Midnight Madness Are band startud in the sping of 1996. We praktized in grages and bassmunts and enywere else we coud until we got it rite. We sort of got it right by mid-spring and made our debut as a cover/bar band at the Irving Illinois Homecoming. We sounded ok. The mistakes were covered by our loudness so we thought we sucked good. We went along good for a while. Suffice it to say we improved and expanded our overall sound and musical horizons. We add a guy that has several gifts - among them are showmanship, natural improvisational skills and a knack for being in other places when physical labor is to be performed by the band. (Like when equipment is being loaded and unloaded etc.) In 2004, we are a very good cover/bar band that usually has lots of fun when we perform. Naturally - the larger the crowd, the more fun and interaction with the audience. We've averaged 100+ gigs per year since we started. Our performances are four hours in duration the majority of the time. Practice is sometimes fruitful, sometimes not. We continue to change our music selections for our audiences. We play multiple times for most of our clients during the year. The only request we will not honor is? Would you shut up and go home?? Now a little about our current players.
Lead guitar & harmonica playing vocalist has been playing music for over twenty eight years, cutting his guitar playing teeth on Lynyrd Skynyrd. Other major musical influences were the Eagles, Pure Prairie League and Hank Williams Sr. Larry doesn't know how old he is. He just knows that Eisenhower was president when he was born. He grew up in Walshville, Illinois and went to school in Litchfield most of the time. Larry and his wife Connie have three grown children-twin boys and a daughter. Larry works the afternoon shift at Sierra, Inc. in Litchfield so he doesn't have play on Friday nights! A couple more things about Larry: 1)Larry doesn't like handling the band equipment before and after a gig. And to prove it, he's almost always early getting to a gig to help unload and he does the majority of re-loading at the end of the night. Yay Larry! (Roadie extraordinaire) 2)As far as aspiring to be a star, Larry chooses to take the band thing one day at a time. If something better happens, great! Until then, the bars are stuck with us!
The twenty-nine year old Drummer/vocalist has been playing drums since he was ten. His style and skill make it sound like he's been playing much longer. Born in Hillsboro, he's married to Carrie and they have two girls in grade school. Shane is a self-taught drummer with a great musical ear and an inclination toward perfection. It seems to Shane that musically, things are NEVER just right. Shane is the only remaining original member of Midnight Madness. Several excellent, famous, drummers have had influence on his drumming, yet he's honed his skills to create a sound of his own. Shane likes several genres of music. Currently working in Lebanon, Illinois, when he's not at work or helping tend to the girls, he's working on or listening to music.
Bass Player/Vocalist Roy's description of his musical instrument is the Electric Mud Bass! He doesn't remember when he started playing music, but he knows it was about twenty six years ago. Roy's been hanging around the business for all his adult life. Nine bands have had the honor of Roy's presence over the years. Tired of runnin, Roy wants Midnight Madness to raise him the rest of the way. He is an accomplished bass player who enjoys a good mistake now and then so that he can experiment with his knack for improvising. Roy currently hails from Litchfield where he was born. He likes free booze and has watching TV & hanging drywall for his current trade. With a life style like that, how could he not be a great musician? Roy's had many musical influences and basically likes to play straight forward Rock-N-Roll. His favorite musical group is MIDNGHT MADNESS! My style is loud and obnoxious, but I hope people see that it's all based on having fun. Two of Roy's predominant pet peeves are 1) people who don't really know him who make assumptions about me based on the fact that I'm a Rock-N-Roll FREAK! and... 2) SUCKING on stage. . . no, I mean really sucking on stage!
Rhythm Guitar/Vocalist. Musically, Erron began to shine around the age of eleven. Born in Jerseyville during the great depression, Erron grew up in the Mt. Olive, Illinois area and has managed to stay in his early thirties to this day! Actually, he has been playing at this game for more than 25 years and has had experience with more bands (14) than any other member of the group. A drywall hanger/finisher by trade, Erron lives in Litchfield with Jennifer and the three girls. Mr. Rudolph likes classic ballads & Southern Rock most and had Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker as major musical influences while learning the business.
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