DUST is a band that is going to combine well-known material with much less well-known material. The set list will contain multiple musical influences and directions and all members are very much looking forward to produce a kick ass, and hopefully very surprising gig!
DUST saw the light of day due to a number of circumstances:Singer Johnnie Zign has been fronting Queen tribute ‘ Miracle ’ already for a number of years and with great success. Talisman/Journey singer Jeff Scott Soto saw him perform during a Queen convention and immediately John gained Jeff’s respect because of his beautiful voice and wide range. During Jeff’s last European solo tour, he pulled John on stage where they performed Queens ‘Tie Your Mother Down’. On that same tour, John met drummer Erik Stout which led to a collaboration on the later recorded TIME EP.
Drummer Erik Stout also goes back a few years with Jeff, having opened for him in different bands during Jeff’s solo tours in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, Erik was involved in the first European festival and club tour of newcomer recording artist Daize Shayne (who also had former JSS bassplayer Gary Schutt in her band previously). After their collaboration in TIME, Erik and John both had the will to carry on together in music and DUST will be the first time to see the two on stage together.
Bass player Arjo Miedema has always been a major Talisman fan. The first time he saw them was some years ago and he was completely blown away. Arjo has played with melodic rockers Sanity for a while and is currently playing in classic rock cover band Heads Down, together with Erik, Gert and former Vengeance/Elegy/Consortium/Ayreon-singer Ian Parry.
Axeman Gert Nijboer currently plays in the 80’s Dutch hard rock band Highway Chile together with hard hitter Ernst van Ee (Vengeance/Helloïse) and singer Stan Verbraak (Helloïse). Their reunion cd is planned to come out later this year. As mentioned, he also plays with Erik and Arjo in Heads Down.