WHO WE ARE

Classic rock has always been a part of life for successful business owner Tim Vlcek, whose work schedule prohibited him from making music for years until he was finally able to get “serious” about doing so. 

Tim idolized Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page growing up, enjoys ZZ Top, Pat Benatar and Johnny Cash, and has always watched guitar players with an absolute laser focus. 

Starting a band was a lifelong dream for Tim who believes music transcends the human spirit in all kinds of ways. “Music has been my savior, it helped me beat cancer and takes me back to the most special times in my life.”

Diane Starr has been singing with Chicago cover bands "for years" and says she didn't  realize her vocal talents until she turned 21  and started singing karaoke at local bars. 

The Bridgeport native says her love of music blossomed growing up in a home filled with classic rock and oldies because the radio was always on!  She describes her taste in music as “eclectic” with a love for Stevie Nicks and other artists such as: Joan Baez, Billy Holiday and Patsy Cline. 

Diane adores performing and says the best part about being on stage is when she sees smiling faces in the audience. 

Proviso West alum Mike Patti, studied trumpet, keyboards and guitar, before he played bass in his early teens. After high school, he “made a run at being a rock star”, touring the country and recording. The pitfalls of making a living in music eventually changed his course; he got a criminal justice degree, became a cop, and continued gigging on the weekends.

Mike credits his favorite group, the Beatles, as the catalyst that “made him want to make music.” He also loves Yes, Pink Floyd and Weather Report, and favorites jazz legend, Miles Davis and Jazz Fusion's, Jaco Pastorius. 

Patti recently came back from an eight year hiatus from playing and is looking forward to playing with Lizzy. “I am so happy to be back !”

South Sider, John Rusiniak, first got into music quite literally by accident when he was hit by a car in his high school freshman year. Laid up for months, John spent his recovery learning how to play guitar. 

For the last fourteen years, John played with 5 ‘N’ Time, a band he started with his brother-in-law. “When Tim invited me to play with Lizzy and said they did ‘country’, I was excited to play some different music.”

Most influenced by Clapton, Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rusiniak says he loves blues, latin jazz and Vivaldi.

Long Island native Joe Manfre started playing drums in elementary school. He grew to idolize rock drummers with jazz backgrounds and played in numerous jazz and rock bands throughout his school years and beyond. 

Joe relocated to Chicago in 2018 with decades worth of experience playing with jazz, rock, blues originals and doo wop groups. 

Manfre feels he’s always been “fortunate” to connect with other musicians and continued to play with cover bands in the area – most recently with an Alman Brothers tribute band which he says was his “heart of hearts”. He appreciates playing with Lizzy because the group's cohesiveness “makes entertaining fun!”