Keys2Eden

When Johnny Cappelletty was in grade school, he was hanging out backstage with Ozzy Osbourne and members of the rock bands Van Halen, the Who, and REO Speedwagon.

“As a 10-year-old, I didn’t really think about how my life was different than other kids’,” he said in an interview this week. “I started playing drums when I was 2 years old. I grew up with rock stars and everybody in my life was a musician. I thought that was just a normal way to live.”

The Toledo rock and roller played in some of the area’s most successful bands, including Damien and Fetish Doll.

“With Damien, I was just out of high school when we signed a record deal,” Mr. Cappelletty said. “We toured, released two albums that sold worldwide, we had two videos on MTV. We were the most successful heavy-metal band ever out of Toledo.”

Then, almost exactly five years ago, Mr. Cappelletty said he had a spiritual revelation that proved to be life-changing.

It all started with a question from his then-8-year-old son, J.P.

“I was a lost soul, pretty much,” he said. “I think I rode shotgun with the devil for about 25 years. It’s not something I’m proud of but that’s just the way it was.”

Mr. Cappelletty said his wife had left him and he was driving through Toledo with J.P. when he ran a red light at Lewis Avenue and Alexis Road.

His son looked up and said, “Dad, what would ever happen if you went away like Mom?”

“I knew what he was saying — what if I got locked up?” Mr. Cappelletty said. “God spoke to me through my son. An 8-year-old kid could see the way I was living and I couldn’t see it. That was Oct. 6, 2002, and I’ve been sober ever since.”

About two years into his sobriety, Mr. Cappelletty began looking for a church.

“I wanted to get my son connected with God so I started visiting churches and when we got to CedarCreek, he said, ‘Dad, this is it. I love this place.’”

Mr. Cappelletty soon began playing drums in CedarCreek’s worship band, and in December, 2005, formed the Christian rock band Keys2Eden with singer Scott Miller, guitarist Tony Ramirez, and bassist Nep Sindel.

All of the musicians knew one another from earlier days, when they played in local rock bands and garage bands. But four had since developed “a passion for God,” as Mr. Cappelletty put it.

The group has just finished production of its debut disc, “Trials,” and will hold a CD release concert Friday night at CedarCreek with special guests Pawn.

“People in the audience who knew me when can’t believe it when they see me up there now,” Mr. Cappelletty said.

He also plays drums with the Hunter Brucks Band, with whom he has opened concerts this year for such stars as Chris Daughtry, Ted Nugent, Peter Frampton, Edgar Winter, and 12 Stones.

“Hunter has given me the opportunity to go out there and meet people in the industry and talk about my band,” Mr. Cappelletty said. “This is really cool stuff with Keys2Eden and I’m super excited about it. This is where my heart is.”

He said the group will play all 11 songs from “Trials” as well as some praise and worship music at Friday’s show.

Toledo Christian rock band Keys2Eden will celebrate the release of its debut CD, “Trials,” with a concert at 7 p.m. Friday at CedarCreek Church, 29129 Lime City Rd., Perrysburg Township, with Pawn opening. Tickets are $6 from Good News Christian Book Store, 2600 Woodville Rd., Northwood, and CedarCreek. Information: 419-661-8661.
— David Yonke

- David Yonke

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h43/damien66669/CCMMAGAZINE640-480.jpg - CCM