DIVISION 1.1

DIVISION 1.1 BIO

Not unlike Vyndykator, Division 1.1 was a heavy heavy band, more like Pantera or Slayer really. When they asked me to join I was a bit perplexed. They had some good songs, but I honestly didn't think I was a good fit. Nonetheless, they asked me to partake in writing sessions and John Barone, the guitarist, and I developed a nice chemistry. I remember telling them, “You guys are great. I don't want to de-fang your music, but again, I hear all kinds of places for more progressive passages, vocal harmonies and keys/strings” They were ok with that. A lot of critics who played our records on radio referred to us as the heavy metal Kansas. I was more than honored at that!

If you listen to the “With A Vengeance” or “United we Brawl” albums, you'll hear the confluence of super heavy, riff oriented guitars and pounding drums with aggressive vocals. But, interspersed with some strings, places for 3 and even 4 part harmony and of course, me doing my best Billy Sheehan imitation playing in Anthrax! I tried to emulate Glenn Hughes when he was doing his thing with David Coverdale in the Mach 3 version of Deep Purple and I think I pulled it off.

Songs like “Submission”, “Angelika” and “Heathen” I think are all very good representations of this dynamic.

One of the fringe benefits to my 5+ years with Division 1.1 was meeting and working with Mike Romeo of Symphony X and his mentor Eric Rachel. I even got Eric to record a couple of Wizards albums!

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Mike and Eric did a fabulous job, not only in shaping the sound of Division 1.1 but also of really capturing my Conklin 7 string. Even though I'd played it and used it on several recordings, it never translated quite the way I wanted until I worked with these two guys.

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