American Freedom Fest to rock USS Midway

It may seem immodest for a band to name itself World Classic Rockers. But when its lineup features founding members of Steppenwolf and Journey, along with alums of Boston, Santana and Lynyrd Skynyrd, World Classic Rockers seems as apt a name as any.

You can hear the band perform here Saturday at the seventh annual American Freedom Festival, a benefit concert for the Armed Services YMCA San Diego, USO San Diego and Support The Enlisted Project. And what better place to rock out to “Born to be Wild,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Free Bird” and other vintage favorites — while supporting our troops — than on the flight deck of the historic USS Midway?

Launched 19 years ago, World Classic Rockers features former Journey drummer Aynsley Dunbar and two charter members of Steppenwolf — bassist Nick St. Nicholas and guitarist Michael Monarch, former Santana/Fifth Dimension singer Greg Walker and former Lynyrd Skynyrd singer-guitarist Randall Hall. The lineup is completed by keyboardist Mark Hoyt, guitarist David Coyle and vocalist Juan Del Castillo (who performs Steve Perry’s vocals on the songs popularized by Journey).

For drum fans, the obvious draw is Dunbar. In 1966, he came within a coin toss of being chosen to be the drummer in the then-fledgling Jim Hendrix Experience. Mitch Mitchell won the toss.

But Dunbar did alright for himself. He went on to drum with John Mayall, Jeff Beck, former San Diegan Frank Zappa, Herbie Mann, David Bowie, John Lennon, Lou Reed, Nils Lofgren, Shuggie Otis, Jefferson Starship, Keith Emerson, Leslie West and many more. With no slight intended to his World Classic Rockers band mates, Dunbar should be worth the price of admission by himself.