About Us
Best Friends Girl – the #1 CARS experience
Best Friends Girl recreate the timeless hits of The Cars spanning a 35-year career, with over 23 million albums sold and having more than 22 songs on the Billboard top 100. The Cars undoubtedly left their mark in popular culture with notable hits like “Best Friends Girl,” “Shake It Up,” “Magic,” “Lets Go” and of course, “Moving in Stereo” which gained notoriety from its placement in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Best Friends Girl are comprised of lifelong, top-notch, professional musicians whose goal is to keep the music of The Cars alive with every performance!
The Cars' journey began with Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr collaborating on several projects in the early 70's. Ric and Benjamin eventually completed the lineup with Greg Hawkes, Elliot Easton, and David Robinson in Boston in 1976. In the confusion left behind from the death of disco and the angst of punk, they forged a new direction bringing together the synthesizer sound with classic rock and roll roots. It created a unique sound for the time and icon John Lennon became a fan stating, "I think The Cars’ 'Touch and Go' is right out of the fifties ‘Oh, oh…‘ A lot of it is fifties stuff. But with eighties styling.”
Best Friends Girl recreate the timeless hits of The Cars spanning a 35-year career, with over 23 million albums sold and having more than 22 songs on the Billboard top 100. The Cars undoubtedly left their mark in popular culture with notable hits like “Best Friends Girl,” “Shake It Up,” “Magic,” “Lets Go” and of course, “Moving in Stereo” which gained notoriety from its placement in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Best Friends Girl are comprised of lifelong, top-notch, professional musicians whose goal is to keep the music of The Cars alive with every performance!
The Cars' journey began with Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr collaborating on several projects in the early 70's. Ric and Benjamin eventually completed the lineup with Greg Hawkes, Elliot Easton, and David Robinson in Boston in 1976. In the confusion left behind from the death of disco and the angst of punk, they forged a new direction bringing together the synthesizer sound with classic rock and roll roots. It created a unique sound for the time and icon John Lennon became a fan stating, "I think The Cars’ 'Touch and Go' is right out of the fifties ‘Oh, oh…‘ A lot of it is fifties stuff. But with eighties styling.”
We Are
John Starr - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Like many young kids John's family thought it would be smart for him to learn how to play guitar, so at age 4 he began the roller coaster ride that has brought him here today. The lessons were a chore until he met a few friends that could play some instruments and then they put together a band and became musicians. Then in 7th grade he stepped on stage for the first time and the love affair began. Since then there have been thousands of stages and many different musician friends but the thrill has never gone away. Touring with several main stream acts playing guitar, bass or vocals, performing music has always been challenging and very rewarding. Along the way there has been a lot of song writing and also wearing the hat of a producer for some really cool acts. Now with Best Friends Girl he has settled down with 4 very talented professionals and loves every second that they get to perform together. The energy and the enjoyment have come full circle since the little boy first picked up his guitar.
Like many young kids John's family thought it would be smart for him to learn how to play guitar, so at age 4 he began the roller coaster ride that has brought him here today. The lessons were a chore until he met a few friends that could play some instruments and then they put together a band and became musicians. Then in 7th grade he stepped on stage for the first time and the love affair began. Since then there have been thousands of stages and many different musician friends but the thrill has never gone away. Touring with several main stream acts playing guitar, bass or vocals, performing music has always been challenging and very rewarding. Along the way there has been a lot of song writing and also wearing the hat of a producer for some really cool acts. Now with Best Friends Girl he has settled down with 4 very talented professionals and loves every second that they get to perform together. The energy and the enjoyment have come full circle since the little boy first picked up his guitar.
Kevin Gallagher - Lead Guitar
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Gary Bonneau - Bass
Born in Brooklyn New York and raised in the Pocono Mountains. My oldest brothers album collection was all i needed to be aware of how music moved me. With an acoustic guitar always lying about, i started to figure out pieces of songs and that was the beginning. In 1988 a friend asked if i wanted to join his band, but i had to play bass. so i traded my guitar stuff for a bass. i just went into the woodshed for a month and did the show. Loved it. During the 90’s i played in various cover and original bands from the Poconos, gigging the trip-state area. In early 2000 i hooked up with a couple of friends to work on original music and we became Eight Days Gone. Management, a recording contract and small tours (Bufalo to L.A) was very cool and made all the hard work worth every minute. Always Loved The Cars, saw them live, and excited to be in this band with this class of Musicians. |
Mike Weber - Drums
Mike Weber started out playing drums when his father sat him down at a drum set at age 7. From then on, he spent just about every day after school playing to albums like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Beach Boys. He continued to perform in school bands as well as local groups. Through his adult musical career, Mike has toured regionally and nationally, worked as a session musician and played in many original and cover bands. His musical career has afforded him to see many places and meet many fine people. "I would not trade these experiences for anything else and feel very lucky to have this talent" he states. Mike's musical journey has also led him to build a professional recording studio where he can expand his musical roots to music recording, engineering and production.
Mike Weber started out playing drums when his father sat him down at a drum set at age 7. From then on, he spent just about every day after school playing to albums like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Beach Boys. He continued to perform in school bands as well as local groups. Through his adult musical career, Mike has toured regionally and nationally, worked as a session musician and played in many original and cover bands. His musical career has afforded him to see many places and meet many fine people. "I would not trade these experiences for anything else and feel very lucky to have this talent" he states. Mike's musical journey has also led him to build a professional recording studio where he can expand his musical roots to music recording, engineering and production.
Tom Wooley - Keyboards
For about as long as he can remember, Tom has been fascinated by synthesizers and organs or any other keyboard based instrument that produces sound through electricity. By around the age of 12, he discovered Keith Emerson and that was it . . . playing keyboards became an obsession. Tom is a 30 plus year veteran of the NJ/NY music scene and has performed live or provided session work for countless original and cover acts over the years. He has worked with several tribute bands including The Reagans (80’s), Us Not Them (Pink Floyd), Evil Ways (Santana), Presence (Led Zeppelin), and Beginnings (Chicago). His love of quirky synthesizer sounds makes him a natural fit for The Best Friends Girl. Tom holds a degree in music composition and still composes/records whenever time permits. He is a voracious lover of all music styles and will happily listen to anything that doesn’t suck. He manages a well established music store when not on stage. He’s happily married with two outstanding teenage daughters.
For about as long as he can remember, Tom has been fascinated by synthesizers and organs or any other keyboard based instrument that produces sound through electricity. By around the age of 12, he discovered Keith Emerson and that was it . . . playing keyboards became an obsession. Tom is a 30 plus year veteran of the NJ/NY music scene and has performed live or provided session work for countless original and cover acts over the years. He has worked with several tribute bands including The Reagans (80’s), Us Not Them (Pink Floyd), Evil Ways (Santana), Presence (Led Zeppelin), and Beginnings (Chicago). His love of quirky synthesizer sounds makes him a natural fit for The Best Friends Girl. Tom holds a degree in music composition and still composes/records whenever time permits. He is a voracious lover of all music styles and will happily listen to anything that doesn’t suck. He manages a well established music store when not on stage. He’s happily married with two outstanding teenage daughters.