Guitarist and band founder John Nicholas talks about how Second Wind came to be: "[Lead guitarist] Bob McClelland and I were introduced by a high school friend of mine, Chip Bubeck, who is a local professional musician and lives in our neighborhood, Mantua. Oddly, he lives about 50 yards from [first drummer Rob] Stamerra. Looking back, I way oversold my abilities when talking to Bob initially, probably just to get him in the door. I had a place to rehearse, and we started playing 1-2 nights a month when we could work out the schedules. My objectives were to play one open mike night, improve as a player, and declare victory. Bob dropped the hint a few weeks into that it was much more fun playing in a full band. So, I ran an ad in the Mantua newsletter, and [bass player] Dave [Winfield] and Rob appeared. We also tried out a father-son combo on bass-drums but we picked Dave and Rob as they were a much better fit with our style of music. Bob was the singer, and Dave was backing him up, but it was taxing Bob too much. Then we found Steve everything just took off."......
Lead singer Steve Houk adds: "At a setup meeting for our children's pre-school auction, John asked my wife Mimi if she knew of anyone who might want to sing lead in a band he was forming. She thought a minute and told him she'd ask me. When she did, I didn't really consider it right away, but I thought more about it and said, 'What the hell, I'm 45 years old, have always loved music and wanted to try this, let's go for it.' Two weeks later, driving over to John's for the first rehearsal, I was so nervous I almost turned around and went home, but I thought better of chickening out, and went through with it. From the first note, we all meshed beautifully. This has turned out to be one of the greatest experiences I've ever had, and it's only really just begun. Plus I have made four great new friends for life.".......
The band's fortunes took an even better turn when Bob's longtime friend Sam Elson, who had sat in once or twice when Rob was unavailable, was asked to join full time in early 2007. His tempos and timing, plus a contagiously positive attitude, have been an inspiration to the band.....
In August of '07, SWN founding father and bass player Dave Winfield left to pursue other interests, but the void was quickly filled by John Nicholas' fellow Mantuan Dan Stephan. Dan's first full gig was with the boys on Labor Day Weekend 2007 at the great Ilda Pool, and he showed that all his intense cramming to learn our songs paid off.
SECOND WIND WILL BE PERFORMING THROUGHOUT 2009 ALL AROUND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND SURROUNDING AREAS, so for some great, familiar rock and roll, there's not a better time to be had!.......
Here's a brief look at what the members of Second Wind do in their real lives: John is an Engineering Director at AOL...Bob is a Sr. Principal Engineer at Orbital Sciences Corporation, focusing in spacecraft attitude determination and control...Dan works for Lockheed Martin...Steve is Director of Marketing for W*USA-TV Channel 9, the CBS affiliate in Washington DC and a three-time DC Emmy award winner...Sam is in his second year as an elementary school principal for Kings Glen Elementary School in Springfield.....All the members of Second Wind have great children of various ages.....The members of Second Wind relish their very special roles as fathers and husbands, and dedicate Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" to them all at the end of every gig.....as for the next performance: we'll see you out there, and.....LONG LIVE ROCK!
Thanks for the shout out. I am sure Sam would be elated to know that there are more local school administrators who are closet rock stars! Good luck with the accordion, eh!?
Thanks for the add! A drummer who's an elementary school principal? I am a former bass player who is an assistant principal. I am trying to take up cajun/zydeco accordion now. Eek! I love the music! Rock on brothers!
