Donnie Iris says he feels great; announces March show in Moon

Donnie Iris wants everyone to know he's feeling fine, and ready again to rock and roll.

In fact, Iris feels so good that he and his band The Cruisers booked a show March 16 at UPMC Events Center in Moon Township. That's the Saturday of St. Patrick's Day weekend.

"It'll be crazy," Iris said. "It'll be nuts. I can't wait. I'll be glad to be out there and see all the fans again and have some fun."

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 17 at Ticketmaster.com. Presales start 10 a.m. Nov. 15 with the code LUCKOFIRIS

He's riding a wave of good fortune, and good health.

"I'm feeling great, man," the Beaver Valley's resident rock star said this past weekend in a phone interview.

Having successfully undergone treatments for bladder cancer this late spring and summer, Iris said, "I did my last treatment, I forget when it was, but they didn't find anything, so I'm good to go. No more treatments."

Doctors gave him the green light to get back to doing what he loves − dining out and performing for concertgoers.

"I'm just doing what I always do, with nothing too physical. The only thing I'm taking right now is one pill a day for my knee. My knee got kind of screwed up, but it's going to be fine," Iris said.

The Moon performance, at Robert Morris University's 4,000-seat arena, continues an annual tradition of Iris birthday concerts.

Iris turns 81 a few weeks before that show.

"The Big 8-1. Unbelievable," he said.

For this past March's show in Moon, Iris was an absolute dynamo, thrilling fans with energetic stage moves and impeccable singing, still slaying those electrifying screams and dazzling high notes on hits like "Ah! Leah!" and "Love Is Like a Rock."

Eyewitnesses buzzed about Iris' performance for weeks after, which made it extra shocking on June 5 when The Cruisers announced they had canceled a June 21 gig opening for REO Speedwagon in Youngstown because Iris had been diagnosed with cancer. That initial announcement predicted Iris would be back on stage July 24 at Blossom Music Center near Cleveland, supporting classic-rock band Foreigner, though that Iris appearance got canceled in advance, too, making many wonder and worry about the Beaver Valley rock star's health.

Iris said he felt in tip-top shape that March night on stage in Moon and didn't foresee the physical storm ahead.

"I didn't really know anything until about a week later. It started with a kidney stone or something. Then I went and got it checked and a couple days later my doctor called me back and said, 'You got cancer.' I said, "What?!" But eight months later, it's gone. They gave me chemotherapy and immunotherapy that was just approved by the FDA, and it worked great. Got it all. Got it all out of me."

So Iris fans can look forward to March's show and another 4,000-voice serenade of "Happy Birthday to You" to the western Pennsylvania icon.

Naturally, the past eight months gave Iris a reason to reflect on life. He recognizes the severity of what could have happened.

"It could have killed me," Iris said.

But he's healthy again and resuming his live-life-to-the-fullest attitude.

"I go out every night. I'm always out," Iris said, mentioning one of his go-to restaurants these days is Napa Prime Chophouse in Marshall Township.

In January, Iris and the Cruisers will get together to start rehearsals for the March show.

"We'll slowly get back to what we always do. I can't wait," Iris said. "My doctor said get back when you can. Don't push yourself too hard but get back out there and do it as soon as you can."

Anything specific he'd want to say to his legion of fans and well-wishers?

"I want to tell everyone I'm doing fine. I don't have cancer anymore and I'm looking forward to the next show," Iris said. "That's what I want everyone to know."

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Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Donnie Iris feels great; plans concert at UPMC Events Center in Moon