Hello again, crimestoppers

Most of you know by now but I thought I'd add a blog on what happend to the original lineup.

Our first album featured the classic Sidewinders lineup of myself, Randy Riley on bass and Joe Kunkel on drums. However, Joe wasn't our first drummer. Randy and I had started the band almost 2 years previous and our first drummer was Dan Monahan of local faves The Dog and Everything. (check them out - they rock!!) At that time we also had a saxophonist named Milton Ware. (We weren't full fledged roots rockers yet) Milt, who is in the army reserves, left the country for a while and that ended that. (He is still alive and doing well) Then Dan Monahan got so busy with his band and their rising popularity that we had to find a new drummer. 2002 - Enter Joe Kunkel. (I thought "Now we've got something") That worked well for a good while and things were looking up but in August of 2004, Joe moved to Oregon. (For a job and a girl - he eventually came back) And so the dynamic Gino Fontana took over the drum chair. (Okay, back on track) Then, in January 2005, Randy got so overwhelmed with various business and family matters that he just couldn't devote the time needed for the band anymore. So he left. (Mama Mia) After several frustrating tryouts, we finally settled on bass ace Derek Brand of Nicholas Tremulis Band fame. (Okay) And, as for drummers, (Surprise, surprise - Gino ended up having scheduling problems - can I get a freakin' break here?) we've been featuring a rotating cast of characters - Gino, Joe, Jim Barclay, Sam Sharp, Kyle Olson, etc...  But we've finally settled on the amazing Don Devereaux (also a great backing vocalist) and so, finally, all the pieces are back in place and everything is great!!

Well, at least nobody blew up or died in a bizarre gardening accident.

Anyways, Joe and Randy can currently be found playing with U2 tribute band Vertigo. And - Randy also did the mix for our new CD "Snaken Not Stirred" (he did a great job) which in addition to me and Derek also features drum master Greg Marsh. Greg lives in Hawaii otherwise maybe he'd be our guy.

That's it for now.

Mahalo