Born Thanksgiving Day in Detroit Michigan, Justin Fisher was introduced to music at a very young age by his father Rueben Fisher, better known as Little Reuben a well-known blues musician from the 1960’s. As a young boy Justin would stand in front of the stereo with his father’s microphone, sing along to the radio a pretend he was a star. Even though he was in love with music, as he got older he found himself being drawn in the direction of athletics. It was during a charity event where Little Rueben was performing that Justin realized that his life calling was music. His father performing, playing incredible guitar licks he had never heard before - greeted him at that particular event. Even though he had heard his father play many times it had been years since he had seen him play live. It was that moment that Justin consciously decided that playing the guitar was his to be his destiny. Fast forward the hands of time and Justin has grown into his love affair with the guitar and music in general. Over the years Justin has focused on developing his abilities. He has worked very hard and has made many sacrifices in his quest to become, maintain and forge forward as a musician.
At present Justin is the lead vocalist and guitarist. They are writing new material for a full-length album. When they are not recording or writing they spend the rest of the time rehearsing and playing shows in the Los Angeles area.
Having worked at the prestigious and acclaimed Ocean Way Recording Studio for more then five years, has afforded Justin to access to the pulse of the industry and the ever changing, and developing sound. His experience there has been priceless and has given him an enormous insight into the recording process.
Justin is very proud today that he has been able to play the first annual Detour Festival where they opened for Queens Of The Stone age and Beck. The Foundation also received accolades and rave reviews in Music connection Magazine for this performance. Justin is more then a musician but also a producer and song writer, this has afforded the band The Foundation rare opportunities such as having two of their songs placed in Andale skate video, which Justin wrote, recorded and Produced.
2008 is beginning to look more promising than Justin could ever have imagined. With the EP in the works and an LP not far behind, there are plans in the works for taking The Foundation on the road. Justin also hopes with the success of the recordings that they will achieve a place in television and films.
For the time being Justin is focused on his priority: his music career. He’s passionate, dedicated and knows that is what it takes to be successful in the music industry. On top of that he has enormous amount of talent coupled with very unique sound, good looks and staying power.
Bryan Rozof:
Born just 30 minutes outside the Nations Capital, Bryan Rozof is currently drumming in the trio The Foundation. Bryan began drumming at the age of ten and has since had dreams and aspirations of being a successful musician. Bryan spent many a day practicing and learning his favorite albums. With no real recall as to any one musician that has been his greatest influence, Brian recalls that he can remember seeing a drummer on TV as a child and knowing that he would be doing just that as an adult.
In the past Bryan has taken part in high school marching/orchestral band all of which he thoroughly enjoyed. Soon after Bryan completed high school he took the plunge and moved to Los Angeles. Chasing his dreams, he settled in and made LA home. He soon attending Musicians Institute in Hollywood CA, where legendary and respected drummers in the industry taught him. Upon graduation from MI Bryan played in numerous bands around Hollywood - playing clubs such as The Viper Room, The Roxy, and The Key Club.
Happenstance brought them together as a duet. After seeing Justin playing online Brian was sure this was the person he was meant to be playing with. Brian contacted Justin, they met up and jammed at a studio where Brian and a childhood friend had set up a quasi studio and he rest is history. From Silvetone Foundation to Spacevegas, they found themselves four years later as a duet and the name The Foundation stuck.
Influenced by rock and reggae with a tinge of hip hop and a small amount of hair raising metal, Brian likes to say his music tastes and preferences are influenced by Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Metallic, Bad Religion, Social D and Black Sabbath. Aside from music Brian has a few drummers he looks up to and hopes to one day live up to their names Chad Sexton, Billy Cobham, Chad Smith and the infamous Lars.
Sam Gabbard:
Currently residing in Hollywood, the Yosemite native Sam is a hard and heavy playing rock bassist for the progressive rock| punk trio The Foundation.
Sam started playing bass when he was 13 years old and later moved on to learn guitar, drums and keys. Sam was fueled out of jealously to learn to play and become a musician as he saw what he thought was to be a lot of fun and he aspired to be like his favorite bands, which includes At The Drive In, Blindside, Zao and The Beatles. By age 16 he had formed a band, Lower Case A that was the talk of Yosemite. Sam had a duel role as he was the main booker for the local venue for nearly three years, booking bands from San Francisco to San Diego al the while being a musician as well. Samuel also booked some small tours of California for his band. One of the shows was a battle of the bands in Newport where Lower Case A took first runner up.
Upon graduating from high school Sam headed north to Sonoma State, where he completed a two-year associates music emphasis degree. During his studies he studied Jazz and Classical music with an emphasis on composition. Sam enjoyed SSU but felt rock was more his calling and eventually picked up and relocated to Hollywood, CA enrolled in the Bass Performance Program at Musicians Institute and just recently graduated.
