About Me
Children Of The New Sun began as many bands do... from the ashes of failed bands and with talented musicians looking for a project to call "home." In the early 1990s a Rochester, NY based original metal band called Justin Tyme released their only studio work in the form of a four song self-titled demo. Within weeks of it's completion the band dissolved leaving singer Peter Andrews, bassist Steven Wright and drummer John Payton lacking guitarists and doubting their future as a band. Peter had met and corresponded with a very fine guitar player named James Allan a couple years earlier and decided this was the time to see if he might be looking for a new project. A couple phone calls later a jam session was set up and an inconspicuous warehouse room was the birthplace of Rochester, NY's own metal monster "Monolith."
James brought many things to the table beyond an incredible talent as an instumentalist. Drawing on many diverse influences he helped revitalize a bland project and gave it flavor and substance and a whole new life. His amazing riff writing and intuition for song structure made it possible for the rest of the band to accel as they never had. Peter found it much easier to create melody and be himself vocally with James' guitar work. The rythme section also blossomed with more space to create and room to breathe musically.
Throughout the 90s Monolith stuggled through many trials that many bands have to face. Careers interfering with the music, drummers coming and going and slow (if any) progress for various reasons. Through it all the music endured and continued to bring the guys back together and to this day is the binding force that makes the band what it is. Heavy, melodic, powerful and most of all lots of fun.
The final piece of the puzzle was put in place in 2005 in the form of drummer Mike Parus. After working with many players who were great in their own right Mike stepped in and filled a void in many ways. His playing and writing were just what the doctor ordered as well as his personality being a perfect fit for this diverse group of individuals. In 2007, after realizing there are countless bands worldwide called Monolith, the name was changed to Children Of The New Sun. Currently working on their first full length CD (scheduled for release in early 2008) the band is psyched and ready to take their music to the masses. Watch for them to make their mark on the music scene soon beginning near home in Upstate NY... and then???...
Peter Andrews (born Peter Andrew Donk, October 12, 1967) has been an avid vocalist since age 16 when he began singing heavy rock music with garage/basement bands in High School. He was born into a musical family and was constantly exposed to all kinds of music almost literally from the day he was born. His Mother (Elizabeth) was an accomplished pianist who also possesed a very strong singing voice. His Father (John) was a recreational guitarist with a taste for some of the early greats like Chet Atkins and B.B. King. Five brothers also helped emerse Peter in a musical environment as no member of the family lived a life devoid of music (Bob - drums, Jim - guitar, Tom - drums/banjo, Doug - rock/jazz guitar, Bill - bass guitar). From the very beginning it seemed obvious that music would play some kind of role in Peter's life. After singing some of the early heavy classics (Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc.) in various garage bands as more of a "goof" than anything something happened to open his eyes to what voice could really be. At a High School dance (of all places) a friend and fellow metalhead was the DJ and had brought along some sick metal records to throw in the mix (of course). About halfway through the night he threw on a brand new EP by an unknown band called Queensryche and told Peter to "Check this out man! You'll dig it!" It took only a few bars of Queen of the Reich with Geoff Tate's masterful use of his voice in ways never heard before in the rock world and his eyes were wide open. He knew that rock voice could be so much more than he ever would have thought it could be before and thus was born a true love of voice. A love of singing as an art form no matter what kind of music it's applied to. A true appreciation of the craft of singing and song writing. Singing would never again be just a "goof."
Soon after that he got a phone call from guitarist and now good friend Allen Jones who invited him to audition for a band called Satin Steel. After singing a few tunes he had the gig and a couple weeks later was spending time on stage in front of audiences for the first time. It was then that he bagan to learn the performance side of singing. And also learned it would be his favorite part of the whole process. Though that band was short lived and probably only did maybe 20 shows it spawned some of the best memories he'll ever have. After the band reformed with new members and changed the name to White Noyze there was another year or more of educational gigging and writing and studio work. It was in that first couple years that the foundation was laid for a lifetime of singing.
