BLUE SKY IT 1994-1998

This was a folk-rock band that featured songs composed by Philip Ball. BLUE SKY IT recorded two albums LIFE (1996) and TRUTH (1998) that featured Rick Grabowski on lead vocals. Philip played acoustic/electric guitar as well as other string instruments such as the viola and the banjo. Philip also was the backup/lead vocalist. On lead guitar was the very talented Fred Taylor. On keyboards was Dave Lunt, a former member of the NIGHTCRAWLERS. George Martindell played the drums and Steve Siers AKA Quad played a fretless bass, backup vocals and some synthesizer. Tim Larsen was the sound engineer and Rick's daughter Kris Grabowski AKA Faye Davis was guest vocalist. In 2003, Dave and Tim formed a techno-space project called MINDWARP PAVILION and they are still together playing live shows and creating new material in South Jersey. Phil and Tim still collaborate with Fred in Durham, Maine on their RORSCHACH PAINTERS project that has recorded over 60 CD-R from 17 sessions that began in 1993. Fred and drummer Mike Walker from Maine have over 200 CD-R recorded at Fred's studio. George and Quad continued recording together on their COSMIC TESTICLES project until 2008 when they formed FLUORESCENT ECLIPSE. Rick and Quad collaborated on three PROGJECT V sessions and on July 2, 2007 they got together again for a new project called GaS Grabowski and Siers and recorded Emissions on CD-R. Last but not least, Kris has two CD releases under her alias FAYE DAVIS with her second compact disc Skybound just released in the spring of 2007.

If you would like to hear some tracks from BLUE SKY IT please visit the mp3 page.

PROGJECT V 2002-2003

After BLUE SKY IT and SCIENCE FRICTION as a trio stopped recording, Rick Grabowski and Steve Siers AKA Quad got together and formed PROGJECT V for three totally unrehearsed jam sessions and three very good CD-Rs called FIRST STEP, NEXT STEP and FINAL STEP were recorded but never released. There was some outstanding improvisation going on that developed into several cool songs like POSITIVELY FILTHY and TAWDRY AUDREY about two seductive females and how they lived their lives.

FIRST STEP (2002)

1. They Do What They Must 2. The Answer 3. Sadistic Woman 4. Positively Filthy 5. Plutonian

NEXT STEP (2002)

1. Wind Up 2. Arousal Juice 3. Legalization 4. Do Your Stuff

FINAL STEP (2003)

1. Do Some Good 2. Hope 3. Unintelligible 4. Tawdry Audrey (Just Like That) 5. Semi-Serious 6. Neopsychedelica (Which Way Out?) 7. Tokey Tokey

If you would like to listen to PROGJECT V go to the mp3 page and play Tawdry Audrey.

FROM THE BEGINNING: 

I started playing bass guitar in 1967 at the age of 14. My cousin Tom Stanton and his two neighbors John and Ray needed someone to play bass so I volunteered. We played a lot of songs by the Beatles at first and then moved on like many cover bands did in the sixties learning the hit songs and playing them at gigs.

After a few years, a friend asked me if he can borrow my bass to try out for a rock 'n roll band that was just forming. I said yes, but somehow we both wound up going to the audition. He played well but then he needed a cigarette break. The band was still playing so I picked up my bass and joined in on Lady Madonna. I guess my playing impressed the band members and they asked me if I was available to play with them. I said, "No, that wouldn't be fair to my friend" but they weren't willing to let my friend join the band. So, a week later they asked me again at school if I would join the band. I said, "Only if I speak to my friend first and he has no objections" of course he said, "Go ahead, I don't have a problem with that ... besides I have a few other options myself" and that is how I joined the band. Well, let's say that is how I got my foot in the door. I introduced Vince, the lead guitar player to my cousin Tom and they hit it off well. We were still looking for a drummer, so I invited my neighbor Tom Owens over for an audition. The music just ripped through the neighborhood that day and from that point, all the players were in place and the band became the LOST SOULS.

From 1971 to 1975 I played in various bands with my cousin and then on my own.

