Band Member Bios

Chris Mitchell
Vocals
- 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.
Website: chris-mitchell.com
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.
Chris Mitchell

Matt Bassford
Guitars / BGVs
Hometown: Cincinnati, OHInstruments 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
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Song: Stairway to Heaven, Faithfully
Favorite Concert: Journey, Dio, Styx, KISS
Matt Bassford

Gabriel Love
Guitars / BGVs
Hometown: Emmaus, PAInstruments 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
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.
Paul Arntz

Brian Sitler
Keyboards / BGVs
Hometown: Reading, PAInstruments 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
Favorite Gear: Yamaha S90ES
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).
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.







