Here at ERV, we have a particular soft spot for the bar band. In the 1980s it seemed as though every city had a few of these groups - comprised of working musicians who generated a local following, hoping for their one big break. [The Pub Rock tag will direct readers to previously featured bands who fit the bill, with varying degrees of success.]
In Rochester, NY, Duke Jupiter was the prototypical bar band. Playing straight-ahead rock and roll, they were active on the scene from the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. And for a brief moment in 1982, it looked as if they might break through, thanks to their exposure on a new video music channel ... but sadly it was not to be.
"I'll Drink To You" was the lead single off the group's 1982 LP, Duke Jupiter I. The music video is a simple concert clip of them performing at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. The performance footage captures some of the energy of their live show (though the audience seems a bit .... sedate) and it was picked up by MTV, and put into rotation for a time. The song even charted - reaching #58, while the album reached #204.
Unfortunately, this was as close as the band came to breaking out, and in 1986 they played a farewell concert and broke up, ending a 13 year run. However, they have occasionally re-formed for reunions, though it is unclear if this will continue, as drummer Dave Corcoran died from cancer in 2018.
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