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jOHNNY DEM- All STUDIO/LIVE Voices, Guitars, Programming, and Conceptualization.

  Status: ACTIVE

Description:  Mastermind  

  jOHNNY DEM was always surrounded by music as a child.  Musicality runs in his blood line.  At a very young age, he learned to play the violin as well as the piano.  Eventually he would be turned on to the heavier sounds of metal, thanks to the discovery of an Iron Maiden album called "Piece of Mind".  This triggered a growing interest in heavy metal for this talent in the early to mid 80's of his teen years.  Over time, the temptation for electric instruments kept taunting him.  Eventually, with some persuasion from a friend, he got his hands on an electric guitar circa 1989.  This was a move that would signal things to come for him, because for several years prior to that, the instrument seemed to beckon him.

  Contrary to rumor, jOHNNY 's first band, called Philosophy (89'-90'), was a punk/metal cover act which covered bands such as Agent Orange, Killing Joke, Social Distortion, DI and GBH.  "At the time, punk was a great way to express myself live because all one needed to know was how to play three power chords and sing like a screaming whore...the only talent you needed in a punk band was a solid drummer", states jOHNNY.  After this one short gig with Philosophy, which was held in the basement of a college frat house, the trio folded, and it was time to go back to the woodshed and "really" learn the instrument....he became a sick musician.

  Eventually, a new cover band sprouted forth from the ashes called Penny Dreadful(91'-94').  This college 4-piece cover band played everything ranging from TSOL and Megadeth to Metallica, Alice n' Chains and Danzig.  In its third reincarnation, it began to cover more intricate acts, as well, such as Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Rush, Testament and Dream Theater; including some of the classics such as The Doors, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.  "We played everything cool and complex from the 60s to the 90s."  Penny Dreadful went on to play different bars and small scale venues.  The demise of this band ironically was triggered by key start-up member jOHNNY DEM's inevitable departure from college.  Things got even deeper for the Dreads with the lack of an adequate replacement bass player, which occured at the same time of his departure. the band was quickly put to sleep after having gone through a history of 2 drummers, 3 singers and 3 bass players! The band that couldn't die, did. "Penny Dreadful was a musical education for me, a playground of tools and knowledge of the guitar, rock music and song structure." Much was learned by this young musician in the band Penny Dreadful.

  jOHNNY went into "hiatus" for several years(95'-97') following that demise...constantly sharpening his skills, awaiting inspiration.  Rock music was temporarily numbed by grunge in the early 90s. "newer style" metal had yet to surface. Eventually, it was through a series of unpredictable circumstances that brought him to his original conceptual act HIATUS DAWN.  "I got this idea, upon playing with the newer 'convincing sounding' drum machines that had come out, that I didn't have a need for a full out-and-out organic band with a traditional 4 person line up in it or all the bullshit headaches of dealing with fickle personnel and band dramas.  I was always influenced by The Sisters of Mercy and their 'Euro' drum machine sound, especially on Floodland.   It was a convieniant and appealing alternative to having a tight sounding, hassle free band...so, I went out and bought a used BOSS DR-5 drum machine, after hearing its capabilities in a store.  Upon solid mastery of the unit,  I had asked a friend of mine to sing for this new concept act, but he got cold feet half way through working on some of the test cover songs and backed out (apparent stage fright).  I was forced into the front man spot by circumchance and decided to activate my own convictions and pull it off alone.  He actually did me a favor that I didn't realize at the time.  I am already a profecient guitarist and song writer. I found that I could actually sing, in my own sort of way, so I went for it and found myself writing track #1 Possession one late night, in the dead of winter.  By becoming the singer, it helped get me to the next level with song writing and overall ability.  I came back to the 4-track recording of the song several days later, and was shocked at myself, it simply sounded killer!'  I had impressed myself and others who had heard the demos. It had a unique sound."  HIATUS DAWN was born, and within several months of chiseling on the material, 10 songs took shape with a vision to make the EXOTICA album a reality."

  Having played the small music circuit in the Iowa tri-state region, with several MONSTER-talent-on-stage guest players,  jOHNNY decided it was time to remove the act from the barren fields of Iowa and resurrect it onto the Floridian scene.  "New music is currently being created and we are playing out and are quickly infecting people live.   This new act is doing quite well here.  Everything is starting to take shape."

  HIATUS DAWN has been received well by both area musicians and unsuspecting fans who witness it live. 

Something wicked this way comes....

 

The LIVE Accomplices...

 

M. MAPLE- LIVE Rhythm Guitars/Programming Initiation.

 Status: ACTIVE

Description:  Accomplice

HIATUS DAWN's M. Maple is born to rip your face off and unveils his rhythmic wrath at the next HIATUS DAWN show! 

  Maple's musical influences have been known to be Alice in Chains, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Metallica and newly found love HIATUS DAWN.  "I need to be in a band of the future, and HIATUS DAWN is the sound that haunts me.  It kicks serious ass! 

HIATUS DAWN is a rare type of band that can capture a room 'cold' and enthrall fans just like that.  I am a fan and now I'm in this wicked band!"

...may the music haunt you!

 

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