THE INVALIDS ARE LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS – FOR REAL!

Located in West Plains. Reach me at derek(at)itstheinvalids(dot)com

ABOUT ME

If you look closely at the accompanying picture, you might ascertain that I’m no spring chicken. In fact, I’m over fifty but still less than sixty.

Thirty years ago, I played in a working rock band in Branson/Springfield. A lot of things happened between then and now, most of them unimportant to the matter at hand. What is important right now is that I have experienced a revival of interest in starting a band.

I came up with the name The Invalids. I can tell you why later if you wanna know. At this age, I’m not interested in playing a never-ending string of covers in a musical genre I can’t stand. Let’s cut to the chase. The Invalids will be a band birthed from the ashes of classic punk rock. You may or may not know the ones I mean. Here are five of the most important ones:

  • The Ramones
  • The Sex Pistols
  • Social Distortion
  • The Dead Kennedys
  • The Misfits
  • Toss in slightly lesser-knowns: TSOL, Circle Jerks, New York Dolls

But this missive is growing too long. Focus, Derek! Here’s what I want to do with the newly-formed band. The first goal is to rehearse until we have about 20 songs in the can – half originals. While playing out is fine and I expect we’ll do some of that, my priority is to write, record, and release originals!

ABOUT YOU

I’m looking for musicians (any age) with solid punk rock musical sensibilities. Fast, edgy, profane if needed, but with a dedication to melodic songs that get people singing along even if they hate it.

I’ll handle the lead vocals for the Invalids. Needs include a bass player, guiarist who can handle rhythm and lead, and a drummer. Good screech-along backing vocals are almost mandatory. If I have trouble finding suitable musicians, which I expect to be the case, I can fake drums or at least look like a bass player for a while.

By the way, your personal life is your personal life, but in the Invalids, music is the priority. Just sayin’, I’m too old for silly drama or addictions.

If you’re interested, shoot an email to derek(at)itstheinvalids(dot)com and we’ll get a conversation going.

WHY THE INVALIDS?

If you ever wondered what a T3 to S1 spinal fusion looks like, well, take a gander. It was a year and a half ago that I had 28 screws and two metal rods implanted in my spine, plus a bunch of fusion material. This picture shows what a scar looks like after 100 stitches are removed.

Thanks to a lifelong arthritic condition, I have had around 25 orthopedic surgeries resulting in two artificial knees, two artificial hips, two artificial shoulders, and two fused wrists in addition to three spine surgeries. I know, it seems like a bad joke, except not funny.

Okay, kind of funny.

Some may not see the humor in a band named the Invalids, but I think I’ve earned the right to call it whatever the heck I want. ‘Nuff said.

If you’re wondering if I can still rock – yep.