Shawn Ames - producer, engineer, composer, lead and rhythm guitar, keys, vox.
Shawn's musical career actually started in the early 80's as a drummer for the Topeka band Pegasus who played a few originals but essentially played rock covers. After the break up of Pegasus Shawn picked up a guitar and formed the band The Rough Cuts in 1985 with friends John and Chas Cutler, to play drums they enlisted Shawn's uncle (a veteran Topeka rocker) Ken Harries. Despite a decent cult following eventually The Rough Cuts disbanded. Shawn attended classes for acoustic and electronic recording at Washburn University and it was the only time he ever got a high A grade in all of his schooling years. Then in 1989 Shawn formed the acclaimed progressive rock band The Others, this was Shawn's first band that wrote and played exclusively original material releasing two well recieved albums. "The Others" and "Falling". In 1992, again despite critical acclaim and a great following and an un-released third album, "Psychadelicattessen", the band split. That same year Shawn worked as an apprentice at City Spark Studios in Kansas City and invested in his own recording equipment and began recording solo projects of his own music with himself filling all of the musicians roles in the studio. At this time he has no less than 9 solo releases.In 1993 he joined Backlash, and has been the only original member after 14 years of being in the band.
Brian McGuire - songwriter, composer, lead and rhythm guitars, vox.
Brian was born in Southern Arizona and raised in Chula Vista, California, Kansas City, and Topeka. Brian grew up trained in Spanish guitar, violin, and brass. His rock music career, like Shawn's, began on drums playing for Topeka area rock and progressive rock bands. Shortly after he switched to bass guitar and guitar, he built a strong reputation as a bassist, guitarist and vocalist around the Topeka area throughout the 80's playing with various hard rock and metal bands. Around the mid-late 80's he left the music by the wayside devoting all of his time to motorcycles, a biker sub-culture and parties. Finally in the mid 90's he returned to music as a lead guitarist in the Kansas City-area hard rock/progressive rock band
Mecurial Overkill and as a bassist for Technical Difficulties. Upon returning to Topeka he joined up with his friend Ludovic Curtet in the metal band Raptor, but despite a strong following and critical acclaim internal problems led to Raptor disbanding. Brian then decided to focus on music from behind the scenes helping to form a sound/production company based in Pittsburg, Kansas and a concert staffing company based out of Topeka and Pittsburg. Then in 2000 he chanced upon Backlash in a Topeka club being led by an old Junior High and High School friend, Shawn Ames. He followed the band for some time just as a friend, fan and supporter until summer of 2003 when Shawn asked him if he could fill-in on bass for a couple of shows. Despite not having even touched a bass in nearly three years Brian was eager to play again and there-after Shawn called on him anytime he needed someone to fill-in (some nights even arriving 100 miles in the middle of the night at the last minute) until October 2003 when Brian neatly filled in the spot. Brian decided to take on the role of playing lead guitar in the summer of 2005 and has progressed the band even further into new musical realms.
Ron Prothe - drums, guitar, vox.
Ron is originally from Osawatomie, Kansas. He has had a love for music his entire life. Attending every concert he could get tickets for, owning his favorite bands albums, cassette's and cd's. He prides himself on knowing obscure information about various bands and artists and the songs that they write and perform. Ron was never formally trained on any instrument but taught himself to play the rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and drums. He formed his first band DREAMSPEAK in 1996. Ron started out by playing lead guitar and after a string of unfortunate events played drums. He then learned to play bass guitar, just in case he would need it for future use. In 2005 Dreamspeak disbanded. In early 2006 Ron and the lead guitar player from Dreamspeak formed SIDEWAYZ but left in 2007.Music has always played a huge roll in Ron's life. Growing up, he would listen to anything he could get his hands on for hours on end. In his late teens he bought a guitar and some tablature books and taught himself how to play guitar. This led him to wanting to perform with a band, any band as long as he could play something. Ron and his wife, Kim, live in Marysville, Kansas. They have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, bowling, Chief's football, going to concerts, and spending time with family, especially the grandchildren. Remember...all of Ron's power and abilities come from that wonderful mullet.
Danny Tallent - bass and vox.
