FAMILY:
Wife- Joanna
Daughters- Veronica, Josephine

QUOTE:
WWBD? (What would Blutarsky do?)

MUSIC HISTORY:
Eric’s start in music begins with his father Larry Leafblad. Larry has been the lead singer and saxophone player for the Rock and Roll band the “Scotch Lads” since the early 60’s. In fact, Larry met his wife (Eric’s mother) Diane at a Lads show. The Lads are a fixture on the music scene of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Throughout Eric’s early years, the Lads performed regularly at such venues as the Abby and the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Eric’s first band was named “King Sweno and The Norwegians” (After a character from Mac Beth). After the Norwegians, Eric moved on to form an original music band with a college friend, Andres Hernandez. Over eight years, the group went through various name changes, bass players (12 in all) and featured Eric’s wife Joanna on keyboards and vocals.

INFLUENCES:
Larry Leafblad, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Pete Townsend, Steve Cropper, John Hiatt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Clayton Thomas and John Belushi.

FAVORITE MUSICAL PERFORMERS:
The Scotch Lads, Elvis, Johnny Cash, John Hiatt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Who, Lyle Lovett, Jimi Hendrix, The Clash, AC/DC, Allison Krause and Union Station, The Police, Howling Wolf, Freddie King and The Sex Pistols.

GEAR:
Electric Guitars: 1957 Reissue Fender Stratocaster, 1972 Reissue Fender Telecaster Custom, Gibson Les Paul.

Acoustic Guitars: Martin HD28 with a Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural II pick-up, Seagull S+6 CW with a LR Baggs LB6 pick-up, a Takamine EG141C and a EKO Ranger VI acoustic/electric.

Amplifiers: A 1971 Fender Super Reverb and a 1973 Fender Twin Reverb.

Acoustic Pre-Amps: Fishman Aura, Sans Amp Acoustic and Aphex Acoustic Xciter.

Effects: BOSS GT-8, Vox wah pedal, Ibanez Stereo Chorus pedal, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, Bixonic XPandora, Marshall Bluesbreaker, Morley A/B box, Ernie Ball volume pedal and SKB pedal board.

JENNY CHRISTOFORAKIS

NICKNAME:
J-Rock, Rockus, "Kris-toh-for-ROCK'-kiss!"

VOCAL INFLUENCES:
Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Pat Benetar, Melissa Etheridge, John Fogerty, Chris Cornell

DRUM INFLUENCES:
Stewart Copeland, Martin Chambers, Kelly Keagy, Chad Smith, Drum and Bugle Corps competitions, John Kidis- for teaching her how to play.

FAVORITE BANDS/SINGERS:
Fleetwood Mac, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, The Police, The Pretenders, Melissa Etheridge, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, CCR, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Dave Matthews Band, Dixie Chicks, Gladys Knight.

STARTED PLAYING DRUMS:
When she was 8 years old, she made her very first drum set out of TV tray racks and pie tins, using the cardboard tubes from hangers as sticks. After listening to that hullabaloo, Santa Claus brought her a shiny new Mickey Mouse drum set and Uncle John taught her how to play her first song, “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by The Hollies.

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PRESENT:
Mickey Mouse drum set and a case of Doritos

FAVORITE SONG TO PLAY LIVE:
Bobby McGee

CONFESSION:
She likes to break out into her “Ethel Merman” voice occasionally

CUBS OR SOX:
CUBS FOREVER!!! Win or lose!

NICKNAME:
Professor

FAVORITE GUITARISTS:
Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana

STARTED PLAYING GUITAR:
Mark started playing guitar in college when he used to watch his brother-in-law’s rock band, Halifax, practice and perform. He bought a guitar in 1983 and taught himself to play by copying what he heard other people playing and what he heard on the radio.

FIRST GIG:
In 1984, shortly after the breakup of his brother-in-law’s band, that band was invited to return to St. Wenceslaus School in Chicago to play an end-of-the-year party. Mark convinced two members of Halifax to reunite with one of their former drummers to perform at the party. They agreed, and in June of 1984 Mark made his debut appearance as a rhythm guitar player in a rock band.

AND THE REST IS HISTORY:
Mark played one more party with Halifax in the summer of 1984 and that was it for the band. Mark continued to pick up and play his guitar over the next couple years, playing along with the radio, or CDs, and occasionally met with some friends for some “jam sessions” whenever he could.

As he got more involved with his education, family and profession, he played guitar less and less. Mark met Eric in 1995 and the two talked about how cool it would be to start an “Office” band. But for then, it was just talk.

That all changed in 1997 when Johnny Justice & the Southside Railroad was formed. Originally a rhythm guitar player, Mark took over lead guitar duties with the departure of one of the original band members later that same year.

FAVORITE SONG TO PLAY LIVE:
25 or 6 to 4. “That song just kicks ass and we do this breakdown in the middle where we throw in part of Green Day’s Brain Stew.”

GEAR:
The Axes - Mark plays a 2002 Paul Reed Smith CE24 (Cherry Sunburst) with stock PRS pickups, a 1982 American-made Fender Stratocaster (off-white) with a Seymour Duncan JB model humbucker in the bridge position, and a 1999 Epiphone Les Paul (Black Flame) with custom OBL pickups. Mark uses Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings on of all his guitars.

The Amp - Mark's guitars are played through a Music Man 212 amplifier (2 channels - 65 watts).

The Effects - To achieve maximum sound versatility, Mark uses the Boss GT-8 guitar effects processor with a Danelectro talk-box. 

