With a fifty year history that includes arena-rock explosives and an excitable fanbase that apparently led to a lifetime ban from what was once known as the Stanley Theatre (now the Benedum Center for the Performing arts), the glam rock band Angel and their supporting act Starz have a rich history that has evolved over the years much like that historic landmark.
With Angel having been discovered by KISS bassist Gene Simmons and Starz getting their start in 1975 with management from original Bill Aucoin, they seem a likely pairing as both bands have made their mark on a genre that bred bands like Motley Crue, Poison and many more…And, local fans were lucky enough to catch the last date on the double-billed tour at Jergels in Warrendale, PA on Sunday night, where local openers Big Bad Scary kicked off the night with a stacked list of cover tunes from bands that no doubt were influenced by these living legends.
Starz made their mark on the glam rock scene with frontman Michael Lee Smith and guitarists Richie Ranno and Brendan Harkin, who were joined by the duo of Pieter Sweval and Joe X. Dube coming from the pop band Looking Glass. Many will recognize Looking Glass as the band that gave us the chart-topping 1972 hit “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” which was prominently featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 by director James Gunn, who integrated the song directly into the film’s narrative script as a vital storytelling device much like he’s done with classics from Hanoi Rocks and other glam legends for the TV series Peacemaker with John Cena.
The modern day line-up of Starz features New York’s Doug Palmer on lead vocals. He was chosen to supply the powerhouse vocal sound necessary to deliver the band’s biggest hit single “Cherry Baby” and other classics like “(She’s Just A) Fallen Angel” in their original, heavy-hitting keys for this multi-city tour. The current line-up also features bassist Chris Tristam and guitarist Jason Draven along with founding members Richie Ranno on lead guitar and Joe X. Dube on drums, however, this run of dates featured guitarist Fred Gorhau (Wizards of Winter, Always Jovi) trading licks with Richie as Jason Draven (Rubix Kube (The ’80s Strike Back Show), Double Vision) had other commitments. Gorhau’s recent addition to the line-up was seamless as he and bassist Chris Tristam already have a musical history as former bandmates in Ted Poley’s (Danger Danger) solo band.
While I wasn’t even around when this band began and was merely a toddler when their early albums were released, I was surprised how much of the set list I’d recognized when I gave them a spin on Spotify. The band’s set kicked off with “Detroit Girls” and naturally included the above mentioned favorites, but I was surprised to hear only a snip of “So Good, So Bad” as an instrumental outro to “Last Night I wrote A Letter” from their 1978 Coliseum Rock album as that one is still stuck in my head.
Ironically, as I began working on my edits for this coverage, I found myself drawn into a modern day battle of good versus evil when Adobe AI decided to drop a demonic looking gothic-eyed person into my Angel photo as I attempted to remove a distraction. It made me think of how Angel was discovered by “The Demon” himself from KISS and how the while satin and angel wings would have looked in contrast to the fire-breathing, bat-winged monster that Gene Simmons portrayed on stage and how the publicist at their record label must have had a blast playing those contrasting images against each other.
This show brought the longest run of dates in the band’s 2026 Farewell Tour to a close, and it featured two founding members. Fifty years later, Angel still showcases the original voice of the band, vocalist Frank DiMino and the legendary riff-master Punky Meadows. They are joined by Danny Farrow from Punky’s solo album on rhythm guitar, Charlie Calv (Shotgun Symphony, The Bronx Casket Co.) on keyboards, Billy Orrico on drums, and Jonny Leigh on bass as a substitute Tommy Caradonna (Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, White Lion) who was unable to join on this tour.
The band lost their original bassist Mickie Jones in 2009 after a long battle with liver cancer. Additionally, keyboardist Gregg Giuffria (Giuffria, House of Lords) is no longer a touring musician due to his new role as a successful hotel and casino executive. And, while former drummer Barry Brandt had participated in other reunions, he is no longer actively touring with the band. Additionally, Angel has partnered with Deko Entertainment to release highly collectible, strictly limited 180-gram remastered bundles with autographs from all four surviving band members in celebration of the milestone.
Angel’s performance at Jergels may not have had the arena-level pyro of the past, but it still had the epic arena-rock sound and the white hot outfits they are known for. The band drew heavily from their classic Casablanca Records era, with highlights like the melodic hard-rock anthem “Don’t Leave Me Lonely.” The hit from their 1978’s White Hot album, which was written about Frank’s bathroom encounter with actress Goldie Hawn a few years prior at a birthday party in Hollywood was in good company with cuts like the sing-along “Rock & Rollers” and the epic “Tower,” which ended the band’s set in contrast to their early years where the band used the song to make a theatrical entrance.
In addition to the farewell tour, Angel is putting the finishing touches on a brand new 12-song studio album to be released via Cleopatra Records. While this heavy spring run wrapped up at Jergels, Angel is continuing solo dates and festival appearances through the rest of the year including August 6th at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA and August 7th at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA. They are also planning to reunite with Gene Simmons for his Legends of Rock Expo in Las Vegas, NV Sept 25–27th. And, they have fall appearances scheduled on October 28th at Shank Hall in Milwaukee, WI and another Angel & Starz show on October 30th at the Arcada Theater outside of Chicago, IL.
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen on 5/7/2026. All event photos © Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
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