It's an odd story, of sorts, but what is odd?
(I suppose a story that has multiple beginnings with
an ending in the middle is odd). but to truly understand
that we can not be understood, well, I guess that makes
oddities seem a bit normal, while the norm remains unexplainably
odd. But this is one portion of one side of our story, and
take it for what it's worth, or leave it for what it's not.

The best place to start is one of the more critical
beginnings, one of those events that changes multiple lives
forever. It was June 22, 1992, and five teenagers from the
south side of Chicago, who basically had little in common
other than the length of their hair, were about to embark
on the ride of their young lives. It was that day that the
band Side Effect was originally born.

Briefly as I can say, these five boys created a sound
that became very popular to the then dying Chicago music scene.
Over a course of three and a half years filled with excitement,
creativity, sex, alcohol, disputes, stages, lights, studios, a
plethora of bands of all types, sizes, and local and national
recognition, and most of all, music, Side Effect performed
hundreds of shows, while also recording and releasing two
independant demos which sold hundreds of copies each. Whether
opening for major label recording artists such as Dangerous Toys
at Stingray Lounge, or at the then nationally famous Thirsty Whale,
headlining local shows or opening for acts such as Love/Hate,
Mind Bomb, Trixter, and the James Young Band. Side Effect developed
one of the largest all ages following in the Chicago music scene.
By the time of the last show with the original members in
September 1995 (headlining at the famous Riviera Theatre), over
five hundred tapes had been sold, and hundreds, if not thousands
of local music lovers had witnessed and reveled at the sights and
stage ethics, including columnists for the Chicago Rocker and
Illinois Entertainer free monthly music news magazines.
And then it was gone.

Lead vocalist Dennis had moved to Nashville, lead guitarist
Dave got lost in a temporary state of manic depression, former
guitarist Troy had moved to New Mexico, drummer Tony disappeared
for a while and former bassist Brian finished college and began
a new career.

Over the next three years, the three remaining members of
the original formula, Dennis, Tony, and Dave (now Michael), never
spoke. Dennis worked, Tony worked and occasionally did basement
jams with various musicians, while Michael continued to write
songs and perform with various cover bands throughout south
Chicago. But something was always missing.

In January of 1999, part of that something became
reunited when Dennis moved back to Chicago and got back into writing
songs with Michael. In the summer of 1999, the duo teamed up with
drummer Jim O'Neill to record WOJO-DESTINY 'TIL DAMNATION, a
collection of softer edged songs Dennis and Michael put
together during their reunion. After spending nine years
making music together, minus 1186 days since Side Effect
divorced, Dennis "Wojo" and Michael felt it was time to get
back into the music scene.

The new millenium had come, and the long time musical
partners were finding many difficulties forming a new band.
Ideas were kicked around, songs were written, but no one seemed
to fit their standards for style and diversity.

And then, the impossible happened...

While at work, Michael ran into Tony and half-jokingly
mentioned jamming again with Dennis. Within a week, the three
founding members reunited and began writing as well as toying
with old S. E. tunes. The topic of reuniting with former
bassist Brian came up, but was dropped in lieu of Brian's career,
and Michael's co-worker, Jarek.

Having spent most of his life in Poland playing bass for
various metal bands, Jarek's European influence and unusual
style was just what the trio needed to complete their quest for
a new sound. Teamed up with Tony's new electronic drum kit,
(which replaced the old Pearle kit and expanded Tony's creative
control), Michael's endless melodic guitar wizardry, and
enhanced by Dennis' more powerfull than ever vocals, the new
sound was found, and writing began immediately.

Within the next few weeks, talks of a second guitar
player were tossed in and out of the mix. The topic was almost
dropped when multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Neill, (who played
drums for the "WOJO" recording), brought his guitar to a few
rehearsels. The results were astounding.

Thus, the new and old joined forces, (and haircuts) and
Side Effect is once again ready to revitalize a dorment Chicago
music scene, and make noise for the new millenium.