What people don't realize is that Donnie Iris was NOT a one-hit-wonder. This song also made the top 40 (although it peaked at #37) and received significant airplay.
That's right Susan. I'm a bit partial to the drum ending. I've been working on it for over 30 years. My band I had to steal that one and put it in our sets. The crowd loved it! Gotta do it again sometime when us old rockers can get back together. Maybe I give you a holler if I can't find my old bass player. Ha.
Cheezy? How could you call this cheezy? This is fun music the way it is supposed to be. These guys did not have handlers, outside songwriters, etc.. Just wanted to entertain people. Awesome song.
"Cheezy" only applies 2 TOP 40!!!!! This song's "LIGHT YEARS" AWAY from Top 40 that I wanna LMFAO on those "snarkey" comments. "Ah, Leah" = CHEEZY!!!!!! "Love Is Like A Rock" = IT FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!! If Toledo, OH's WIOT-FM (104.7) can play "Love Is Like A Rock", it's NOT CHEEZY @ ALL!!!!!! If anything; IT FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!
I've been a Donnie Iris fan for nearly 40 years, but it wasn't until recently that I learned that he is still a legend in Pittsburgh. And still rocking!
In NE Ohio, Donnie Iris is a legend. He always opened for The Michael Stanley Band. They sold out every venue they played at. Whether it was a club or a 20,000 seat stadium.
'DVE Rocks! I'm a born and bred Ohioan, but I lived in Wheeling back in my young, drunk days in the early 80's. Won't swear to it, but I imagine I heard this more than a few times on Marcy's Midnight Fusion....102.5, baby! 😎
I live in Kansas City and we had our annual Plaza Art Fair in September. The 80s band, The Zeros played this and I swear the whole crowd went nuts and had a great time jamming to this tune. Especially those of us who were old enough to remember it from 82. The younger crowd looked dumfounded. They don't know what they missed.
Tune 4 ever legendary!!! 1 of the original gr8test videos!!! I can't think of the original MTV without thinking of this song!!! TY Donnie Iris TY Mtv!!!!
I must have listened to this 20 times in a row since I found it. It just popped into my memory somehow. What can I say? It speaks for itself. Fuckin awesome! Agreed, where the he'll did this kind of REAL ROCK go? !
One of my African Gray parrot's favorite songs. He can sing the lines, though not in exact order. He emphasizes the word rock when he sings that one. I loved this song when it was released and still to this day.
COMPLETELY AGREED!!!!! "Ah, Leah" gets the most the radio airplay but this song here ("Love Is Like A Rock") is Donnie's BEST FUCKIN' SONG!!!!! Even in 2022, the lyrics w/in this song hold oh-so--FUCKIN' TRUE!!!!! Donnie Iris knew his fuckin' shit thru & thru!!!!! Still does. It was a staple on Toledo, OH's WIOT-FM (104.7) back in the day. Though I'm from Detroit, MI; WIOT's signal carried as far north as Flint, MI (60 NW of Detroit).
@@pnclarke1 U know it, Phil. This is Donnie's BEST FUCKIN' SONG!!!!! The lyrics represent the FUCKIN' TRUTH!!!!! U truly can't trust any1 anymore. Lyrics aside, this song just FLAT-OUT FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!! H.F.Y.!!!!!!
Revisiting this song a year later, I have to say it's one of the most kick-arse live versions of a song I've ever heard. The extended playing, cheeky crowd work by Donnie, the fan energy, the whole gestalt! 🎉
Mark Avsec and me and my 2 brothers went to grade school together, then we started a band during high school. I remember we hauled Mark's Hammond B3 and Leslie's up 3 flights of narrow stairs to our parents attic in 1970. We were together about 2 weeks..then hauled it back down, Lol. Great memories. Mark is an extremely talented dude.
Saw Donnie Iris and his band a couple times in the early to mid-1980s and they totally rocked. High-energy shows that just pulled you in. I still remember yelling and pumping my fist to the audience participation part of this song.
I remember seeing these guys in the mid 80's, when they did this song, 4 band members came out on stage..each having an old fashioned snare drum with them to start this song, FANTASTIC SHOW!!!....by the way, they opened up for the Michael Stanley band at the Blossom music center in Akron Ohio,,,,,,,I actually had FRONT ROW SEATS...DEAD CENTER....nothing ever better or since!!!
