Music Nation is a Music Video Competition for Independent Artists

1. Name and instrument: Lou Spagnola, Bass, booking agent, ball breaker 2. What do you use for gear? Schecter and Ibanez 5 strings, Fender Precision & Jazz basses (all with Rotosound strings), Gallien-Krueger 400RB, Joe's cabinets with 15" JBL's 3. How did you get started in music? There were a lot of bands around where I lived when I was young, it really inspired me to want to play in a band. So I saved my money and bought a bass, and then shut myself in my room during the Summer of 1983 and learned how to play. 4. What are you most memorable musical experiences? My very first gig, back in 1984. A gig in 1999 that took me through Texas, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Canada was a lot of fun, I never laughed so hard. Meeting John Paul Jones, my favorite bass player and biggest influence, twice in a 4 month span. When I first joined the band back in 1997, Dickie told me all about the Eagle 93.7 shows that were coming up, so I figured they'd be great. When I walked onstage and saw 20,000 people, it was incredible, much bigger than I expected (and I damn near had a panic attack). The adrenaline rush was like nothing I ever experienced....you don't hear applause, you hear the crowd roar! Nine shows with bands like Jefferson Starship, Dave Mason, America, Kansas....signing autographs, posing for pictures, doing live radio interviews.... 5. What are your least? Not being on the same page with bandmates. Pushy people who demand things of you when they have no right asking in the first place....and they wouldn't do these things themselves. Anyone who calls themself a professional but acts unprofessionally. Musicians that have too high an opinion of themselves, especially ones who remember their 5 minute careers from 20 years ago as being a lot more important than it actually was. 6. What 5 discs could you not go without if stranded on an island? Marvin Gaye-What's Going On, Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti, Chicago-VII, Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here, The Doors-Strange Days. 7. What's in your CD collection that people would never expect? A lot of Easy Listening (Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters), old R & B, and 60's music. 8. What else do you do besides play in Fortune? I keep as busy as possible with things music related....I'm also a member of The Fools. If I practiced bass as much as I went to the driving range, I'd be a lot better! 9. Which guy in the band would you least want to be stuck with for a long ride to a gig, and why? Bob. His eating habits......let's just say I'd have to keep the window open all the way to the gig. 10. What have you learned from all your years as a musician? You eat shit on every level of this business. For every hand you shake, there's another one ready to stab you in the back. There is very little loyalty, and too many people who want to step on you to get themselves a step higher, as well as forget about you as soon as they realize that you can't do anything to help them further their career. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name and instrument: Bob Vose, Voice and percussion 2. What do you use for gear? Bottled water and sometimes ear plugs. 3. How did you get started in music? I got started at the 16year oldish stage in a band called MXR with Brian Alex (you may know him from Entrain). I played drums and sang lead. Our repertoire mostly consisted VH covers, U2 and Duran Duran with a few febolic sophomoric attempts at original songs mixed in. I guess I got the show biz Rock n Roll bug when we had the pleasure of opening for the Joe Perry Project at the Higgins Junior High back when the earth was still flat. I guess it was just too addicting to an attention seeking adolescent such as my self. Well you know the old story....that band took off and went straight to the top, went Multi Platinum and we all became millionaires. After that I wanted to start over for some reason and I eventually met Pete DiStefano and formed the band "Prowler" in High School. The very talented Bill Plourde joined and shortly after we brought Jeremy Heussi in on Keyboards. I won't bore you with long list of drummers and bass players we went through, however some of them are very worth mentioning. Dave Vargas, a great drummer who is still playing and is very dear friend. Rick O'Neal, a great bass player and great person who I enjoyed playing with. 4. What are you most memorable musical experiences? The Eagle 93.7 shows at City Hall Plaza were with out a doubt the highlight of my music career. 5. What are your least? Oddly enough the, one of the same Eagle 93.7 shows, we were supposed to go on before BTO and BTO said "NO opening acts for us"...thanks BTO...I was just glad we didn't have a bunch of friends and family travel a long way to come see us......yyyyyyyyaaa 6. What 5 discs could you not go without if stranded on an island? Boston 1, Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime, Rush-Greatest Hits Volume 1, Eagles-Hotel California, Journey-Captured. 7. What's in your CD collection that people would never expect? Probably Kenny Loggins 8. What else do you do besides play in Fortune? I have a wife and two children, Cameron (boy) and Sydney (Girl). I work as an account executive for an independent medical record review company. 