Vitamin A

Bio:

Vitamin A was born in the winter of 1991/92 during a spiritual journey into the heart of the American Southwest. Dino English and Tony Vrooman decided to start a band to represent the new direction they were moving after having worked together in Janus Avenue, a band which included future Vitamin A member Jerry Saracini on drums and Jim Lang, guitarist from the Icons. This knew direction would become a synchronistic development that coincided with what would become known as the Jam Band Scene. They started playing St. Louis alternative rock clubs, forging this new direction with Paul Chickey on bass and Jerry Saracini on drums. What set this band apart from the multifarious future lineups of the band was that the original incarnation was comprised of drummers that had moved to bass and guitar (Paul on bass and Dino guitar). Paul Chickey was doing double duty, playing drums for the progressive rock funk band Nerve (aka Burnt Nervends, and would later go on to play drums for disco/funk band Dr. Zhivegas) and Dino had been the drummer for St. Louis revolutionary late 80’s band, the Icons (Dino would later become drummer for the Dark Star Orchestra). Jerry Saracini was doing double duty as well, playing drums for St. Louis progressive rock / alternative band the Stranded Lads (and now is a Dallas based drummer playing in a rich variety of musical projects). Their sound was catching on and Vitamin A started to pick up more gigs. Eventually Jerry got too busy with the Lads and had to move on which started the never-ending saga of new band member after new band member. Like a scene out of Spinal Tap, the band has had an estimated 20 something members playing with it at one time or another (including the later version of the band, Vitamen A). (Vitamen A can still be found performing periodic shows seventeen years later playing many of the same songs that were present at the beginning. Check out www.myspace.com/vitamena). But there are still a few out there who were present at the start and can recall the ambitious beginnings of a couple of guys who met in college. Most recently, Dino and Tony have teamed up again, after having not worked together for over ten years, to form a recording project entitled Magic Bag and an as of yet untitled band. Stay tuned for archival recordings and a history blog of the different progressions of Vitamin A. ..

Member Since:

August 15, 2007

Members:

The original band consisted of TONY VROOMAN - Vocals / Guitar / Percussion; DINO ENGLISH - Guitar / Percussion / Vocals; PAUL CHICKEY - Bass / Percussion / Vocals; and JERRY SARACINI - Drums / Percussion. Here is a list of other members in no particular order (and this list is incomplete at this time). Tim Lore - Keys; Matt Albert - Drums; Steve Hanock - Bass; Les Burnside - Bass; Jon Rosen - Keys / Vocals; Jimmy Tebeau - Bass / Vocals; Tracy Lowe - Guitar / Vocals; Dino English - Drums; Cliff - Percussion; John Wolf - Trombone; Sean Sweeney - Hammond Organ; VITAMEN A..... Mike Garrett - Drums; Andy Barnes - Bass; Mike Clement - Keys; Jake Brookman - Cello; Demetri - Bass; Brother Garrett - Drums / Percussion Randy reece - Sax

Influences:

Early influences were the Grateful Dead (more show structurally, rather than musically), Pink Floyd, Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Icons. Paul brought more of the hard rock alternative sound of the early 90's into the mix... Heavy on the bass tone.

Sounds Like:

If you have an opinion on what the band sounded like post it in the comments. HERE IS THE FIRST SHOW IN IT'S ENTIRETY (EXCEPT FOR "WALKING NAKED" WHICH DIDN'T MAKE IT TO TAPE). IT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT KENNEDY'S IN ST. LOUIS ON JUNE 15, 1992. ..

Record Label:

Recordings prior to 1994 - Vortex Music