THE UNAUTHORIZED BIO Paperback Ninja was a band that ended before it could get started. Erik and
Shawn started playing music together in a band called UDACIDE, This band
gets the credit for spewing forth jingles such as "Pussy For Free","Fuck Mime"
and "Devons Black Jacket" just to name a few.
They started playing shows and getting paid. For whatever reason, the lead singer left the group and The Brown Bottle Flu was born. That band went on to play a few shows and got out of the Hazel Park sports bar atmosphere. They started playing at the places they always went to see other bands play at. They played a couple shows at Paychecks Lounge and threw a hell of a party a Forans Irish Pub in Downtown Detroit but, for whatever reason, after awhile the drummer left.
Shawn and Erik toughed it out through the winter, writing songs and shoveling snow. An add for a drummer was put into the metro times. Dave Route answered the add to play drums, Dave brought his friend Kevin, who also played guitar and the four piece band called themselves The Flu. Now this band seemed to rehearse more then they played shows. Shows mostly played at the Token Lounge and they also hit the road and played a festival in Toledo for shits and giggles. For whatever reason, this time, Erik asked Dave to leave the group. Erik regreted doing so afterward, because now he was fucked. Good drummers are hard to find and Dave Route is a great drummer.
Another add was placed in the papers and this time Erik was a little more elaborate as to what he was really looking for in a drummer. It went something along the lines of
"Serious rock band seeks serious drummer
must be herbal friendly and must like Nirvana,
ALOT."
Erik started getting all kinds of calls from all kinds of different characters, young and old. People that didnt even really care to play music, they saw the "herbal friendly" and thought it was just gonna be a party. They had a few people say they were gonna come by and play but never did.
Then Jamie Tassin gave them a call. He was exactly what the add asked for. He clicked with Shawn and Erik right away, He spoke the same "self-taught" musical language they did, listened to the same bands, were at the same shows. Paperback Ninja was born. Jamie went over, set up his drums with Shawn and Erik and they jammed as if theyve jammed together before. The chemistry was definetly there with them as a three piece, but they were a four piece, which gave way to the next chapter.
Letting Kevin go. Erik knew it would take Kevin by surprise, and it did. When Erik told him he was letting him go, Kevin actually thought he was joking. Which made it even harder for Erik to finish the conversation. After Kevin left, the band trudged on playing shows.
Now theyre playing shows at The Emerald Theater and St. Andrews Hall. They damn near took over Hamtramck. One night they opened for a band at Paychecks, then packed up their gear and closed a show across the street at The Locker Room. They recorded a C.D. in shawns basement, complete with hidden track. Had their release show at The Cadieux Cafe were they also did an "evening with" performing an acoustic set then plugging in and
cranking it up for a second set. They even had people asking them to autograph their cds for them.
They had some really great nights. The infamous New Years bash, Jamies party. The night at the Emerald where Erik smashes his guitar and Shawn kicks his amp over was a great turnout for them. The Belmont, The Old Miami, every show was better then good. The show at The New Way Bar was a huge turnout and they signed a bunch of cds their as well. They were at a peak heading for the valley.
The band grew weary from the stress of being under contract to sell so many tickets at each show. Now having to come out of their own pockets to cover tickets not sold killed them. Not selling enough tickets, or nobody showing up to shows, It really was the demise of the Ninja. The band got along but couldnt get it together to get together. There were talks of another cd, and a break while Jamie was expecting another member in the family. Erik went on to play guitar in Alien Feedback in the meantime, Erik may have slighted his NINjA band mates by doing so, but didnt mean to. He thought Paperback Ninja was on a break. Jamie informed him that he was done and wanted to move on.
The last time they played together was at Shawns Halloween party, as if they knew it was gonna be their last, they pulled out the hits and took requests from their best fans, their friends and family, and played the hits. "Pussy For Free", "Fuck Mime", and "Devons Black Jacket" just to name a few.
The End?
♥I dont promise that i will make u laugh♥,
♥but i can cry with u♥.
♥If one day u want to run away♥-- ♥dont be afraid to call me♥.
♥I dont promise to ask u to stop♥......
♥but i can run with u♥.
♥If one day u dont want to listen to anyone♥.....
♥call me♥.
♥I promise to be there for u but also promise to remain quiet♥.
♥But one day if u call♥......
♥and there is no anwser♥.....
♥come fast to see me♥.
♥Perhaps i need you♥.
♥Send this to all your friends, no matter how often you talk♥,
♥or how close you are♥,
♥and send it to the person who sent it to you♥.
♥Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will♥.
♥Remember♥, ♥everyone needs a friend♥,
♥dont ever leave the one u love for the one u like♥,
♥ because the one u like will leave u for the one they love♥.
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