9. Which guy in the band would you least want to be stuck with for a long ride to a gig, and why? I would have to say Bill.....only because I have crush on him and he doesn't know it after all these years, and I think that the tension would be just too much to take. 10. What have you learned from all your years as a musician? I have learned that you don't have to necessarily be talented to make it in this business.....although it certainly helps. Music trends are dictated by what is driven into your head by the tired radio. I think that people have lost the ability to decipher what is good....well written music and what is thrown together noise that is following the en vogue trends. Just compare what was written back in the seventies to some of the garbage you hear today. Don't get me wrong-some of it is good. However, the good bands are recycled through by the record companies and they end up having very short careers as opposed to the great groups of the past decades...then again that is just the opinion of a bitter guy who never made it....so take it for what its worth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name and instrument: Pete DiStefano, Guitar & Vocals 2. What do you use for gear? 2 Custom Chunky Amp Heads, Early 70's Fender Twin, Marshall JCM 800 Head, Marshall 4x12" & Custom 1-12" Cabinets, Parker Fly Guitar, Ernie Ball Musicman Silloutte Special, Gibson Les Paul [Various Other Guitars]; Boss Me-30 Multi Effect, MXR Micro Amp, Cry Baby Wah, Jim Dunlop Roto-Vibe, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer 3. How did you get started in music? Exposed To music early by way of a Musical Family! Started Formal Lessons @ Age 13 and studied with many private instructors throughout Jr & Sr High School. Started First Original band in "84" with Bob Vose on Vocals. 4. What are you most memorable musical experiences? Playing gigs with high energy and a tremendous reaction from crowd! Most noteably opening for many national acts at City Hall Plaza in Boston and getting standing ovations as an opening act! Also playing with "Beatlejuice" in old historic theaters where the acoustics and vibe were just made for music and everything felt perfectly right! 5. What are your least? We have all had them (Hell Gigs)...the band is off, the crowd is lame, someone in the band is bitchy (including yourself)! Un-rehearsed last minute shows or just plain "Bad sounding rooms" where you wish you were somewhere else doing anything but playing the gig! 6. What 5 discs could you not go without if stranded on an island? Robben Ford-Talk to your Daughter, Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon, Eagles- Greatest Hits 1& 2, Steely Dan-The Royal Scam, Jimi Hendrix-Axis Bold as Love 7. What's in your CD collection that people would never expect? John Coltrane; Harry Connick Jr; Tower of Power; Prince 8. What else do you do besides play in Fortune? Practice Guitar; Mow the Lawn; Clean the pool; Paint & Fix things around the house; Play with my Kids & Walk the dogs - isn't that enough? There is more but I won't bore you with it: Oh yeah! I have done many gigs with Beatlejuice; Brian Maes & other fabulous, talented friends and musicians! 9. Which guy in the band would you least want to be stuck with for a long ride to a gig, and why? Sorry, but Dickie! No reason other than one time many years ago he was driving home and got pulled over and arrested and kept me out all night! He also liked to play Kenny Loggins "Return to Pooh Corner" on a long ride! It's a great album but you might as well take a sleeping pill and bring a pillow with you! 10. What have you learned from all your years as a musician? Music is great and rewarding at times and and can be a struggle at others. If you stay focused and stick with it it will always be a great experience no matter what level you are playing at...I've learned that if you play from your heart and just feel it out you can't go wrong and will enjoy the yourself! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name and instrument: Dickie Paris Jr, Drums 2. What do you use for gear? Tama Starclassic drums and Sabian AA cymbals. 3. How did you get started in music? I got started in music by listening to my father sing and watching his shows, he was in the 70's show band Mac's Mob. 4. What are you most memorable musical experiences? My most memorable musical experiences were playing the Eagle 93.7 shows. 5. What are your least? Playing shows when the crowd is not into it. 6. What 5 discs could you not go without if stranded on an island? Queensryche-Mindcrime, Toto-Mindfields, Simon Phillips-Another Lifetime, Tangerine Dream-Legend, The Yes box set. 7. What's in your CD collection that people would never expect? Riverdance. 8. What else do you do besides play in Fortune? I spend time with my wife Karen (hunny bunny) and my son Andrew and daughter Emily. I play in the Brian Maes Band, also Mike Tebo, Five Easy Pieces, The Ned Nugent Band, the Herland Brothers Band (before they broke up) and Bill Garzone once in a while. 9. Which guy in the band would you least want to be stuck with for a long ride to a gig, and why? Iwould have to say Bob, because when he hears a great song on the radio he punches me in the arm.and it hurt's. [ouch]! 