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'Labels are for soup cans'- the Monophonics Look at your record collections...go ahead...I know you can. There are some guilty pleasure in there, right? What if you didn't feel guilty about them anymore?. Barry Manilow and Marilyn Manson side by side living in perfect harmony. What if as a songwriter you had no barriers???....write a hard rock song one day, a country song the next day, an alternative song the next day. Labels are for soup cans.....and we like chicken noodle, vegetable, French onion, and cream of broccoli. Why not play the and write the music you love even if it means putting out an album with K-Tel-like variety? We couldn't think of a good reason either.... 'Never listen to your old stuff. If you do that, then you're not a musician anymore, you're just a self-satisfied nostalgic idiot who's not interested in inventing anything.' - Lou Reed The Monophonic's origin actually go back as far as late 1986, when a band of young upstarts, going by the name 'Animal', began making rounds in the local Pittsburgh music scene, as a heavy metal act. Within that band were Jamie Linhart on drums, and Jim Holland on guitar. By January of 1989, under the new name 'Sunset Strip', Jazz was introduced to the lineup, and, eventually Jamie's brother, Steve, was brought in to fill a vacated position. The band formed a strong following, playing the local scene, as well as opening up for national acts, such as Trixter, Quiet Riot, and Saigon Kick. Over time, however, the band lineup slowly dissolved, and members went on about their personal lives. Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us. --Unknown Fast forward 15 years: After over a decade of experience, touring across the United States with his own music group, September's Child, becoming a strong force in the Minneapolis music scene, and joining Columbia Record's very own act, Fat Tuesday, Jazz decided to make a change of things, and moved back to the Pittsburgh area, whereupon, he made a phone call to Jim, who had been keeping himself busy, musically, with his own group, Nevermore, playing the tri-state area, and opening up for acts such as Quiet Riot, Ace Frehley, and Rick Derringer. Before the moving boxes can be unpacked, Jazz and Jim were already writing songs, and laying down tracks. It wasn't long before they realized what they had was something special and wanted to complete a band lineup. Jim suggested the most logical solution: Contact the brothers Linhart, and see if they were interested. Not only were Jamie and Steve available, but they were quite receptive to the idea. Once all four got together, Jamie on drums, Steve on bass, and Jazz and Jim on guitars, it is almost as if time never passed. There was, however, one last question: 'Who will we get to sing?' Shortly thereafter, Jazz made, yet, another phone call to an old friend. Hailing from the backwoods of Western Pennsylvania, former leader and vocalist from the local rockabilly act, The Bare Essentials ( which featured a young Jazz on drums), Mr. Ron Petito rose to the occasion, and filled the final vacant position to the lineup. It is Ron's crooning, and presence that puts the icing on the cake. Together, with decades of combined experience, a wide variety of influences, natural talents, and a strong friendship bond, you have The Monophonics. 'I don't sound like nobody' - Elvis Enjoy the soup...new varieties added to the menu daily.....