Danny is from Hiawatha, Kansas and a phenomenal bassist. The youngest member of the group, Danny has played with such bands as SIDEWAYZ and Backlash. In March, 2008, Danny was involved in a tragic automobile accident that took the life of his young bride, Ashley, and left him semi-paralyzed on the left side. Danny is our "stage stomper" taking his bass playing stage antics and love of music from such groups as Tool and Primus. Red Circle continues as circles do, but we pray for and anxiously await the return of Danny to the stage.
Influences
J.D. Nash & Red Circle have been influenced by a great many artists. This is only a partial list.
Johnny Cash, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Floyd Westerman, Buddy Red Bow, Wayquay, Blackfire, Jim Boyd, Marillion, Alice Cooper, Queen, Iggy Pop, Social Distortion, Skylar Wolf, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Blackfoot, Backlash, Klusterfux, AC/DC, Circus of Power, The Who, Tesla, ZZ Top, Janis Joplin, Tool, Primus, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams III and far too many more to list.
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Sounds Like
"Merle Haggard trapped in an Alice Cooper nightmare."
J. D. Nash started a love for music at a very young age. Listening to country music on the family radio in the morning, and hearing his older sibling's rock and roll records in the afternoon. The love only grew stronger over time and soon consumed him.
Starting out in a rock band called "Cheyenne" in the late 70's he fronted the band providing the vocals for some very talented musicians. Playing mostly friend's parties and whatever local biker bars they could sneak into.
In 1999, J.D. moved to Topeka, Kansas due to the failing health of his father. He got a job as a maintenance mechanic, then again, as a club D.J. Many nights he spent in the bars and taverns of the area singing Karaoke or sitting in with local bands for a song or two. Anywhere a local band was playing, be it Backlash, The Desperado Band, Aces High, Blue Chip & Co., Shawn Ward or several others, J.D. usually got to belt one out with the band.
During a karaoke contest at a North Topeka bar, a gentleman by the name of Lee Wilkinson, himself an accomplished singer and musician, heard J.D. sing and offered him a shot at cutting a record. Some short weeks later, using the living room of his mobile home as a studio, "Spellbound", J.D.'s debut CD was born. Recorded on the run, and mixed on the fly, Spellbound was available almost immediately.
J.D. jokes that the CD went "aluminum" selling at least 100 copies.
In June of 2005, J.D. signed with runningmouthMedia, a promotions and record company in Jersey City, New Jersey, owned by NAMMY award winning artist, Wayquay.
In early 2006, J.D. returned to the studio...a real one this time...and began laying down tracks for a second CD, "So There I Was...". Many accomplished musicians and writers contributed to this project, making it worthy of 6 submissions for NAMMY nominations and a Native-E Music Award for the song, "How You Gonna Be?"
Upon completion of that CD, the popular band, Backlash, joined with J.D. to become Red Circle headlining shows and opening for acts such as Chris Caffery (Savatage/Tran-Siberian Orchestra); Doro Pesch (Warlok) and several others.
A little country, a little rock a little blues and a lot of Indian attitude make J.D. Nash & Red Circle what they are. Give them a listen and holler like hell if you like it!
just sending something peaceful from the late eva cassidy. she was taken by melanoma at the young age of 33, but left her soul-stirring music to live forever.where would we be without them women carried each one of us here & gave us life
i wish you tranquility & joy as you prepare to begin a new weekend
Shawn's musical career actually started in the early 80's as a drummer for the Topeka band Pegasus who played a few originals but essentially played rock covers. After the break up of Pegasus Shawn picked up a guitar and formed the band The Rough Cuts in 1985 with friends John and Chas Cutler, to play drums they enlisted Shawn's uncle (a veteran Topeka rocker) Ken Harries. Despite a decent cult following eventually The Rough Cuts disbanded. Shawn attended classes for acoustic and electronic recording at Washburn University and it was the only time he ever got a high A grade in all of his schooling years. Then in 1989 Shawn formed the acclaimed progressive rock band The Others, this was Shawn's first band that wrote and played exclusively original material releasing two well recieved albums. "The Others" and "Falling". In 1992, again despite critical acclaim and a great following and an un-released third album, "Psychadelicattessen", the band split. That same year Shawn worked as an apprentice at City Spark Studios in Kansas City and invested in his own recording equipment and began recording solo projects of his own music with himself filling all of the musicians roles in the studio. At this time he has no less than 9 solo releases.In 1993 he joined Backlash, and has been the only original member after 14 years of being in the band.
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