Polaris the Band
POLARIS is from Southern California with a desire to bring back the significance of the lead guitar and complex song writing with dynamic vocal passages, seamless bass lines, and high energy percussion.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
A little history might say that Randy Ramirez (lead vocals/lead guitar) and Rocky Ramirez (drums) have known each other for a long time. This is true, because they are brothers. Biologically too. Most people see no resemblance. And we don't beg to differ. :) They started playing music together at a young age, "Smoke on the Water," and eventually began writing their own music.
Rocky was working at Mars Music sometime in August of 2001, and fell across an amazing bass player he knew who was perfect for this band. Roland Maniago is his name. Very talented and very serious about every note that extrudes from his bass.
Randy, Rocky and Roland, started to write together. Now they needed one more member. The guys had found a guitar player, Andrew Coles from a high school guitar class.
During this time, they entered the Ernie Ball Music Man Battle of the Bands with a chance to play a date on the Van's Warped Tour. They were honored to win that spot and played at Cal State Long Beach on July 11, 2003.
Andrew wasn't committed enough to stay in the band, but the boys knew they had an Ace in their pocket. Andrew's roadie, Steve Goodwin, was smart enough to learn all the songs and he could perform them very well. So the band wasted no time placing him as the other guitarist.
The first full-length CD, Imperial, was recorded in late 2004 and released in January of 2005. It is available at cdbaby.com/polarisband or Tower Records in southern California.
Following the release of the CD, "Writings on the Wall" was entered in the Disc Makers' Independent Music World Series. POLARIS was selected as one of the top 16 bands/artists in the Western States by A&R reps from Taxi. It was included on a Compilation CD and also on the Gulf Coast Healing benefit CD for the Katrina victims with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
The band works very hard at what they do: write, perform, perfect, and entertain. That is exactly what POLARIS will do every time you see them, hear them, or ignore them.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
We play live approximately 3 shows per month. Most of our shows are in Hollywood, CA at the Roxy and Whisky and also in Orange County, CA. We love the adrenaline from playing to a live audience. There's nothing like it.
Your musical influences
The band's similarities would be... (we'll name a few here) A Perfect Circle, Tool, One Side Zero, Incubus, Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd, Bush, Pressure 4-5, and bands who might follow in that type of genre. If you like these bands you should have an interest in POLARIS. With old-school and new styles and awesome guitar solos, their sound is unique. Van Halen, Mark Tremonti of Creed and Carter Beauford are major influences.
What equipment do you use?
Yamaha Recording Custom (drums); Wolfgang Peavey with 5150 head;
Anything else?
Our CD "Imperial" is available on this site - full CD or singles.
Also available at cdbaby.com/polarisband
