BUZZ BANDS – Kevin Bronson on the music scene in Los Angeles and beyond

PTP III: 5 minutes with Steve Gregoropoulos

http://buzzbands.la/2008/11/17/ptp-iii-5-minutes-with-steve-gregoropoulos/

Bio:

THE WILD STARES were formed in Boston, MA in 1979 by Connecticut High School mates Steve Gregoropoulos and Justin Burrill after going through several different rhythm sections bassist Fran Miller and then “Fred” the Drum-machine became permanent members.

In 1984 THE WILD STARES, feeling they had done all they could in Boston, moved to Europe where the band lived for a year, shows in London, Berlin and Amsterdam.

Upon returning to the States the band began touring constantly both in America and Europe.  In 1988 THE WILD STARES moved from Boston to Los Angeles and added a live drummer to give Fred a hand.  The band has also ventured into the world of MIDI

electronics, simultaneously ventured in both technological directions: the trusty drum machine has been augmented with a dazzling array of computer-controlled samples and electronic sounds; Kyle C. Kyle, a real drummer with an impressive resume, kept things from being too perfect

In the early part of 1993 The Wild Stares were ask to play an acoustic show.  Rather than simply switching to acoustic guitars and bass it was decided that something more involved was in order.  Bassist Fran Miller played cello (she had studied as a child), singer Steve Gregoropoulos played mandolin, Justin Burrill played acoustic guitar and recorder and Kyle C. Kyle played drums. The group appeared under the name The Wild Stares Chamber Orchestra.

After the surprising success of this show The Wild Stares were asked to record two songs acoustic that were released as a single on Hell Yeah Records and were offered more shows.  After the recording session it was decided that the line up should be expanded to increase the musical possibilities and too make the ensemble more closely resemble a true chamber orchestra.

The Wild Acoustic Chamber Orchestra, W.A.C.O. to 13 members, give or take. W.A.C.O. and the Wild Stares operated simultaneously for half a year, but in the summer of 1993 bassist Fran Miller decided that it was time for her leave music and join the real world.  Since she was such an essential part of the Stares, the rest of the group decided to pull the plug and focus on W.A.C.O.

There have been thousands of words written about The Wild Stares over the years, ranging from love to hate, and from sheer confusion to attempts at poetic description of their sound.  The Wild Stares looked out and saw what they saw.