Birth of an 80s Band: ACTION PARK
Joe & Jon Co-Partners
Joe and Jon first met at Magee’s Bar in Wayne, NJ May 2022 over a burger and beers to discuss Joe’s idea of an all 80s show. Joe had a successful teen and college band in the 1980s but quit music all together in 1992. Jon, a veteran keyboardist, and vocalist and kept his music chops up over the decades with local bands. Jon loved what he heard, from the song selection, the costumes, the skits, and he loved one of the show names Joe proposed, “ACTION PARK … wow, that’s it “ John said! Jon notes, “Not only would I get to play the best era’s music, but Joe asked me to direct a show, and be a co—partner in band that took music seriously, but not themselves. Joe notes, “I saw Jon play keyboards, he was a showman waiting for a show, a pure entertainer without an outlet. I figured, if he didn’t like what I wanted to do, then nobody would. Joe sates, “We work well together, our voices, our ideas, and talents really give this band a personality, different from other acts, and it makes the whole experience of this show an 80s delight for the audience creating a show that will make you smile, laugh, and dance.”
Joe Gills (Joe Gilligan) “Mr Entertainment” “The Band Leader”
AKA: John Bender ( The Breakfast Club)
Class of 1986, Lakeland Regional Lancers, Wanaque, NJ
Co-Founder- Lead Singer, Back up Guitarist, backup keys
In 2022 Gills returned to the live stage after a 30-year pause. As a teen in the 1980s, Joe was the front man for the Jersey Cruisers, a locally popular teen rock band performing hundreds of shows and appeared on the Jerry Lewis telethon. Joe went to Nashville for recording engineering and later co-created The Slap 5’s,a zany original country band, playing CBGB’s .His way back to music was in 2019 when he began hosting “The King of Smule” on the Smule app which he has over 9000 international fans .
At the actual Action Park of the 1980s, Joe suffered a few abrasions the two times he attended but recalls at age 12. At Action Park, like life, “You Enter At Your Own Risk, it was like a fraternity party, underage drinking with the bonus of extremely dangerous water rides”
Joe notes, “The band and I hope you feel like a teenager again at our shows, have some laughs, put on your dancing shoes, drink beers (legally) & party like its 1985!” No curfew!
Jon Weisgal “The Musical Director”
AKA: Goose Bradshaw (Top Gun)
Class of 1987, Tenafly Tigers, Tenafly, NJ
The producer & musical director of Action Park
Co-founder, co-Lead singer and keyboardist:
Jon has dusted off the keyboards and is ready to relive his youth! A teen from the 80s, Jon has been playing all types of keys since he was 7 – from Rock to Jazz to Fusion. Prior to Action Park, Jon has played in numerous musical projects including, playing with Action Park guitarist, Darren Lolk as teens , along with John Popper and with the legendary Frankie Avalon. Most recently, he served as lead singer and keyboardist for Up The Dosage.
Of laudable note, his only sustained childhood injury at Action Park. He was a bruised sternum on the Surf Hill waterslide. Jon says the Action Park Band is only good times and wild adventures
Darren Lolk
“The Fabulous” • “El-Lolko”
AKA: Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
Class of 1987 – Tenafly Tigers, Tenafly, NJ
Founding Member • Lead Guitar • Vocals • Keyboards
Darren Lolk brings national and international experience to the Action Park stage. A Tenafly native, Darren first played alongside Jon Weisgal before signing with Epic Records as part of the hip-hop fusion group Smokin’ Suckas Wit Logic, touring the U.S. from 1990–1994 and earning MTV airplay.
He later performed across Los Angeles with Malpache and Joker 5 Speed, then toured with Who tribute bands Whooligans and WhoLive, playing throughout the U.S., Canada, Germany, and England — even opening for Blue Öyster Cult (“Yes, I saw the famous cowbell,” he jokes).
Paul Finbow
AKA: Ivan Drago (Rocky IV)
Class of 1980 – Colchester, Essex, England (UK)
Drums • Vocals • Percussion
Paul Finbow joined Action Park in June 2023, adding powerhouse rhythm and British rock flair. He drummed with the Flying Heroes in the early 1980s and recorded under JKM Records (Elton John’s label imprint) before moving to the U.S. in 1985.
In America, Paul performed with acclaimed regional acts such as The UnBrothers, and also built a career as an actor and voice-over artist. At Action Park, his timing and tone drive the band like a perfectly tuned coaster — thrilling, steady, and always on beat.
Chris Krempa
AKA: Dr. Peter Venkman (Ghostbusters)
Class of 1987 – Marist High, Royal Knights, Bayonne, NJ
Bass Guitar • Vocals • Co-Creator: Jungle Habitat ’70s & Neil Diamond Tribute Shows
Joining in June 2024, Chris Krempa anchors the Action Park rhythm section with style, humor, and serious 80s cred. A veteran of the North Jersey circuit, Chris has performed with top acts including Backtalk, Group Therapy, That’s What She Said, and Bing Bang Boom.
Beyond Action Park, Chris is also the co-creator with Joe Gills of The 1970s AM Radio Show by Jungle Habitat and The Neil Diamond Traveling Tribute, bringing his deep musicality and showmanship across all of Joe’s retro productions
