I think that the beauty of the internet is the ability to make information and culture available to those who know how to find it. . .for example. . .you are being introduced to me right now!

In a word, NO. I have paid a high price to have the beautiful life and beautiful family that I have now. . .I am doubtful that there is a label in the music industry who would say to a starting act "Sure, put family first. We'll work on your schedule!" If there is, give them my name and number!

I have been musical all of my life, but I didn't start playing until i was 18 and in college. Strongly influenced by artists like Sting, Peter Gabriel, etc, I took up the Bass so that i could weasel my way into a needy band. . .and then move on from there. . .I picked up guitar and keys a couple of years later.

My first "real" all original band was in college. I fronted a band called "Bedrock" (the drummers brother-in-law, one of our chief supporters, looked like Barney Rubble, from the Flintstones)

We were so full of fire and idealism. . .going to change the face of the music industry. ..we called ourselves "The Salvation of Rock and Roll"

Now keep in mind, this was 1988-1991. . .Hair metal was burning itself out. ..there was a vaccumm in the Rock scene. . .we sounded alot like a cross between U2 and Ozzy Osbourne. . .we finally recorded a Demo of about 8 songs over a thanksgiving break in 1991. . .sure that we had just revolutionized Rock Music. . .after we finished mixing, we went over to our Drummer's house and watched MTV. We had been sitting there about 15 minutes when Nirvana came on with "Smells Like Teen Spirit". . .the first time we had ever heard or seen anything like that. . .Dave Groehl's Drums kicked in on that first heavy riff, and we knew that we were out of business. . .if this was the direction music was going, we just couldn't compete. So we all graduated, got married and went our separate ways, playing in occasional bands after that.

Well, I used to want to be Sting when I grew up. . .Then I wanted to be Bono when I grew up, then I wanted to be Geddy Lee when I grew up, etc, etc, etc. Then I grew up. Now I just want to be me. . .who I am at this moment. All of these musicians, and others (The Cult, The Alarm, King's X, Jack Bruce, Dave Matthews, etc, etc, etc) have all played a part in my musical development, but it is my development as a person that has had the biggest influence on my songwriting.

Well, I lived in Raleigh, NC for about 2 years after my divorce. . .that is where I met my current, last, and bestest wife (now of almost 4 years). My best friend still lives there and there is always this little spark in the back of my mind that we will end up back in that area, but I am REALLY liking the Bay area. . .who knows? I have learned to be pretty happy whereever I am. . .some places are harder than others. . .

Fender Electrics and Takamene Acoustics! (there is a plug, now, do I get an endorsement?)

I do all of my recording myself. . .actually i am recording on a laptop currently, a Dell inspirion 1100, using Cakewalk Guitar Tracks Pro, and using several plug in packs available thru Cakewalk. The best of these is IK multimedia's Amplitube VST, which is an amp simulation program. . .

My drums are programmed out of an Alesis SR-16 drum machine, which is not as user friendly as the HR-16 (which is what I used on Stand and Fall), but the sounds are GREAT. I play Fender fretted and fretless jazz basses, and a Fender Mexican Fat Strat. . .My acoustic is a Takamene acoustic-electric with passive electronics (a gift from my best friend as i had sold my old fender acoustic electric to pay rent at one point) I take all of my guitars into an old Alesis Quadraverb direct into a Tascam US-224 USB interface-- wich is great, as it also functions as a control interface for the Cakewalk.

Since I record my guitars direct in, I am planning to get a Sansamp Classic DI box (upon the recommendation of a good friend), but for the time being, I am using a $20 distortion pedal (I think it's called "Roadkill", hey it was on sale!!), and then using the Amplitube plug in to make it sound a little more "amplified"

Finally, My mic is a Studio Projects B1 condenser mic with an ART phantom power going into the US-224. . .I use my Cakewalk Plugins for reverb, compression, etc.

The biggest part of this ensemble are of course Kimberly, Drew, Olivia, and the Possum. A Special "I will always Love you" goes out to my precious Bekah J. wherever you are.