Novo Combo

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Novo Combo was a power pop and New Wave rock group who enjoyed some popularity in the early 1980s. They were formed by Pete Hewlett and Michael Shrieve. The band scored minor hits in 1981 with the songs "Up Periscope" and "City Bound." Their drummer was Michael Shrieve,formerly with Santana. Pete Hewlett was formerly backup singing for Carly Simon.

Lead singer and bass player Stephen Dees also performed with many other acts from the 1980s including Hall and Oates as well as Tony Carey where he was also featured in the Tony Carey video The First Day Of Summer.

Stephen would later go out on his own to form his own independent pop/art rock band Bandees in the late 1990s.

Lead guitarist Jack Griffith jammed out with Jagger, Santana, Gary Moore, penned songs for Warner Chappell, Fiona, Revo Bop, now has his own Commercial Business Studio, where he records bands, produces TV Commercials, and teaches guitar in Charleston, WV.

Novo Combo's singer and guitarist Pete Hewlett is a world-class singer who makes Pittsburgh his home. His name may not be as readily recognizable as Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris or B.E. Taylor, but that's because he was on the road recording and touring with Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Joe Jackson, Julian Lennon, Amy Grant, Eric Carmen.. to name a few.

Pete got his first recording contract when he was 16 years old. His band, "Peter's Pipers", won a Battle of the Bands contest at West View Park. That sent them onto the National finals (they came in 6th), and that got them a deal with Phillips Mercury records.

Then came a new band, "Sweet Lightning", and the attention of RCA records. Next - a move to Cleveland where Pete recorded with Eric Carmen (of The Raspberries), then joined the "Euclid Beach Band".

But the real turning point came two years later when Hewlett's former "Sweet Lightning" band mate Syd McGuinness (David Letterman's guitarist) recommended Pete to Carly Simon, who was looking for a new back-up singer. Pete got the job, moved to New York, recorded "Come Upstairs" and headed out on tour with Simon.

While in New York, Hewlett hooked up with drummer Michael Shrieve (Santana) and formed "Novo Combo". They were signed to Polygram and put out two albums. Music reviewer George Thatcher said, "The songs which stand out for me are the ones in which Pete Hewlett sings." Novo Combo toured with The Who, Cheap Trick, Greg Lake and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

And then.. Billy Joel came calling. Hewlett hit the road with Joel for the "Innocent Man" and "The Bridge" world tours. Then came the tour that made International News: Billy Joel would bring a fully-staged rock production to the Soviet Union as part of the Reagan-Gorbachev 1985 Geneva summit. Hewlett performed with Joel in Moscow and Leningrad - and made history as part of the first live rock radio broadcast in Soviet history, which was also simulcast in the United States. The live double-album, Kohuept (translation: 'In Concert'), chronicled the trip.

Back in the States, Hewlett recorded the "Starlight Express" Broadway soundtrack, Joe Jackson's "Big World" recording and U.S. Concert Tour, Julian Lennon's "Secret Value of Day Dreaming" album & Amy Grant's 1997 World Leader Summit performance. His voice has also been featured on national commercials including Burger King, Miller Beer, Lipton Tea, Slice & McDonalds.