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Nancy Frieko, born Jane Elizabeth Mabry, grew up in Central Arkansas. She was raised in a musical family. Although the older family members were advocates of classical, jazz, and gospel hymns, Nancy was obsessed with rock music. Her first record was KISS Destroyer.
Family members had her performing at church and at school from the early age of 3. She didn't like people taking her picture without her permission, and she really wanted to play electric guitar in a band. Being a minor, however, she didn't get to make those decisions. She does make them now.
From her early years on Nancy has performed and created words and music for herself. From singing and acting in early childhood, to playing cello in the orchestra in secondary school, and self-teaching guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, and song-writing, she has dedicated her life to music and art.
During her early to late teens, Nancy suffered severe emotional traumas. In an attempt to deal, she used to large and sufficient quantities of drugs and alcohol to deaden her nerves. Shortly after she turned 18, she met Stephen Egerton of ALL and the Descendants who became an inspiration. In an effort to make a clean start, she moved to the Pacific Northwest.
Living in the Northwest proved to be a great learning experience. She managed to clean up her act, but isolated herself with her sobriety and mental illness in the process. Nancy moved in and out of several bands, with Dr. Inme having the longest life -- 9 months. During this time she shared the stage with notables such as Katie's Dimples, Sage, and Seaweed. She performed regularly at the old Heidelberg Brewery, Offramp, the Colourbox, the Central Tavern, and her former place of employment, the Swiss. A few years later, she left the Northwest for New York, but wound up back in Arkansas.
Upon her return, she ran into old friend Bircho from Trusty. He, also, had just moved home from DC. Bircho introduced her to Skeeter Thompson, DC expatriate and former bass player of Dave Grohl's pre-Nirvana band, Scream. They had formed a band called Coal Burner and asked Nancy to step in on lead guitar. A relapse in heavy and hard drug use followed. After a near death experience, she went on hiatus.
Years later, Nancy was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now she is back, open and honest, holding her axe with a place to stand.
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