Perfect Landing - ProfilesArchive

About Me

A History of Perfect Landing

Origin

Perfect Landing was created out of the "ashes" (ha ha) of a number of Gloversville bands that existed from 1981 - 1988.

Cold War This 1982 metal band consisted of Ray, Vinnie D., John A., Tim F. and Joe P. Cold War was interesting in many ways. First, Ray did not play bass guitar for this band (I see a trivia question here). Ray was the keyboardist! This band was also interesting because all of the members eventually went on to greater fame (well, except Vinnie D. - unless you are a really big fan of Rauch's Bakery). Ray went on to Perfect Landing. John A. became the guitarist for the Gloversville High School Jazz band (where Eric started). Tim F. played for a number of local bands (including HardNoxx) and Joe P. has been a major player in the Gloversville/Albany music scene for many years, appearing in bands such as Mother Fletcher, UnTamed, The Blob Mob, Bloodstone, and Enertia Rapid Fire This Gloversville High School band existed in various configurations from 1983 to 1985. Members have included Jeff, Ray, Chris and Alvin B., Doug F., Mike S. and Sean L. InfraRed InfraRed was to Perfect Landing what the ape was to man. A classic lineup - Jeff, Eric and Ray with Mike S. on vocals and Eric R. on rhythm guitar. This band played some great parties and kicked some ass at some great talent shows. The Young Ones While Jeff was hooting it up at Clarkson, Eric and Ray did not rest. They formed this hot high school band with Doug F. on vocals, Scott C. on drums and Lynn T. on keyboards. Like InfraRed, this band played some great parties and kicked some ass at some great talent shows.

The Many Incarnations of Perfect Landing

Over the years, Perfect Landing has had many different line-ups, some that worked great, others that worked not so great. In the end, the three core members always seem to come back (like a yeast infection). One of the first mutations of PL was the addition of Rick "Felix the Cat" A. as a singer/keyboardist. Perfect Landing has also appeared under the name "Bad Monkey" for an amazing gig at Club Illusions (the upstairs club in Lil' Handlebar Joe's), opening for Lars Tetens' band, Bill the Clown. We took on Rachel A. for a spell as a lead vocalist (she got to keep the banner) and also took on Jake O. as a lead vocalist. Perfect Landing has always taken the term "lead vocalist" lightly, rarely has a "lead vocalist" with Perfect Landing sang more than 10 songs.

The Name

The first gig as Perfect Landing for Jeff, Ray and Eric came in June of 1987 at Hap's Tavern in Bleecker, NY. It was at this annual Hap's Spring Jam that the name Perfect Landing was coined. Just moments before going on stage, a very drunk woman came up to the band and asked what their name was. In unison, the men replied "System 3". Well, that damn drunk nearly burst her spleen laughing at them and the ridiculous name they had chosen (which was stolen from a TV model name). She then said, "Why don't you have name like Perfect Landing or something". The rest is history. Hats off to that drunken witch, where ever she may be.

List of Gigs

Date

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/15/2006
Band Members: Jeff - The man who plays drums and sings, the man who owns the PA and the practice house, the man who pioneered the "change the answering machine message" trick and reason why we have the term "potato cannon". Jeff was born and raised in Gloversville and went to Clarkson Univerity and Syracuse University. He started providing InfraRed with a practice home in Gloversville, gave Perfect Landing a practice place in Utica, and presently gives Perfect Landing a place to party and play in his compound in Gloversville.Eric - The man who plays the guitar, the man who helps out in the singing and writing departments and the man who creates the websites. He was born in Upper Nyack, NY, raised in Gloversville, NY, has lived in Boston, MA; Miami Beach, FL; Binghamton, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and presently resides back in Boston, MA. Eric is an Electrical Engineer, receiving his Bachelor's degree from Tufts University, and his Master's from Binghamton University. In addition to all of this "fancy" education, Eric is a graduate of GIT and Musician's Institute in Hollywood.Ray - The man with the bass, and the man who helps out in the singing and writing departments. Ray was born in Danbury, CT, but moved at the age of three and was raised in Gloversville. He went to school at Oneonta State and Clarkson U. He worked on the construction of the thruway rest stop in Modena, NY, where he met his lovely wife. Ray is a civil engineer living in Scotia, NY. Ray also is an avid comic book, sports card and album collector, and an e-bayer.
Sounds Like: In the 80's we sounded hip and cool because we were playing 80's music. In the 90's we sounded old and out of date because we were playing 80's music. Now, we sound retro because we are playing 80's music.
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Memory 1

Remember when we played Kitty Gordon's in Oneonta and had a drunk in the crowd constantly requesting "Travelling Riverside Blues" over and over?Eric
Posted by Perfect Landing on Thu, 30 Mar 2006 02:10:00 PST

FACTOID 2

We have played under the name "Bad Monkey", which really isn't that bad of a band name.Eric
Posted by Perfect Landing on Wed, 29 Mar 2006 12:32:00 PST

FACTOID .1

22 years later, I am still playing the same Ibanez Roadstar II guitar. Now that I am an adult with a job, maybe I should buy that black Jackson Soloist with a reverse headstock that I always drea...
Posted by Perfect Landing on Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:31:00 PST