When we started this band, all Doug needed was to get me off his back. Three years have gone by and I'd say we have kicked some ass. We are SameAzU, that's no lie. Each of us still have to do that 9 to 5 grind, but when the lights come on, the guitar starts to scream, drums & bass vibrate, even your drink & I start to sing, be certain of one thing ... We're going to tear the roof off that place and leave a lasting impression on one and all who came there and you'll leave with a smile on your face. Thanks for the priviledge of letting us play 4 U.

If you wanna know more about me, please visit whosyourdaddy.com, Ok, let's not. I am the lucky one of the five band members. The one who relys totally on voice & showmanship unlike the other 4, they are extemely talented. Luck is a grand thing and this band is a dream come true 2 me. I appreciate all my friends in this band!!! I am also extremely lucky 2 have (3) great kids who are healthy and support me with my dream.

As far Az the band & I, we're still growing. I am still learning in the "School of Rock 101", the other 4 are seasoned already. The peak or pinnacle of this band is still way up the mountain, but with our guide Doug (the Rocky Mountain conqueror), and our great friendships, we should be unbelievable someday.

I promise when you see SameAzU, you will have fun with us, and I promise we will ROCK U! I and everyone in this band lays it on the line & leave their heart, soul, blood, sweat & tears on that stage. We are not on a high horse, or think in anyway of being arrogant. So, if you want to talk 2 us, get on the website sameazu.com (Oh! you're already there) or click on our myspace site and be a friend. We will see you at the next gig!

Thank you all, Word up!

A special thanks to Jordan, Trey and Katty for your support. Lisa - Violin, Sally - for all you do, Bentley - Sound/Lights, Carl & Beth - Sound/Shirt Sales and Robin - Tour Bus (The Madmen cruiser).

I was born on Cornhusker Drive, in Omaha Nebraska. Can you say “Husker Fan”? I knew that you could. In 1974, at the age of 13, I was given my first guitar as a Christmas gift from my parents. Little did they know it would turn into a life long passion. We moved to Buhler, Kansas the summer of 1978 and I started at Buhler High that fall as a junior. That's where I met Bob Dunmire (the most talented bassist I've ever met, now musically retired), Eric Elwell (now with Paragon Studios in Nashville), and Eric Hindman (RIP my friend). Together we formed my first serious band, Eclipse. Kelly Sheehan (currently with Colorblind out of Wichita) joined up with us as lead guitarist when Eric H. left to pursue other interests, and the core of Eclipse was established. With the support of Eric E's parents J.D. and Ann, Eclipse grew into a full throttle road band. I left that band during the summer of 1980 and Jeff Oltman (now playing in Dallas TX.) stepped in. That was the last time I had played……..until the summer of 2004!

It was at a summer baseball game that our sons were playing in for Inman where Gayle and I were leaning on the bleachers talking, that he first mentioned that he and some friends were putting a band together. I mentioned that I used to play guitar and Gayle says “you wanna play bass? We need a bass player.” The timing was perfect. I agreed to come to a practice session and “plunk” around to see what, if anything, I could do on a bass. That's when I met the rest of the starting line up. I was so nervous I could hardly play a single note. But after a few attempted songs, things started to click, and have been clicking ever since!

SameAzU has turned into something truly amazing for me. It has brought music back into my life. Something I didn't realize I had missed until now. The passion to play has been re-kindled within me and I don't intend on letting that get away any time soon. I thank my family for supporting me on this one passion! Playing the bass almost seems second nature to me now, but I do appreciate that the guys let me break my guitar out and jam on a couple of songs.

When you come out to see us play, you need to understand a couple of very important things. 1.) These are friends you see up on the stage, not band mates, not separate musicians who came together just to play, but friends who share the same passion. And 2.) It's all about the music…..Amen.

"A master skinz-basher with the showmanship of a flasher", "RingoWingo" has been gigging off and on for years. He answered an ad in the personals one day and got an invitation from Craig to come sit in and audition with the band. A couple of songs turned into a couple of hours and the rest is history!

Before SameAzU, "RW", had been running wild with a bunch of Junk Yard Dawgs, and before that, (not counting the High School Jazz Band Ensemble), he'd played with many highly-acclaimed groups like . . . . "U R Different" . . . . "IRU" . . . . "Who are those guys again?" . . . . and the lane-scorching Friday night powerhouse known as "Larry and the Bowling Pins" (where he captured applause to spare.)

All kidding aside, "RW's" roots go deep. He started banging on the skinz at age 8 and formed his first band in the really early 70's. It was a trio known as "We Three" . . . . OK, so the drums were made of cardboard and the lip syncing wasn't the best and he was only 10, but hey . . . they ROCKED!!!!!

By day, he dreams up thundering new savage beats while working in the desert wasteland called "GRAPHIC DESIGN", designing art for all kinds of stuff like T shirts, company logos, websites, business cards . . . . you know, stuff like that. When it comes to his day job, he's been quoted as saying that his main mission in life is to take the "FREE" out of "Freelance."

Finally, we think, if you asked "RW" what or who had been the major influences to him thru the years he would respond immediately, without question, that the people who had really made an impact on him in his musical career were, Mickey Dolenz (of the Monkeys), Chris Partridge (the first one, not the second one, the second one was a joke!) and last but not least "Animal" from the Super Group "Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem".

He also chalks his incredible skills up to love, laughter, family and one free beer per set. (hint, hint)