Start with the crust, a hearty base of rock-and-roll devotion. Next comes the filling, four dedicated musicians from Grand Rapids. Sprinkle in some metal, add a cup of grunge and dont forget a healthy pinch of eighties glam. Top it all off with a giant mullet and watch it cook on its own. This is StickerblisteR.
Josh Mollan on lead guitar. Matt Heidloff on lead vocals, Bert Webster on bass, Kurt Dekoker on drums. They came together in 2002, melding a variety of experiences and influences into one throbbing musical force. As the songwriting, idea sharing and live chemistry continue to develop, StickerblisteR moves ever closer to a hostile takeover of the West Michigan music scene.
Bert is the resident sage, and his playing days go back to college in the early eighties with the Baby Blues Band, which majored primarily in seventies rock. Twenty years later Bert and Josh would meet and learn of their shared love of up rock and roll.
Josh and Matt met while taking guitar lessons in high school. Eventually they formed a garage band called Jaded Heart with Matt's longtime friend Kurt. The dreams of spandex and teased hair faded though, and they moved their separate ways to try a slice of the normal life. A few years later, Josh became a founding member of Fled Five which opened for heavy metal stalwarts such as Ratt, as well as other national bands, around the Grand Rapids music scene. Kurt went on to play some live shows and cut an album with a band called Bug.
When Bert convinced Josh to dust off the old six-string and come out of retirement, it was only natural that he would bring in Kurt and Matt to round out the lineup. The result was a widely varied mix of styles and influences. Heavy, nu-metal riffs. Melodic, jazz-inspired ballads. Metallica, AC-DC, Poison, Billy Idol, Disturbed, Van Halen, Black Label Society, Alice in Chains all add flavor to StickerblisteR's sound. And now that Matt has joined Josh as a principal songwriter, with heavy input from Bert and Kurt, the band's portfolio of originals is expanding daily.
We all have so many influences and listen to such different music, we never know where an idea will come from and where it will go, says Matt. No idea is a bad idea, adds Josh, because it is bound to fit into one of our music styles. It certainly makes for an interesting set list.
Rock fans at Polish halls and bars around Grand Rapids can attest to that. This band is making a name for itself around town, and a trip to the studio to cut its first album is in the works.
So remember the names. Josh, Matt, Bert and Kurt. This ain't no barbershop quartet. This is rock and roll. This is StickerblisteR. Get a piece while it's hot.
Thanks for being our friend! The ElQCrew will be screaming through Grand Rapids, MI on October 24th. We will be at the Whiskey Lounge with our boys thePERFECT3rd and SoMuchForSimple. We would love to see you there, hope you can make it!
i was actually goin to try to make it! i have the dates saved in my calender so CHILL! i'm working on the friends, they've all heard the disc and like it..... see you soon. if you need/want copies let me know, they are saved on disc. peace out ~k
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