Steve Calzaretta, Lead Vocals, Guitar:

I guess for  me it started when I was three years old and my parents recorded me singing spinning wheel by Blood Sweat and Tears.  Ever since then I’ve been on stage.  Coming from a very musical and theatrical family it only seemed right. Moving forward…yada, yada, yada… I was fortunate enough to work on Broadway, tour with Kenny Rogers work in a lot of Chicago Theatres and even do a lot of jingles on the radio (even though the cheap jag off that I recorded for collected thousands and I got $100.00 but that’s another story). I know I’ll get in trouble if I don’t thank my family and friends for they’re support (you know who you are and who you are not). You can read all the details in my auto biography that should be coming out in 2050.  order and pay for your copy now!!!!!! Musical influences:  Elvis Presley, Steve Perry, Michael Sweet, Dennis DeYoung, Rik Emmitt, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Perry, Michael Sweet, Dennis DeYoung, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, Toby Keith, Paul Stanley, Steve Perry,  Michael Sweet, Dennis DeYoung, Gene Simmons, Barry Manilow, Bruce Dickersen, Ronni James Dio, Steve Perry,  Michael Sweet, Dennis DeYoung, Michael Crawford, Mandy Patinkin, Sean McDermot, Michael Ball, Barbara Steisand, My Dad, Steve Perry, Michael Sweet and Dennis DeYoung.

Rob Geiss, Rythum Guitar, Vocals:

It all started for me when I was about 10 years old. I acquired the love playing music early in life and taught myself to play the guitar.  I learned to play by ear more than anything, listening to albums such as Black Sabbath's Paranoid..  I think the first song I ever learned to play was Paranoid. In my high school years Kiss, UFO and Aerosmith were the bands.  I messed around in garage type bands but nothing ever materialized.  I would say my influences back then was the guitar work of Glen Tipton, KK Downing of Judas Priest and Rudy Schenker of the Scorpions. The best local band I was in before joining Bandit was with Free Beer.  Gary Vermette and I formed Free Beer  9 years ago and we had a blast, but all good things must come to an end and I needed to move forward with other oppurtunities. One of our coolest moments was being in a band with Paul Chapman (UFO) and also being on stage with Robin McAuley (MSG). I have also met a lot of cool people and had oppurtunities to be on stage with some (pictures with Phil Miller legendary guitarist, at a Nicole Jamrose (Nashville Star) show. I am thrilled to be part of Bandit and learn a different genre of music.  I was always into southern rock but  country western music is new to me.  I'm having a blast and this band is really exciting for me. I feel good things are going to happen. I would like to thank my wife Marian for her support through all my music ventures.  She has been the greatest thing that has happened to me.  And to my two children Kristina and Branden for not making too much fun of their old man and his mid-life crisis.  Branden still can't believe I went from metal to country.  I would also like to thank all my friends, family, co workers that have supported me and my bands. Thank You.  And I hope to see all of you around in the future. Equipment used: Hamer guitars, Epiphone guitars, Marshall amps and cabs, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp, Boss pedals, Takamine acoustic guitar, Zoom acoustic pedals, Ernie Ball and Elixer strings, Samson wireless system, Electro Voice mics. Musical Influences - Judas Priest, Scorpions and Lynyrd Skynyrd
 

Phil Miller, Lead Guitar, Vocals:

Regarded as one of Chicagoland area’s finest electric rock guitarists, Phil Miller’s musical career started almost 40 years ago in NW Indiana. Many view him as the heir apparent to Jesse Ed Davis as he has the virtuosity and rocks chops on par with any modern day rock guitarist. He is known for his melodic and lyrical slide playing, sense of timing, vibrato and original guitar style. A classic throwback rocker, much in the tradition of his influences Jeff Beck, Leslie West, Joe Walsh and Roy Buchanan, all he needs is a tele, a slide and an amp to jump on stage and bring the house down! Phil’s long list of recording credits range from demos to jingles to albums. A Chicago session player for the last 20 years, he has many local, regional and national jingles to his list of achievements. He has played on such recognizable jingles as Coors, Coors Light, Disney, Applebee’s, McDonald’s, The NY Stock Exchange and was the voice of KFC in radio and television ads. Having toured the US and Canada as a member of such bands as Sonia Dada, (Capricorn), The Piranha Bros (MCA), Deluxury , Bun E Carlos Experience (of Cheap Trick), Jeff Boyle Band and The Lifters (Darryl Jones, Sandy Turano, Steve Basset), Phil has shared the stage with legendary recording artists Santana, The Allman Bros. Ivan Neville, Khari Parker, Richard Patterson, Jose Rossi (Weather Report) and The Freddie Jones Band."- Tone Fest Chicago 2006