I have the privilege this evening to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to a very good friend and fellow bandmember, Gunnar Antell.

In the past 6 years I have had the pleasure to get to know Gunnar as a dedicated and very talented musician and a very good friend. One of the things that impresses me the most about Gunnar is that with all of his God-given talent, you won’t find any arrogance or ego to go with it.

I would like to share with you some of his career highlights.

At the age of 17, Gunnar combined his writing and performing talents with the New York based hard rock group Django who together spun out 2 singles in Holland followed by a European tour.

1973 - opened for Head East with the band Circus.
1974 - opened for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band with the band Super Circus

Gunnar later joined Madison’s premier rock band, Punch.

Gunnar has played in a lot of bands through the years. Some of them include Django, Stilrock, Circus, Super Circus, Punch, The Poe Show, The Corvettes, Firebird, The Graham Band, Deuce Coupe and currently Montazh.

Gunnar is an accomplished and versatile musician. He plays lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and sings both lead and backup vocals. Gunnar has also recorded his own CDs in which he plays all instruments and sings all lead and background vocals.

I have heard many stories of guitarists from this area that were inspired to play the guitar after seeing and hearing Gunnar perform. He has also shared his talents as a guitar teacher.

One of the best comments that another friend and musician told me was that “If anyone from Wausau should have been a rock & roll star, it would be Gunnar Antell”.

Gunnar, on behalf of the Rock & Roll Revival Committee, I am honored to present to you - your Lifetime Achievement Award for music.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Gunnar Antell..........