You just commented on it. Remember when music videos were just video of the band playing live before every musician thought they had to make a goofy short movie.
But where oh where did the live performance of Sweet merilee go? I remember watching it on the same show as this. DAMN what a great song and performance that was. It was Donnie's high watermark and it just disappeared.
This group and song are just two reasons why NE Ohio is the site of the Rock N Roll HOF!!! When stadium rock was in it's hey day in the 80's everyone who was anyone came through here!!! Great song, thanks for posting!
I would have loved to be at this concert. I love audience participation; it's like the band really wants you to join in and be part of the performance. A band like that really cares about their audience.
R.I.P. Mike Kalotta , KOMP 92.3 Las Vegas ! Mike was a disc jockey who came from Blitzberg and made sure everyone in Sin City got their fair share of Donnie ! Keep Rockin Donnie !
Oh man I love Donnie Iris and this song! I remember hearing this song in Philly Circa 1981-3.. on WMMR or WYSP. What a great song. I never knew what he looked like til the other day when I looked up his song “Leah” on UA-cam (also a great song). He’s so cute.. Donnie are u playing out again anytime soon?? ❤❤❤😅
He was also in Wild Cherry, "Play that Funky Music White Boy"! I was checking out The Jaggerz, it threw me off. He played under his real name, Dominic Ierace. No wonder he used Donnie Iris!
i've been on a house arrest for a month as of today 12/03/2011, with 2 months to go. thankful for the internet and youtube for entertainment. i have been listening to some great music tonight and none has been later than probably the mid 80s.
Jesus H christ. I was a kid...my brother-in-law was a guitar player/ singer for money at the time. I remember him commenting that this guy is almost impossible. Hope all is well...
@n8tureboy ~ Isn't it a shame that you can't turn on the radio or T.V. and hear GREAT music like this these days!! Thank goodness for UA-cam, so we can "tune in" here ~ same time, same place ; )
Yeah, if you started watching MTV from the very beginning, you saw them play this video A LOT. Not many knew who Donnie Iris was, but we got to liking this song. Then we started to get really sick of it!!
OMG. Just going nostalgic & found this. I remember going down to Morry's Speakeasy in New Brighton, PA & catch Donnie play or just hang out at the club. BE Taylor Group played. It was great back then!
Been doing the same thing E... Been on a Nostalgic trip since all this Virus lock down BS started... I have to take my brain to when shit made sense and Bands played music REAL MUSIC WITH REAL INSTRUMENTS!!!!!
2024 and this still kicks ass. Jesus Christ, I'm old.
What people don't realize is that Donnie Iris was NOT a one-hit-wonder. This song also made the top 40 (although it peaked at #37) and received significant airplay.
this and 'ah leah' still get lots of play on our local rock station. great stuff!
...and lets not forget "The Rapper" by The Jaggerz with Donne as lead singer!
That's right Susan. I'm a bit partial to the drum ending. I've been working on it for over 30 years. My band I had to steal that one and put it in our sets. The crowd loved it! Gotta do it again sometime when us old rockers can get back together. Maybe I give you a holler if I can't find my old bass player. Ha.
Cheezy? How could you call this cheezy? This is fun music the way it is supposed to be. These guys did not have handlers, outside songwriters, etc.. Just wanted to entertain people. Awesome song.
Just wanted to ROCK!
So true, this song apart the rock era.
Listen to the lyrics, it is so true in everyway.
It isn't. It just rocks. That's all.
"Cheezy" only applies 2 TOP 40!!!!! This song's "LIGHT YEARS" AWAY from Top 40 that I wanna LMFAO on those "snarkey" comments. "Ah, Leah" = CHEEZY!!!!!! "Love Is Like A Rock" = IT FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!! If Toledo, OH's WIOT-FM (104.7) can play "Love Is Like A Rock", it's NOT CHEEZY @ ALL!!!!!! If anything; IT FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!
This is pure Rock and Roll! In no way is it Cheezy.
Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 70s & 80s, everybody loved Donnie Iris. I was 16 in 1981.
Me too! The best time on Earth to be 16!
Pittsburgh’s own Donnie Iris.. Love it!!!
