SYNCLAIR is definitely not an everyday common rock band.
SYNCLAIR is a balanced vocal/instrument-oriented, primarily hard rocking band that combines intelligent thoughtful lyrics,
melodies one can hum, a variety of hard rocking rhythmic styles, and instrumental jams creating an electrifying sound
with lots of energy.
SYNCLAIR consists of a bunch of high-end musicians that came together for a jam and after just a few hours decided,
“Hell, let’s make a record…no hell….let’s make a band!!! That is George von Staden on keys and Ulli Pallua on drums.
2 days in the rehearsal room and off we went to the studio and in 2 days we made an album that has been described as:
Black Sabbath meets Pink Floyd.
George: “Well…I don’t know about that…what I do know is that we have managed to create a few songs that are – out of the regular”.
Synclair's debut album has just been released and let's see what happens next.
|
|
George von Staden – spacekeys
 |
Born in Wash. D.C. USA, George grew up between the Dunes of Cape Cod Massachusetts and the hills of Mclean Virginia.
After all kinds of educational phases he joined Europe and that’s pretty much where he stayed. Professional life allowed him to live
and work in countries such as Belize Central America, Honduras, Texas, California, The Sinai Egypt, and The Maldives, France….and
hell…if one is forgotten then…sorry.
Musical influences are: Led Zeppelin and early Aerosmith…as well as the old Ohio Players, Frank Zappa….and many more.
He developed his musical playing not by listening to keyboard players….but much rather by copying solos from Joe Perry,
Brad Whitford and Jimmy Page as well as Ted Nugent and Frank Marino. I am definitely a ‘Keytar’ Player.
His years in music brought him from Jazz to Heavy Metal from Fusion to Goa from Psychedelic to “Whatever”.
If you ask him today: “What is your greatest influence?” you will get the answer: “Well…there are lots of people out there
that I truly admire….but two stand out for me: “Warren Haynes and John Paul Jones”.
Now, starting in 2010, after having been through so many different phases…the answer to direction is simple:
“I have a number of people that I not only like to play with but that I also respect as humans and musicians, they give me
room to produce my sounds and they like my song writing skills…so I don’t need to be looking for too many new
people out there…thank god…and I will not engage in mathematical song production no more….I have been
through that…for me the SONG has to move people either through rhythm, through text, though performance, but not
through overproduced bullshit. An album should be made in a day or two…recorded live in the studio or on stage…rough,
real and ready...like life…you know what I mean? You see…if you cannot play it, don’t produce it!
Luckily I am involved in a few diverse music projects…and that keeps me going”.
George Staden uses the following equipment: a Doepfer Midi master keyboard that runs the EMU Vintage Pro Rack Synth,
a Hammond SK 1 that is just a plain Hammond, an Evolution Keytar that runs a Virus B Rack Synth and goes through
Marshall Compressors, Gig FX Stereo Wah Pedal, Vox Satchurator Distortin and ends in a Rocktron Talk Box….
This setup gave him the nickname: Floorboard George
|
Ulli Pallua – drums
 |
Born and bred in Italy, he soon discovered his love for drumming: with his first band Forelock he recorded two incredible
songs and played several live shows. After they broke up, he soon ran into two guys who would accompany him for some
years to come: TempleX proved to be another chapter in his drum ‘book’ culminating in a gig at the Forestglade Festival in 2003
and a collaboration with Frank Tovey of Fad Gadget. A new page was turned over in 2007 when Jeez Louise was formed,
a four-piece band playing rock songs with an incredible energy. In 2010 the line-up of Jeez Louise changed leaving ulli and
george looking for new musicians. Under a new name, Synclair, they recorded their debut album: the five-piece plays harder
and more melodic jams than ever before. In September 2010 ulli and george embarked on a different journey: they were joined by
vocalist anja and formed Jeez: they have been writing songs and performing live ever since. Their live shows are an impressive
performance of energy and musicianship.
Ulli plays DW Drums, Sonor, Ludwig Snares, Handcrafted Vintage & Custom Drums,and Roland V-drums, DW Bassdrum
Pedals, DW and Sonor Hardware, Sabian, Zildjian, and Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian drumheads, and Vater Sticks.
|
|
