The first single from the upcoming studio album, “Buffalo Rock City-II” will be a cover of Peter Criss’s “Love for Sale” on May 3, 2023. The song will be released as a digital download, exclusively on Bandcamp at https://buffalorockcity.bandcamp.com/track/love-for-sale. “Buffalo Rock City II” will be released this September on digital media, and as a physical CD, and via Bandcamp.

“Buffalo Rock City II” follows the critically acclaimed KISS tribute album, “Buffalo Rock City – Western New York’s Tribute To KISS” cited as “the Best KISS tribute album ever” by “Music and Food,” and the 2022 live album, “Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!” “Buffalo Rock City II” will also be a musical tribute to all things KISS. “Buffalo Rock City II” is spearheaded by Buffalo, New York native, John Jeffrey, who co-produced the first two releases. 

John is the “Ace” member of KISS THIS!, and–along with bandmates Kevin Blakita as “The Starchild,” Taylor Stursa as “The Demon,” and Julius Giambelluca as “The Fox”– they join cream of the crop Western New York musicians including “Buffalo Rock City” contributors Gene Schmidt, Jody Velletta, Shawn Przybylak, Nat Peace, Joe Teresi, and Debbie Knight from “Buffalo Rock City ALIVE!” Newcomers to “Buffalo Rock City-II” are Buffalo’s Larry Kremer, Kylie Velletta, and Valentino Rockgod, plus international favorites; these are players who’ve toured and recorded with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Motley Crue, Accept, the Hollywood Vampires, Ozzy Osbourne, Journey, the Plasmatics, the Ramones, Lillian Axe, Stryper, Tesla, Winger, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sons of Apollo, Hardline, Alcatrazz, Warlock, Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, and David Lee Roth. The “Love for Sale” single was mixed by Rochester native, C.Wood (Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Wayne Shepherd….).

The release date of May 3 for “Love for Sale” is significant, as it marks the 2 year anniversary of the passing of singer Phil Naro. A Rochester native, Phil was best known as the lead singer of Buffalo’s Talas (Version 2 aka “V2”), which toured with many top hard rock attractions, including Anthrax, White Lion, Quiet Riot, and Iron Maiden. Phil was also the lead singer for CRISS, the solo band of the original drummer from KISS. Naro wrote songs, performed, and recorded with CRISS in the early 1990s, but left the group prior to the release of their sole record in 1994.

One of the CRISS songs Phil contributed to was “Love for Sale.” He eventually recorded an unrefined version of the song in the late 1990s. This forgetten gem was finally remembered by Phil’s bandmates from Talas – bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mark Miller & guitarist Kire Najdovski; they recorded their new version of “Love for Sale” for “Buffalo Rock City II” as a dedication to the memory and legacy of Phil Naro. Though he doesn’t appear on this song, Journey’s drummer, Deen Castronovo suggested vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Sons of Apollo with Billy Sheehan) to sing for the song. 

(Deen plays on another song on “Buffalo Rock City II“!)

In advance of the release of the single, there will be a YouTube teaser clip, with a foreword from surviving members of Talas (V2), which can be viewed here 

All proceeds from the single and the forthcoming album will go to the Maria Love Convalescent Fund, a Buffalo-based charity, which provides interim financial assistance for the people in the community with convalescent care needs. 

For more information, go to:
www.BuffaloRockCity.com
www.facebook.com/WNYTribute2KISS/
https://buffalorockcity.bandcamp.com/track/love-for-sale