Venice was started in Venice, California in 1977 by cousins Michael Lennon (born 17 July 1959) and Kipp Lennon (born 12 March 1960). Michael's brother Mark (born 28 March 1963) joined the band in 1978, followed by Kipp's brother Pat (born 9 November 1951) in 1980. Kipp and Pat are two of eleven siblings, and are younger brothers of the Lennon Sisters. Michael and Mark are two of thirteen siblings.

Members of Venice have performed alongside, or recorded with, Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...

, Don Henley

Don Henley

Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...

, Elton John

Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

, Heart

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Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...

, Phil Collins

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Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....

, Sting, Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...

, Cher

Cher

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, Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...

, Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....

, David Crosby

David Crosby

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, Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks

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, Billy Idol

Billy Idol

William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...

, Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald (singer)

Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...

, Dave Mason

Dave Mason

David Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...

, Tim Moyer, Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak

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, Robin Beck

Robin Beck

Robin Beck is an American singer. She topped the singles chart in the UK in 1988, and Germany in 1989 with her single "First Time", which had come to the public's attention via its use in a Coca-Cola commercial....

, Kenny Loggins

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, the Doobie Brothers

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, Styx

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, Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson

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, the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

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, Dolly Parton

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, Linda Ronstadt

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, Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi

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, Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon

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 and Dutch band Yellow Pearl

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. Tano Costa the original drummer of the band, is son of the Late Don Costa, who has produced to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka and many others from the 50's / 60's pop era.

Venice has been featured nationally on such television programs as Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, E! News Daily, CNN's Showbiz Today, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Jerry Lewis Telethon and Rick Dees' Into the Night.

To date, Venice has found their biggest success in The Netherlands. In 2003, the band won an Edison Award (the Dutch version of the Grammy) for Best International Artist, beating out superstars U2

U2

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...

 and Coldplay

Coldplay

Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...

. In that country, Venice's singles are a mainstay on radio, their tours sell out consistently, and they've been guests on countless television programs, most notably Two Meter Sessies, a popular prime-time program that has devoted three entire half-hour episodes to the band; the "Venice - 2 Meter Sessies" CD has gone gold.

The backing vocal duties on Roger Waters 2010 and 2011 tour The Wall Live

The Wall Live (2010–2011 tour)

The Wall Live is a worldwide concert tour by Roger Waters, formerly of Pink Floyd. The tour is the first time the Pink Floyd album The Wall has been performed in its entirety by the band or any of its former members since Waters performed the album live in Berlin 21 July 1990...

 are being carried out by Venice's Kipp, Mark and Pat Lennon (who replaced Michael following vocal difficulties exhibited during pre-tour rehearsals).

Members

The members of Venice are:

• Kipp Lennon
  Kipp Lennon
  Christopher "Kipp" Lennon is an American musician, and a founding member of the folk rock band Venice. His role in the band includes performing as a lead vocalist and guitarist.-Family:...
  
   - lead vocals
• Mark Lennon - lead vocals
• Michael Lennon - electric & acoustic guitar, vocals
• Pat Lennon - electric & acoustic guitar, vocals

Others who have performed with Venice include:

• Michael Boehle - percussion
• Martijn Bosman - drums
• Nick Bult - keyboards
• Tano Costa - drums
• Scott Crago - drums / percussion
• Dann Gillen - drums
• Mark Harris - bass guitar
• Chris Horvath - keyboards, guitar & vocals
• Monroe Jones - keyboards
• Matt Laug
  Matt Laug
  Matt Laug is an American drummer who has played with many bands/artists such as Alice Cooper, Slash's Snakepit and Vasco Rossi. Matt appeared briefly as the drummer on the debut album of Michael Michael in high school. With hits White Guys and Dear Mr...
  
   - drums / percussion
• Rich Mangicaro - percussion
• Paul Mirkovich
  Paul Mirkovich
  Paul Mirkovich is a Los Angeles native, and has been the band leader, keyboardist and duet singing partner for Cher for the last 16 years. He has also been the band director for Janet Jackson and Anastasia and a member of the multi-platinum bands Whitesnake and Nelson...
  
  - keyboards
• Bob Philipse - drums
• Kevin Ricard - percussion
• Alexis Sklarevski - bass
• John Vester - acoustic guitar
• Jamie Wollam - drums

Albums

• 2009 - Electric - Live and Amplified
• 2008 - Venice Home Grown
• 2007 - Garage Demos Part III (self-released)
• 2006 - Amsterdam (Universal/Flow)
• 2006 - A Band Called Venice (Flow/Japan)
• 2004 - Pacific Standard Time (Flow)
• 2002 - Welcome To the Rest of Your Life (Columbia)
• 2000 - 2 Meter Sessies (Universal)
• 1999 - Spin Art (Vanguard)
• 1999 - Christmas With Venice (self-released)
• 1997 - Born and Raised (Vanguard)
• 1995 - Garage Demos Part I (self-released)
• 1995 - Garage Demos Part II (self-released)
• 1990 - Venice (album/CD) (Modern/Atlantic)
• 1986 - Do It Yourself (self-released LP)

DVDs

• Venice Live (At The Royal Carre Theatre)
• Blue Paint (Music Video)
• 2 meter sessions (Harderwijk 1998 and Los Angeles 1999)

External links

• Venice Central - Venice Official Website
• Venice's MySpace page