7th heaven is one of 13 bands selected to open for Bon Jovi's The Circle Tour at stops across the U.S. and Canada. Nashville-based rock group The Worsties also will play the Soldier Field show. Their Chicago area fans helped 7th heaven win the Bon Jovi Superband contest on OnStage.com. The band entered their original song "Better This Way" from their USA/UK album. 7th heaven finished first in the on-line voting. But before they got the job, the band and the song were reviewed by Jon Bon Jovi and a panel of judges. 7th heaven got the final nod from Bon Jovi himself. The band's founder Rich Hofherr got the word by phone about winning the contest, but he had to hold that secret for 3 days, until the official announcement was made. He announced it to the band while recording it for a reality show to be pitched to a network later this year.
7th heaven is made up of Rich Hofherr (Guitar/Vocals), Keith Semple (Lead Vocals), Nick Cox (Guitar/Vocal), Mark Kennetz (Bass/Vocals) and Mike Mooshey (Drums). Life-long friends Mike and Richie meet in third grade at Brentwood Elementary School in Des Plaines; they formed 7th heaven a few years later when they were 15. The name came from the song "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley which drummer Mike came up with after listening to that song on Happy Days; the lyrics says "6 and 7 will be riding in 7th heaven." Rich now lives in Streamwood and Mike lives in Algonquin
Nick came along a few years later after working with Richie Hofherr on a benefit CD; he's originally from Rogers Park and now live in Mount Prospect. Mark was discovered after Richie went to see a singer's audition and was more impressed with the bass player's performance. Mark is from Carol Stream. Richie discovered Keith on My Space, when he was looking for singers that sound like Byran Adams. Keith is from Larne in Northern Ireland, and has a Gold Record on Jive Records; he won the British Version of American Idol called Pop Stars.
With 250 bookings a year, 7th heaven has set attendance records at major night clubs across the tri-state region. They have sold nearly 50,000 CDs and their digital offerings are available on iTUNES and, Amazon. Listen to Cubs' games on TV and you will hear their current hit "This Summer's Gonna Last Forever." 7th heaven also performed the National Anthem at the United Center before the Bulls-Lakers game which was televised worldwide. Six songs of their songs were used in the film Lizzy and one in Light Years Away. They write and perform TV and radio commercials; clients include Empress Casino and Walter E Smithe. They are releasing a box set of 500 original songs called Juke Box.
To hear their music or learn more, go to 7thheavenband.com
Bon Jovi and Kid Rock with 7th heaven
7pm Friday
Solider Field, Chicago
www.ticketmaster.com
