the band - bandbios

Engine14 goes back to December 2002 when four DC-area work buddies---Rob (drums), Jeff (lead and rhythm guitars), Jerry (bass), and Dave (lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar)---formed the band. Job reassignments in 2003 and 2004 took away Jerry and Dave, but in early 2005, Jeff and Rob found Stan to play bass, and Patrick for lead vocals and rhythm guitar, bringing Engine14 back again to a solid, capable lineup. The new foursome played their first gig in June 2005 and went on to perform a dozen more times over the next year. In July 2006, job reassignments yet again reached in and pulled away Stan "The Man", a big loss, but we were able to snag Gary, a bass player who also plays for a DC-area bluegrass band, Dirty River. After a great year with E14, Gary moved on, and in stepped John to cover bass. *Bios for the guys (in photo above, L to R: Rob, Patrick, Jeff, John)* Jeff Lead guitar and vocals jeff@engine14.com Jeff is the leader of the band, not the least reason for which is that we practice in his basement! The band takes its name from Jeff's experience as a volunteer firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, and Assistant Chief with Company 14 (Burke) of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Fire and Rescue Department. He joined the Department in 1973, at the age of 16, and remained an active member until a job transfer in 1999 took him to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jeff remains a Life Member of the Department. Jeff first learned to play guitar in Geneva, Switzerland, where he received his preparatory education at the International School. After acquiring his first electric guitar, a used sparkle-green solid-body Framus, Jeff played from time to time with other aspiring would-be rock stars at school, performing occasionally when opportunities arose. His primary guitar influence during that formative period was Alvin Lee of Ten Years After, a band he saw perform live several times. Upon returning to the United States in the early 70s, Jeff bought his first professional quality instruments, a 1974 Fender Tele Deluxe guitar and a Ampeg VT-22 amplifier, of the type favored at the time by the Rolling Stones. At the College of William and Mary, he formed a band, Spellbound, with some fellow undergraduates, playing Top 40 material full-time with them during summer vacation at bars, hotel lounges, restaurants, and NCO Clubs on military bases. Then came law school at the American University, followed by full-time employment, and job transfers to Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, and back to D.C. Jeff's recreational pursuits include riding his BMW K1200RS motorcycle. He speaks fluent French. Jeff's stage equipment includes several guitars--Gibson ES-335, Fender Strat Ultra, Ovation Legend 12-string, Martin OMC-Aura, custom Emerald X5 Life travel guitar with color-changing chameleon paint finish--a Mesa-Boogie Mark IV amplifier with two Mesa speaker cabinets, Boss GT-6 floor effects unit, Klotz cables, and a Electro-Voice N/D767a vocal mic.
Rob Drums and vocals rob@engine14.com Rob keeps us on beat with his Slingerland acoustic drum set. Rob has thoroughly enjoyed music as an outlet, and particularly the friendships he's developed with musicians over the years. During college days at Millersville University (MU), Rob played in the MU Jazz band. He had some great drumming teachers, including time spent with Tony DeNicola, former drummer for legendary big band leader Harry James. In addition to DeNicola, Rob's list of favorite drummers include Buddy Rich, Gene Kupra, Peter Erskine, former drummer for Maynard Ferguson; Jim Chapin, author of the book Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer; and former Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine. In recent years, Rob's played many gigs including ones at The Pub at Brothers Encore in Montclair, VA, and the Hard Rock Café in Washington D.C. Rob also recalls the memorable experience of participating (along with Jeff) with local musicians in an informal jam session with Bill Kirchen at a private party held in Maryland. [Grammy-nominated guitarist Kirchen was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame along with Dave Grohl(Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and John Phillip Sousa in 2002. He is the former lead guitarist and a vocalist for Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen.]
Patrick Lead vocals and rhythm guitar patrick@engine14.com Patrick takes the lead on vocals and also plays rhythm guitar on a Taylor 510CE short-scale acoustic guitar, through a Marshall amplifier. Patrick is the newest band member, in fact, this is his first experience in a R&R band. He grew up, however, in a musically inclined, military, and LARGE (7 kids) family. On that note, you might say Engine14 is actually the second band Patrick's played in...his first dip into R&R music was around age 12, circa 1974, playing a beat up old snare drum and single cymbal along with his two older brothers as they wailed through Dylan, Stones, Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc., on guitar and piano. Those "bedroom band" sessions did a lot to establish his preferences for late 60s/early 70s hits and to safely insulate those preferences from the disco era that soon followed! Patrick first performed publicly as a member of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) Glee Club, from 1980 to 1984. He then served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1984 to 1990, completing his service as a captain with a one-year assignment in South Korea. He spent two years at a consulting firm before getting a Finance MBA from The Wharton School. Patrick now works as a finance director in a DC-area company. Engine14 fills the time he has left between work, spending time with wife and 6-year old twins, trips to Lowes and Home Depot in support of the next home improvement project, and watching favorite TV shows (#1: The Simpsons!). All time music group: BEATLES without question....but then again, there's The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, CSN&Y, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Police, U2, Pearl Jam, STP....
John Bass guitar and vocals john@engine14.com John (bass guitar, backup vocals) has a wide range of musical influences that comes from a melting pot of 60’s & 70’s classic rock bands along with country, folk, bluegrass, swing and blues music. He’s played in bands since junior high school, and still gets together with some of the same guys he played music with in high school over 30 years ago. Initially a guitarist in his musical journey, his 70’s Martin D-28 is still his favorite guitar to play. Thru years of playing various instruments he found his calling as a bassist. Along with playing electric bass, he also plays upright bass with a local acoustic trio act. His appreciation for music knows no musical boundaries, and enjoys the opportunity to hold down the bottom end for Engine14. John plays Precision basses driven by Ampeg amps when playing with Engine14 for that traditional classic rock sound.