Formaldehyde Joker

The year was 1994, music trends were coming and going at the speed of light. Three members of a recently defunct Reading, PA based band decided that all they really wanted to do was get back to the reasons that they started playing music in the first place. Zeppelin and the Stones on AM Radio, AC/DC on Wolfman Jack’s Midnight Special, Aerosmith on 8-track, and the “ I don’t give a shit, let’s just turn it up and rock” attitude of Motorhead. Formaldehyde Joker was born in the wake of band breakups, marital strife, and the frustration of working mind-numbing jobs that threatened to suck the soul out of you.The original band line-up consisted of Kerry Renninger on drums, Rick Snell on bass, and Rez on guitar and vocals. Rez had been a member of Chyld, a Pottsville, PA based band which had scored a deal with New Renaissance Records. The band released a record” Conception” in 1988 to much critical acclaim in the States, Europe, and Japan. Unfortunately, bad business practices ultimately led to the demise of the band.Kerry Renninger and Rick Snell had played together in many Reading, PA based bands on and off since high-school. Kerry and Rick were in the band Scaredey Cat when they were in need of a guitarist. Scaredey Cat were regional favorites playing clubs in PA, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware and had the opportunity to open for various national acts such as Quiet Riot, Heaven’s Edge, and Dirty Looks. Kerry and Rez had met years before when Kerry’s band, Tux, opened for Chyld. When Scaredey Cat was looking for a guitarist, Kerry called Rez. Scaredey Cat evolved into the Sun Dogs who had a nice run on the regional scene. As the Sun Dogs wound down, Rez, Rick, and Kerry stared “The Joker”. Not long after inception, guitarist Tom Clark came aboard. The band recorded a five-song EP in 1995 called “Straight Jacket Sex” and played numerous local shows and opening for various national acts including Quiet Riot. Eventually, the band faded but the members’ friendships remained intact. Over the past years, the band members all pursued different interests and projects both musical and non-musical.Fast forward to the year 2004. Kerry and Rez started to collaborate with a local songwriter when a few of the old “Joker” songs reappeared. The need to play and record straight ahead rock songs was back. Over the course of the next year, eight original songs were recorded – “VOLUME”.The band is currently writing and recording new material for a follow-up CD. After that some live, loud rock shows will be performed. In the words of Lemmy – “Don’t forget the Joker!”