I always loved the sound of synthesizers so in 1975 I traded my Rickenbacker bass for an Elka Rhapsody keyboard. Although it was not a true synth it did turn me towards a new direction. This is when I started buying other synthesizers and in 1975 there were a lot of great analog synths to choose from. I bought quite a few ARP synthesizers including the 2600 and a few MOOG synthesizers including the Minimoog.

In 1976 I built a garage in the backyard to become my recording studio. Over the next 20 years I jammed with many musicians as the studio was changing with every year. From bare walls to cork walls and acoustic ceiling tiles.

In 1993 my friend Bob Weekley was playing original music by guitarist and songwriter Philip Ball along with Dave Lunt from the critically acclaimed electronic synth band The Nightcrawlers, lead singer Rick Grabowski and a drummer named Mark in a band called Blue Sky It. In 1994 Bob and his first wife decided to move to Arizona and that left the band without a bass player, so once again I volunteered. Without owning a bass and not playing one in 20 years I had to make a choice if it was worth spending money on a new Rickenbacker and the answer was yes.

After a few rehearsals the drummer informed us that he cannot continue because of personal problems at home. Now we were without a drummer but on Labor Day weekend I went to a music convention in Valley Forge, Pa. I saw an old friend who was an excellent drummer I had seen a few months earlier on April 20, 1994 at an Ozric Tentacles show at the Chestnut Caberet named George Martindell. Prior to that, several years past by since we always talked about music when I worked at a record store from 1987 to 1992. We spoke for a few minutes and then I held my breath and asked if he was available to play in an original band. I thought the answer would be NO because like a beautiful woman, she has to be married or in this case, a great drummer has to be in a band but this was going to be our lucky day because he said OK!

His band Nasty Canasta had just broken up after a long run at playing the Rock 'N Roll circuit in South Jersey and surrounding areas. He had some reservations about playing but thought a change may do him some good and playing drums is what he loves to do most well maybe a close second if you know what I mean.

We all got along on the Blue Sky It project and recorded two very good albums called Life (1996) and Truth (1998).

In between rehearsals at my studio, George and I began record our own style of music and formed Cosmic Testicles. At this time my synth setup was reduced to two or three but that was about change. As we continued making some incredible music I started buying more and more gear.

In 1997 we decided to ask Frank Sonsini, former lead guitarist for Nasty Canasta to join us and form Science Friction. We recorded one album called Freudian Slips that year but then my Dad passed away on 8/31/98 and I made the decision to put the music on hold and concentrate on taking care of my Mom who was in the early stages of Alzheimers Disease.

In 1999 George was approached by NFL Films and was told they were doing a documentary on the history of evil in the world called Faces Of Evil. George and Frank continued playing together after I left and a few times George and I got together for a few sessions but this looked like a golden opportunity that was too good to pass up. So, once again the three of us joined forces and recorded soundtrack music that was accepted and used in the documentary that aired in April of 2000.

Once again I had to make a decision whether to continue making soundtrack music or concentrate on taking care of Mom who was now getting worse. The choice was easy because family always comes first and George and Frank were well on their way as they continued making music for films with great success.

Off and on George and I would reunite and once again pack it in after a few months. By this time though, I was introduced to a German synthesizer company called Waldorf and I was immediately overwelmed by their sound. My Waldorf synthesizer collection is possibly the largest in the world today and my musical output is at its highest level.

On January 31, 2006 my Mom passed away from heart failure brought on by the Alzheimers Disease.

Now, my music and my day job that pays the bills is all I have left to concentrate on and for the past four years, George and I have recorded some of our best music and it just gets better every time we play.

Frank remains a part of the future with our other new project called Aliens, Ghost and Demons. Visit the Aliens, Ghosts and Demons page or www.myspace.com/aliensghostsanddemons for more information.

On October 22, 2007 my cousin Tom Stanton passed away from a long battle with cancer at the young age of 56. He was living with his wife, son and daughter in western Canada. Tom also has two sons from an earlier marriage. I had the opportunity to speak with him on the phone and we had a good time recalling the good times we shared over the years while growing up together. I'm not sure playing music would have been my choice if my cousin did not point me in that direction, but his motivation and desire to learn and play songs has allowed me to create songs from within my heart and soul.

TOM STANTON - REST IN PEACE