NEWS
Former MAZE band members seek superfans for Frankie Beverly tribute show ticket prize
12 February 2025
R&B band TMF (The Music Forever) is looking for a fan who was at the March 1982 MAZE concert in Hammersmith featuring Frankie Beverly. Six members of MAZE have formed TMF with new singer Chris Walker and they want to give a superfan a night to remember at their O2 concert in March this year.
The Tribute To Frankie Beverly: The Man, The Music, The Legend featuring TMF (formerly MAZE) is on March 23rd at the O2 and the winning superfan will get two free tickets and a chance to meet the band backstage.
“The 1982 concert in Hammersmith was incredible. It was our first time in London and the fans were amazing. We sold out for two consecutive nights from March 22nd and broke Elton John’s record. It was a very special time for us and we want to celebrate it by giving one of the fans who came to that gig, a pair of free tickets,” says Roame Lowry, who spent 55 years on congas and vocals with MAZE.
The band returned to the UK in 1983 and then played six nights in 1985. In 1987 they played two nights at Wembley Arena and four nights at Hammersmith Odeon - all sold out.
The band’s set includes MAZE crowd-pleasers such as Love is the Key, Right on Time and Twilight along with a couple of songs from the new TMF album. “The bulk of the show will be a trip down memory lane. We’re looking forward to it as we haven’t played in the UK for 15,” says Roame.
The band expects most fans to show up wearing white in honour of the late Frankie Beverly who died in September last year at the age of 77. Frankie received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award at the Grammys 2025.
“There’s not a day that we’re together when we don’t talk about Frankie,” says bass guitarist and vocalist Larry “Bear Williams” Kimpel. “Every situation is a Frankie-ism, you know, something that he would always say. One time, we walked into the dressing room and he’d put up a sign that said ‘focus on the music.’ He was so passionate about the music.”
TMF vocalist Chris was a Frankie Beverly superfan himself and it was a dream come true to be picked to sing with the band. He says: “They are big shoes to fill and I’ve been a fan of Frankie and MAZE since 1986. I met Frankie when I was Regina Belle’s music director and he was always so encouraging to me as a singer. I got to see the magic and it felt like destiny when they chose me.”
Chris has been with the band for two years and is the only member with a rider - he loves to have a bag of white cheddar popcorn in the dressing room. “But really, we’re not extravagant and only need the basics,” says Roame.
Any fans who were at the 1982 MAZE gig could be in with a chance to win VIP tickets for TMF’s London appearance, including meeting the band. Was that you? Simply share your story via the official TMF facebook group (maybe you kept a memento such as a ticket stub, a T-shirt or a photograph). One winner - chosen by the band - will get a pair of tickets and the chance to meet the band members.
“If we get lots of entries, I’m sure we can also give out some signed CD’s or T-shirts,” says the band’s drummer Calvin Napper. We also hope to share memories on Street Sounds Radio.
For tickets to the TMF tribute, click here
.
The Tribute To Frankie Beverly: The Man, The Music, The Legend featuring TMF (formerly MAZE) is on March 23rd at the O2 and the winning superfan will get two free tickets and a chance to meet the band backstage.
“The 1982 concert in Hammersmith was incredible. It was our first time in London and the fans were amazing. We sold out for two consecutive nights from March 22nd and broke Elton John’s record. It was a very special time for us and we want to celebrate it by giving one of the fans who came to that gig, a pair of free tickets,” says Roame Lowry, who spent 55 years on congas and vocals with MAZE.
The band returned to the UK in 1983 and then played six nights in 1985. In 1987 they played two nights at Wembley Arena and four nights at Hammersmith Odeon - all sold out.
The band’s set includes MAZE crowd-pleasers such as Love is the Key, Right on Time and Twilight along with a couple of songs from the new TMF album. “The bulk of the show will be a trip down memory lane. We’re looking forward to it as we haven’t played in the UK for 15,” says Roame.
The band expects most fans to show up wearing white in honour of the late Frankie Beverly who died in September last year at the age of 77. Frankie received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award at the Grammys 2025.
“There’s not a day that we’re together when we don’t talk about Frankie,” says bass guitarist and vocalist Larry “Bear Williams” Kimpel. “Every situation is a Frankie-ism, you know, something that he would always say. One time, we walked into the dressing room and he’d put up a sign that said ‘focus on the music.’ He was so passionate about the music.”
TMF vocalist Chris was a Frankie Beverly superfan himself and it was a dream come true to be picked to sing with the band. He says: “They are big shoes to fill and I’ve been a fan of Frankie and MAZE since 1986. I met Frankie when I was Regina Belle’s music director and he was always so encouraging to me as a singer. I got to see the magic and it felt like destiny when they chose me.”
Chris has been with the band for two years and is the only member with a rider - he loves to have a bag of white cheddar popcorn in the dressing room. “But really, we’re not extravagant and only need the basics,” says Roame.
Any fans who were at the 1982 MAZE gig could be in with a chance to win VIP tickets for TMF’s London appearance, including meeting the band. Was that you? Simply share your story via the official TMF facebook group (maybe you kept a memento such as a ticket stub, a T-shirt or a photograph). One winner - chosen by the band - will get a pair of tickets and the chance to meet the band members.
“If we get lots of entries, I’m sure we can also give out some signed CD’s or T-shirts,” says the band’s drummer Calvin Napper. We also hope to share memories on Street Sounds Radio.
For tickets to the TMF tribute, click here
