Tim - Guitarist/Vocals

  Tim here, I started playing when I was eighteen or nineteen. I focused on the typical rock stuff; Beatles, Led Zep etc... I first met Tracy in the early 90's as his bass tech/roadie on the last half of the Coverdale/Page tour. On the dates in California, Tracy and I were taking a cab to a strip club when we met Darren, who was driving a cab in between session work to supplement his income. After a long drawn out ten minute conversation; we thought… "Hey, we should start a band one day when we get a chance… (and sober up)" So... about twelve years and thirteen trips to rehab (amongst us all) later, it finally happened and we put together the "SMOKIN'JOE" band; with the help of Butch who was essential to the band because he had a really nice P.A.!!!

Darren - Drummer

  Started playing at the age of five and from that point on, I was involved in school bands all the way through High School. At the age of twelve, I played in my first rock band. Throughout middle school and high school I played in several bands with a variety of music; including blues, jazz and rock. I started playing the club scene at seventeen; I guess nobody questioned my age back then. At the time, (lucky me) must have looked older for my age. I’ve been in a lot of groups throughout the years and had the opportunity to experience traveling along the east coast. In recent years, I’ve done a lot of session/studio work with various artists in northern Virginia, New York and Los Angeles. To name some of my influences, I’d like to mention Tony Williams and Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Buddy Rich, Neal Peart, John Bonham, Bobby Caldwell, Carl Palmer, Keith Moon and Bill Bruford. This is my basic overview, hope you enjoy the music!

Thanks,
Darren

Butch - Guitarist/Vocals

  I was born in 1952 as a toothless, bald, redneck, cracker, white boy with an early interest in music. After breaking my father's Gibson acoustic guitar on the back porch steps in my pre-school years, it was difficult to get my parents to buy me another instrument. However, in my mid-teenage years, my father relented one Christmas and purchased for me a drug store special with frets painted on the neck. For my next Christmas, I was able to convince my father I should have something a little nicer and received a $150 electric guitar and amp package. As time went on and my father realized I had the music disease, I acquired through his good graces some very good equipment; and from then on I’ve been playing music. Early in my second marriage, when my new wife convinced me that all I needed was her, I sold all of my equipment. But I just couldn't stay away from the music. I had "da bug." As for now, the second wife is gone, ran off to greener pastures, but.........."da bug" is still around. Outlasted that old bitch, I mean, wonderful relationship. So now I'm in this band called "Smokin' Joe." It's a new experience for me since it's the first band in which I've played and actually gotten paid for doing so.

Tracy - Bassist/Backup Vocals

  Began my musical studies at age 4. My parents insisted that I take violin lessons. From that point on I realized I loved the string section of any outstanding orchestra. Graduated with honors from Juliard in 1987. Studied under the distinguished Jean Luc'Ponty. After exhausting his theories. I went on play with countless ensembles, from England to the far east. That was where I had met Jimmy Page who was in India doing research on what, I haven't a clue!! Which found me at the peak of my upright bass interest. That is the reason I took the duties of bass guitar on Jimmy's musical whim of that time. The coverdale Page thing. The financial rewards , I must say were the real attraction for me at that time. Anyway's, that journey has led me to these gentleman and I use that word loosely indeed! They all seem to have some musical ability. But, not of my caliber, we seem to get on without much irratability. Thank goodness! For some unknown reason the patrons really seem to like these guys. So, here we are ....enjoy it whilst you can.