AuraPhoDic

It all started back in 1998 with the formation of an acoustic psycho rock band called Folkedelica. Jon "HARV" Harvel and Dave "DAYVO" Helm were both students at the very small, very private college in Lincoln, IL. Within a few months the two guys were "jammin" it up with alt rock classics consisting of a tune written by HARV called "Seeds n Stems." A catchy tune that was a favorite for the drunken dorm sing alongs. There was also a tune entitled "Unframed Picture" that was one of DAYVOS tunes from the early days. Its groovy underlying rhythms sandwiched with a catchy set of lyrics was one of the very first "real" songs written and performed by the duo. There were other songs as well: On the Futon, Druggie Anthology, Flamers Anonymous, Everything's Fine and Mushroom Tattoo.
After the DUO graduated from that little private college, they went on to an accredited music school, mid State IL where DAYVO pursued a music ed degree while HARV pursued a degree in music performance for bass guitar. One day after a concert band rehearsal (pre-drunken rehearsal class days), HARV ran into a guy from class named NATHAN "NATER" BLESSE. Come to find out, NATER was a complete WEEN fan as was HARV. The two began to talk as they walked to meet up with a common acquaintance at the dorms (this acquaintance, RICHARD CLARK, would later become the sole guitarist DC FERDINAND in our dear friends' band FERDINAND FOX) NATER, who was fresh out of high school and a freshman at this accredited university, had already logged numerous hours in the studio recording with a band called WORM CIRCUS (TYLER BUNDY, RAD AKERS, NATER, kyle davis).
Fast forwarding a bit, NATER introduced HARV to JOE "JOFA" KING. JOFA, at that time, was playing drums for a band called MUSICIAN'S CO-OP (NICK DAVIO, RICHARD CLARK, PAUL KOLAK, BRAD HOFBAUER, JOE KING and someone else that I can't remember[NICK, RICHARD and PAUL would later form FERDINAND FOX]) This band was a favorite at the local coffee shop on campus.
Soon after, HARV, NATER and JOFA wound up playing a couple of times in HARV'S apartment where DAYVO would eventually come into the mix. These jam sessions led to live afternoon concerts on the decks of townhouse-esque apartment complexes where stripped down acoustic versions of classic DRONES tunes were berthed. Days later, after a jam session, NATER came up to HARV and said, "I've always wanted to be in a band called the DRONES." From that day on, a small legacy was born.
This DRONES line up performed quite a few shows at the aforementioned coffee shop on campus with the MUSICIAN'S CO - OP. These shows led to many parties that helped mold the path for other bands and musicians as well (FERDINAND FOX, Creed, Nickleback, and Most importantly Dave Matthews Band-the best band in the world!). This group of musicians became extremely close friends and brothers in rock.
After the first year at university, the news came that JOFA would be leaving the group. JOFA has now went on to bigger and better things (running sound at clubs in CHICAGO). The following semester, HARV was in class and a man named MATT SCHILLER said that his brother, an accomplished drummer, who was also a student at the same school, was looking for a group to play with. It was when JOHN "SCHILLZY" SCHILLER joined the band that the drones started recording and paving the way for the legacy. With their first studio recording came the song "THANK GOD FOR JESUS." A song based loosely on Nate's basic Mandoline lick and stage antics by DAYVO at a HANGAR 9 show in CARBONDALE, IL. This song utilized all 24 tracks in the MILLITRAX studio on campus with numerous effects-and a slightly untuned trombone . These sessions also berthed other notable songs: Howl at the Moon, Prison Cell, Seeds and Stems (revisited from the FOLKEDELICA days of HARV and DAYVO).
After these sessions and year at school, NATER left for the navy for about four years. In the meantime, HARV and DAYVO would record other songs with and without NATER and SCHILLZY (during various periods of leave that NATER had earned in the navy).
After graduation, all went their seperate ways. However, DAYVO, HARV, NICK DAVIO, RICHARD CLARK and NATER would still remain close friends through all of this. After NATER got out of the navy, DAYVO and HARV knew it was time to re-form a band. NATER was back and the spirit was still there.
Early 2006, NATER, DAYVO and HARV would start playing with a new drummer named ANDREW "REW" BLESSE (NATER's Brother and former bassist for STEREOTYPE and WEXTER SNATCH). SO it was natural for the group to come together. Soon after, RYAN "VIKING" MORRIS was added as a trombonist (who would later back out due to current economical restraints [we miss you]).
SO in a nutshell, the line up was:
DAYVO-VOCALS, KEYBOARDS, TRUMPET
HARV- BASS, VOCALS, STUDIO MAGIC
NATER- GUITAR, VOCALS, FLAVOR
REW-DRUMS, PERCUSSION, VOCALS
Matt Comerford: Guitars and fun timesNow everyone has gone their seperate ways again.Every good thing has to come to an end eventually. The Current Lineup is: NO ONE peace out my brothers.