Shep passed away from cancer in April, 2009 at age 50. We raise money and awareness for alternative cancer treatment. Our primary benefactor is currently The Best Answer for Cancer Foundation.

In 1975, a group of North Bergen High School students started rehearsing their favorite songs in Shep’s basement. Kathy DiGiulio, George Haviland, Marty Mandell and Bob “Shep” Sheppard became known as Peyote, and started performing shows all over Hudson County, New Jersey. Paul Herscheit joined around that time.

Peyote performed at elementary school graduations and private parties, escalating to high school dances and outdoor concerts, and ultimately, night clubs. Along the way Paul left, and Dwayne Bartlett and Robert “Miles” Standish joined.

In 1978, Kathy DiGiulio, aka Fuzzzy, moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music. Combined with life issues tugging at the other members, a very successful Peyote chose to disband.

After a nine year courtship, Fuzzzy and Shep married in 1985. Their son and honorary Peyote member Evan was born on March 21, 2003.

Unfortunately, Shep inexplicably contracted mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer typically associated with exposure to asbestos, leading to his passing.

On April 5, 2012, the remaining founding members agreed to attempt a Peyote reunion to celebrate the life of Shep, and raise money and awareness for alternative cancer treatment.

The current plan is for Shepstock to occur annually.

Our first event, Shepstock 2012, was held at Redds Restaurant in Carlstadt, NJ. Featured performers/benefactors were "Hawk", TPM (The Past Masters) and a newly reunited Peyote. Nine year old Evan Sheppard played drums on “All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople, harmonica on The Beatles “Rocky Raccoon, and sang lead on “Rockin in the Free World” by Neil Young. The event was very successful, attended by almost 200 people, and raising over $2000

Shepstock 2013 was held at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ with the same slate of performers. Highlights included Evan Sheppard playing drums on “Changeling” by The Doors and singing lead on “Highway Star” by Deep Purple, as well as Peyote performing Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album in the entirety. Attendance was approximately 300, raising over $3000.

Shepstock 2014 was at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville NJ. Performers were TPM and Peyote. Due to popular demand, Peyote performed “Dark Side of the Moon” again, as well as the Beatles medley from side 2 of Abbey Road, and Stairway to Heaven in the fashion of Heart’s Kennedy Center Honors version….with 11 year old Evan on lead vocal….and a choir! We had a great laser light show courtesy of Adam Pliss. Attendance was a little less than we hoped, most probably attributable to moving the event south. Despite lower attendance, we still raised over $3000. We have been fortunate to be supported by the Bovenizer family’s “Shepherd Foundation”, Sheryl and Jim Brian, Elizabeth Salas, and many other personal donations large and small.

We attempted to move the event back north for 2015, but were unable to find a suitable venue. So Shepstock 2015 was at Starland Ballroom once again. We had already raised over $3000 this year, before the show even happened! Special thanks to the Bovenizer’s “Shepherd Foundation”, and to all our generous donors, large and small! Since our first event in 2012, we have raised over $10,000 for alternative cancer treatment, and we are very proud of that accomplishment. Of course, the Shepstock Nation is actually responsible for all our success. Thank you very much one and all. This year we are partnered with The School of Rock, whose house bands opened the show. Evan has been a SoR student for many years, and Kathy is currently a teacher there. Kathy is also a former School of Rock owner, being the first to bring the program to the area. So our roots with them are deep. Our great friends TPM will also appeared once again.

The “Official Theme” for SHEPSTOCK 2015 was “RAT-ON”. Peyote will be added several Good Rats tunes to their set, AND….they were be accompanied by non-other than Good Rats guitarist extraordinaire JOHN “THE CAT” GATTO. In addition to the usual plethora of amazing stuff available via silent auction, we offered a brand new Fender “Ratocaster” guitar, signed by all the living members of The Good Rats, along with a CD of their album “Rat City in Blue signed by Peppi Marchello! Peyote performed segments of your favorite classic rock albums, including Dark Side of the Moon, Aqualung and Abbey Road. Joan Gardner and Ida Marks performed I’ll be There by Michael Jackson, along with backing vocals on many of the Peyote tunes. We raised $3625 for The Best Answer for Cancer.

Shepstock 2016 is a milestone event for us, being the fifth year in a row for the event. Mystic Rhythms, The World’s Premier Rush Tribute joins us for the first time. Their drummer, Adam Pliss, provided the laser light show at previous events. Peyote and Friends continues to enjoy the awesome axe slinging of John “The Cat” Gatto of The Good Rats again this year. John will be performing an expanded set, being featured on several Good Rats tunes as well as other faves. Steve Avillo and Russel Guarcello of TPM (The Past Masters) and Paul Herscheit of Hawk are with us again as well. As has become our tradition, watch for tributes to many of the great musicians we have lost recently. We will have 50/50 and guitar raffles, in addition to the usual riches that our silent auction always avails, art, music, services and goodies of all kinds.