“I had a regular upbringing - you know jumping, climbing, swinging, sports, school, but I wasn't really into music. I was first really interested in art. My earliest childhood musical memory is watching my dad's videotapes and seeing Twisted Sister videos. I was 14 when I first started really gettin’ excited about new music. I was into a lot of the gangsta rap - but nothing too underground. An uncle of mine always had a few acoustic guitars around, and an electric Epiphone Les Paul that I've been "borrowing" for the past 5 years or so. I was 16 when I got my first bass guitar,and I've been playing non-stop ever since !”
The Patchogue, New York native’s musical story started as many a teenagers’ dreams have, with concerts and a girl. “I started going to shows around the Island , watching my friends' bands play. I met a girl from another school who could play guitar and sing, I fell in love with her voice and songs. I wanted to learn so bad, but I couldn't handle my way around a guitar at the time. She suggested I play the bass instead, and I could accompany her. I learned every song I could - mostly by playing along to the stereo in my parent’s basement.” They formed a band and played on and off through Joe’s senior year, “We were horrible, but being in a band was the coolest thing I could do.”
While in college, Joe states, “I may have taken two formal lessons on my bass the whole time. I did take a course of guitar study at a community college, but I failed out.” But, it lead him to join a metal band and he began his career in earnest, “We signed with a crappy independent record label out of Phoenix , released a full length and an EP. We toured the country a bit. Soon after, the band began falling apart. I posted a "Bassist Available" on-line ad and through the miracle that is MySpace, I found Blameshift! And that’s where I've been taking up residency ever since!”
Joe describes the band, Blameshift, his home since 2006, as, “Hard rock, metal, and pop. Our songs are up-tempo and loud, slightly aggressive at times; with melodies that you hum all the way home after the show. You can dance to it, mosh to it, bob your head.”
The band, with Joe on bass, also includes, Jenny Mann on vocals, Tim Barbour on vocals and guitar, and James Miller on drums, just wrapped up eighteen months of touring. They released an album in May of ’07 and are now writing and producing in preparation for their next project. “We're wanting to take everything to the next level - our music, our business, our live show - everything.”
“I see myself always involved in music. I'd work behind the scenes in production, maybe, or tour as a light guy or guitar tech. I enjoy stage and studio production - light shows, live sound, studio magic - I'm intrigued by it all.” Joe adds, “But, if you talk to anyone else in the band, they'll tell you my biggest hobby is sleeping. Which I do admit I am exceptionally good at.”
| written by Debbie DuBois Miller
