HISTORY / BACKGROUND
Hey There!
Thanks for visiting my MySpace Page. It's Chip - I'm a guitarist and songwriter from the Massachusetts / Rhode Island area currently playing in the premier cover band What Matters? and have a new CD released world-wide from my band ACTION on Frontiers, King and Locomotive/Warner Records.
As founder and guitarist for the band Action during the middle to late 80’s, I spent a number of years gigging, recording and sharing the stage with national acts such as Quiet Riot, Firehouse, Slaughter, Rough Cutt and Zebra among many others. As the musical landscape began to change, I dove into the cover scene with a group I formed called The Hitmen. As the scene switched to grunge, I followed up with a run of alternative cover bands just to keep playing out.
With the start of the new century, grunge was dead and I was given the chance to return to something I had been known for, songwriting. This opening came when I teamed up with friend Jack Marques. Jack was also from the early 80's style, original scene from the band Crossover.
At that time, we dusted off some classic Action tunes and it appeared that new life would be breathed into these future hits when the demos landed us a record deal. But as fate would have it, while we were writing material together a new band was being conceived. Action and the deal were put on the back burner as our collaboration was responsible for what was later known as the nu-breed styled rock band Mars Hill.
Mars Hill's first album, Sink Or Swim (produced by Michael Sweet), garnered high praise, excellent reviews and established international acclaim for the band. The album was supported in front of sell out crowds while opening for Grammy winning artists Stryper on their 2003 reunion tour. Mars Hill later released Prelude (produced by Marques) and shared the stage with Tesla, Shinedown, Jani Lane (Warrant), Vanilla Fudge, Big City Rock and Pray For The Soul Of Betty featuring American Idol Constantine Maroulis.
Our songs were featured on the STATION FAMILY FUND's Rock to the Rescue benefit CD with all proceeds going to the victims and their families of that deadly nightclub fire and on N ROCK UNITED's benefit project with all proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network which covers the medical expenses of hospitalized children.
Even though Mars Hill had racked up so much praise in the span of three short years, the group officially disbanded in 2006 so that its members could each chart a different course.
I never felt that Action was quite finished, so, in mid 2006, I approached friend and manager Ron Vining (The Calm, Mass, Mars Hill, Trigger Effect, WickedWitch, China Blue, Faithsedge) about getting the project off the ground again. He began shopping the demos, setting up these MySpace pages and working on getting the record completed. In early 2007 he got us signed to Frontiers Records.
Though Mars Hill as a whole may not have worked at that time, the pieces did. So I turned to some of my former band mates and secured their talents for the recording of the Action project. The official Action album line up will feature the musical talents of vocalist Marques, keyboardist Ruben Demello (Galactic Vibe Music Productions, Crossover, Mars Hill), bassist Chris Sutherland (Mars Hill, Action) and drummers Mark Duane (Krankenstein, Action) and Chris Longo (Project Broken).
At this time, I'm not sure if Action’s debut will either be a “project” or a band. Now that it is in the hands of a major label like Fronters, it really does not matter as the songs are so strong that the music speaks for itself. Fans of our music can delight in the fact that both Jack and I have committed to recording more than one album under the Action banner.
In addition to Action and What Matters?, I am currently writing new material with some of my current and former bandmates (Chris Sutherland, Mark Duane and I go into the studio on 2/29 in fact), as well other friends for a few other projects that I hope to put out in 2008. Lots going on so stay tuned...
I am very appreciative of the longtime, new and future fans who have supported me and my bands and projects...thanks so much!
When you get the chance, check back for new track previews, additional news, tour dates and more.
Peace!
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