CUBS OR SOX:
“I’m a huge hockey fan, but give me the Cubs all the way.”

FAMILY:
Wife- Katie

MUSICAL HISTORY:
Scott started playing music in 1981 in the St. Symphorosa grade school concert band. When Scott first showed an interest in music, he told his dad that he wanted to play drums, at which point, his dad promptly bought him a clarinet. Despite playing the emasculating clarinet for three years, Scott survived grade school and proceeded to the Brother Rice High School band program. During his years at Brother Rice, Scott learned to play the saxophone, which he played in jazz band. He also played drums in the Brother Rice Marching Crusader Band. During his years at Brother Rice, Scott had the opportunity to play in concerts and in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Scott’s musical career next took him to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Scott played the clarinet and bass clarinet in Symphonic Band. One of his most fulfilling experiences up until that point, however, was being a member of the Marching Illini where he played tenor saxophone and was a section leader. During that time, Scott played at the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Florida, the John Hancock-Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, and the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California.

After college, Scott’s musical career took a temporary hiatus until 1997 when he was asked to join the ranks of Johnny Justice and the Southside Railroad as a saxophonist by his colleagues at work. Since that time, Scott has continued to play saxophone with the band but has also emerged as one of the band’s lead singers.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES:
Chicago, Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M., Matthew Sweet, the Beatles, Brian Setzer

GEAR:
Yamaha YTS52 Tenor Saxophone 1990
Otto Link Super Tone Master Metal Mouthpiece, Facing---(8)
Van Doren “Java” Tenor Saxophone Reeds, Strength--- (3)

CUBS OR SOX:
Definitely Sox, but Scott doesn’t hate the Cubs unless they’re playing the Sox.

NICKNAME:
Kevone, Stony, Harpo, Peeno, Peewee

INFLUENCES:
Mel Schacher-Grand Funk, Chuck Panozzo-Styx, Darryl Jones-Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Danny Chitla-Clone, Jay Baker-Landslide, Hank Perillo, and Tony Wilson.

FAVORITE BANDS:
Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, Grand Funk, Doobies, Scorpions, Rascals, Buckinghams, Cactus, Styx (old), and Landslide.

MUSICAL BACKGROUND:
Kevin’s Father and mother were musically inclined. His father had an orchestra and his mother was a drum majorette with the Chicago Bears marching band. His father directed church choir in which Kevin sang. Kevin took his first guitar lesson from a nun at school in the fifth grade. In high school, he played guitar in several bands then started running light shows for dances and bands.

Kevin has worn numerous hats in the world of live music. Kevin has worked with such national bands as: Edgar Winter, Robin Trower, Trillion, Leon Russell, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Ronnie Montrose, Off Broadway, Ides of March and Doc Severson. He has worked with such local bands such as: Landslide, The Griff Band, Tough Love, Bitch, Teaser, Clone, Jet, Pappa St. John, Rocky Kracker and Stevie Starlite. Kevin has worked with such music companies as: Sopro Inc., Loud Soundz, JC Audio and KC Audio.

FAVORITE SONGS:
Weasels Blues, Tie Your Mother Down, Let it Be, Gimme Back My Wig

FAVORITE SONG TO PLAY LIVE:
Gimme Back My Wig

LEAST FAVORITE REQUEST:
“I need more of me in my monitor!”

BEST SHOW:
Junk Yard Dog 2000

QUOTE ABOUT THE BAND:
“I love them all! I have taught, and I have learned.”

THANKS:
First to Danny Chitla and Jay Baker (R.I.P.) “Those two guys were bass gods in my eyes. They encouraged me to see the light and switch from guitar to the bass.” Patrick Gareis, “If he did not give up his spot for me, I would not be in Johnny Justice.” Jenny “is a great encouragement and frustration. It’s the duality that makes her beautiful!” Eric “He keeps the devil in me.” Mark “He finds the deep humor.” Scott “He keeps me in mind of the details.” Tom “He’s just warm and Fozzy.”

PHILOSOPHY:
"Let it be and don’t let that special one get away. Find the groove."

 TOM DARMAN

FAMILY:
Wife- Marla
Daughter- Lily

NICKNAME:
FozzyD, Buck (if you can go that far back)

INFLUENCES:
Shiny objects, bits of string, anything with bright colors

FAVORITE BANDS/MUSICIANS:
Elton John, The Police, Styx, Tears For Fears, Elvis Costello, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Paul McCartney, Spyrogyra, Fatburger, Squeeze, Yes, Duran Duran, Jen, Scott, Eric, Mark and Kevin, The Wiggles

WHAT HAPPENED:
Well, Tom found a piano when he was 10 years old when Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John was all the rage. Nothing stopped Tom from playing his favorite song, even the sounds coming from the piano. Tom's parents, continually subjected to this aural assault, gently suggested lessons. Several years later, Tom and some high school buddies formed a band they called Headwind. Headwind played a few gigs covering such favorites as Freebird, Macho Man, Don't Stop Believing and several others.

Thereafter, Tom left Headwind and went to college and the future seemed bright. Several years later, Tom joined JJSSR and has been since waiting to quit his day job. The band told him that if he joined he'd be famous and rich beyond his wildest dreams. Tom's finally getting the idea that maybe......they lied.

GEAR:
Alesis QS-8, Roland XP-10, Roland KC-500, Moraccas, The Emasculators, Hammond XK-3

FAVORITE SONG TO PLAY LIVE:
25 or 6 to 4 because they finally let him sing