Brad Thomas bass & vocals
Nick Manousos guitar & MC
Greg Jacobs guitar & vocals
Charles Purdy drums & vocals
Kimbal Snyder keyboards & vocals
Chopper sax & vocals
Influences
Ray Charles, Al Green, Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Freddie King, Kim Wilson, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Arc Angels, Clapton, Hendrix, Doyle Bramhall & doyle bramhall II, Buddy Guy, Ian Moore, Lonnie Mack, Keb Mo, Larry McCray, Albert King, Robert Cray, T-Bone Walker, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Vaughn Brothers, Cream, John Lee Hooker, Jeff Healy Band, Robben Ford, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, ZZ Top, B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Albert Collins, Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Four Tops, John Mayer Trio, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and many, many more.
The Wrecking Crew is a rhythm and blues-based band with a soulful edge and a solid back beat. The Crew's mission is to bring their unique vision and interpretations of the great songs they have written or mined from the great guitar, piano and rhythm heroes from the 60's to the present.
Along with playing songs from their earlier recording days, the men of ‘The Crew’ have searched the archives for their favorite tunes played by all the great hero's that influenced them as musicians and the music world in general. From the early greatness of T-Bone Walker, Albert King, Robert Cray and Jimi to the ground-breaking sounds of the British hero's like Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, to piano greats, Nicky Hopkins, Ray Charles and Little Stevie Wonder, the Wrecking Crew plays them all with complete conviction. The idea is for the Crew to take you on a trip through a musical journey, with the band as your guide and narrators and give you a taste of the "best of the best". The storied and fabled band members of The Wrecking Crew have all been a big part of the Texas music scene for close to 20 years and continue to evolve and bring their extraordinary vision to the people.
THE BAND:
Brad Thomas,
vocals, Bass and a founding member of the Wrecking Crew.
Brad may have one of the most interesting histories of any of the Crew members, and that’s saying a lot! Not many fans know that Brad was actually raised by wolves. As a very young infant, Brad was suckled, protected and taught to hunt by a renegade pack of wily wolves that roamed around the wide open spaces of West Texas. As a young wolf, he was exposed to a tremendous amount of Texas rock n’ roll and blues music that escaped out of a home’s window as the occupants would be shuffling and jiving to some T-Bone Walker, Freddie King or Kim Wilson. As young Brad’s ears filled with those thumping bass lines, he would just sit…silently…patiently, under an unsuspecting homeowner’s open window, hoping for a tasty snack to appear on the windowsill. Brad would just sit for hours and soak up the feel of the Texas music scene, and dream of the day he might pursue music instead of the small housecat that eventually jumped on the windowsill and met its grisly end.
As Brad grew older, he felt more and more limited living as a young wolf. He found he could do things that his brother wolves could not do. He could walk upright. He could use his thumb to grasp objects and make tools to hunt rabbits and small house pets. But most important of all, he could sing! And no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop this inner drive, this force, from creeping out of his vocal cords every time he heard a soulful song. Brad knew right then his mission was clear….music was his life!
Even though Brad had at long last attained Alpha Male status and now had access to all the female wolves, he left his family of wolves and lived under a house for the next two years. He ransomed a small Maltese pup that he had trapped, back to its owner in exchange for an old Fender P-bass. He continued to hone his bass skills until 1991, when he was finally tamed, by Greg Jacobs and Nicky V. Recognizing great talent, Brad was quickly brought into the up-and-coming Fabulous Blues Tones Band for the historic “Tones Mania” phenomenon of the 1990’s. After the Tones worldwide success, the natural flow led to the formation of the perfect line up with the Wrecking Crew….and the rest is history.
Brad has played, sung, and recorded with the likes of Andy Timmons, the Maylee Thomas Band, the Fabulous Blues Tones, Brandon Bently, just to name a few. For Brad, it's always about the music...nuff said.... ok, ok, and some money...nuff said….ok…money, chicks and the music….nuff said. Really that’s it…no more about Brad…seriously, you need to move on to Nicky’s stuff…Stop reading Brad’s bio RIGHT NOW! Ok, thanks….
Young Nicky Manousos,
GUITAR, vocals, A.K.A. "Nicky Vance", "Nicky V" "Neko" "Hey you!!" and a founding member of the Wrecking Crew.
What can you say about a Guitar Hero like…Nicky?
Sure, Nicky has played all over the world with Vince Vance and the Valiants (when it was just guys in the band, who all walked like John Wayne).
Sure, prior to being hired by the Valiants, he had quit or had been fired from every “respectable” band he had joined. It turned out he only seemed to fit in with the degenerates, rogues, rebels, misfits, philistines and miscreants that inhabited the Valiant world which orbited around the remote fringes of civilized society. Good times…Good times.
More fun Nicky facts:
• People who mess with his mind just end up getting their hands dirty.
