For four young men from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, life is anything but average.
Brandon Clark (19, Guitar), Chris Eisaman (21, bass guitar), Ryan Updike (20, lead vocals), and Zack Webster (21, drums) formed Not Yet Rated in 2003. In their career, the guys have opened for major names in the world of hard rock – support for bands such as Shinedown, Puddle of Mud, Crossfade, Breaking Benjamin, Queens of the Stone Age, Three Days Grace, Submersed, Magna-Fi, Lacuna Coil and Thornley.
The members of Not Yet Rated grew up immersed in music. While each was involved in a band as early as middle school, Not Yet Rated would start off performing local gigs at parties, dances, and small venues in their hometown of Myrtle Beach. The guys created a name for themselves playing cover songs by bands such as Sublime, Incubus and 311. “We got a gig at the ‘House of Blues’ and started drawing crowds upwards of 700 peopleâ€, remembers lead vocalist Ryan Updike. Word spread fast throughout the local scene as the guys headlined three ‘Myrtle Beach Rocks’ concerts, and later volunteered their talent for ‘Music for Life’, an event raising money for a 9 month old girl with cancer as well and would go on to help in other benefits.
As time went on, the guys found both their sound and goals coming together. “We realized that we had something very special, and that music was what we all wanted to pursue,†says Updike, “We’ve been very grateful for the opportunities that we’ve been given.†The band is looking forward to touring and getting their music in as many hands as possible.
