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His first band in 1967 consisted of four local musicians: lead guitar/singer (Arlen), bass player/singer (Denny Leatum), keyboard player (Terry Emery), and drummer (Jim). The band lasted about two years and played all the LYI dances and Sock Hops. In 1968 Arlen joined a band called The Coming Generation. That band consisted of five musicians: lead guitar/vocals (Arlen), rhythm guitar/vocals (Rick Pringle), bass guitar/vocals (Larry Winger), keyboards (Mike Mijal), and drummer/vocals (Jim [Mouth] Purol). The Coming Generation played throughout Lower Michigan including the Cavern and Cobo Hall. Management was by Marge Lombardi "she was a lifesaver".
In 1970, Arlen joined a band called Salem Witchcraft. They had a van, P.A. system, and a manager (Bob Drake). Soon after Arlen joined the band, they hired their first of three keyboard players (Dave Hall).
The band released five records and two videos, and
toured with
Canned Heat on a 45-day
international tour. It was quite an accomplishment
for the four young men. The highlight of the Salem
years was the addition of Kurt Schreitmueller on the
keyboards from 1976 to 1979. During that time the
band opened for REO Speedwagon, Kiss, Ted Nugent,
Aerosmith, Foreigner, Bob Seger, STYX, and a host of
other national acts.
Throughout the fall of 1980 until the spring of 1981, Arlen put a band together called Baseline to entertain the troops overseas. The group consisted of four musicians and two Las Vegas showgirls. This was an opportunity for Arlen to travel and perform in Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Diego Garcia, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. “That was a wonderful time in my life". From the fall of 1981 until the spring of 1983, Arlen recorded and performed with Frijid Pink. He was completely flattered and humbled by the opportunities that continued to present themselves
Spring of 2004, Arlen records tracks with Kurt Schreitmueller, who owns and operates his own recording studio. Together they produce Arlen's Christmas CD entitled “Holy Knight.” We will see where this leads..........
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Arlen
Viecelli was born in Livonia, Michigan, the fourth son
in a family of eight. Drawn to music at the age of
nine, he sang Silent Night in German on a tape recording
for a family friend. He knew he wanted to be a
singer/guitar player when at the age of ten he watched
as all the girls in the house cried when Elvis was shot
in “Love Me Tender.” That same night he taught
himself how to play the theme song from Bonanza on a
six-string acoustic guitar that had only three strings,
E, A and D.