• He stomped the Terra with his guitar, amp, T-shirt and jeans, and played all of the historic Texas music venues in Dallas, Austin, Houston, North Houston, East Houston, Snook, Muenster, Mesquite, San Saba, Scurry, Yoakum, Potter, Temple, Port Arthur, Lufkin and Krum!! And the rest of the places don’t include the rest of the world, which couldn’t fit in the space left.
• He has had to stave off throngs of adoring fans, who were streaming past him on their way to meet "The Hood".
• Nicky, has played with some of the top Texas Tornadoes since arriving in Dallas from Northern California. He has played with the likes of: Jimmy Wallace, Junior Clark, Andy Timmons, Bugs Henderson (before he wore shoes on stage), Mat Tapp, James Anderson, Ty Grimes, the guitar player in Cheap Trick, Greg Jacobs, Richard Heath (RIP), Luke Gunnstaks, and a bunch of others that I can't think of right now...but you would be really impressed.
• He has never been convicted of a Felony. Never convicted….
• He mastered true ballroom dancing, quit smoking, brought his cholesterol below 200, and has been planning his big comeback ever since!
• He went to law school, became a successful attorney and made his money the old fashioned way…he inherited it!
Another true story. Nicky commanded so much respect as a player he was consulted by Eric Johnson for advice on how to improve as a fellow musician. When Nicky was playing with the Valiants, about 1984, he was running with the dogs all around Dallas clubs, when he ended up at Nick's Uptown (An old well known Dallas music venue). Eric Johnson was on stage and playing magnificently. The stage was surrounded by young boys all goo goo over Eric's solos. Like the consummate musician, Nicky asked the bartender, "Hey, barkeep! Where's all the chicks??"
After the set was finished, Nicky escaped his handlers, publicists, and groupies and made his way to the stage. He introduced himself as "Nicky Vance, guitar player with Vince Vance and the Valiants!", and Eric said "Who?" Nicky repeated his name and band, and Eric finally made the connection, at which point Eric asked Nicky "Does my tone seem too bassy? Cause it sounds bassy to me." Nicky gave him advice that Eric Johnson still uses to this day. Nicky leaned over and said, “when your tone sounds bassy try rolling off some bass on the guitar or bringing up the treble on the amp."
Priceless.
Greg Jacobs,
vocals, guitar, Professor and High Confessor and a founding member of the Wrecking Crew.
Greg Jacobs aka “The Professor”, vocals, guitar, Professor and High Confessor and a founding member of the Wrecking Crew.
True Fact: Greg a native Texan, has been a singer and guitar slinger since the 60's! Many people don't know this, but as a youngster, Greg traveled to England, during the British invasion to make his fortune in music. He swabbed the deck of a British merchant steamer and sang the blues to crusty sailors and a few ladies of questionable character for food, drink and a place to sleep.
Greg took all of his experience and knowledge of Rock-n-Roll and Rhythm and Blues and moved to Dallas Texas. Greg played his unique style of Rockin-Blues at all the Lone Star juke joints and honky-tonks for over 20 years. Besides becoming a famous guitar slinger, his reputation also grew as both a lover and fighter. He once shot a man, just for giving him the “stink eye” and trying to hustle his main squeeze. In Texas, it is well settled law…nobody messes with Greg’s squeeze!
Last but not least.......
Charles Purdy,
Drums and Vocals. A True Texas Tornado, Charles has been a highly sought after session player for many years and his reputation precedes him in the Texas music scene.
Charles Purdy …Futuristic cyborg terminator moonlighting as a world-class drummer as he secretly hunts people that are identified on his Master’s list to meet their grim fate…..? Or, super talented mutant shape-shifter, sent from another dimension through a "worm hole" to learn how to be human? ……
YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!
The Wild Tchoupitoulas,
AKA “Chopper” “The Sultan Of Sax”, “Phil” Sax, flute, vocals. Anyone who has had the honor of hearing the transcendent soulful magic that flows from Chopper’s saxophone, will tell you they fight the urge to travel to the ocean, take off their clothes, and simply walk straight into the sea …as if there is nothing left to experience…ever.
Boom, Boom, Boom We are the "Wrecking Crew" swingin' balls in a hood near YOU!
Hey,Is swinging balls any kin to Rockin'Ballz? Hope you guys are doing well. Hey Nick,shoot me your number...I misplaced your card...Keep on rockin' and play it loud. James
Hi Nick, Man it sure was good to see you at Guitar Center...We should do that more often....:o) Keep me updated were your playing...Hopefully I can make it out. Be well my friend...Talk soon.
Hey ya'll does that monkey look familiar or what? I told Nick ta stay away from that harry chick. Go circus boy, play that guitar like yo daddy! Postman
Hey guys, thanx for the invite...Been reading all the history about the band. I think I could add a few lies about Nick...laughsss. The boy is sumpin' else...Had some good times playing with him. Let me know ahead of time when your playing next and I'll try to come out and give Nick a hard time. Hope you guys are doing well and playing it loud. Be well and stay in touch.
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