Date: Wed Feb 26, 2003 1:19 am It was Greg Luken and myself who formed Exodus. We enlisted Rick Chilton as bassest because I had known Rick since I was three and he and I played in another band for two years before I met Greg. Mostly original material. I found Jim one night at an EHS basketball game. Greg and I were in the bleachers about half way up and I heard this big rumbling sound from behind me. I looked back to see Jim behind what I thought was a massive chrome drum set. I was knocked out by his playing. I grabbed Greg and asked if he knew that guy. He said yes and I said, That is him. That's our drummer. I truly loved Jim from the moment I met him. I was playing a Beatles record in Greg's basement and Jim walked in from upstairs and said, "Cool! The Beatles!" I knew at that moment he was a kindred soul. I remember him laughing at me a lot because I couldn't keep time to save my life. The two years I was with the band were two of the most wonderful years of my life in High School. I still regret leaving the band. I did so not because I tired of the band but of the pressure I was receiving from my parents, they thought it was "The Devil's work," and from the pressure my new girlfriend was putting on me. I really didn't want to quit but I was working 50 + hours a week for my dad and going to school full time. There wasn't much room in my emotional self to handle it all. I tried to regroup a few years later but they had decided not to have a lead singer anymore. Hunter and Jim will always be brothers to me. As well will Greg. We might not all see eye to eye on every subject but we really had a musical connection. To this day I feel Jim is one of the very best drummers I ever had the pleasure to work with. I recently played with Greg Luken in Nashville with a group of musicians he has worked with over the years. Todd Scholar was on piano/Synth and the other musicians were simply fantastic. We had a good time. I still forgot some of the words to the songs. Jim and Hunter should get a kick out of that one. The reason we chose Exodus was that it meant a coming out of. The leaving behind of the old for the new. You may remember there were times when we all wore somewhat strange cloths to school. It was a band thing. There are three times that really stand out in my mind concerning Exodus. When we played the talent show in our Sophomore year, the night we played the Boys Ranch and the last talent show I did with Exodus. We played a song Greg and I had written called, You Gotta Be Prep. Hunter ran in front of the drums and ripped up the Izod sign we had in front of Jim's drums. I thought that was so cool! Hunter was a much better bass player than I could have ever hopped to be. I thought he did a great job when he took over my place in the band. I also thought they did a great job with Hottest I've Ever Been In that show our Senior year. I was envious. That is the skinny of that band up to that point. I loved watching The Risk on several occasions. I really planned to make it back then. I guess life has it's own plans sometimes. Shayne
Last updated 25-AUG-2004 08:10