Trial By Fire

Band Member Bios

Chris Mitchell

Vocals

Hometown: Akron, OH

Instruments Played: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Drums

Influences: Led Zeppelin, Heart, Journey, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Lisa Fisher, Margaret Becker, The Motels, & Aretha Franklin

Cool People I've Played With: Bash (formerly Bash 'N the Code), The Collection, The Long Players, Jeremy Lister, KC & Sunshine Band, AJ Croce, Trenna Barnes (Cowboy Crush), Big Kenny (of Big & Rich), Levi Kreis (2010 Tony Award Winner) Dez Dickerson (Prince & the Revolution), Melinda Doolittle, Darci Monet, and many more.

Accolades:

My song "Wish List" made it into the top ten in a Jim Brickman song writing competition 2002.
Highest Alcohol sales for one night in excess of $5,000 at Nashville's 12th and Porter. New Years Eve 1998.
Played Robert Plant in "Led Zeppelin You Bitch" to sold out rooms and rave reviews in 1999, 2000.
Chris Mitchell & The Collection remains one of the most memorable and respected local acts in the Nashville local music community.

My favorite gear: Yamaha Motif, Sonar Producer, Komplete Core 6, Drumcore, Reason, my Sure Beta 58!

Favorite Food: Sushi! Mr Kim don't lie!

Favorite Songs: Mistral Wind - Heart (live version 1980 - Greatest Hits Live Album), Ramble On - Zeppelin, Cryin' - Journey, How Can I Ease The Pain - Lisa Fischer.

Favorite Concerts: Journey Escape Tour (saw it twice!), Prince & The Revolution - The Purple Rain Tour, Aerosmith / Heart Double Bill 1986 - Blossom Music Center, Akron Ohio

Website: chris-mitchell.com

The Akron, Ohio native's vocal abilities began to manifest themselves during his early grade school years. From the start he was drawn to the great singers and driven to find out how they created the sounds they make. Voice and piano lessons led to studying classical voice at Kent State University and Belmont University.

In 1993 Mitchell joined veteran CCM band BASH (formerly Bash 'N The Code) on StarSong Records. Mitchell soon left Bash to explore his interests in R&B and Jazz. In the late 1990’s, Nashville’s party scene flocked to see what he would do next in his band Chris Mitchell & The Collection, a spectacle that included hot pants, feather boas, choir robes, and a nonstop funky dance groove. At the top of the Nashville scene, Mitchell along with Sean Flemming (drummer for Hank Williams Jr.), Hags (bassist for Joe Marc's Brother) and Elliot (guitarist from Milkshake) formed Led Zeppelin You Bitch! With the marketing skills and direction of John Bruton (Mercy Lounge, 12th & Porter) the wildly successfull tribute recieved rave reviews and played for sold-out rooms in Nashville's famous 12th & Porter.

Chris has shared the stage with The Long Players, Jeremy Lister, KC & Sunshine Band, AJ Croce, Trenna Barnes (Cowboy Crush), Levi Kreis (2010 Tony Award Winner) Dez Dickerson (Prince & the Revolution) and many more.

His latest solo release, Sing, is a deeply personal collection of R&B, pop, and rock songs borne from a broken soul on a journey back into the light and hopefulness of today.

Chris Mitchell

Matt Bassford

Guitars / BGVs

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Instruments Played: Electric Guitar

Influences: Jimmy Page, Ted Nugent, Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, & Ace Frehley

Cool People I've Played With: Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Martina McBride, Sammy Kershaw, Lee Greenwood, Jack Green, Big and Rich, James Otto

Accolades: In 2000 Yankee Grey had a Billboard Top 10 single and a Top 20 music video for “Another Nine Minutes” and was nominated for an American Country Music Award in the category of 'Best New Group or Duo'.