I've been a Donnie Iris fan for nearly 40 years, but it wasn't until recently that I learned that he is still a legend in Pittsburgh. And still rocking!
Hell yeah!🤘🎸🎶
@@davidshulimson9491 Yep...going to see him tomorrow night. Can't wait!
Donnie Iris' BEST MFin' SONG!!!!! THIS SONG SIMPLY FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!!
Holy shite, I thought he was from Minneapolis!!😂
I know I'm from Southwestern Pa Donnie Iris is a Pittsburgh boy I'm so proud of it Great songs great muscians
Killer live version!!!
For the life of me I can't understand why these guys didn't have a bigger career. Great job songs, great band and great singer
Happy 81st birthday to Donnie 🎈
Sounds really good for being live, that's how you know it's a quality band!
In NE Ohio, Donnie Iris is a legend. He always opened for The Michael Stanley Band. They sold out every venue they played at. Whether it was a club or a 20,000 seat stadium.
Last time I saw them together was at The Taste of Cleveland event down on the river. What a fantastic time. This looks like that event
This is studio quality 👌🏻
@chuckrambo4401
As someone that doesn't care for live versions, I completely agree!
Severely underrated. Donnie Iris is the definition of cool.
'DVE Rocks!
I'm a born and bred Ohioan, but I lived in Wheeling back in my young, drunk days in the early 80's. Won't swear to it, but I imagine I heard this more than a few times on Marcy's Midnight Fusion....102.5, baby! 😎
The Cruisers we’re having a fantastic time. Great live video.
I live in Kansas City and we had our annual Plaza Art Fair in September. The 80s band, The Zeros played this and I swear the whole crowd went nuts and had a great time jamming to this tune. Especially those of us who were old enough to remember it from 82. The younger crowd looked dumfounded. They don't know what they missed.
Did they perform "Ah! Leah!" as well? I hope so, cuz that thing is a great rocker, too!
Tune 4 ever legendary!!! 1 of the original gr8test videos!!! I can't think of the original MTV without thinking of this song!!! TY Donnie Iris TY Mtv!!!!
Oh, how I wish I could of been there!!
I'll never forget this song at Sports a Rama skating rink!!!! 1 of the greatest songs I ever skated to!!!! Donnis Iris = GOD!!!!
Ha ha. Me too! Love it!
The whole band rocks out on this tune!!!!
This the kind of band that made rock and roll!! Great, catchy lyrics, great beat, great voice, and lots of fun to watch on stage!
I must have listened to this 20 times in a row since I found it. It just popped into my memory somehow. What can I say? It speaks for itself. Fuckin awesome! Agreed, where the he'll did this kind of REAL ROCK go? !
One of my African Gray parrot's favorite songs. He can sing the lines, though not in exact order. He emphasizes the word rock when he sings that one. I loved this song when it was released and still to this day.
these guys have to be one of the most underrated groups in rock history.
COMPLETELY AGREED!!!!! "Ah, Leah" gets the most the radio airplay but this song here ("Love Is Like A Rock") is Donnie's BEST FUCKIN' SONG!!!!! Even in 2022, the lyrics w/in this song hold oh-so--FUCKIN' TRUE!!!!! Donnie Iris knew his fuckin' shit thru & thru!!!!! Still does. It was a staple on Toledo, OH's WIOT-FM (104.7) back in the day. Though I'm from Detroit, MI; WIOT's signal carried as far north as Flint, MI (60 NW of Detroit).
Great band, and Donnie is one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet!
@@pnclarke1 U know it, Phil. This is Donnie's BEST FUCKIN' SONG!!!!! The lyrics represent the FUCKIN' TRUTH!!!!! U truly can't trust any1 anymore. Lyrics aside, this song just FLAT-OUT FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!!! H.F.Y.!!!!!!
I agree
@@anibalbabilonia1867 U betcha.
Revisiting this song a year later, I have to say it's one of the most kick-arse live versions of a song I've ever heard. The extended playing, cheeky crowd work by Donnie, the fan energy, the whole gestalt! 🎉
Love that drummer .
