Thu 3/25 @ 10:15AM
Cleveland rocker Michael Stanley would have celebrated his 73rd birthday on March 25, if he hadn’t passed away on March 5.
While the Michael Stanley Band was the subject of endless debates about why they hadn’t become as big a supergroup nationally as they were in Cleveland, it’s clear that no rock & roller better represented Cleveland’s rock & roll roots. He stood for the tastes, spirit and energy of Cleveland rock fans, which is why he continued to play to crowds of thousands years after MSB broke up in early 1987. He won’t be quickly forgotten.
Cleveland City Council has declared Thursday March 25 Michael Stanley Day in Cleveland. Local officials will be presenting his family with an official proclamation at 10:15am on the Rock Hall plaza. They’ll be playing his music all day at speakers around the city, and they’ll have memorabilia on display at the Rock Hall.
Dedicated fans can celebrate the day by listening to the two-part oral history interview that Michael taped with interviewer (and his former manager) David Spero under the auspices of Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present & Future. In the interviews, he recalls highlights and lowlights from his career and tells a lot of funny stories. Go here to watch the video.
CoolCleveland has also posted two slide shows of photos covering Michael’s and MSB’s career, from 1974 through 2020, taken by Anastasia Pantsios and Joe Kleon. Go here to see Anastasia’s and here to see Joe’s.