DAVE VAN SKIVER
A.K.A. SCOOBY DOO
DRUMMER
Vocals

Dave has been playing drums for 37 years. Some of the bands he has played in, include "OFF LIMITS', "BAD HABIT", "IV PLAY", "SAFFIRE", "STRAITLACE", "RAISINGKANE", and "LUCKY NUMBER".

While growing up, his main influence was "Neil Peart" of "RUSH". Dave said, "There were so many other bands that influenced me, it would be impossible to list them all. I just really loved listening to all of the rock bands"!

When asked why he chose the drums, Dave said, "I just love the drums. I love playing and entertaining and all of the close friends I have made in the music industry, over all these years. I consider ROCK BOTTOM to be the most fun and the best band I've played in"

"Everybody in a band takes their cues from the drummer. If you have a sloppy drummer, a band will not be "tight". Scooby (Dave) is an accomplished, steady drummer that is easy and fun to work with! ROCK BOTTOM is lucky to have him!" - Keith

RICH WITZEL
A.K.A. - RW
KEYBOARDS
Vocals

Rich's love for music started out when he first opened his mouth. "My parents knew something was different when they brought me home from the orphanage! I wouldn't stop singing". He started taking violin lessons when he was 5 years old at "The Hochstein School of Music".  "I was hooked! I wanted to learn how to play every instrument. I took trumpet, tuba, euphonium, guitar, vocal and piano lessons". Rich also had a passion for theater. He performed in 8 musicals at 3 different schools.

"My influences were the singer/song writers, like Billy Joel and Paul Simon. I mostly played the piano to write music. I would play anytime, anywhere." In early July of 83' a show group called "The California Wind Children" came to his town. " I was kind of rude. They were doing a sound check before their show and I stared jamming with them on the piano. I ended up playing with them that night and then went on tour with them. We played in the northeast then crossed into Canada and played in towns and cities all the way to Vancouver and back down to Navato, CA. I was several weeks late for my senior year in high school when I finally came home."

Rich played the bass in his first rock band called "HUMAN FIGURES". He then switched to keyboards and has played in many bands like "ONE SHOT DEAL"(State Collage, PA), "BAD HABIT", "CIMARRON", "MIKE GLADSTONE AND THE MILE HIGH BAND", "LUCKY NUMBER", "JOSH BOYD AND THE V.I.P. BAND"(Toledo, OH) and "ROCK BOTTOM"
Rich also has worked on recording projects with artists like "Vic Cottengim" and "Chasin Powell" He was signed to an independent label, "THUNDERHEAD RECORDS", while playing with "IMAGINARY FEW". Over the years he has been in bands that opened up for "REO Speedwagon", "The Tubes", "Ronnie Montrose", "Chris Duarte", and "Steppenwolf"

"ROCK BOTTOM is a fun band. I really enjoy playing with these talented guys. Everyone in the band just seems to gel together and our sound man is one of the best!" - Rich

Keith Wing
Bass
Vocals

Keith is the “Founding Father” and only remaining original member of the Rock Bottom Band established in Y2K. Keith has played bass in the public eye for 40 years and is a solid bass player that brings intensity and high expectations for the band and it’s players. Keith’s hard driving style of playing compliments the bands music selections of AC/DC, Van Halen, Great White, and Nickelback. Keith would say, “What makes us different from the other locals is that we don’t play the same old crap other bands in the area do. It’s Classic Rock but harder edged.”

Keith was exposed to music at an early age taking violin lessons at Livonia school in the 5th grade, and continually influenced by his favorite Uncle, Dick Jopson & his country band the Northernaires (still playing today). At 13, Keith was called upon one night by his older brother Alan who needed a bass player to step in and play at a party at Hemlock Lake with the band Adam and the Firebirds. So the story begins…….

In the 70’s/80’s/90’s Keith was the lead singer of the then popular Wing Brothers Band based in the Southern Tier with his Brothers Alan and Wayne. Other Southern tier bands Keith played with were Tri County Express, Shilo, Knight Wing, and Bad Habit. Interesting enough two of the current Rock Bottom band members, Dave VanSkiver and Rich Witsel, both played with Keith and Wayne in different versions of Bad Habit during the 90’s.

Keith and his younger Brother Wayne (Hector) continued to play into the early 90’s with the band Bad Habit until Wayne’s unexpected death in 1996. Wayne was a character, the clown of the band, the entertainer. This tragic event triggered Keith leaving the music scene for several years only to be eventually drawn back to his love of music and entertainment with the creation of the Band, Rock Bottom. The original Rock Bottom members were Rochester’s own Steve NeuSatz, on drums, Bob Joy, on lead guitar, Pat Sellick, on keys.

Keith refers to today’s version of the Rock Bottom band as his family. Tommy Guile, on lead guitar, Scoobie on drums, Rich Witsel on Keys, and Matt Olmstead on vocals. And lets not forget Keith’s “Bro” Bret Johnston who has been running sound for the band forever, making our sound and our effects first class. We are the true band of blue collar brothers managing our everyday lives and “rocking-on” on the weekends. We are playing well together, having a good time, working hard and offering a good product.

Matt Olmstead
Lead Singer
Matt has been singing with Rock Bottom for about 10 years now, and loves it. He was born and raised a small town farm boy in West Bloomfield where he is still doing his thing along side his family. Matt's lead vocals are full of energy!  He has very strong, quality vocals with amazing range. Matt's early musical influences were musicians such as Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, and Great White. Rock Bottom is the only band that Matt has worked with. Matt says "I can't imagine working with another Band.... Rock Bottom Rocks"!

Bret Johnston
Sound Technician

Bret has been running doing sound in the Rochester area for 37 years .
Bands that Bret has performed with include: The Wing Brothers Band, Knight Wing, US Rocks, Concrete Angle’ , Babes and Bullets and for the past 10 years with the Rock Bottom Band.

Bret also helps out other local bands Lucky Number and Ebb Tide.
Bret owned and operated Gates Sound for 5 years, running sound for numerous Rochester bands as well as shows for WBBF and WCMF.
“Bret’s dedication and sound experience expertise to the Rock Bottom Band has been outstanding. Bret’s ability to add effects to instrumentation and voices is what separates the Rock Bottom Band from the pack.” Keith

Tom's favorite axe is his Ibanez RG420. He also brings his Les Paul and Strats to the gigs. For a rig, he uses a Line 6 Vetta head through a Mesa Boogie 4x12 cabinet.

"Tom is an old-school rocker. He does a great job of shaping his sound to fit the songs" R. W.