Vanity Crash

Born on stage under hot lights in the crucible of sound and fury.

Creating punk spunk and glam clamor.

Vanity Crash presents David Bowie in Cleveland

Friday, January 10 at the BOP STOP, Cleveland west

Saturday, January 11 at Jilly’s Music Room, Akron

Sunday, January 12 at Beachland Tavern, Cleveland east

Celebrating 10 years of performances honoring David Bowie, glam punk rockers Vanity Crash present the inside story of how Northeast Ohio came to host the artist’s first-ever US appearance in 1972, launching Bowie’s career outside of England.

David Bowie in Cleveland will be presented:
Friday, January 10, at the BOP STOP in Ohio City
Saturday, January 11, at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron
Sunday, January 12, at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern in Collinwood.

Half the show features brand new music and tunes pulled from Vanity Crash’s five albums of original material. Attendees will experience David Bowie classics and deep cuts alongside rare and exclusive video interviews with Cleveland radio pioneers such as Billy Bass and Danny Sanders, as well as experts and members of Bowie’s band The Spiders from Mars, who recall that life-changing first US performance in Cleveland.

VIDEOS

BIO

Vanity Crash was born on stage under hot lights in the 
 crucible of sound and fury as the glam-punk band The Angry 
 Inch in Cleveland Public Theater’s production of the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Ever since, Vanity Crash has been dressing up and throwing down with eye-popping 
 synchronized light shows, outrageous stage costumes and provocative attitude, opening for the likes of the New York Dolls, Poison, Semi Precious Weapons, the Darkness, and Gogol Bordello. The band placed songs in the movies Kingsbury Run and Hellweek. Their recent acclaimed tributes to David Bowie include timeless gems performed live alongside their own incendiary originals.

Jeff Niesel of Scene magazine says, “One of the only bands on the local circuit that keeps the glam rock flame burning brightly, Vanity Crash has been going strong for a decade now, pumping out good, gritty records with regularity.”

MEMBERS

Dennis Van Crash

Having played guitar for Queue Up, System 56, Verdanzen and The Times, Dennis has also composed original scores for numerous plays, including the musical version of Lysistrata and the recent hit at Cleveland Public Theatre, Shakespeare’s Titus. Dennis served as musical director and guitarist for the musicals Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. When not writing songs and playing guitar, you can find Dennis behind the camera creating videos and photographs.

Thomas Anonymous

Thomas has appeared in Letters From Camp, Modern Time, The Clean, Haywire and Cats on Holiday. He has performed in the orchestra pit for theatrical productions ranging from West Side Story to Music Man to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As a solo performance artist he has performed in theatres, cafes, bookstores and junkyards throughout the Midwest, New York City, Baltimore and Paris.

Matthew Angel

Matthew loves rock and roll — it’s in his blood. Many say he’s an old soul in a young body. At 22, he is most influenced by the blues of Stevie Ray Vaughn and the hot licks of AC/DC. This persuaded him to get his signature SG guitar. Being in Vanity Crash was exactly what Matthew needed. It had been years since he was in a band, and to find such a good set of musicians that love playing and creating music, it is truly a gift.