10. What have you learned from all your years as a musician? I've learned to never expect anything from this buisness. I have become a better drummer because of the caliber of musicians I am lucky enough to play with, and I have also learned that there is nothing like making music with your friends and doing a show where it all comes together. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name and instrument: Jeremy Heussi-Keyboards 2. What do you use for gear? Roland RD700 for most of the material. Ensoniq ZR76 for retro fits. 3. How did you get started in music? My mother kept a piano in the house. I banged on it till I could make some sense out of it. My first favorite album was Alice Cooper's Go To Hell. At 7 year's old I knew it was cool to be in a rock band. 4. What are you most memorable musical experiences? City Hall Plaza Boston. Those gigs were quite validating. 5. What are your least? A long time ago Fortune did some dates in PA. Yep, I can't find the cells in my brain to recall them. 6. What 5 discs could you not go without if stranded on an island? I. Pink Floyd, The Wall II. Sarah Brightman Eden III. Joni Mitchell‚ Taming the Tiger IV. King's X‚ Gretchen goes to Nebraska V. Fortune's new album 7. What's in your CD collection that people would never expect? Mazzy Star 8. What else do you do besides play in Fortune? I own and operate a company called Paint Pro, Inc.. I enjoy kayaking and trekking the White Mountains. Most of all, I am a devoted parent to my daughter‚ Maizi . 9. Which guy in the band would you least want to be stuck with for a long ride to a gig, and why? Is this for "Tiger Beat" magazine?? 10. What have you learned from all your years as a musician? You make a lot of friends when you are in a rock band. Also, you evolve tremendously as a musician when you work with world class musicians. Finally, there is no greater sadness than wasted talent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name and instrument: Bill Plourde-Guitar, Vocals and late arrival 2. What do you use for gear? Chunky 50 watt head with a custom made 1x12 speaker cabinet or sometimes Marshall 2x12 cabs. Marshall JCM 50 watt combos at home. Mostly I use Parker guitars live because of the instant acoustic/electric switching. A Gibson Les Paul that should be seen at more shows than it is. Ernie Ball Musicman Silhouette Special, Paul Reed Smith and various custom made guitars I have had built over the years. Taylor and Ovation acoustic guitars. I'm also looking for a half size Leslie cabinet if you know anybody that has one.......Brian!! 3. How did you get started in music? I have always been a music lover. At a very young age(2 or 3) I was exposed to 8-track cassettes (Cream, Grand Funk, James Taylor etc..). There is also a history of music in my family from my mother and grandmother playing piano and organ to my great grandfather who was a self taught violin player. My brother Rick is a bass player that has played with Fortune at various times. He definitely had an influence on me. I always wanted a bass or guitar from a young age and finally took up guitar at around 13. I met Pete through a bass player I was playing with and Pete had already played with Bob. Started writing original tunes with Pete in my bedroom at my parents house in February 86 while Bob was at college. Bob came home and we formed "The Big Three". 4. What are you most memorable musical experiences? All of the gigs we did for Eagle 93 at Boston City Hall Plaza. What an incredible and memorable experience to be able to play for crowds of that size and with other bands that you grew up listening to and loved. The Hampton Beach Casino shows weren't too shabby either. 5. What are your least? Playing songs that I don't like or am embarrassed to have played. Luckily this has happened very few times. Also having the band completely ruin a song that we have played a million times. 6. What 5 discs could you not go without if stranded on an island? Led Zeppelin II, The Beatles-Abbey Road, Jimi Hendrix-Band of Gypsys, Pink Floyd-Animals, Santana-Borboletta. 7. What's in your CD collection that people would never expect? Kenny Loggins, Harry Connick Jr., Al Stewart.......The Go Gos (just kidding) 8. What else do you do besides play in Fortune? By day I'm a mild mannered guy who works in a dental office doing computer work as well as lab work. In December of 2000 my wife Sandy gave birth to twin boys, William and Christian. Since then the both of us pretty much lost all sanity. But it's well worth it! 9. Which guy in the band would you least want to be stuck with for a long ride to a gig, and why? Anyone who doesn't want to listen to Zeppelin - That means everybody but Lou, and maybe Dick (I knew he'd come around sooner or later!). 10. What have you learned from all your years as a musician? I have learned two things over the years being a musician: 1. Hurry up and wait- Never in my life have I rushed around so much to end up sitting around waiting for someone else to finish what they are doing. 2. Having talent doesn't always lead to fame, and being famous certainly doesn't mean you have talent. I think everyone will agree with this.