Sam began playing as a hired gun for singer songwriter Tiffany Madadian and Johanna Petree, and the rock band Abused Romance. However he always felt he needed to be a part of a band he thoroughly enjoyed. Sam saw The Foundation perform during his first few months in Hollywood and instantly was a fan. He later learned he lived in the same building as Bryan the drummer. Sam states, “After the first performance he saw of the duo, I knew I belonged in this band.” After nearly a year of being a fan of The Foundation, Bryan and Justin finally decided to integrate a bassist, and Sam was offered the part.
Sam is on course with shy aspirations to make a living off being a musician and doing what he loves, writing, composing and performing!
If this is what living the dream is about then the Foundation is living its dream. Originally two gents on a mission to create a musical mantra comprised of smart-ass, talented and vibrant twenty-something lyrics and catchy punk-rock melodies. inspired from 80s rock, punk and pop culture. Justin Fisher leads fans through an orchestrated journey of his life’s musings and self-deprecating insight creating a memorable experience to say the least. Brian Rozof sends the ladies wild slamming the percussion beat and flashing his dimpled smile. Rounding out the group, recently making them a trio, is Sam Gabbard strumming at the bass with over-the-top moves that keep the crowd screaming for more. Not to mention, he drops some pretty heinous bass slides. Sam has brought to the once duet a unique band synergy that is a force with which to be reckoned.
The Foundation at its core has been Fisher and Rozof (under numerous names - Silvertone Foundation and Space Vegas), and was formed based on a dream to create addictive music for fans of many ages. They are truly in love with music in all aspects – writing, practicing, creating new sounds and feelings, and performing in front of crowds both large and small. Their loyal fans regularly check into their MySpace to hear the latest recordings of their progressive “rock meets punk” tunes. But it’s not just the addictive songs that have fans raving to their friends; it’s how awesome they perform live. The Foundation will be releasing their second EP this spring with the help of such musical minds, such as - acclaimed producer/engineer Rae Dileo. Dileo has worked with such artists as Filter, Army Of Anyone, Henry Rollins and Veruca Salt. The band tracked five songs and is awaiting mixing and mastering of those tracks to debut a new EP that they will sell and use to promote the band.
With hard hitting overdriven sound and the Hendrix signature of using distortion as a musical effect, songs like “Your Name” take the listener on a journey of anticipation, angst and avantgarde thinking of young men and their insecurities with approaching and speaking to the opposite sex and their hopes that they may be noticed first and approached. “In the Way” is “a collage of life, a landscape of lyrics that paints a picture of ‘what do you believe theological religion or self reliance’ ” explains Justin. “Is religion or faith the way or can we be self-serviant in the degrees of knowing how to respect one another, and know right form wrong?” With the empathy infusing this EP, it makes sense that The Foundation isn’t only about the music—“there’s an energy the band has that I want to put to the best possible use,” Sam explains. “It’s about what we can do to change the views on popular music.” It’s not mere lip service, “fall behind” they write about and they invite everyone from punkers to pop fans to line up as the three piece attempts to take the music industry by the horns on their breakout EP as Rozof concludes, “I think our music has a universal appeal, because it’s emotional and heartfelt and has beauty, all within a modern rock and punk context. It’s about how you allow the music to hit your soul.”
Although The Foundation has only been together as a trio for three months and previously as a duet for three years, their image as professional, energetic and a unique band precedes them. The Foundation has seen their songs receive circulation on many internet radio stations all across The United States and have been featured on several internet web casts which have been seen worldwide and showcases the raw energy of this two piece band live. As a threesome they are hoping for the same. The Foundation has played many a Southern California venues including The Roxy, The Viper Room and The Key Club.
The Foundation has played with Beck, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Basement Jaxx after entering a Battle of The Bands in late 2006 sponsored by The LA Weekly, after beating out nearly one hundred bands The Foundation took part in the first ever LA Weekly De Tour Music Festival. The Foundation found themselves playing alongside music heavyweights. Although their sound is complementary, it’s hard to compare the Foundation to any other band playing today. They self-promote, self-book, and sell an amazing number of tickets for each show, always looking to improve themselves and the experience of the fans. “If all you get out of something is what you put into it, the Foundation will get it all; talent on all ends, hard-working, high-energy, and an all-around great band.” (Kari Leasure, CEO BIG INC) said.
When a mix of progressive rock meets punk with influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Queens Of The Stone Age, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Alice n Chains, Led Zeppellin, Monster Magnet, Run DMC and Radiohead - with that being said The Foundation found themselves in a unique situation, playing in a city saturated with amazing musicians, but their strong-hold separates them from the other artists - these guy’s are the total package...they’re amazing song writers, killer musicians, kick ass performers and have that ‘it’ factor that’s going to make them superstars!
The future is looking bright for this ambitious hard working band. With a new EP on the way and word of mouth spreading rapidly expect to hear great things from The Foundation in the near future.
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Ok, I saw your show at the Blue Star, which kicked ass by the way, and now I have to wait until June to see y'all again? Wish I could have seen the show tonight! :(
But guess who called into Frost Heide and Frank and voted for your ass and got accused of sleeping with the band! haha...Love you guys...hope all is well on your end. I have been very busy in the OC but doing pretty well thanks :)
