Music in 2012 Venice was founded in 1977; the band was initially founded by Lennon and his cousin Michael Lennon. The following year Michael's brother Mark joined, with Kipp's brother Pat joining in 1980. Since that time, the two pairs of cousins have performed and released 13 albums and other works since 1986. Kipp plays
percussion and writes songs for the band. He performed with the rest of the band on their live DVD,
Venice, Live at the Royal Carre Theater. He also sings for the Pine Mountain Logs, a band containing many of the members of Venice and playing only cover versions of
rock songs. Additionally, Lennon released one solo album,
Boom Boom Party (
CBS/
Sony), in 1987. Lennon sang with
David Crosby on his solo album
Thousand Roads, and also performed vocals for the song "Suspension," which was the
main title of the 1979 theatrical pilot of
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. In September 2010, Lennon joined
Roger Waters' the
Wall Live tour, singing backup vocals. Lennon joined the classic
progressive rock band
Ambrosia on lead vocals in 2021 replacing
Ken Stacey who exited in 2020. In late 2024, he returned to Venice and was replaced by former singer Shem Von Schroeck
Film Although Lennon did not appear in the 1987 Disney movie
Double Switch, he did perform the vocals for the songs used in the
soundtrack, "Turn up the Radio", "All Day, All Night", and "One Step Closer". Lennon also sang the theme songs to
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. (1989) and the theatrical pilot of
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979). Most notably he sang the song "Happy Birthday Lisa", written by Jackson within the episode. He also provided older teenager/young adult Jackson's singing voice in
The Jacksons: An American Dream. Lennon returned as Kompowsky to sing the extra verses Bart wrote for his sister in season 29's "
Mr. Lisa's Opus". Lennon also sang the songs "Flaming Moe's" (a spoof of the theme song from the TV series
Cheers) in the
episode of the same name, "The Sound of Grandpa" from "
Lady Bouvier's Lover", and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" from "
Duffless". He sang the original song "I'm Checking In" featured in the
Betty Ford musical in "
The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson". In addition to
The Simpsons, Lennon voiced Michael Jackstone on ''
The Flintstone Kids' Just Say No Special
, and various roles in The Story of Santa Claus
, The Fall Guy, Eight Is Enough, and the TV series of Herbie the Love Bug''. ==References==