John Waite Plays The Suffolk

Suffolk Theater presents Grammy-nominated British born rock star John Waite on Saturday, November 12, at 8 p.m. Best known for being the bassist and lead vocalist of The Babys as well as the front man of supergroup Bad English, John Waite has been successfully writing, recording and performing some of the most listenable, enduring and appreciated popular music for more than 35 years — one cannot help but both recognize and marvel at the shimmering legacy of this British born rock star.

The ride began when Waite was tapped for The Babys who rocketed to Top 20 chart positions with a pair of infectious hits, “Isn’t It Time” from the band’s sophomore LP, Broken Heart in 1977 and the monster ballad, “Every Time I Think of You” off 1978’s “Head First.” But it was the album’s rhythmically aggressive and seductive title track where fans got their first glimpse of the authentic John Waite, a no-holds-barred rock ’n’ roll performer who devoted heart and soul to live performance and making sure every fan in the audience left the concert hall just as elated and exhausted as the band they’d paid to see.

After The Babys disbanded in the 1980s, Waite embarked on an abundant and prodigious solo career, ignited by the well-received release, “Ignition,” that featured the single, “Change,” which rode the AOR charts for weeks in 1982. John’s next solo effort, 1984’s “No Brakes,” barreled at runaway train speed to international acclaim and U.S. platinum success thanks to the smash hit, “Missing You,” which did not stop until it reached Number 1 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles, Album Rock Tracks and Adult Contemporary charts. Following shortly was his single, “Tears,” which was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. Other smash hits that came out of this formidable solo career include, “Every Step of the Way,” “If Anybody Had a Heart” and “These Times Are Hard for Lovers.”

In 1988, a reunion with former Baby’s band mates, Jonathan Cain and Ricky Phillips — along with uber-guitarist Neal Schon from Journey and drummer Deen Castronovo — resulted in the John Waite fronted supergroup, Bad English. And in 1989, the group’s ballad, “When I See You Smile” — penned by Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren — went to Number 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was certified Gold. The album reached Top Five and sold more than two million units in the U.S. alone. Bad English went on to release two albums before breaking up in 1992.

Since returning to the recording studio and concert trek as a solo artist in 1995, Waite has produced a string of solid, existentially eccentric, courageously eclectic and blisteringly electric rock ’n’ roll records. Navigating raucous rock, gutbucket blues, and country, Waite’s new greatest hits album is a thrilling snapshot representing the inspired artistic breadth of this legendary artist’s entire career tallying more than 40 years on the rock and roll highway.

At this performance at The Suffolk, John Waite will be supported by acoustic guitarist Frank Viele. Up until now, Viele has been something of a regional secret throughout New England. His quadruple-threat reputation as a singer, guitarist, songwriter and performer is unrivaled, as recognized by the New England Music Awards for Album of the Year, Male Performer of the Year, and Live Act of The Year. Audiences around the country have begun taking notice as Viele plays in further-flung venues. Since his first album, “Fall Your Way,” dropped in 2015, he’s been called to open for Will Hoge, Blues Traveler, Lee DeWyze, Zach Myers of Shinedown, The Marshall Tucker Band, and in his somewhat wonderstruck words, “artists who have been on my personal playlists for years.” So all the pieces are in place to establish Frank Viele as a musical phenomenon far beyond his home base.

Tickets for John Waite range from $45 to $65 at suffolktheater.com. Suffolk Theater is at 188 East Main Street, Riverhead.