Favorite Gear: Bad Cat, Marshall Amps Fender Amps Stratocasters and Telecasters

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Song: Stairway to Heaven, Faithfully

Favorite Concert: Journey, Dio, Styx, KISS

Matt is the lead guitarist for one of Country music’s biggest stars, Lee Greenwood. Lee Greenwood is a Grammy award winner with such hits as “God Bless the USA” and I.O.U and tours around the world. As part of the Lee Greenwood tour, Matt has entertained fans across the country and completed a USO tour of Middle Eastern combat areas in 2006.

Prior to joining Greenwood, Matt was a founding member of the popular country band, Yankee Grey. Yankee Grey had a series of hits in the late 90’s, including the first three singles off their self titled debut album, “Untamed.” The group is best known for their top 10 single, “All Things Considered.” With the success of their first album, the band also received an ACM nomination for “Best New Duo or Group” in 2000.

Matt has also worked with the Curb Records artist Anna Wilson, as well as independent artists in Big & Rich’s Country sensation the MusikMafia.

Matt Bassford

Gabriel Love

Guitars / BGVs

Hometown: Emmaus, PA

Instruments Played: Guitar, Vocals, Drums, Bass, Harmonica

Influences: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Roger Waters, Jeremy Enoch, Earth Wind & Fire, & Allman Brothers.

Cool People I’ve Played With: Brandon Pruitt Band, Kelly Trudell, Movies With Heroes, Sex and Patriotism, Love And The White Noise, & Ed Baust Band

Accolades: Won the annual Lee High Carbon Community College Talent Contest 2005! Played his songs with a buddy dressed in Kilts!

Favorite Gear: Fender, Keeley, Peavey.

Favorite Food: Wings, anything my mama makes, and Sushi... anything Japanese

Favorite Song: Tough question... too many to choose.

Favorite Concert Ever: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, AC/DC

Gabe was only in the 4th Grade when his father, a touring musician, first showed him how to play the guitar. After a few lessons and a lot of practice, Gabe soon surpassed his father’s skills. It was inevitable that he would soon follow in his father's footstep into the music world.
He started his first band, the Weezer-influenced Disgruntled Postal Workers which gave him experience as a writer and leader. His next original Rock band, Centerfold, was the catalyst that ultimately lead him to Nashville in order to take his songwriting and musicianship to a higher level.

In 2009, Gabe joined Sex and Patriotism and played various clubs in the Nashville area. It was in this band that he met with bassist Paul Arntz, who with vocalist Chris Mitchell, was in the planning stages for Ned Zeppelin.

At the young age of 25, his charismatic stage presence, good looks, and natural ability to play melodic guitar parts and solos have already earned him a solid reputation in the Nashville music scene.

Gabriel Love

Paul Arntz

Bass

Hometown: Leslie, MI

Instruments Played: Bass, Guitar

Influences: Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Rush, Steely Dan, Metallica, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Tool and something country from time to time.

Cool People I've Played With: Lee Greenwood, Matt Basford, Gene Watson, Derek Wolfford, Chely Wright, Gabriel Love, Michelle Wright, Chris Mitchell, Sex & Patriotism, Kelly Trudell and Gabe Love.

Website: paularntz.com

Due to the support from an awesome group of family and friends, Paul has played bass professionally for 20+ years. Directly out of high school he studied guitar at Spring Arbor University with a focus on composition. After moving to Nashville, TN in 1996 he has enjoyed 10+ years as a member of Lee Greenwood's touring band and is currently a sought after session/live player. With the attitude that "it's all about the groove", life couldn't be better for this Leslie, MI native.

Currently he is working on production for local Nashville acts. His focus is on the heavier side of music but he also has a love for the less intense side of things. His workspace in Nashville is always buzzing with new music and great friends. Right now, it's great to be Paul Arntz.