Mark Avsec and me and my 2 brothers went to grade school together, then we started a band during high school. I remember we hauled Mark's Hammond B3 and Leslie's up 3 flights of narrow stairs to our parents attic in 1970. We were together about 2 weeks..then hauled it back down, Lol. Great memories. Mark is an extremely talented dude.
This song = Legendary!!! TY Donnie Iris!!!!
I was there. Pretty good time, miss those days.
If Buddy Holly would have had a son. . . I'm sure he'd look and sound a lot like Donnie, especially with his glasses!
I remember this song getting played on The Loop FM 98 Chicago.
This is bad ass. Come on.....the drumer and the guitarist...and Donnie, yeah! Can you dig it? Yeah I can dig it!
Saw Donnie Iris and his band a couple times in the early to mid-1980s and they totally rocked. High-energy shows that just pulled you in. I still remember yelling and pumping my fist to the audience participation part of this song.
This is rock and roll 🎸
At its fun time best!
He is a little over 80 and still rocking in the 60s he sang with the jaggerz 70s wild cherry 80s til now solo
Happy 81st Donnie... U rock the rock!!
Morning in America was not far off!
Saw him in 1982 great live performance.
This reminds me of the early days of MTV when they actually played videos that rocked
Donnie's Birthday is this week number 80! 😎
What a talent Donnie is! Outstanding.
He had a hell of a band backing him.....and sorry rock never died....it just took a vacation...
1 of the greatest videos of all time!!!! Donnie Iris rules 4 ever!!!!
Love Is Like A Rock is one igneous song.
Ouch!
4 all those who disagree; THIS MFer ROCKS!!!!!
THE TRUE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL......DONNIE IRIS!!!!
1 of the greatest performances ever,!!!!
I remember seeing these guys in the mid 80's, when they did this song, 4 band members came out on stage..each having an old fashioned snare drum with them to start this song, FANTASTIC SHOW!!!....by the way, they opened up for the Michael Stanley band at the Blossom music center in Akron Ohio,,,,,,,I actually had FRONT ROW SEATS...DEAD CENTER....nothing ever better or since!!!
i seen him open for the michael Stanley band in early 1986, -FRONT ROW- best show ever!! blossom Music center-1986
Wow what an awesome live version. Donnie Iris & The Cruisers know how to Rock!
God gave that man a great voice
Holy Crap. I literally haven't seen this since junior year in H.S.. those floor toms tho !
Remember this on MTV every 2 hours in the early 80's?
Rock is dead...:o(
wait: was there a video of Love is Like a Rock? I can't remember it? (or find a trace of it anywhere)
You just commented on it. Remember when music videos were just video of the band playing live before every musician thought they had to make a goofy short movie.
This was on constant rotation back then. Awesome tune.
Not dead, just dying.
Hipsters are destroying everything.
Chantal Beck not the hipsters...the corporate structure that is trying convince the masses that braindead hip-hop is the only music out there.
This song is always on the radio, and everytime it comes on, I have to crank it up. It's so catchy, and gets stuck in your head really easily.
such a great hook
I truly wonder why this man, this band, was not a FAR bigger hit than he/it was.
Coolio! Ain't heard that in a long time. Always loved the ending. Drums at the end are just great!
I love ❤️ this song 🎧
I love this song! Makes me feel wild and free!! Fun!!
Great comment
❤❤❤
MTV played this to death back in the summer of '81 when they played music vids
Saw ..Donny "live" once.... Great musician/performer.... Really brung the house down ... Very talented and underrated !!👍🎸😎
Donnie Iris= Greatest Pittsburgh, PA legend ever!!!!!
Friggin great song
But where oh where did the live performance of Sweet merilee go? I remember watching it on the same show as this. DAMN what a great song and performance that was. It was Donnie's high watermark and it just disappeared.
This group and song are just two reasons why NE Ohio is the site of the Rock N Roll HOF!!! When stadium rock was in it's hey day in the 80's everyone who was anyone came through here!!! Great song, thanks for posting!
I saw this video at least 4 times a day on th e original MTV!!!
I feel absolutely blessed to hear this song again! Amazing performance by Donnie Iris and the band here.
Saw him sing the national anthem at the Steelers game yesterday !! 79 years old!!’
Awesome real live music!!!
I would have loved to be at this concert. I love audience participation; it's like the band really wants you to join in and be part of the performance. A band like that really cares about their audience.
