Dave Amato - Early Years

Early Years

He was born and raised near Framingham, Massachusetts. At age 11, his first band was called "The Sandstones" with Steve Bremner on guitar, Gino Bonvini on bass (Dave played in later bands with them) and Gary Pegararo on drums, then "The Aftermath", "Dave and the Essex", "One Way Out", "Sledge-Hamma", "Ice" and "August". Dave turned down a record contract and an opening spot (with Sledge-Hamma) with Aerosmith. He felt he wouldn't achieve success on the East Coast. In 1980, Amato moved to the West Coast, pursuing his musical career in Los Angeles. He played a short stint with Black Oak Arkansas, did sessions with LaToya Jackson, and sang backing vocals for the likes of David Lee Roth, Rick Springfield, Kim Carnes, and Mötley Crüe.