The Seven Deadly Chins

The band comes from a wide variety of musical styles. I mean, I know everybody says that, but it's true. Between Ignacio's classical and rock ear, Pat's guitar synth and blazing leads, Tom's orchestral arrangements and David's rock roots, we just can't be locked into one genre. The hardest question we get is "who do y'all sound like?"

Finally, we are aided by the magical powers of Chin. We are the only band in America with the advantages of magical powers.

Band members include Pat (Lead Guitar), Tom (Vocals, Rythym Guitar), David (Bass Guitar) and Steve (Drums), CD (Keyboards), Gayla (Vocals), Chin (Mojo).

Tom is from Dallas, Texas and has played music almost always. Starting with violin and French horn in sixth grade, he found he had a natural ability and stuck with it. Music held challenges that he enjoyed and ultimately paid off in beauty. When performed as a group, he found music exciting and it grew larger than life. Early interest in instrument arrangement developed his ear for songwriting and desire to layer songs. Lyrics came naturally to a kid with twisted optimism and limited common sense. Each of these elements is evident in Tom's songwriting. He hopes you will sing along, relate to the lyrics, and discover interwoven melody and countermelodies. Tom's thinks that each live performance should be one big sing-a-long.

During the years 1981-1984, Tom played with The Potentials (original rock music) as the guitarist, singer and songwriter. Performances included Ground Zero (Dallas, TX) and The Twilite Room (Dallas, TX). Studio recordings sold at VVV Records and Metamorphosis records. The Potentials were broadcast on George Gimarc's radio show "The Rock & Roll Alternative" on KZEW FM radio and KNON FM radio.

During the years 1985-1987, Tom played with Temper Temper (original rock music) as the guitarist, singer, songwriter and keyboardist. Performances in Texas included Theater Gallery, Arcadia Theater, Suds, Club Clearview, Prohibition Room, and Taheeti's. Studio recordings included sessions with producer, Phil York, released on vinyl. The band was broadcast on KZEW, including a 45 minute live interview segment on Jon Dillon's "Local Show".

In a crisis move (baby on the way!) Tom joined the Navy to serve on a nuclear submarine for several years, then returned to Dallas to support his family. When the kids got old enough, he went back to his old band ways. In Chin's Mojo, Tom sings and strums.

According to his mother, Pat was carried down from heaven on an Angel's wing in 1962 to a tiny city in Eastern Montana. Being essentially cut off from civilization; Pat just followed his big brother around and did whatever he did. Eventually this led to rock and roll.

It was Christmas Eve at age 16 when Santa Claus delivered a cheap guitar and a Led Zeppelin album to his home. Listening to Jimmy Page and practicing the G7 chord, Pat finally knew his destiny.

He played with various rock bands in Helena, MT before undergoing a religious conversion and a subsequent record burning episode. That was just about it for his rock-n-roll stardom at that time. Fortunately, a good Christian brother introduced him to Petra and Stryper, a couple of "Righteous Rock" bands. This plus a little maturity eventually led Pat back to his rock and roll roots, and he also played in some Christian rock bands in the Dallas area.

Now working with Chin's Mojo in a concert / showcase rock band, Pat has an outlet for his many experiences. His talents include many styles of musical expression; including his guitar synthesizer, fingerpicking and blazing lead solos. Want to hear a Christmas song fingerpicked that will blow your mind? Want to hear a screaming guitar solo? He goes from whisper to roar... wherever you want... he delivers. He is literally playing from a life of experience that most other rockers will never have.

Underneath the calmest exterior in Chin's Mojo, if you really get to know Pat, you'll find him to be full of contrast and depth. He believe passionately in his pursuit of religious belief, morality and duty to people in his life. He carefully analyzes his personal ideals, examining and re-defining himself in serious ways. There is a battle between Good and Evil going on at Pat's shoulders at all times. Pat is a super nice guy, which masks the turmoil inside him.

His guitar heroes include Yngwie Malmsteen, Neal Schon, Alex Lifeson, and Joe Satriani (but he still likes those Petra and Stryper guys!). He hopes to sounds like a combination of them all, and he thoroughly rocks Chin's Mojo.

David was born in Buffalo New York- the youngest of 5 siblings. By the time he was 8 months old, he had lived in 3 different towns in New York, finally coming to Dallas Texas. Since then, he has spent most of his life in the great State of Texas with the exception of 2 very important years... At the age of 11, his family moved to Pennsylvania and David received his first guitar... A mint Gibson SG!

Because Pennsylvania was incredibly boring for him, David had plenty of time to learn to play guitar. When his family returned to Dallas, he and his brother started a band, Eclipse. Soon after the band started, the bass player left, creating a need for a new bassist. David decided to give it a try and discovered his love for playing bass guitar.

With major influences of Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, Steve Harris and Stu Hamm and a never ending desire to learn. David’s style of play has become versatile and definitely unique. He joined the Mighty Chin’s Mojo in August 2007 and contributes a hard-working attitude, great playing style and technique.

Steve

Steve started drumming at a relatively early age and was immediately shocked to find out that practicing to a metronome was extremely boring. Not being the type of person to maintain the status quo, Steve started playing along to such legendary bands suchas the Rolling Stones, the Who, Hendrix and Beatles. These early musical influences created a basic foundation for drumming that is about complementing the music, and not overpowering it. Later Influences include everything from Jazz greats Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, and Gene Krupa to Rush's Neal Peart, John Bonham, and Simon Phillips.

Steve has been in many bands during his long and non-illustrious musical career. Some of Steve’s bands include a puck-era stints in some of Dallas’ premier punk bands including "Sins of the Flesh", "Model-12", "Spazbot" and "Lithium Xmas with Mark Griffin (MC 900 FT Jesus) on guitar and the ever popular Mark Ridlin (lead vocals).A few stints with some church bands, a country club dance band, and some studio sessions for "Sons of the Zulu Pioneers" and a cover band or two thrown in for good measure.

Gayla

Sonny and Gayla. Partners in crime.

Sonny does all the art for everything we do. Gayla sings.

Quote: "The best thing about that gig was my hair color."

Gayla has been singing as long as we've known her (Tom met her in 1980). She has been in several successful bands and can sing any style from Gospel to Heavy Metal. She impresses audiences and friends with her clear and powerful voice. She's lived in Dallas, Los Angeles, Galveston and anywhere she felt a calling. She has several full time personalities that reside in her body, and she uses each one selectively to tackle any obstacle. Ask her about them.

Gayla holds the band records for number of tattoos and interesting life stories. It will take you a long time to make her really tell you any of them. It is so worth it. She has an indomitable spirit, sings like an angel and is constantly threatening to leave Chin's Mojo because she is so busy juggling work, 2 bands and her family.

For the present, she still comes to Chin gigs and we are grateful to have her talents.

Compact Disk

We've recently replaced our keyboard player with a CD because he got married and stopped coming to practices.

The CD likes whirling around and playing. It is never late to practice and it doesn't turn its amp too loud. And ladies, it's SINGLE.

Chin

Many people ask why we named the band Chin's Mojo. Frankly, I can't tell you the whole story because parts of it don't comply with some laws. I can tell you that Chin is the nickname of a human skull that was recently purchased on ebay. I think that's all I can tell you.

We don't know where his body is. we're told that Chin is hundreds of years old and was sold for medical study. In life, Chin was an Asian man in obvious need of dental care. He likes Dairy Queen Blizzards and reading. He is a Good Listener. When we say that Chin has Mojo we actually mean we are afraid of him. Chin is scary. Is it magic?