
The band's current lineup is Van McLain (vocals, guitar, percussion), Janet Jameson (violin, vocals, backing vocals), Dennis Laffoon (keyboards, backing vocals), Steve Thomas (drums), and Keith Mitchell (lead vocals).
Van McLain, Dennis Laffoon, and Steve Thomas also perform in the Overland Park, KS area as a trio - The Star Blues Band.
Van McLain will spend the first part of 2012 focusing on a solo project to be released by Alligator Records before returning to Shooting Star in the second half of 2012.
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Famous quotes containing the words years and/or counting:
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Amaru (c. seventh century A.D.)