After disagreements caused the downfall of White Noyze Peter spent a short period in limbo with no band. Good friend and bassist Steve Sarratori brought an ad to his attention. A popular Utica based original metal band called Visigoth was looking for a new front man and Steve thought he might fit the band well. An audition was set up and a weekend trip to Utica followed shortly thereafter. He had a blast singing with them for an afternoon but was lacking a little of the vocal development they were looking for to take their project all the way. The audition was a bust but would turn out to be a crucial turning point in Peter's singing career just the same.
The guys in Visigoth told him of a voice teacher their former front man had studied with who had helped him make leaps and bounds where his vocal ability was concerned. They jotted down a phone number and a name; Katherine Montcrieff. After a brief phone conversation an interview was set up with Kathy and Peter headed for Phoenix, NY one afternoon for what was to be the first of many years of voice lessons. Kathy turned out to be just what the doctor ordered and almost immediately he found himself able to sing beyond what he thought himself capable of only a few short months before. More range, more power, more control and more importantly he learned how to sing without causing undue strain or damage to his voice. She pointed him down a path that led to great satisfaction with singing. Her contributions will never be forgotten or overlooked.
From that point Peter sang with various cover and original bands over the years. Many hours in the studio and many hours on stage have helped him to mature into a versatile and talented vocalist who would be at home in any venue at any level. Some of the most success was with bands like Rosetta Stone (Greenville, S.C.), Justin Tyme (Rochester, N.Y.), Shadowdance (Philadelphia, P.A.) and Monolith (Rochester, N.Y.). Currently he's doing the original rock thing with the newest incarnation of Children Of The New Sun (formerly Monolith): James Allan - guitar, Mike Parus - drums, Steven Wright - bass... (www.childrenofthenewsun.com) and never sees a time when singing won't be a huge part of his life...
Influences: Geoff Tate/Queensryche, Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, James Labrie, Colm Wilkinson, The Eagles, Lucianno Pavarotti, The Doobie Brothers, Journey and anyone else with something strong to offer the vocal universe!!!
James Allan (born in San Francisco, California in the 60's) started playing guitar around age 3. His first band (Montage - Junior High) started playing in clubs and at High School dances while James was in High School at the age of 15. His first real guitar and amp were a Fender Mustang and Princeton.
James went on to be a session guitarist at Barrett Alley, PCI, Music America, Recording Concepts Ltd., Turtle Rock, and Music Works. He worked with the likes of Gary Zefting (engineer and producer - Metallica, Anthrax, and other Mega Force bands), Lee Roxx (Cindy Lauper), Benji King (Rick Derringer, Patti Smythe, Scandal), Gus Miller (Kenney Logins, Gino Vannelli, Al Jeurou), Chris G (Gap Band, Rick James, TLC, Jermaine Stewart, The NINE) and Jimmy Fox (Toronto). He's played with many successful bands over the years including Montage (Junior High), Olias (with ex-TALAS lead singer Phil Naro), Yesterdays News (original Jazz Fusion w/Joe Santoro from Cabo Frio, indie release on vinyl), NV (with Gus Miller, Chris G), The NINE (signed to indie label DRESSER), Kristine Faith (original heavy rock band from NYC, NJ), Monolith (original heavy rock band), Monkey Dust (alternative cover band) and logged countless miles on the road with Monolith, NV (Gus Miller and Chris G.) The NINE (Dresser), The Rocco Sisters (Columbia/SONY), Johnny Parrazzo (Polydor) and the Platters.
Influences: King's X, Moke, Zepplin, early Aerosmith, early YES, Sound Garden, Galactic Cowboys, Zappa, early Heart, Jeff Beck, Viscous Rumors, Blackmore, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmstein, Hendrix, Steve Stevens.
James uses: Custom Fender Strats, Les Pauls, Mesa Boogie Triaxis, T.C. Electronics, DBX, Rocktron, BBE, Ashley, Custom point-to-point hand built stereo power amps by the legendary amp builder John NAU, Marshall cabinets, road cases by Bristol Boarding, Calzone, Anvil, and Armadillo.
Mike Parus was born sometime in the 1900s and is now the drummer for CotNS.
Steven Wright plays the bass guitar.
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