Bernard Fowler’s talents as a singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist have resonated through the span of his extraordinary career in the music industry. He has appeared on over 30 albums, most recently focusing his artistic energy onto his first solo project, Friends with Privileges. This critically acclaimed effort draws from his diverse influences, and exercises his wide-ranging, powerful vocals while coupling his unique brand of rock with stylish grooves.
Stevie Salas – Although his name isn't as instantly recognizable as Steve Vai or Joe Satriani amongst the guitar masses, Stevie Salas is just as renowned as the aforementioned guitarists in other parts of the world (namely Japan), while he has also served as a sideman for the likes of Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger. A Native American, Salas was raised in San Diego, California, where he learned guitar and absorbed a wide variety of musical influences early on – everyone from Earth, Wind & Fire to Van Halen and Led Zeppelin.
Mission Viejo-native Jara Harris is the founder, leader and heartbeat of Slapbak. A child prodigy, he started out bashin' drums at the tender age of four in the family's J Harris Band. From there, young Jara systematically began learning keyboards, guitar and his primary instrument, BASS, inspired by the greats (Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins and Louis Johnson). This enabled him to also write and record the plethora of song ideas that filled his head.
Dave Abbruzzese grew up in Texas banging on his dad's tackle boxes in the early days. He formed a band with his buddies called Dr. Tongue. In 1991 Dave got a call from drummer friend Matt Chamberlain, whom Dave knew through the Texas music scene, in regards to filling in for him in the band Pearl Jam when he left. Chamberlain had his eyes set on G.E. Smith's band on Saturday Night Live. Dave left for Seattle to meet and become acquainted with Pearl Jam. Although his musical tastes were far diverse from Pearl Jam, Dave chose to fill the hot seat behind a DW drum kit on August 23, 1991.