Legends 😎
If I ever get my dream jukebox; a Rockola 859, this is going to be the first song on the list.
When I saw this on MTV I was mesmerized, so great
R.I.P. Mike Kalotta , KOMP 92.3 Las Vegas ! Mike was a disc jockey who came from Blitzberg and made sure everyone in Sin City got their fair share of Donnie ! Keep Rockin Donnie !
God, they were SO underrated. Just dreamed I met up with some old musician friends and THIS song was in the dream!
Donnie Iris is a fellow Pennsylvanian.
This may have even been recorded around Pittsburgh.
Legendary 4 ever!!!!
Oh man I love Donnie Iris and this song! I remember hearing this song in Philly Circa 1981-3.. on WMMR or WYSP.
What a great song. I never knew what he looked like til the other day when I looked up his song “Leah” on UA-cam (also a great song). He’s so cute.. Donnie are u playing out again anytime soon?? ❤❤❤😅
Great memories, right on!
Live version awesome!!🤩 👏 😎
Proud to say I was there on the lawn that night! Love me some Donnie Iris!
This was at Blossom...loved Donnie, it was a great show!!!
I saw him open for 38 Special and Night Ranger at Blossom. He opened for almost everyone except Michael Stanley in the 1980s.
Donnie was lead singer of the band The Jaggerz, who had a hit in 1970 with The Rapper.
No shit? I'm old enough to remember when that came out! I remember at the ripe old age of 15, I really liked that song!
He was also in Wild Cherry, "Play that Funky Music White Boy"!
I was checking out The Jaggerz, it threw me off. He played under his real name, Dominic Ierace. No wonder he used Donnie Iris!
Donnie is absolutely killin' it!!!!!! LOL
I am literally dancing naked rockin' to this song, in my bathroom!
+Javier Gonzalez Thank you for that update, Javier. lol
Donnie Iris looks like a young Eugene Levy.
i've been on a house arrest for a month as of today 12/03/2011, with 2 months to go. thankful for the internet and youtube for entertainment. i have been listening to some great music tonight and none has been later than probably the mid 80s.
Jesus H christ. I was a kid...my brother-in-law was a guitar player/ singer for money at the time. I remember him commenting that this guy is almost impossible. Hope all is well...
@n8tureboy ~ Isn't it a shame that you can't turn on the radio or T.V. and hear GREAT music like this these days!! Thank goodness for UA-cam, so we can "tune in" here ~ same time, same place ; )
Classic Pop/Rock song, done in live format the way it was meant to be done. I love this song!
remember hearing this song for the first time in 1982 in my 8th grade woodworking class. that guitar riff was pretty sweet. ahhhhhh the 80s!
Awesome song and performance. I don’t remember it but love it.
Thank you - Sirius ch 25 Classic Rewind- for bringing this gem back to my conscience! So many great songs from that era that MTV wore out.
Awesome just Awesome
I heard this song back in the day on the radio but I had no idea they were this good. Great to finally see them Thanks for putting it on!
this one of the best bad ass videos & songs of all time raw Donnie & the boys
The sing a longs changed the lyrics at some live gigs. 🤣🤣🤣
Gotta love the Burgh!!!!!
ya mean "love is like a f**k?"? ha ha !!
Yeah, if you started watching MTV from the very beginning, you saw them play this video A LOT. Not many knew who Donnie Iris was, but we got to liking this song. Then we started to get really sick of it!!
+Rebel DukeTX This one and "Sweet Merilee."
I WANT MY MTV 1981 -1992 . NOT this CLASSIC MTV ...
5/2023😮
AhhAhh ahhh Love is like a Rock!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG. Just going nostalgic & found this. I remember going down to Morry's Speakeasy in New Brighton, PA & catch
Donnie play or just hang out at the club. BE Taylor Group played. It was great back then!
Been doing the same thing E... Been on a Nostalgic trip since all this Virus lock down BS started... I have to take my brain to when shit made sense and Bands played music REAL MUSIC WITH REAL INSTRUMENTS!!!!!
I was there! Golden Dome!
Stupendous !!🔥❤️🔥
I remember skating to this waaaaay back in the day
He was a rocker oh Leah!!! Band sounds great!!