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SAHARRA
Melodic, progressive rock band
In
March of 1991, Nick Proscia, former member of Prophecy (dream 28) was
looking to get into a serious project. A friend and also former member
of Prophecy (dream 28), Dave Thomas, was jamming with drummer Dean
Volaro. Nick gets a call to jam with them. Subsequently, Dave, Dean and
Nick answer an ad for a guitar player, and Chris Rifkin, a former
student of John Petrucci from Dream Theater, answers the call. Dave and
Nick bring in some old Prophecy tunes and Chris reveals some of his own
material, and all are amazed they have similar music interests. Two
sessions later, the band begins working on original music, combining
their consistent musical styles. Then the next issue arises: they need a
singer. In between the search for a vocalist, they prepare to record
without a singer, but soon enough, a month into the recording process,
Nick gets in touch with an old friend to record a 4-song demo and meets
Jeff Kimpland. Jeff is a serious vocalist who had recently moved to Long
Island to persue his singing career. Consequently, Jeff comes down to
the studio and records vocals with the band for a four-song demo, which
includes the songs "Hands Across The Void", "Circles", "Fading Away" and
"Piracy".
Ironically, after all the hard work, this first demo (1991) of the band
is never released. The still unnamed band decides the next step is to
set up local gigs and conjure up a band name. One of the live rehearsals
tapes gets into the hands of a friend of Rifkins, and mysteriously ends
up being forwarded to MCA Records under the inventive name of "Saharra".
Incidentally, MCA has some interest, and word gets to the band that they
want a real recording with a singer. The band is officially christened "Saharra"!
And the band officially welcomes vocalist Jeff Kimpland into the fold
with a tape and lyrics and the command, "Give it a shot!"
Before the first official Saharra show and recording, Dave Thomas leaves
the project to persue other interests. Nick's childhood friend, Dan
Weiner, is a bass player and quickly fills the slot. The band begins
playing at the local clubs and then drummer Dean Volaro leaves the
project, which requires the band to begin drummer auditions, and halts
the band from capitalizing on it's previously established momentum.
Enter drummer Jeff Stemok. Nick gives him a tape and says "don't play
what is on the tape, play what you feel!" Jeff does just that and with
his double bass drumming abilities and progressive edge, completes the
Saharra line-up, and in November of 1991, Jeff Stelmok plays his first
show with them at infamous local Long Island rock club, Sparks. With all
the new songs they perform, Nick wishes they had recorded the new tunes
before the live performances.
With
this in mind, Saharra began working on their next recording,"Times
Forgotten Sands". As things progress, bassist Dan Weiner leaves the band
and reknowned Long Island bassist Mike Pusculli fills in on the
recording until they find a permanent bass player. They re-record "Hands
Across The Void" and "Circles" and determine that they need a new ballad.
There is a song possibility with "Morning Rain", but it is not enough,
so Nick writes "Stay". At this point the demo of "Times Forgotten Sands"
is being recorded by Will Angeloro, an old friend of Kimplands. Alas,
another personnel change is in the making as Chris Rifkin leaves the
band (and will move into solo projects, F5 and Eye Of The Storm,
featuring, ironically enough, Jeff Kimpland vocals.) Chris' replacement,
Eric Zimmerman steps in as a replacement through the recording of "Times
Forgotten Sands", with some help from Joe Marselle from Inner Strength.
So
begins the agonizing search for a new guitarist and permanent bass
player. A local bass player named Eddy Kernz comes for an audition, and
becomes part of Saharra. After about 28 guitar player auditions - who
play everything from Olivia Newton John to the scariest back metal, they
are ready to give up until a soft-spoken guitar player named Dennis
Fermin comes down to jam. It seems Dennis is their missing link, and
apparently, the final line-up is complete! Once again they give Eddy and
Dennis the previous material and direct them to just play what they feel.
At this point Saharra has the largest following of an unsigned band in
the area (Long Island, NY, the early 90's).
By
August of 1992, Saharra hits the live circuit with their latest and
greatest line up. They are tight, versatile, and at the top of their
game. Gigs include an infamous stint at a cafe/club called The Jukebox,
which just happens to be owned by the 1 rock station in New York. The
talent brimming in the band packs stages wherever they play, but at this
gig, a local talent show, brings an A&R representative from Capital
Records to showcase the winner. Take a guess who the winner is? That's
right, Saharra. So, Capital Records has their "Times Forgotten Sands"
press kit and demo, but they want more. New material. Arriving at the
same time is an invite to open for progressive metal legends (and fellow
Long Island musicians) Dream Theater at Sparks on the "Imags and Words"
tour. The honor is an obvious highlight in the history of Saharra.
Eventually, the band begins to record new material, 3 songs in
particular - "The Storm", Where Do We Go From Here" and "Words Of
Silence". Satisfied with three songs and with a number of other songs in
the pipeline, Saharra decide to go back to the studio. Justin, bassist
of fellow Long Island circuit band, Inner Strength, records them at
local studio hot spot, Legend studios. But... tensions are high as the
music direction is changing, and personalities are not in agreement with
the changes afloat. Eventually, it will come to pass that Jeff the
drummer and bassist Eddy have too many conflicts to resolve, so Eddy
leaves. At the same time, vocalist Jeff decides to persue other musical
avenues (and he also has tension with Jeff the drummer) and he leaves.
Drummer Jeff, guitarist Dennis and keyboardist Nick decide to look for a
new singer and begin anew. But time is short, Capital Records is
knocking and the band is literally falling apart. Deciding he doesn't
enjoy the pressure-filled situation, Dennis quits. This leaves just a
drummer and keyboardist as the band (Jeff and Nick, respectively). The
entire band completely implodes shortly after. Sadly, the last time they
play together is at a reunion before Nick moves in July of 1994.
Now,
20 years later, a record company has re-issued Saharra's "Times
Forgetton Sands" album and this has brought back some nostalgia and
interest to the band, and the fans. We are all back in touch with one
another and have worked out the differences which we may have had years
ago. We "will" be back with new recordings and we would love to tour one
day again. Please request us to tour to your area. Thanks for keeping us
alive. We love ya!
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