Iris eyes were smiling at local rocker's emotional comeback concert in Moon

MOON TWP. ― For the past decade, Donnie Iris & The Cruisers have ended concerts with "A Little Help From My Friends." That song pick never sounded as profound as Saturday night, at the conclusion of an emotional and uplifting UPMC Events Center concert.

Flanked by the vocalists of opening acts The Clarks and The Vindys, Iris, seated on a stool, powered through with "A Little Help From My Friends," beginning with that Beatles' song's famed opening verse "What would you think if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me?"

"NO!" came the shouted reply from a sizable number of unprompted fans, making Iris smile as he continued on singing, reaching a climactic moment where he unleashed one of his iconic force-of-nature rock 'n' roll screams.

You could feel the love in the room, as Iris sailed on to the song's conclusion, before standing to hug a few of the musicians on stage as an audience of 3,000+ cheered with gusto.

It had been a triumphant night with a few bumps, but the Beaver Valley's resident rock star persevered, entertained and inspired.

"You know what, the hell with cancer, man!" Iris had said at the onset of the two-hour performance from the same Moon Township stage where almost exactly a year ago he delivered a delightful 80th birthday concert.

Less than three months after that 2023 concert came the sobering news that Iris had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. He successfully underwent treatments last spring and summer, telling The Times in a November interview, "I did my last treatment ... they didn't find anything, so I'm good to go. No more treatments." He emphasized at that time his eagerness to get back on stage and entertain fans at the comeback show at Robert Morris University's arena, not far from his home.

If there was any lingering trepidation at that show among fans − many of whom wore Iris concert T-shirts − they didn't let on, greeting him to the stage with a hero's welcome.

Wearing a ballcap atop a head wrap, paired with a baseball jersey that read "Brush Creek Inn" on the front and "Iris 12" on the back, Iris launched with the Cruisers' traditional opener, "Agnes." That story-centric song, about a waitress, a gun and a spurred romantic suitor, allowed Iris to sing at a more measured vocal level comparatively to his other high-reaching hits.

"Agnes" sounded good, but next up came a big test with "That's The Way Love Oughta Be." Fingers were crossed and breath was held among audience members, but when Iris dropped to his knees and reached for that familiar big finish, he absolutely nailed the epic rock screams. It was a tears-of-joy-worthy moment for spectators.

Next came "Do You Compute?," with again more of Iris singing with power and conviction, aided by harmonies from a few Cruisers.

Iris welcomed on stage two of the primary doctors who coordinated his cancer treatments, saying, "If it weren't for them, I literally wouldn't be here." Some fans in Section 106 started serenading the doctors with a "You saved Donnie" chant in thick Yinzer accents.

The show continued with "Tough World," the lyrics resonating as Iris sang "It's a hard world/cold world/ hit you where it hurts world" before the part where he vows to overcome adversity. At that song's conclusion, Iris took a break and sat on the drum riser to rest.

"Marilee" brought more towering vocals and majestic screams, though again, Iris showed signs of being winded at the conclusion.

"Guess I got to get my sea legs back," he joked.

"Pretender" followed, then "This Time It Must Be Love," but at that point, Iris' strength was waning. He headed to the corner of the stage for a replenishment from an oxygen tank device. As seasoned musicians do, The Cruisers played on, with bassist Paul Goll unleashing slap bass funkiness as Iris returned to center stage and sang a bit of Sly and The Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." Goll then did the riff from Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," though this time Iris pointed his microphone toward the crowd, which enthusiastically sang the words.

Keyboardist Mark Avsec rhetorically asked Iris if he remembered the big song they played together in their Wild Cherry days, as Iris dug into "Play That Funky Music."

Iris' voice sounded solid again. He said he felt sexy as he did a little hip shaking before tearing into Cab Calloway's "Minnie The Moocher." His voice attained the requisite bluesy growl on the "hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi" parts.

Iris took a seat and clutched an electric guitar and strummed cool textures alongside Cruisers' guitar ace Marty Lee Hoenes for "Ridin' Thunder."

"It's a jam session," Iris said, as Avsec grabbed an accordion and played a lively polka that got fans' feet stomping.

Harmonies from his bandmates bolstered Iris' singing on "Love Is Like a Rock." Maybe it was a subconscious thing, but Iris smiled as he sang the "You can't depend on your doctor" line, as in his case, he sure enough could. At Iris' insistence, and as tradition dictates, fans sang the chorus several times, once all by themselves.

Reaching the homestretch, the drama heightened as Iris and the Cruisers began a slow, moody rendition of the mega-popular "Ah! Leah!" As they floated through the bridges and chorus, Hoenes then unleashed the mighty riff to ignite the regular, more muscular radio version of "Ah Leah!" Iris conjured the grandeur of that New Brighton-made gem, lowering to his knees once more to deliver more climactic, otherworldly screams as fans cheered. Those screams didn't reach the lengths of last year's rendition, but still amazed. Though it took a toll, as Iris again headed to the oxygen tank for another replenishing hit of air.

He returned center stage for an abbreviated version of 1970 chart-topper "The Rapper" from his days with Beaver County's The Jaggerz, segueing into Deep Purple's "Hush" with Iris again sounding in fine form.

Asking for the house lights to be turned on, Iris smiled as he took a good long look at the fans showering him with applause and vocal encouragement.

The Clarks' Scott Blasey and The Vindys' Jackie Popovec returned to the stage and did the heavy vocal lifting on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." Then came the finale and that rousing rendering of "With a Little Help From My Friends." It was a lovely and important reminder of how the support of friends helps us stand strong and resolute.

The fact it was western Pennsylvania's quintessential hometown rocker imparting those feelings made everything feel even more special.

Pittsburgh rockers The Clarks and Youngstown's The Vindys, both also part of Iris' 2023 Moon show, added to the regional pride.

One drawback was the sound. Many spectators complained the volume was too loud, and I agree.

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 made his stage return after cancer treatments