Day one for me on planet earth began in Chicago.
I hung out in blues/rock/jazz clubs and soaked up all the amazing live music in the blue city. I was a regular at the mines when the mines was still “The Mines”. I believe I was sneaking into that institution of Chicago Blues since I was 15.
After putting together a very popular band in Chicago I moved to NY and met Gene Simmons. He flew me out to L.A. and tried to place me in a band on his label. It wasn't the right fit so in turn I ended up doing demos for Gene and through that process I fell into a band on Arista records. Our A&R guy was Randy Gerston. It was a very fun project and in a way rock and roll college. It involved some of the best and most successful songwriters in the industry. I learned so much from that experience.
That's when I set up shop here in Los Angeles..
I went native and scored a couple of Hollywood movies. My partner on those classics was none other than Tyler Bates. Man did he get the bug! If you don't recognize the name he went on to score movies such as 300, Watchmen, Suckerpunch, Conan, and many many more. He is still one of my dearest freinds to this day.
After that I put together my band DRAGON. A power trio dipped in loud blues and washed off with 70‘s rock. If you like your guitar and voice steeped in whiskey while you ponder the world you were a fan. Toured and released an amazing indie album.
Put together my band ADRIAN. My namesake band was something I needed to do to leave the conformity of the DRAGON sound I created. As you reflect more you look for more ways to express yourself. Toured and released another amazing indie album.
Then came the residency @ the CAT CLUB on the Sunset strip. It lasted from around 2001 to 2011. Two nights a week playing with L.A.’s most adventurous live musicians (not to mention my double duty occasionally with my old friend and Sunset Strip legend Happnenin' Harry).
During my time at the Cat Club I started my band JAY. JAY allows me to express music that’s from a different side of my brain. I always had my guitar as my guiding light but in JAY it’s only my heart. I write freely and with melody and purpose as my moving chain. Music moves soul.
Through the odd serendipitous chance of meeting one of the greatest star makers of all time, JAY BERNSTEIN (RIP), and with his help, I became an actor too.