Shea Quinn’s The Band Who Sold the World is celebrating 10 years as one of the Mid-State’s most iconic tribute shows. Rumors have been flying, and it appears the band has decided to go out on a high note. The August 22nd and 23rd performances at the West Shore Theatre will mark the final shows for the David Bowie tribute act founded by Scott Frange and Shea Quinn back in 2015.
The band, led by Shea Quinn—former member of Central PA’s infamous Sharks, along with other bands including Jet Silver, The Pikers, and The Luv Gods—has shared the stage with the likes of Jeffrey Gaines, Bret Michaels, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, and many other notable musicians over the years. Shea’s passion for all things Bowie started early, and even in his Sharks days, you could see Bowie’s influence in how he commanded the stage. His expressive gestures and signature facial expressions have always been a defining part of his performance style.
Scott Frange, on bass, was the driving force behind starting The Band Who Sold the World. A world-class bass player, he’s been part of the Central PA music scene since the 1970s, performing with bands like New Found Freedom and helping nurture local talent—including playing with Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale in her early years. Scott is like a living encyclopedia of local music lore. As the owner of Player’s Exchange in Lemoyne, he’s amassed a large collection of music memorabilia, each piece with its own unique story.
Scott and Shea had been performing as a trio with drummer Steve Swisher for a couple of years, focusing each show on one legendary act. They performed loosely rehearsed sets featuring iconic bands like The Who, Zeppelin, Hendrix, and more. One day, Scott called Shea and simply said, “We need to do a Bowie show.” The idea stuck. Soon, Ed Coffey heard about the plans and asked to see a sample. Without rehearsing, Shea and Scott recorded two videos—Ziggy Stardust and Changes. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and they knew they had to move forward.
Finding the right members was the hardest part. The first key addition came when Shea invited guitarist Mike Heininger onstage at an open mic to play Ziggy Stardust. The two clicked immediately. That night, Shea called Scott and exclaimed, “I found him!” They then brought on Mark Showers (of the Sharks) for keyboards, and Joe Mohn on drums. Starting with just six songs, they held their first rehearsal. After nailing Moonage Daydream—with its 16+ chord changes—Scott knew they had something special.
Next came Jennie James on vocals, covering songs like Under Pressure and adding depth to the overall sound. Then came seasoned saxophonist Steve Lentz, who had toured with Hit and Run for over eight years alongside acts like Pat Benatar and The Trammps. His sax brought the essential Bowie sound to the show.
Their debut performance was in April 2016 at the iconic Gullifty’s Underground. Shea showed up in a blue suit with one red and one blue contact lens to fully embody the Bowie persona. The crowd loved it. Soon after, The Band Who Sold the World was selling out shows and had to make some big decisions about the future.
They were invited to tour with major acts but ultimately decided to keep the show based in Central PA, performing just 3–4 times a year at venues that could accommodate the show’s elaborate setup. This was never just a rock show—it was a full Bowie experience, complete with coordinated lighting and a video backdrop synced to the music.
Around 2020, the band underwent some changes (Ch-ch-changes, if you will), bringing in new members. Logan Bedard, a “gun-for-hire” drummer with undeniable talent, joined on drums. James Klippel, aka Winter Parks, took over on keyboards—he also performs solo and with Shea in The Luv Gods.
Over the past decade, the show has often sold out venues and added extra performances due to demand. Coordinating schedules, especially with members flying in, has become increasingly difficult. That’s why this August marks the end of the road for Shea Quinn’s The Band Who Sold the World. It will be an emotional farewell, but each member will continue making music in other bands—because that’s what they love to do. Saying goodbye to one chapter often opens the door to the next.
But don’t fret, Shea Quinn fans. He has no plans to retire. You’ll still find him performing 5–6 nights a week all over the area—hosting open mics, playing with his many bands, and doing solo gigs. In fact, you can catch him August 7th at the Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill, performing songs from his first band, The Pikers, in a tribute to his late brother, Sean Quinn. The concert is part of their summer “Concert on the Lawn” series—bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and your appetite; several food trucks will be there for this free event.
Scott and Shea would like to thank all the band members for making the show a success over the years, as well as Ed Coffey and Pete Aufiero for their help with stage production, and of course, all the fans who supported them and made the dream worth pursuing.
The Saturday, August 23rd show is already sold out, and tickets for Friday, August 22nd are selling fast. Visit WestShoreTheatre.org to check availability and grab your tickets now—you don’t want to miss this.
Steve Knight will be on hand and is also doing a podcast with Scott and Shea for The Knight Shift with Steve Knight, while Glen Hamilton will introduce the band Friday night. Brandon Valentine will kick off the final show on Saturday. It’s going to be a special two-night celebration featuring some of the area’s biggest musical talents.
To keep up with all things Shea Quinn, visit
www.sheaquinn.com. For more info and videos from Shea Quinn’s The Band Who Sold the World, check out www.thebandwhosoldtheworld.com
