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OK, I’ve decided to start Time Line of sorts here with some old footage I have lying around. I thought I would put some things up here that would show where it started and, hopefully where it’s going. So I figure what I’ll do is try and give a description of the Bands and what was going on. If I have some footage I can post I’ll put it up so you can see what they were like. I hope you in joy………..
GIDEON / TRILOGY – 1988 to 1989
First up is my first band Gideon. This band was started by one of my oldest and closest friends in the world, Mark (Rhythm Guitar). Him and are Drummer Iggy, wrote a couple of songs and said “we need a Bass Playerâ€. And that’s where I come in. Throw in the Lead Player, Charlie, and you have yourself a Band. Don’t ask about the singer in the video, I can’t remember his name and he was only in the band for about a month. Shortly after the only show we did, the band changed to a three piece called Trilogy. That didn’t last for much more then about 6 months. It was fun trying to write in three piece format. That’s when I first started working with keyboards and moog pedals. Yes the Geddy Lee clone was being born.
After Gideon and Trilogy, I did a few things with some other groups. Nothing that really went anywhere but out of one of these bands is how I would meet one of the best Musicians I’ve ever played with. The band was called Autrai O’ Day (the singer’s stage name) and the Guitar Player in this Band was Rael Ranoa. I was only in this project for a few months and we only did this one show for some TV thing that was going on down in Long Beach. It was a good time but the drive to practice and the fact that I had no car at the time made my stay in the band short lived. but I must have left some sort of an impression on Rael (or a stain) because it was about 4 months later that I get a knock on my door to see him standing there with a musicians needed add for a band that him and Mike where trying to put together. Enter, Strange Euphoria…...
STRANGE EUPHORIA – 1990 to 1991
This is what would be the start of Mine, Mike, and Raels time together. 4 singers, 3 band names and a shit load of fun. Strange Euphoria had a few good gigs. The footage is from the last show we did at a club called Goodies. This was a big learning experience for the all of us but especially Mike, Rael and Myself. Learning how to play with one another, learning each other’s strength and weaknesses. We had our ups and downs and unfortunately some of the downs would bring about the end of the band. Looking back though, I feel it was for the best. The short time apart made us think about what was important for a band to get off the ground.
BEING USED – 1991 to 1992
A few months go by and that’s when Mike and Rael met Rudy. Bring me back into the fold, and you have the band, Being Used. By the time we got back together I think each of us had time to realize that sometimes you need to put the “you†aside for the good of the group. We started working on songs that might have been a little more subdued by are standards but it was a necessary move for us. I think it made us open up in a new direction that would help smooth out the rough edges even more. Here is some stuff from one of the only shows we did. It’s an instrumental I put together from a few Ideas I had laying around. Not as laid back as some of the things we were writing at the time but definitely a good moment in what we were about. sorry that you don’t get to hear the singer. Maybe next time…...
BAD POETRY – 1992 to 1995
After this, of course, is Bad Poetry. I would have to say that this was one of the most successful bands I was ever in. Over the 3 years we played under this name we did many show, had an EP available in stores, and ended up with a shit load of fans. I think even today there are some people out there that still remember the name Bad Poetry. And I don’t think it’s a moment in time that any member of the band will forget. I remember some of the first times we started taking off and how surreal it felt. There’s just no way to describe the feeling of standing the frozen food isle of grocery store and someone comes up to me and goes….
“aren’t you the Bass Player for Bad Poetry?â€
And all I’m thinking is…. What?????
It’s hard to think of yourself as anything more than just some guy that plays in this band. But after you start hearing one of the band’s songs on the radio or watch yourself on TV the mind starts to wrap around it. I still don’t think it will every sink in just how far the band was starting to go. All we cared about I think was getting are music out there.
It’s a time in life I’ll love till my dyeing day. From the shows at the Marquee in the early days to playing in other states and opening for bands like Jefferson Starship, Quite Riot, and Pat Travers.
But Like all good thing, it came to an end. It was one of those things that I think some of us felt it coming but no one wanted to see. After so many years of playing together it’s hard to imagine that you will no longer be writing songs with one another anymore. It was a hard time for all of us and I guess that which does not kill you only makes you stronger. If anything, I feel very blessed to have had the time we had together and been part of something bigger the each of us.
Good Times……………….
SEVENTH FLOOR – 1995 to 1997
After the Days of Bad Poetry I tried to put together a few things. The best one was Seventh Floor. A Great band with more great musicians. I think this band had a good pulse on the scene at the time and could have gone very far but it just wasn’t in the cards.
Maybe it was the fact that I was just so tired of doing the whole starting over from scratch thing. Maybe it was something bigger on a cosmic level. What every it was will never know. The Video clip is from are first show. I feel this definitely shows the strength of the bands song writing. A talent that would take us to a point when we got to play The Whiskey A Go-Go opening for Missing Persons.
Must have been something there………………….
After that is when I moved to Ohio. I’ve been in a few things out here………
THE BENDERS – 2003 to 2004
EDENS EXIT – 2004 to 2007
THE SOLAR FEDARATION (Rush Tribute Band) – 2006
All Pretty much cover bands. Out here original music is just not as common as it is in So Cal. It was good to get back into the band groove though. I had kind of got out of it when I moved out here. But let’s face it, music is like a drug. Once you start, it’s hard to give up……..
VERTICAL REIGN – 2007
After this I hooked up with some good guys in a band called, Vertical Reign. An originals band very much in the vein of groups like Kiss and Pantera. It was nice to see that there are people out here that weren’t afraid of going a different route. Unfortunately we had to part ways do to conflicting ideas.
TANTALLON – 2007 to 2008
Shortly after Vertical Reign I auditioned for the progressive metal band – Tantallon. A totally great bunch of guys making some incredible music. Between the Talent, the Songwriting, and just the overall great Friendship in this group, I felt very at home. I was very honored to be a part of this. It was great to work with another song writer like in the old days. Here’s a link to the SpacePage…….
Tantallon
But, It saddens me to say that I have had to make my departure from Tantallon. Do to way to many reasons to list here; I felt I need to move into some other things at the moment. Please be aware that this choice was one of the hardest I’ve had to make in a long time. I loved playing with all the guys from Tantallon and the Music we were creating was nothing short of amazing. I know with the talent in that band they will find a great Bass player to fill those shoes. I will miss Playing with them very, very much.
4bidN – 2007 to 2008
JAM DOCTORS – 2008
At the moment, I’m working with some great people in the Band 4bidN. It’s a pop/rock cover project that is being very well received. I’ve also hooked up with the Jam Doctors; It’s the House band that plays at the Thirsty Whale every Thursday night. A great time to be had by all. Hopefully I can get some video footage up soon of some of the Jam Doctors but here is some 4bidN footage. It’s from are first show. The lineup has changed a little but the direction is still the same………
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