MIKE PARKES

THE BAND

PERSONAL EMAIL

 

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Auto Biography

In high school I was usually known as "BON JOVI" or "The BON JOVI LOOKING GUY"  There was always some kind of reference being made.  At first it used to bother me but when I got a taste of all the attention (especially from the girls) I didn't mind.  

    At that time I was the bass player  in a band called "THALION"thalion.jpg (451495 bytes) it was a heavy Metal band composed of two guitar players (one of which was my brother Ron) bass (Me), Singer, and Drummer.  Our music (all original) was along the lines of Dokken, Ozzy, Queensryche, and maybe even a little Judas Priest.  We did well around the local scene at the time playing  The CHINA CLUB in hillsdale (anybody remember that place) STUDIO ONE, BILLY O'S in Staten Island and various other places.  After a problem with our singer, my Brother Ron and I auditioned for a band called "CLEAVAGE"cleavage.jpg (46300 bytes)  who had songs being played on WSOU and various other college radio stations.  Shortly there after we joined the band and put out a couple of demos.   The music ( ALL ORIGINAL; 15 GET'S YOU 20, IT'S NOT GOODBYE FOREVER, I GOT THE GUN, ETC.) was Straight ahead hard rock with a touch of Glam; kind of a mix of bands like AC/DC, Poison, Warrant, LA Guns, and most other 80'S Hair Bands. From that we got management and shortly after that we drew the interest of many record companies.  Unfortunately this was the year  1992 and the music scene was going through the usual decade turnover of new bands.  Needless to say the record companies declined.  So, wanting to do something a little different I left that band and started a new band as the lead singer.  

I hooked up with a guitar player, drummer and bass player and wrote some heavier music.  This was called MOODSWING moodswing.jpg (177960 bytes) ( also all original)  Our music was along the lines of OZZY , Metalica, Queensryche, etc.  We did well in the local scene but eventually broke up over creative differences.  I was a little frustrated with the whole music business at that point and just stayed away for about two years.  Then a friend of a friend needed a bass player for their band "BUFF DADDY" so I went to see them, and shortly after, I joined with them.  (also all original) 

 

After playing with BUFF DADDY for a while I got the bug to do some more singing.  So I asked my singer DAVE from BUFF DADDY ( who was also a drummer) if he wanted to play drums for a BON JOVI TRIBUTE BAND.  I knew Dave was also a BON JOVI FAN and would probably be interested.  Needless to say he said yes.  So we rounded up some fellow BON JOVI fans and SLIPPERY WHEN WET (NJ) was born.  

SLIPPERY WHEN WET quickly became a headlining band and started to require much more of my attention.  So, inevitably Dave and I both needed to choose a band.  Dave Is a frontman and singer at heart, as am I.  So our choices were obvious.  I had a lot of fun with BUFF DADDY and I am going to miss it. 

I'm currently working on a new project Called 

IMMORTAL EYES TM

It will be very different.  It will start out with the first chapter of the book and will include an original artwork inspired from it's content.  Then the songs will tell the rest of the story as will the new painting for each song.  The performances will be very theatrical with plenty of visual stimulation.

     Concept, Story writing, melodies and lyrics:  MIKE PARKES

Music written by:  RON PARKES /BLACK CAT SOUND TRACKS

Paintings/ Illustrations: DANNY FILIPPONE

COMING SOON