HEAT OF THE BEAT 
HEAT OF THE BEAT
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| Where are the Bands? |  |
LonL & Petty Thief | Dana DeMaris | |
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
For the best bands in the area, you've come to the right place. Let me introduce myself, my name is Greg Calvert. I've played drums for 40 years. Here is a chance to see a history of what it's like to be a drummer. Drummers are the soul of any band, if the band was a bus, drummers are the drivers, keeping the band between the white lines and at the right speed. Those of you who already play in a band know what I mean. Those of you who are thinking of being in a band, here is a small idea of the time and effort needed to be the best you can be.
Checkout these Awesome Radio Stations
WDLJ
WDML
It really started on February 7, 1964...
That's the first time I saw the "Beatles" on the Ed Sullivan Show. I was hooked.
I spent my childhood with the radio tuned to KXOK (St. Louis based station) or playing my " The Beatles" records.
My mom worked at Decca Records and her boss could get the "The Beatles" for FREE, so my record collection grew fast.
I started playing piano when I was eight years old, learning the basics of music, reading, writing, and counting
piano was cool, but playing Beethoven and Bach did not do it for me! I wanted to ROCK!
The first time I played the drums was on a homemade kit, made by an older friend, from round cardboard containers with real skin heads. David Hess was cool and trusting enough to let an eight year old punk kid play his drums and I thank him for it.
At ten years old, I had another older friend, Dane Caupert, (Drummer for Road Trip) who gave me a set of drums similar to the homemade ones, only with a one-man band kick pedal, and I was in business. Not long after that, I got my first set of real drums and the real fun began.
For the next 12 years, I played along with the stereo headphones because the few musicians I
knew already had drummers. Practice, practice, and practice some more.
Finally, in 1980, I joined my first band, "E Band", in Rock Springs, Wyoming. We wrote our own songs, so we went to 
Hollywood to become rich and famous rock stars. I went to every recording company in LA ! They said they'd call back...still waiting!
I moved back to Illinois at the end of 1982 and joined the band "Scarllett Thred". It was big and loud and
fun, but I was losing money. So I quit, put my drum away , that lasted six months.
In 1985, I first played country music with a band called "Whiteash", half country and half Top 40 rock, not my
style, but I was making good money!A year later, the bass player and I formed "Obsession" with a similar format. The band played 3-6 nights a week, getting real tight. Then, I was run over from behind by a Mack truck, smashing equipment and my head, effectively ending that band. I made it but the Van was totaled. 
Then, I enrolled at SIU-Carbondale in 1987, majoring in Political Science. I immediately got in a band, formerly the "Suburban Housewives", but renamed the "Saloonatics". A classic rock-punk band. We didn't play punk, but we had the attitude. I also worked on the stage crew at the SIU Arena and Shryock
Auditorium for artist such as "Metallica", "Van Halen (w/Sammy Hagar)", "Black Crowes", "Def Leppard", "Goo Goo Dolls", "Soul Asylum", "MC Hammer", and other rock and country acts.
In 1990, I left the "Saloonatics" and joined "Shades", because their singer was recording a solo record and I was going to play on it. I only lasted 5 months, never got to record, but I did begin to perform my Flaming drum solo.
In 1991, the "Rockin Blue Iguanas" were formed.
Lasted three years before I got restless and joined "Southern Prophet / Luna
Eclipse". That band ended after about a year when the guitarist stopped showing the bass player what to play. Since 1996, I've been playing music with one of the most talented guys I've ever known, Dana DeMaris. First, in "Jump Duck and the Mallard Tones" and then in "Lucky Duck". Dana had to take some time off with his lovely wife Pam, for a baby, and with his departure "Dave's Not Here" was formed. Dave Halstead, the guitarist, had his own band prior to joining "Lucky Duck", so occasionally we would play together as "The Acoustic Experience".
In 2003, after the breakup of "Dave's Not Here", Dana hooked me up with "Dreamlab", a band Dana was currently in, which lasted until March 2005, when "Blind Date" was formed. Before the breakup of "Blind Date" in September 2010 we recoreded several songs that I am very pround of and you can still here the music here, just follow the links.
In October of 2010, a new band was formed called "A Band of Brothers" which is David Halstead, Kerrry Hunter, Dana DeMaris, Tony Malawy, and myself. I have played music with all of these guys throughout the years and it is truly a Time Traveling Musical Journey. Check the Where Are the Bands page for shows! Look for the website coming soon.
I also play occasionally with "Lon-L & Petty Thief" when the
"A Band of Brothers" scheduling allows me....... I love my job!
Many thanks to my wife, Janet for making and maintaining this site.
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| Where are the Bands? | |
LonL & Petty Thief | Dana DeMaris | |
Email us at
heatofthebeat@hotmail.com
HAPPY DAY!
