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Back to part one.
Having exhausted the musical resources of his workplace, Graham moved on to another job.
Around this time, Graham decided to make a video for the song "Office Boy," in cooperation with McCall Jones, a talented film-maker he met at his old job. Needing to fill the roles of drummer and bass player, Graham approached Shane Bishop (who had helped record "Greatest Hits Volume One" and screamed on the choruses of "Office Boy") and Andrew Martin (co-worker and veteran of the Portland, Oregon transplant "Chula"), respectively. They set about learning an air-band version of the song in time for the shooting of the video.
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| din reincarnated, 5/7/99 |
After shooting was completed, the trio decided to perform for real. Bishop, a Dirty Mind-era Prince fan and veteran of "Cotton Sandwich" (a Meters-inspired funk band), who was just looking for a funky good time, soon found himself spending countless hours in a non-ventilated garage studio playing punk rock - being forced, on occasion, to sing AC/DC and Black Sabbath covers. On May 7, 1999, they played their first show in that same stuffy garage studio.
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| din's westwood riot 5/28/99 |
Their next gig was outdoors, in Westwood Village, May 28. For this occasion, din added Joe Diaz on guitar and Katy Salvidge on fiddle and penny-whistle. The band closed the show with a cover of AC/DC's "Back in Black" with Shane on lead vocals. The show received rave reviews.
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In June, din played at Club Fais Do-Do, Mr. T's Bowl (where the first din demo was recorded) with Coz (the members of Bad Apple Pie) and the Old Towne Pub with The Willies. Billion Stars was also supposed to perform at Mr. T's, but half of them got lost on the way to the show.
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| din's "Wheaties pose," June '99 |
din at Mr. T's with Earl Williams and Joe Diaz (!)
Earl appeared later on "Irwindale Skyline." |
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| Winning hearts and minds, July '99 |
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| Advice to the lovelorn, August '99 |
On July 4, din performed (once again) on the beach in Playa del Rey, and began a residence at the Cinema Bar on the 8th. On the 16th, they played Canter's Kibbitz Room, but weren't offered a recording contract like Bob Dylan's son. (Graham would have his revenge!)
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| Cinema Bar, 7/8/99 |
In August, they played at The Joint, The Westwood Brewing Company, and The Cinema Bar. They played at the release party for the "Office Boy" video at 14 Below on August 25.
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| Onstage at 14 Below, 8/25/99 |
A drink with friends afterwards |
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| Graham & Wendy, 8/25/99 |
Graham & Heather, 8/25/99
They would later escape LA together. |
September was The Westwood Brewery, The Cinema Bar and The Joint.
In October, The Gig (Hollywood) and The Cinema Bar.
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| Look Sharp! October '99 |
In November, din played at The Irish Times (and drank a LOT of Guinness) and 14 Below. On November 17, the band played at Graham's college, with Joe Diaz's band "Drunk Drivers Against Mothers."
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| Cinema Bar, 10/21/99 |
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| Three Cheers, November '99 |
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| The prodigal student returns, 11/17/99 |
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Shortly thereafter, Shane decided to leave the band, eager to pursue fame as a video host on the cable video show "ROV" and as a field journalist for the Vans Warped tour. Graham and Andrew soldiered on, auditioning and practicing with a number of drummers. They also did a promotion of "Office Boy" to specialty radio shows and got some nationwide airplay. It began to seem, however, that things were stacked against them - Graham decided to flee Los Angeles, attempting to create the world's first transcontinental road trip, "Newfoundland or Bust!!!"
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| The Last Hurrah - goodbye LA! |
On May 25, 2000, din played it's last gig in Los Angeles in Graham's half-empty apartment with The Willies and Sexual Vietnam (an offshoot of Grievous Angels and MB3). Robby Fagelson, the new drummer, joined KNOWING the band would have only one show before disbanding. That must be some kind of record...
Graham spent the summer in New York. He didn't do much in music, other than smashing some twinkies for din's 30 Second Pitch on NOW (Network of the World, a British-based Multimedia broadcaster). I guess they liked that, and the "Office Boy" video, because din won!!!
Graham returned to California in November of 2000 and hunkered down at his brother's house east of Los Angeles to produce "Irwindale Skyline," din's newest recording. Now, relocated in San Francisco, Graham is seeking new band members and brighter opportunities.
Back to part one.
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