Paul Arntz

Brian Sitler

Keyboards / BGVs

Hometown: Reading, PA

Instruments Played: Piano, Clarinet, Sax, Guitar, & Accordion

Influences: Billy Joel, Elton John, Weird Al, Toto & Meatloaf

Cool People I've Played With: Phil Keaggy, Wade Hayes, Anna Wilson

Accolades: 1987 MPA Foosball Champion

Favorite Gear: Yamaha S90ES

Favorite Food: Country-Style Steak at Arnold's

Favorite Song: "Indestructible" - Disturbed

Favorite Concert Ever: Michael McDonald & Friends
(with special guests: Toni Braxton, Take 6, Billy Preston, and India Arie)

Being born the 7th son of a 7th son, Brian Sitler has always been destined for greatness. His father was a carnival barker while his mother was a professional mime. Proving that opposites attract, the two married and started a large family. By the age of 5 Brian was playing piano. By 5 1/2 he was composing concertos under the name Rodolfo Bartamaus. He has been playing professionally for more than 15 years and has performed on some of the world's largest stages including Red Rock Amphitheater and the Super Happy Fun Stage (the world's largest inflatable bouncy stage).

Along with the piano, Brian plays guitar and a variety of other instruments. He also owns and operates a studio and has produced many of America's most beloved songs. His work has been enjoyed by millions of people around the globe and has been featured on television networks such as FOX and ESPN. In his spare time Brian races snowmobiles and works tirelessly to find a reasonable solution to the mystery of cold fusion. With all that he has accomplished, it's simply amazing that he still finds the time to juggle several charities, including one which he holds especially close to his heart that provides shoes for one-legged orphans. And, though rumors persist about his relationship with Drew Barrymore and his pending Nobel Prize nomination, through it all Brian remains humble, placing honesty above all other virtues. Viva la Brian Sitler!

Can you guess which profile is a work of fiction?

Brian Sitler

Derek Wolfford

Drums & Percussion

Influences: Everyone & everything...

Accolades: A Native Texan

Current Kit:
Pearl Masters Series in Red Sparkle Finish
4-ply maple, *6-ply maple, **6-ply (4 maple/2 mahogany)
22x16 | 20x16** | 10x6 | 12x6 | 14x6.5* | 16x7* | 14x6.5 Pearl Solid Maple Snare in Arctic White

OTHER INTERESTS: Comics, mountain biking, & writing reviews/columns

Currently Listening to: Donny Hathaway Live, the Rockabye Baby Collection, The Roots' 'Sandwiches', King Crimson's 'Beat', & Them Crooked Vultures

Currently Watching: Batman: Under The Red Hood, Amadeus, Go West, Law Abiding Citizen, & Black Dynamite

Website: http://dww.me

Derek Wolfford has been playing drums & percussion for nearly 30 years now. Moving from Texas to Nashville in 1993, he immediately immersed himself into the music scene. Derek has maintained a healthy playing schedule and also ventured into studio work. He's played percussion on releases from David Ball, Craig Morgan, Bo Bice, George McCorkel (The Marshall Tucker Band), Trent Willmon, Rodney Clawson (“Amarillo Sky”), actor John Corbett (Sex In The City), and James Wesley's upcoming CD release including his Top 40 single "Jackson Hole". Derek has also had the good fortune of performing live with guitarist Neil Schon (Journey), 80's pop queen Tiffany, Billy Dean, Bo Bice, Rodney Clawson, Melinda Doolittle (American Idol), and David Ball. He also performed on the television show farmclub.com that also featured Creed and Godsmack.

Over the last 15 years, he has also sustained a career in the drum industry with Pearl Corporation. During his 11-year stint in the Artist Relations Department, he signed such artists as Mike Wengren (Disturbed), Daniel Adair (Nickelback), Alan Evans (Soulive), Sam Loeffler (Chevelle), and pop diva Avril Lavigne. He is presently an integral member of the Marketing Department specializing in web media and social analytics.

Derek has also conducted interviews and written numerous articles for Pearl Drums.com, Modern Drummer.com, Tom-Tom Magazine, and was featured in an issue of Drum Business Magazine.