I grew up around music & theater. Mom was an actress & singer in those days.
L-R: Aunts Sarah Bess & Irene, Mom at the piano, Fez on the shoulder. ca.1975
Backstage with Mom for dress rehearsals of "The Mikado," Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, Shreveport, La., ca. 1975
Growing up in Louisiana, I was predisposed to loving Elvis.
I’ll never forget the day I came home from school and Mom sat me down to inform that the King had passed away. I was devastated.
Soon afterwards though, my brother turned me on to Kiss, and I quickly adopted new heroes.
scars & guitars... fez, brother Greg, cousin Jamie (his plastic KISS guitar), ca. 1977
Pretty soon, I saved up some dough from mowing lawns & bought my first electric guitar, aged 9.
L-R: Greg, cousin Jeffrey, Fez with new axe & mom's wig. ca.1979
The family packed up and headed out west for California when I was ten years old.
Started my first real band in 1983 with Glen Murrell & Robby Naefke– Outrage.
Outrage first gig, 14.05.1984 -- Twin Peakes Middle School Talent Show.
By 1985, I had amassed a collection of gear & began experimenting with home recording in addition to regular band practices & sitting in with my brother’s heavy metal band, Legion.
My recording setup, circa 1985.
Posing the gear by Mom's piano + my beloved acoustics and basses.
It wasn’t called Goth then, and circa 1985, they just didn’t have the awesome modern hair products we take for granted these days.
Doin' my best impression of 45Grave, ca. 1985
Throughout high school in Poway, Ca., the band went through a number of evolutions & we were local teen rockstars… just ask us!
Outrage, ca. 1987 in the basement of Croce's, downtown San Diego
Outrage @ Distillery East, Escondido, Ca. 1987 -- L-R: Fez, Chris Marsteller (photo: Eric S.Cullen)