LEAD GUITAR: STEVE HOOK
RHYTHM GUITAR: KEVIN SCHIRMER (aka "Eddie Falcon")
BASS GUITAR: STEVE DANELAK (aka "Cook Jones")
KEYBOARD:?
We found Steve from a flyer we placed in a local music store. After auditioning several guitar players, the last of which failed to show for rehearsal, we called him at the last minute and he came right over. He had played classic rock, alternative, even a little country, which he didn't like, but was new to Rockabilly/Roots rock & roll. But, as he always sez, "Ya gotta be versatile!" But he picked up on it right away and realized it was nothing like he was used to. Listening to our tapes of the original versions of the songs, he found it wasn't as easy as it seemed at first. A real learning experience for him. Now you would think he's played it all his life. He also carries most of the lead vocals just as well, and has written most of our original songs. At about six-foot and in his early 30's, Steve is married, with a couple of daughters, and works for the county, and does construction work.
Kevin has been a Jitter since 1984, recommended by bassist Steve Danelak, replacing the original founding member and rhythm player, Jimmy Searles. Known for his statuesque stage personna, Kevin adds a driving, but subtle rhythm for the band to easily follow, and some nice accent riffs and mini-leads to round out the sound. He's sort of our head tech-man, too. Around 40, he has a young son and teen-age daughter, and plumbs.
Steve joined the Jitters in '83, replacing Bob Clark, our original bassist. Living, at the time, on the same street as Jimmy's house, where we rehearsed, he could hear us as he walked by, thinking he'd like to check us out, but never did. Fate, Kharma, or a mutual friend coincidentally brought us together to audition Steve one night. He passed. Since then, he has played bass with The Jitters on and off for different periods of time. He is now on, permanently. An equally talented guitarist, he stole his stage name from the two lesser-known Sex Pistols. 40-ish, he's married with a few kids, and drives piping and metal stuff all over town.
DRUMS:SKYP "Dr. K" KRANTZ
Original drummer and the only surviving founding member. Never had drum lessons, he plays by feel and natural rhythm. When Jimmy Searles quit in '83, Skyp, along with original lead guitarist Ed Dwyier, decided to continue the band and saw it through it's many formations. The "Grandpa" of the band, he has lived through the years of this musical style, and it's his only real favorite music. A course in "The History of Rock Music" at Sinclair Comm. Coll. in Dayton led to the nickname "The Doctor of Rock & Roll"! He has a vast collection of roots music on all formats from 4-track tapes, thru LPs, thru CDs, where most of the cover material comes from. The first half of the 60's was his high school years, so he's pretty familiar with oldies rock 'n' roll. Skyp is also the band's "Art Dept.", taking care of all design and promotional chores, and designed the graphic logo. Skyp has worked at almost every cool record store in Dayton, but is now building his sign painting and illustration business.
Well, we had a keyboard player, but he just quit tonight. The position IS open, although we've never really had a piano before and did very well, so we don't really NEED to replace him. Sax would be nice, too.