Behind The Music

Andy:

A little known fact about Andy is that he was a circus performer as a child. His freakishly large frame, for such a young boy, leant itself perfectly for the midway sideshow. Sometimes they would put more fake hair on him, and claim he was the largest manchild from the siberian russian tundra, or the lost child of a Yeti. It was during this time with the circus that he developed an addiction to goofy flavored
Kool-Aid and his aversion to sloppy joes (which is still the one thing he refuses to eat 'til this day). Andy confided in a friend, a woman who came by daily to take care of him, that his greatest wish was to go to the BIG CITY and become a rock-n-roll star. She was a kind person, who listened patiently to his rantings.

Andy decided it was time to leave his life as a circus performer, so one night he broke out of his ankle and wrist chains, ripped the choker collar that was retaining him off the wall, pulled apart the bars of his cage and left the big tent behind forever. He had been secretly storing away the pennies thrown at him by gawking children and had saved up enough for a bus ticket to the land of his dreams. The BIG CITY awaited, and when he placed his feet on the ground of the bus station in SYRACUSE, NY, a tear came to his eye. He knew his dreams would be fulfilled here! The rest is HIStory.

Shelly:

Shelly was part of the same circus as Andy. In fact, she was put in charge of keeping Andy under control. His addiction to goofy flavored Kool-Aid can be attributed to Shelly, as this was how she soothed the savage beast when he was in a rage over being served sloppy joes again for dinner. Shelly shared Andy's dream to be a rock-n-roll star and, before Andy left, they made a pact to meet up again someday to form a band.

Shelly left the big tent soon after Andy and struck out - walking along country dirt roads in her bare feet, a stick over her shoulder with Fleetwood Mac tapes tied in a bundle at the end. It was along one of those country roads that she met Don, her future husband (yes, the now famous roadie for Shelly & The Barndogs). Shelly knew her band would need someone to wrap cords at the end of the night and realizing Don was a man who could handle that task, she fell in love immediately.

Wanting to SEE THE WORLD, Shelly and Don drove to Arkansas for their honeymoon where they whooped it up on bologne sandwiches and Yoohoo's. Don bought his bride a scratch-off ticket and they hit it big! This is when Shelly told Don about her friend, Andy, who had gone to the BIG CITY, and of her dream to be a rock-n-roll star. Don knew he would follow Shelly to the ends of the earth, so, they took their $30 winnings and drove to the BIG CITY to find her friend. Shelly couldn't believe it when she actually saw the sign that said SYRACUSE, NY! Her dream was coming true - and, the rest, as they say, is HERStory.

Mark:

Mark was a sheep herder in Manila, Philippines. He and his brother, Kenny (yes, the other now famous roadie for Shelly & The Barndogs), ran a very successful business. The $1.50 they managed to bring in on daily basis kept them in the lap of luxury. It was dried fish heads and plantains everyday for the boys!

During one of their nights on the town Mark told Kenny he wanted to play guitar in a rock-n-roll band. He convinced Kenny to follow him to the "Big Country" where he was sure he could make that happen. Mark also knew his band would need someone to help wrap cords at the end of the night, and that Kenny would work for practically nothing. So, they sold their business for a profit, took the $12.50, and stowed away in the belly of a U.S. military cargo plane. 162 hours later they landed at Ft. Drum Air Base in New York. Mark wasn't sure where to go from there until one night he saw a shining star in the sky. It was so bright that Mark just knew if he followed it he would find the answer to all his band dreams.

They were thumbing their way along highway 81 when a nice man in a car with a shining red light on top pulled up alongside them. He asked Mark and Kenny for ID and then invited them to sit in the backseat of his pretty car. The boys were surprised to see an iron gate separating the front and back seats. When the nice man got in the front and started driving, they realized that for the first time in their lives they must be riding in a limousine and this was the chauffer! The nice man brought them to a nice hotel where they were given a ventilated room with a bed and food and company - a large man named Earl, who was extra nice to Mark. After 12 days the boys were asked to leave - they knew their good fortune couldn't last forever.

And so, they struck back out onto 81, following the shining star. 2 1/2 months later they saw the green sign of the BIG CITY! SYRACUSE, NY!! Mark had made it! The rest is HIStory.

John:

John used to peddle kielbasa and sauerkraut on the streets of Bydgoszcz, Poland. One day on the corner of Majowy Rajd Do Niw St. and Wodociagowe Kontrakty Ave. he found a grozny in the gutter. He went into the nearest candy store and bought a chocolate bar. Much to his surprise he found the last golden ticket! Following the rules of the contest, and being the good Polish boy he is, John ended up winning the factory - which, eventually, generated enough money to buy him a ticket to the U.S.

Upon arriving at Ellis Island, John was not sure which direction to go. So, he followed the smell of pierogi and onions and ended up renting a cozy one-room flat with 22 other immigrants.

John had a secret desire to play in a rock-n-roll band. Not being able to afford a piano (which is what he truly wanted to play), he drew out keys on a long piece of used fish paper and practiced everyday. One night he was awoken by a bright light and a voice that said: "Chrymathzczekmnp ksczechxyzwi Syracuse, New York." Which, loosely translated, means "Go to Syracuse, New York."

And so, the next morning, John packed up his left-over sledzie and strudzielina, left his cozy flat, and headed to the BIG CITY! Upon seeing the green SYRACUSE, NY, sign, John kicked up his heels - he had made it to his dream city! The rest is HIStory.

Pete:

Pete did not want anything personal put on the website about him, which is a good thing since not much is known about Pete prior to the spaceship landing in Area 51. But, you just know by the mysterious grin, and sometimes evil sneer, that HIStory is one that the Syracuse New Times is just dying to put in their News & Blues section.