ROZE/Randy VanHosen

Randy VanHosen was hooked on Rock and Roll at a very young age. Early influences included The Beatles, Elvis, Dee Jay and the Runaways, and a host of other Iowa bands. By 1965/66 VanHosen had joined his first band, The Barons. Next came the band Jonas which played venues like So's Your Mother (Des Moines) and also did opening slots for Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. Jonas also opened a show for Tommy Bolin who was playing with a band called Zephyr at the time.

During 1970/71 VanHosen left for Minnesota to become a founding member of the band ROSE. The band toured the Midwest and played many gigs in Iowa including the Roof Garden Ballroom, Surf Ballroom, Prairie Moon Ballroom; also doing opening slots for Chuck Berry (at the Des Moines Ice Arena), Little Feat, Brownsville Station, and a host of other national acts along the way. Rose opened for “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen in Mankato. It was a lifelong highlight for the members of the band. Most people considered Rose to be an Iowa band. When Rose folded in 1975 VanHosen returned home to Iowa and decided to change the S to a Z and make it ROZE in hopes that this would be the final name of his dream band.

Nobody knows for sure how many gigs ROZE has actually played, but they figure over 2,500. The ROZE philosophy has always been to be a band for all the people. ROZE has played at auditoriums, proms, bars, concerts, parties, weddings, country clubs, and biker rallies all over the Midwest. In all kinds of situations, the band's ability to adapt has been one of its strong points. They have performed on over 20 recordings.

Past and present band members have included: Randy VanHosen, Dave Moorehead, Jeff Shotwell, Kevin Morrissen, Chris Messenger, Mike Harper, Brian Joliffe, Ron Hill, Mike Miller, Kerry Endres,Tony Kendall, John Fisher, Tom Gunderman, Mark Camos, Lance Harrison, Toby Case, Eric Coleman, Heath DeWeese, Terry Chumbley, Alan Buzzard, Dave Alberts, Joe Corligano, Jim Tharp, Connie Hurlbut, Gery Benson, Mike Kellow, Kenny Thompson, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Braaksma, Brian Paquin and David Phelps.

ROZE appeared onstage with Canned Heat, Foghat, Humble Pie, Johnny Winter, Back Doors, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Dr. Hook, Blue Oyster Cult, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, Georgia Satellites, Kentucky Headhunters, Cub Koda, Brownsville Station, Blackfoot, Nick St. Nicholas/Steppenwolf, Badfinger, Black Oak Arkansas, Iron Butterfly, The Guess Who, The Byrds, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Gary Richrath/REO Speedwagon, Michael Bolton, Eddie Ogeda/Twisted Sister, Toy Caldwell, Marshall Tucker, Rick Derringer, Molly Hatchet, Commander Cody, Jerry Presley (Elvis' cousin), members of Crazy Horse (Neil Young's Band), Head East, Glass Tiger, Ruby Starr, Crow, Little River Band, Pat Travers and many others.

Through all the ups and downs ROZE has always managed to rise above the sum of its parts, and endure. ROZE is alive and well and showing no signs of slowing down.