Minus9 - Bio

I started playing drums at the age of 9, well, my mother’s pots and pans and anything else that would look or work as a drum. I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing early on. I got some lessons from one of my father’s good friends and they were just enough to get me going. We attended a lot of churches when I was young and I watched some drummers play during the services. Later on I joined the school band and started learning more about the basics and it started to make sense how the drum kit worked. I listened to an album my step-brother had called Led Zeppelin II. It was intense! I heard music quite differently all of a sudden and I had to learn how to play like that! I became obsessed with the drums, air drumming in my room all night and playing along to albums all day. I taught myself in the beginning, learning all the licks from John Bonham, Neil Peart, Steve Smith, and many others.

Through my late teenage years I played with many other bands, but none of them ever went very far. I ended up getting a job at a music reproduction company and didn’t realize at the time that it was the best networking move I ever made. I started to put my heart into it again with a renewed passion. My musical tastes started to change, I started listening to drummers like Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith and Virgil Donati. I met many musicians and started to gig. I took lessons with different teachers and focused on my technique. It wasn’t until I took lessons from a drummer named Mark Zaragoza that my technique really matured.

Since then, I have always tried to challenge myself musically and continue to work with as many musicians as possible to learn and be creative. So remember, if you love to play, never stop and you will always be happy!

You can e-mail, visit me at the links below, or you can visit my website.

-JB

Andrew is an electric on stage performer with roots in Blues, Country, Gospel, and Southern Rock. This rebel preacher's kid grew up watching his Dad and Grandparent's Gospel Trio perform all over the country. He knew at an early age that he wanted to be a performer of some sort. Starting with a stint in Professional Wrestling, he honed his skills as an entertainer by wrestling in front of crowds all over Texas. After an injury sidelined that venture, he went on to discover his voice, in Karaoke bars, and contests. After a bad breakup, Andrew picked up a guitar and started writing songs. With an acoustic roots sound, he started playing in country bars, and coffee shops. Finally in 2006 he landed a gig with a band called South Wind. During his time with South Wind, he was featured on 95.9 the Ranch numerous times, and appeared on over 100 shows. After 3 years he learned that he wasn’t very country at all. Andrew began seeking out musicians to compliment his true musical style. That’s when in 2010 he found Minus 9, a group of no nonsense musicians who were willing to give him a shot at what he truly excels at...Rock!

- AK

I started playing bass back in high school when a couple friends and I decided to start a band. It was either bass or sing. Thankfully for everyone's ears, I went with the bass :)

My late high school years and into college helped me to discover my musical identity. This is when I discovered a whole new world of music: Dream Theater, Rush, Opeth, Michael Manring, and lots of other progressive rock/metal bands. I loved finding new bands or even an older band but new to me.

After college, I drifted apart with my musical side and stopped playing bass nearly all together. I still enjoyed music but it wasn't the same.

It wasn't till 2007 that I realized I needed a change and wanted to re-connect with that old me. So I started playing bass again and discovering new music. I still enjoy the progressive rock but in the last few years, I've expanded my listening spectrum to all kinds of rock and metal. Everything from Dredg, Porcupine Tree and Mew to Machine Head, Gojira and Soulfly. I've come to appreciate music in a more mature manner. Just like in life, you need diversity. Sometimes you need mellow, sometimes aggression, sometimes corny happy, and sometimes crazy technical metal!

-Gabe

I started playing guitar at age 9 when my parents purchased a Sears and Roebuck acoustic guitar for Christmas along with a Hank Williams Sr. song book. Although I wasn’t much of a fan of country it was a good way to get familiar with the fundamentals. At age 11, I received my first electric guitar, a black Hondo II Les Paul copy. I almost instantly took to playing rock where Led Zeppelin, Ozzy and Van Halen were some of my biggest influences.
Although rock is my first passion, my family is very culturally diverse allowing me more insight into other genres of music. I love everything from Wagner and Bach to David Allan Coe and Metallica. I always hated playing with musicians that “hate” anything but their genre. They usually sucked because of it.
I played in several bands in the 80’s including: Circus (With Kevin Trawick, David Laakso, Timm Bland) and RAM (Radical Asshole Musicians). I actually had to sell all of my guitar equipment to purchase bass gear because we had trouble keeping bassists. I played bass for a couple of years although not very well.
I got married and joined the military in 1990 and really didn’t pick up a guitar for almost 12 years. During this time I still had a passion for music so I bought a decent Roland keyboard and picked up playing keys. I continued to write music although I felt I was missing something.
In 2004 I decided to pick the guitar back up. It felt good! I struggled at first as my mind could play faster than my fingers but with practice I found myself getting my old skills back. Although playing guitar alone was fun I did still desire playing with a full band

-BF