Desmond Drive

Desmond Drive is a melodic pop band in the tradition of The Beatles and XTC, with many other 60s and 70s influences. The songs are immediately hummable, yet stand up to repeated listenings.



Let's meet the band members, shall we?



The band is led by Bill Shaouy, he of the Odyssian musical background. Bill has been a member of New Americans, Racer Green, Grable & Bell, and Doc-Wiso, and has also been a session musician for Kathy Fleischmann, Sean McEntee, The Riff, and Traildust. I Called I is Bill's first album of his own songs.



What made Bill decide to become a musician? "As a kid, during a particularly long and dreary winter, my brother and I would play Monopoly on Saturdays while listening to the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. All I could think of while listening to it was 'I WISH I could play like that. I WISH I could play like that.'".



Drummer Chuck Kelly has an eclectic background, from pop (Racer Green) to country (Kate James and Lost Country) to blues (Andy Makely Band). Elements of each style and more have made it into the CD.



What made Chuck decide to become a musician? "Dad had me listen to Benny Goodman's 'Sing, Sing, Sing' early on. There was nothing quite like the old recordings of Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. From there it was on to rock heroes like Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen, etc., but now that the mullet years have thinned themselves out, I would say that there is no inspiration greater than those drummers who can keep a band together, and play what is tasteful and appropriate for the moment."



Bassist Steve Platnick is best known as the long-time bassist for The Riff. After playing with My Evil Twin and The Steve Wade Band, Steve joined Desmond Drive.



What made Steve decide to become a musician? "I was in band camp as a kid, learning the accordion, when the music instructor said he needed someone to volunteer to learn and play bass. I was curious so I tried it, and haven't looked back since." Influences include Bootsy Collins and Sting, but XTC's Colin Moulding remains Steve's biggest inspiration.



Rob Gal is a veteran of such bands as 6X, The Coolies, Anne Richmond Boston, and The Ottoman Empire. Producer of I Called I, Rob performs double duty with the guitar parts.



What made Rob decide to become a musician? "Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock was my defining moment. I thought, 'Man, I want some threads like those! And a white guitar!!' I got neither."