My whole life I always played a musical instrument. I moved to New Hampshire for 11 months and became serious about lessons and getting better. I always dreamed of being in a band, but never thought it would become a reality until I was out of school and had time to post a "MUSICIAN'S WANTED" add at the local music store. When I moved back to Indiana after the 11 months in NH, I decided to continuing focusing on music. I tried to start a band on many occasions, but there just wasn't anyone that I could find as dedicated to music as I was, or at least that I knew of. Anyway, before the school year leading to this past summer was over, Nathaniel Lien (vocals for II DEEP) knew I was a drummer, and asked me to audition for his band, as there previous drummer quit. I had heard that this band was actually a "real" band and not just thought out plan on who would play what instrument. They actually had instruments and new how to play like I did. I jumped at the oportunity. Well, long story short, I didn't make the band as the drummer. I was trying to make everything into a solo, and speed everything up, than playing what should have been played.

I was mad for a while until it occured to me that I was pretty good at bass, and they didn't have a bassist. Well long story short, I got the "job" as the bassist. Right when I joined the band, WHAT NEXT (a previous local band) was pretty big around town, and inspired myself, and my bandmates that if they could actually get their music heard by people in town and play shows, then we could too. We worked hard this past summer on coming up with cover songs to play, and our own songs. Each month we had at least one important show that we spent weeks to get ready for. One thing that I always prepared myself for was the chance that the following should could be the last show. We have always had drummer and rythm guitarist problems. Peter Michael was the rythym guitarist when I joined the band. That lasted for a few months. Then came Rudger Bollman. That lasted for a while. Then finally Nick Archer, who seems to be getting along with all of us the best out of the three. So that solved our guitarist problem, but we still had and have a constant drummer problem.

Dustin Weddle. He was in the band when I joined, but he is known to quit, or be kicked out. We always seem to ask him to play shows with us, as it is easiest since he knows all of our songs, but he doesn't get along with any of us as well as we should be. Luckilly Nathaniel Lien (vocalist) is a talented drummer, and can play and sing back up vocals while Nick Archer (rythym guitarist) sings lead. It all seems so amazing to me, that earlier in the year, this is what I dreamed of. I never thought that I would actually be in a band that actually was known around town, and could play shows.. I guess we all have What Next to thank for that for in a way opening the doors to Greencastle bands, or more fair, we could have the Ides of March concert to thank. Not that we started because of them, but because they were the first to get known. Ever since Ides of March, there have been tons of local bands. And not just "garage bands" that just play in a garage all day and never really do anything other than practice, but "real" bands. We also don't claim to be punk contrary to what some believe. We don't like to catagorize ourselves in a specific genre, because there is always someone who will disagree. We play a mixture of genres. But it's not about that to us, it's about the fun of being in a band. And to everyone who is out there wanting to start a band, don't give up, because it IS possible. The bands that played at Ides of March were all an inspiration to me, and I'm hoping that someday we might be an inspiration to someone. But for now I am bored and tired. So there you have it, the history or should I say "meaning" of II DEEP to me.