The Band
Emily – Lead Vocals
Hey Hey! Welcome to the best section of the website … AKA Emily’s bio. Joking! Or am I???
Anyways, it turns out hanging around with my parents and listening to music after all these years has finally paid off. I’m now the lead singer of a 70’s, 80’s and 90’s tribute band singing songs that I’ve been listening to forever.
How many mid 20-year-olds can say that? I discovered my vocal abilities while still living in Northern Virginia. Inspirations such as Joan Jett and Pat Benatar began to take over and that’s when I knew Rock and Roll was going to become “my thing”. Ever since then, the desire and curiosity of being the front woman for a band has only gotten bigger. I cannot wait to share the stage with these 4 amazing musicians, while we take our audience on a long stroll down memory lane. So, get ready to dance, sing, and immerse yourself in these exciting decades!
Memphis – Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
I have been on stages, and in recording studios all around the U.S. for 25 years. Originally from the South Side of Chicago, I cut my teeth in the mosh pits of punk rock shows and gigging with local bands until I earned my place in the industry as the front man of recording/touring artists Dear Noel, and The Prowl.
For a solid decade I lived in the band van as the designated night driver trailblazing the lower 48 with other bands in the Warped Tour universe, while also writing, recording, and producing other artists.
In my early 30’s I made a pit stop in Indianapolis to lend my coaching and teaching talents to forge new, upcoming bands in what is now called the Rock Garage School of Music. Simultaneously, I was entertaining audiences as the guitarist of 70’s and 80’s hard rock/metal cover group Mammoth Tooth, and the bass player for Top 40’s rock cover band Pom Teddy.
Now calling Central Florida home, you can find me in many facets of the music scene, but looking forward to banging my head with the rest of the beer guzzling rock lovers at the next 789’s show!
John – Lead Guitar and Vocals
30+ years string-bending. Ibanez handler. Beatles worshiper. Owner of a rubber soul and green moments. Metal aficionado. Rock & Roll …
“Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard
Terry’s – Drums and Backing Vocals
Born, raised, and lived most of my life in Chicago. Started my drumming career as a school band geek in 4th grade. Kiss and Peter Criss were the original reason I chose this path (yeah, I’m that old too). Clive Burr, Phil Rudd, John Bonham and Mickey Dee are the reason I sound the way I do. Don’t let the genre of those influences fool ya though, I’m a huge fan of all types of music from all decades. Through high school I was in marching band, drumline, symphonic band, jazz band, etc… This was also the time I started in my first gigging bands. I cut my teeth in multiple cover bands and moved into original bands before I turned 21. Over the next several years I played extensively throughout the upper Midwest. My happy place is in the pocket of a solid blues/rock groove and saving the flashy fancy stuff for the end of the song. Eventually, I grew excruciatingly tired of shoveling snow and freezing to death for half the year so I moved to Orlando 7 years ago and haven’t regretted it for a second. Looking forward to cutting it up with The 789s playing a lot of my favorite tunes from the best decades of tunes. I also enjoy long walks on the beach, horseback riding, and hot cocoa by the fireplace. No wait, scratch that, make that Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. Yeahhh, that’s better…
Nick – Bass & Backing Vocals
I grew up on Long Island, NY and started playing guitar after hearing Motley Crue’s Too Fast For Love album over a friends house. I went home, threw out all my rap cassettes (yes, I’m that old) and bought an Ibanez that looked like Mick Mars Gibson. After taking guitar lessons for years (and not getting much better) a very wise guitar teacher in the studio I was going to told me “Yeah. You’d be better with 4 strings not 6.” Thanks, John Petrucci, for the advice! I switched to bass and I’ve loved it ever since.
While I love Dream Theater I’m equally into Led Zepplin, The Police and Blink 182. At the end of the day my though heart beats 80s rock and always will. I’ve sang both lead and backup vocals as well as having played rhythm and bass guitar in both original and cover bands all over New York. I’m insanely excited about The 789s and can’t wait for you all to see us live!