So, my narcissistic side made me create a new profile. Not just because I'm incredibly self-involved, but because when I joined myspace forever ago, I kicked myself after i realized music profiles are another breed. So here ya go. This will be the headquarters for my musical career. [ha! career...]
History:
I started playing drums when I was 13. My dad taught me the very basics one day, and from then on it was all me, baby. I taught myself by playing along with cds. I started with bands like Nirvana and Weezer and progressed from there.
My first band was started in eighth grade with my friend Ryan. We never decided on a name, but a few of the choice ones were: "Frozen Lanterns," 'Archimedes," and "eNu$."
A year or two later while practicing for a talent show with a temporary band that used the "Woody's Self-Storage" garage for practice, the "WSS" guys apparently decided that they couldn't compete with my awesomeness and disbanded. They then decided that they wanted to try again, and asked if I would play drums for them. WireHead was born. We rocked the fuck outta Lowell for a few years, and then went our separate ways, [like the best bands tend to do.] A short reunion ensued years later during a Dynaflo show, instigating rumors of a new album to follow-up 1998's "Lobotomy." Time will tell...
I moonlighted for a while with two other bands, Nimfo, and Chapter 77. Nimfo's height of glory was when we played "Hey Man, Nice Shot" at the school talent show, and made a little kid cry because we rocked so hard. People got up and left. It was one of the highlights of my life thus far. Chapter 77 was my first punk band with the late Reade Evans. We used to practice in his parents 50's Diner-themed basement.
Some time after all that, I was approached by Mike Krause of Standard Green, to fill the void of brother Andy, who was leaving for school. "I'll fill your soft, squishy void any day!" I told Andy. The band released an EP called, "A Different Shade." We played one show at The Liquid Room with Soviet Union before being banned for being wasted and continuing to play "Keep on Rockin" by Neil Young after we were told to stop. Personality clashes ended that band.
After months of not doing anything, we all realized that we just wanted to play music, and Planet Zero was formed with 3 of the members of Standard Green. Pat Brinkley [Swayze!] was coerced into eventually joining the band with promises of beer and dirty dancing. And thus we released our EP, "Caleb The Comet." The title track being about our friend Caleb who was a green dealer who overcharged for light bags. Another song on that EP, "Trainwreck" was about a girl we went to high school with who the guys ran into at a strip club where said girl worked. Apparently, this once pretty and promising young lady had all the signs of a meth addict. [Trainwreck.] The band ended, once again, due to personality clashes.
Over a year passed with no band to play with. I was in a dark place. With a lack of music to recharge my fuel cells, I needed something, and I needed it soon. Enter Mr. Soules. The phone rang one day, and my friend from marching band who played the tuba was on the other end looking for a new drummer for his punk band Soviet Union. [In all but my very first band I have replaced someone. Not sure what that means.] Not being a natural punk drummer, I wasn't sure. Having played with the band at The Liquid Room, I knew how good they were, and I wasn't sure I could keep up. But being desperate for a musical outlet, I agreed to try it out. What a wonderful thing it turned out to be. I wouldn't be where I'm at, with the bands I have, without them. Soviet Union live shows were brutal. Both for the audience and the band. It was like nothing I had ever been a part of. The raw energy of that band has yet to be matched. The 10-song album recorded at Forbidden Beat Studios ain't bad either. But all good things must end, right? With the formation of Al & The Black Cats, came the fall of the Soviet Union. Maybe someday...
Once again, without a band to back, I was looking for something new. Months passed with no glimmer of hope. Until I attended a Dynaflo show. I'd been to a few before, but this one happened to be Karen's last show. I approached Aaron, [who I had worked with for a few years at Sam Goody] about filling in. He seemed down for the idea as he "wanted to do something different." But months went by without any action.
In the meantime, The Walking Corpses were looking for a new drummer, due to NVD138 leaving the band because he "wanted to pursue his skateboarding career." Having had success with my last punk band, and realizing that I was meant to play fast and hard, I jumped on board without a second thought. We released our demo "For Bloodcurdlers And Axe Murderers" in the summer of 2007, and can be heard on underground radio stations around the world.
A few months after joining the Corpses, Aaron finally decided to revive Dynaflo. Seeing as how I told him months earlier that I would play with him, I couldn't say no. Even though being in two bands at once was not something I, at the time, relished. [I didn't want to be stretched too thin.] But with the way things are going now, I feel like I could take on a couple more. So Mr. Dynaflo and I started practicing with just the two of us. Eventually Swayze was brought in once again to fill in the low end. And after a chance meeting with Fatshit 6 at Jukes, he reclaimed his position as string slinger, and badger hunter. "Capitan Juan y los comedores del Jesus" was released in the spring of 2008, with artwork by Jenni Cartoon [of the infamous Joe Cartoon.] Dynaflo was featured in the Grand Rapids press for their weekend music...thing. See it here .
So just who are the Bi-Polar Bears, you ask??
They're not an actual band, but rather everyone I've ever made music with, and everyone I have yet to had the privilege of creating with.
