The story of Quagmire started many years ago when I was just a young lad and me and Chris both had guitars, but did not know how to play. After a while of jamming and writing our own songs, I decided to try and learn drums so we could be a real band. We managed to make it work and had amassed quite a few songs, some that we still play, others that are gladly forgotten. Chris made the big move to Oakbank and met a couple eccentric fellas named Paul and Shane. They had some of the same musical tastes (we were now into punk rock) and wanted to start getting some of their ideas out. We started teaching Shane the bass while Paul sang and this became the band known as AOR. This hardcore band lasted for one battle of the bands show before it imploded and we all went our separate ways. Chris moved to Toronto, I moved to Scotland and Shane and Paul just stayed. Fast forward a year and a half and I get this phone call out of the blue. Chris is on the line and back in town as well as me. He tells me that he is getting the urge to play music together again...funny I am feeling the same. We agree that this time will be different. We will take our instruments as far as we can go and not be restricted by the "punk rock" stereotype. We recruited Shane to come play bass again and started hammering out all new songs. The songs kept flowing and we started to get tighter, so we decided to get something on tape. We rented an 8-track for a month and began our crash course in recording. We started laying down the music and decided that we should get down vocals, any vocals to make the songs sound complete. But who should sing?....well what about Shane? He is always humming and singing songs, and actually in tune ! So we got him to lay the vocals down. Lets just say it fit like a glove. The songs were complete and our frontman, Shane, is now known by the name Hollywood for the star-like presence he now graces us with. The album was creatively titled Quagmire-2002 with 13 songs of pure Quagmire. After the album we realized that we would need another member, one who could play bass. We tried out a few people, even a drummer (I played bass) but none panned out. Some would rather be playing Madden on the PS2, while others just couldn't play, even if they were an octopus with 8 arms...long story. Finally, I found an old ad from the internet for a bass player looking for a band and decided to try the email address. She actually responded to me and was still looking for a band. Sweet, so we invited her out and she clicked instantly. Kalyn…a punk rock girl with a heart of gold who can really play! After teaching her the songs, we found out that she can write too as well as drink with the rest of us. We finally started getting some shows at the end of 2004 and have been playing live, writing more and developing an even greater musical quagmire of songs ever since. As of right now we are trying to whittle down a list of songs to record in the studio and then keep playing and exposing everyone to what is Quagmire today. Shane, Chris, Kalyn and me playing the music that we know as well as we can. See you at a show near you!
Homepage: quagmire.ca
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