Band:
Bio:
Born July 4th, 1963. Took Piano lessons in Berkeley CA from age
7 through 9. (From 1970 - 72!) Wow. My favorite records were being
made then - Zeppelin were recording their great records. Also
Yes, Floyd, etc.
Goofed off 'til I was 12 when dad had me take flying lessons
and I soloed in a Cessna 150 at age 16, so I could say I flew
an airplane by myself before I could drive. Cool, and thanks dad
for that gift of making me feel special through the awkward times
of being that age.
Got side tracked from airplanes when adolescence kicked in and
got into rock bands starting at age 16 with best friend Mike Detwiler
and we formed "The Screaming Idiots" and later, "Audio
Assault". We were quite good, and quite loud. Played keg
parties around the greater Piedmont, CA area from 1980 til 82
or so, and we would play til the cops shut us down, or unplugged
us. One gig stands out, in the backyard of a house which overlooked
a canyon and about 4 miles away on the other side of the canyon
was the small district of Montclair and above that, the Oakland
hills. When the cops had to remove the mic from the front of my
face, (we wouldn't stop playing until something physical happened),
I was told we were getting complaints from 6 MILES AWAY. Yep,
those were the days.
Quit all that to try college in 83 at Lambuth college, Jackson
TN. (Wanted to get away from my home town, and relatives lived
out there so I didn't feel too cut off).
Finished a year of college, came home and joined a feminist bluegrass
band called "The Robin Flower Band" and toured the US.
That was fun too. Robin is a great musician.
Discovered the joys of Crosby, Stills and Nash in her band. Listened
extensively to all their records. Neil Young too. And Fairport
Convention as well.
Goofed off and played in bands for the rest of the 80's and finally
when the decade ended I'd decided that I would try to get a life
so I started on the path to become an Air Traffic Controller.
I was thrilled when I passed the exam - no more living on the
edge, can get to wear a tie, please mom and dad, drive a Miata
and shop at Ikea. I could now be a normal, well-adjusted citizen
of society. I even sold all my records and my two Steinberger
Basses. (Still pretty pissed about that).
This was all to soon change because at the same time all this
was happening, joined Adam and Bryson and a drummer named Ben
Ulrich and we played bars around the Bay Area calling ourselves
Counting Crows. At the SAME WEEK I was on the top of the list
to be hired as an Air Traffic Controller and be whisked off to
Oklahoma City to begin training, we got our record deal and this
totally confused me. Friends of mine told me not to be stupid
and sign the record deal because even if I don't make a penny,
at least I'll be doing what I want in my heart of hearts. So I
did.
Discography:
Currently chipping away at my solo record.
"Babies With Glasses" - Robin Flower, '89
All Counting Crows records
Zon bass of choice:
Hyperbass
