SongVault Artist Profile

Edit BIO: How did you get started? What is your story? Formed in 1983 Diver was early 1980's AOR at it's best. Founding members Art DeMatteis (Vocals), Eric Rocco (Guitars), and Bill Willets (Guitar), were 3 young performers with a considerable amount of raw determination in their music. The band was influenced by the big Rock acts of the time including: Asia, Journey, Foreigner, Reo Speedwagon, Survivor, Rainbow, Rush, and Night Ranger. The band performed in Northern NJ during the early to mid 1980's and wrote some catchy originals songs. The band tried different drummers including Tibor Bodner from Bogota, and session man Steve Permuy from Teaneck. The band had enough original material by 1985 to put together an EP. The band considered entering the studio in order to record some demos for their "Coming up for Air" EP. Artistic rifts developed and the band was pretty must done by 1986. Each member went their own musical and professional ways until a phone call from DeMatteis to Rocco in December of 2006. Plans are now under way for a Diver reunion jam sometime in April of 2007. The Reunion Jam was a blast! Diver cut 2 songs and will continue to work on more recording for a new compilation entitled "Fathoms"....which is a collection of songs from the very early days of MTV (1981-85). After a full year of recording, Bill Willets leaves Diver to pursue other musical interests in June of 2008. He is replaced by guitarist Larrey Browne of Red Bank. Larrey recorded with the band High Street on their album "Down with the Brown", and was the guitar tech for the legandary Doobie Brothers back in the mid 1980's. Additionally, the band features some keyboard work by Katalyst synth man Brian O'Sullivan. Diver continues recording both original and cover songs every 3 months. Formed in 1983 Diver was early 1980's AOR at it's best. Founding members Art DeMatteis (Vocals), Eric Rocco (Guitars), and Bill Willets (Guitar), were 3 young performers with a considerable amount of raw determination in their music. The band was influenced by the big Rock acts of the time including: Asia, Journey, Foreigner, Reo Speedwagon, Survivor, Rainbow, Rush, and Night Ranger. The band performed in Northern NJ during the early to mid 1980's and wrote some catchy originals songs. The band tried different drummers including Tibor Bodner from Bogota, and session man Steve Permuy from Teaneck. The band had enough original material by 1985 to put together an EP. The band considered entering the studio in order to record some demos for their "Coming up for Air" EP. Artistic rifts developed and the band was pretty must done by 1986. Each member went their own musical and professional ways until a phone call from DeMatteis to Rocco in December of 2006. Plans are now under way for a Diver reunion jam sometime in April of 2007. The Reunion Jam was a blast! Diver cut 2 songs and will continue to work on more recording for a new compilation entitled "Fathoms"....which is a collection of songs from the very early days of MTV (1981-85). After a full year of recording, Bill Willets leaves Diver to pursue other musical interests in June of 2008. Guest guitarist Larrey Browne of Red Bank joined the band for their recording of the Night Ranger cover "Sing Me Away". Larrey recorded with the band High Street on their album "Down with the Brown", and was the guitar tech for the legandary Doobie Brothers back in the mid 1980's. Additionally, the band features some keyboard work by Katalyst synth man Brian O'Sullivan. Diver continues recording both original and cover songs every 3 months