Gary Carter

» Main Influences: Jason Newsted (Metallica), "Geezer" Butler (Black Sabbath), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Justin Chancellor (Tool), Tetsuya (L'arc~en~Ciel), Jeordie White (Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle), Mark Hoppus (Blink 182), Mike Dirnt (Green Day), Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate, Foo Fighters)



I've been playing music since before I started school. In elementary school, I took my plastic 'toy' guitar up in front of the entire school at assembly, and in a mix of fear and nervous excitement, played the first thing my older brother taught me: the main riff from 'Enter Sandman'. That pretty much set the stage for my passion for music throughout my school years - I aced the guitar in Music class one year, but the next, my music teacher told me that someone else had already picked the guitar for their class project. Rather than let it get to me, he suggested I try the bass instead, and handed me the biggest pick I'd ever seen in my life, along with a Fender Jazz.

I *rocked* the intro and riffs of TLC's 'Waterfalls' for them that year.

Inspired by my experience on the bass, I begged my parents to get me one of my own that summer. Going into high school, my friends told me they were starting a band... and they of course needed a bass player.

More shows, school assemblies, random crap gigs at fairs and in malls, recording with a single microphone duct taped and hanging from the ceiling, messing with MIDI synths in Music Composition class... I pushed myself, and my bandmates pushed me harder, and I loved every minute of it - I'd found my calling. But the rest of life always gets in the way...

Years later, flirting off and on with playing in cover bands and filling in on side projects left me unfulfilled. Spotting a wanted ad, liking what I heard, and recognizing Allan's name, I finally told myself: I need to do this. I need this or I'll go crazy.

Maybe I already am.