With Matt Frieling on rythm guitar, Justin Williams on lead guitar and lead vocals, Chad Williams on Drums, and Dave Petrucci playing bass, the band came up with a lot of original songs that first summer. With the first ten songs, the band played shows around the Detroit area including shows in Ann Arbor, Roseville, Hamtramck, and Ypsilanti.
After being together only six months, Phoenix Sidewinder recorded their first cd Suburban Descent in two nights at Flat Hat Productions' studio in Waterford, MI on October 21 and 22, 2000.
Dave Petrucci left the band in the summer of 2001 and was replaced by Jeff Johnson. That summer the band moved out of Hartland and relocated to the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti area, where they rented a practice space in the basement of the Ypsilanti venue, Mr. Muggs. They wrote new songs and headlined successful shows around the area including The Blind Pig, The Elbow Room, The Wooden Nickel, Mr. Muggs, The Locker Room Bar, The Wired Frog, and Paycheck's Lounge.
In January 2003 the band recorded their second independent album Minimum Wage in Ann Arbor, Michigan with Jeff Johnson playing both bass and helping out on lead guitar. After the album was finished Phoenix Sidewinder changed into their current line up, performing as a five piece. The current Phoenix Sidewinder line up is: Justin Williams (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Matt Frieling (rythm guitar, back up vocals), Jeff Johnson (lead guitar), Chad Williams (drums) and newcomer Nick Bence (bass guitar).
Phoenix Sidewinder is currently playing throughout Michigan and branching out nationally including an upcoming show in Chicago, Illinois and on October 7, 2003 the band played at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, California.
Contact Phoenix Sidewinder at:
12030 Country Side Dr.
Hartland, MI 48353
(810) 610-7363
Email: [email protected]