Like most musical groups, Desperado’s evolution through the years has included a few member changes.
The latest line up is even more powerful & entertaining than ever before, and promises to be the finest “Eagles experience” to be had, outside of an actual Eagles concert.

With their exciting stage & visual presence, “world class” guitar work, rock solid rhythm section, and dynamic vocal work, Desperado satisfies their audiences with a “Big Stage” quality experience. As you are in the presence of a group of extremely accomplished & well seasoned, “world class” musicians.

A Desperado performance isn’t just about an audience enjoying their favorite Eagles hits… It’s about that & much more.
The professional visual impact, astounding accuracy & obvious soulful appreciation & personal enjoyment which is shown by the performing musicians takes the great music of the Eagles far beyond the typical “tribute” band experience. A Desperado audience has a memorable, world class, “Major Artist Concert” type of musical experience that they will talk about to their friends & peers, for years to come.

Desperado is:
Founding members Jeff Ballew (guitars, banjo, pedal steel, mandolin & vocals) and Michael Olivieri (guitars, keyboards & vocals) are joined by newer members Mike Lamper (guitars, keyboards & vocals), Bruce Fitzsimmons (bass guitar & vocals) and Ron Davis (drums & vocals).
Jeff Ballew: Guitar and vocals Guitars, banjo, vocals

Born into a musical family, Jeff has been playing the guitar since he was nine years old. He moved to San Francisco at the age of twelve and recorded for local bands throughout the bay area at the age of 13. In 1967 Jeff attended the Monterey Pop Festival where he, and America, were introduced to Jimi Hendrix. Inspired by Jimi, Jeff moved to Southern California and founded WWIII, an extremely popular Southern California Rock Band.

In 1983, Jeff moved to Texas to play lead guitar for Chastity Fox, with whom he toured the United States. Following this success, he returned to Southern California and was signed to RCA Records’ Jack Street Band, worked as a staff writer for Chrysalis Records, performed on the soundtrack for the full-length feature film "Dangerously Close" and toured with platinum recording artist Rick Springfield. He has appeared in concert opening for Survivor, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Leann Rimes, Kansas, and many more!

In 2002, Jeff became a founding member of the Eagles tribute band, Desperado and toured the United States with them. Following his love of the music of Chicago, Jeff has now formed “Colour My World”.

Ron Davis: Drums, vocals
Ron started playing drums at the age of 12. By the age of 14, being strongly influenced by the Rock & Roll of the 60's, he was already gigging in various bands and spent his summers playing 6 nights a week in "Top 40" bands.

Over the years, Ron has played in bands with players from many now famous bands, such as: Motley Crue, Guns ‘n Roses, Ace Frehley’s Comet, Roxanne, Pure Prairie League, Detective, Heart, Point Blank, Spock’s Beard, & more. Ron has shared the stage with such artists as: Queensryche, Def Leppard, ZZ Top, Santana, Eddie Money, Collective Soul, Tommy Shaw (Styx), Randy Bachman (Guess Who, BTO), Duff McKagen & Matt Sorum (Guns ‘n Roses & Velvet Revolver), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, etc… Ron has recorded at major studios, has played the club circuit/s extensively, and has performed at major concert venues, municipal auditoriums, colleges, etc… Ron has also had airplay on major radio stations in the USA & Europe with various artists and original bands.

Michael Olivieri: Keys, Guitar and vocals
Michael is a California native and has been playing in concert halls and clubs for over 20 years. Having made 3 albums with Leatherwolf for Island Records (over 300,000 records sold), Michael has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe. In addition to fronting Leatherwolf, Michael has worked for Carnival Criuse Lines entertaining thousands of people aboard the M.S. Jubilee. Born a singer, he is also an accomplished guitarist and keyboardist. Colour My World found Michael through his association with Jeff Ballew, having played numerous projects together.

Michael Lamper : Guitar, keys and vocals
Michael got his first guitar at 9 years old. Playing music was his joy and he played in bands all through high school and college, playing the bar scene, concerts, parties, etc. Any chance he got to play he did, (and still does.) In 1973 he heard the first Chicago record and he was in awe. A rock band with a big band sound. "Man, I want to do that!" he said to himself ... and now he is.Michael covers Pete Cetera's dynamic vocals with emotion, and he thumps Pete's base riffs with an exactness that even Pete could appreciate. Michael has toured the world and played with such names as Tommy Shaw (Styx), Kevin Cronin, Matthew Nelson, Jack Blades, the Allman Brothers, Quiet Riot and Los Lobos to name a few.

Bruce FitzSimmons: Bass and vocals
A New York transplant to the California music scene, Bruce lives in Lake Arrowhead and has backed artists such as Dino Valenti (Get Together/Fresh Air) and Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin (Peaceful Easy Feeling/Already Gone) with his alt/country band Shadowdogs.
Opening for acts John Lee Hooker, David Alan Coe, Andy Summers, Nickel Creek, Huey Lewis, and Aldo Nova, Bruce has also been an artist on Spotted Peccary Records releasing “Russian River Serenade” and scoring music for “Then There Was Voyager” (PBS) and Indie films “Doubt” and "Blake's Ballad". In 2005 Shadowdogs' debut CD "Somewhere South Of The Clef" was nominated for Best Alt/Country Album by the San Diego Music Awards. Bruce joined DESPERADO on bass and vocals in 2010.