Artist description Formed in 1999 by the former musical core of the seminal rock/rap powerhouse Stuck Mojo, Sick Speed is again clearing the path for the future of rock. Combining the energy of a modern hard rock foundation with strong melodies, hooks and powerful vocals they have once again forged a genre-defining sound that is unmistakably unique. Beyond the music, however, the Sick Speed live show is simply unforgettable. From the first note, their audiences bear witness to a mind-blowing visual extravaganza – fire, snow, smoke, video and the furious physical frenetics of guitarists unleashed! People expecting to see a great show are amazed. People expecting to see another of today’s lackluster rock performances are changed for life.

Music Style Melodic hard rock

Musical Influences Stuck Mojo

Similar Artists Stuck Mojo

Artist History Sick Speed History as told by Rich Ward In 1989 I formed a band named Stuck Mojo with a few musicians, who like me, had become bored with the watered down sound and message of the mainstream metal/rock scene. We wanted to mix elements of our favorite styles of music and create a sound unique to us. Our goal was simply to be the leader of a new wave of heavy bands. In 1998, almost ten years later, I found myself in almost exactly the same place. Ironically I was bored to death by the sound and message of a genre that I helped create. I still loved the music that we were creating in Mojo, but I wanted to expand our use of melody without compromising who we were. I knew having a rapper as our lead vocalist would make this virtually impossible. By the end of 1998 I had a few completed song ideas and parts of several others that I decided that for various reasons wouldn't work on a Stuck Mojo recording. Originally called "Ride the Snake" and later "Dark Life", Sick Speed finally became the project name and a "home" for this group of songs. In the spring of 1999 I collaborated with longtime friend and singer/songwriter Eddie Gowan. Eddie and I had worked together in1995 on a project that had produced some great songs and our collaboration was custom tailored for my vision of Sick Speed. After the first twelve songs were written, I knew that this music spoke to me and that I wanted to pursue it as my priority. I was more excited and musically inspired than I had been in years. The next step was to present the demo versions of the songs to Bud and Dan, the drummer and bassist, who played with me in Mojo. I had known Bud for 13 years and we had played together in Stuck Mojo for over 6. He hits hard, he can play a big groove to a click track in his sleep and he is undisputedly one of the best drummers in rock. Dan is a top player and has the best bass tone in the business. His tone, like most of the great ones, comes from his fingers and would sound good on any rig. Plus, Dan is a better singer than 95% of the guys putting out records today. My goal was to have guys who wanted to be part of this band and if they couldn't they would put one together just like it. With that in mind, I just hoped that I wouldn't have to look any farther than Bud and Dan. From the beginning, they were into the songs and the direction/concept of the new band, but I'm not sure if they were clear that I wasn't going to put any more energy into Mojo. This band was it. Next I gave the demo to longtime manager and friend Mark Willis and his reaction reassured me that I hadn't lost my mind. After all, Stuck Mojo was at the pinnacle of its success and it was how we all made a living. Mark reminded me that a large part of my success in Stuck Mojo came from taking risks and doing what I WANTED and not always what people thought I should do. We entered the studio in the summer of 99 and recorded four songs and sent them to Andy Sneap for mixing. The first live show for Sick Speed was in August of 1999 at the Magnolia Street Pub in Spartanburg S.C., followed by shows at the Cotton Club in Atlanta (during the Atlantis music conference), Rome Ga., Charlotte N.C., and Athens Ga. We played well but the live chemistry with Eddie seemed weak and sometimes forced. Unfortunately there was no time to work out an immediate solution. We were releasing a live Stuck Mojo record in September and had a two-month U.S. tour to support it starting in late August. During the tour we reviewed videos of the Sick Speed shows and, after multiple meetings, we decided to release Eddie from the singer position. Having to let him go was hard and complicated even further since he was my roommate. If that wasn't bad enough now we had to start auditioning guys for the gig. There are plenty of guys in this world that can sing. That being said, there was something that I had discovered in ten years of touring. I was not going to be in a band with a bedwetting complainer, lacks integrity and/or values, takes no accountability for their actions, a smoker, an alcoholic, or who's "drug problem" isn't "a problem," and finally someone who hasn't figured out that the world doesn't revolve around them. That's before we even get to stage presence, musical chemistry or determining whether some one has the fortitude to make it in this business. We knew that having open auditions could become a nightmare so we started looking within the circle of musicians we already knew. Everyone that auditioned was great but the stand out guy was a friend of Dan's from Minneapolis, Dale Steele. Yes that is his real name. Dale had a great voice but his downside was that, he had always surrounded himself with lazy musicians who never pushed Dale to reach his potential. We immediately put him in the gym, on a diet, and sent him to a famous local vocal teacher for refinement. He was improving very quickly, but as with Eddie, we lacked onstage chemistry with Dale. We recorded five studio tracks with Dale and played live shows all over the country. His ability to connect with the audience was not improving and my "non-compromising" leadership frustrated him. By the time I released Dale from the band he truly hated me. We had decided that once again we had three guys who were ready and one who wasn't. We had originally wanted the quintessential front man but we knew that Steven Tyler already had a gig and we were tired of looking for his equal. Dan and I had already established ourselves as solid singers and we had both sung on Mojo Records as well as nightly on tour with Mojo. So for the moment we had become a three-piece and split the vocals between Dan and myself. It was a formula that had worked great for bands like Kiss, The Eagles, Styx, The Cars, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles as well as many others. To complete the band we needed to find a second guitarist/vocalist who could finalize this classic formula. We needed an Ace Frehley or a Joe Walsh - someone with genuine charisma. Dan asked me if I remembered a video he showed me of his pal Mike Schneider from Minneapolis. I said, "you mean the guy who does diving summersaults onstage?" I had reservations about this guy because I thought his presence was a "little overwhelming". Besides, the last pal of Dan's from Minneapolis says that I'm like a cop and he prays nightly for my death. From the video it was obvious that the guy could really play. Dan told me that Mike was currently fronting his own band and could sing his ass off. As for the other essentials, he hadn't fallen prey to any of the standard rock & roll vices outlined earlier in this novel. We had contacted several guys including Mike that we thought could work and set up auditions. In late July of 2000 Mike was the first to audition and flew down from Minnesota. After the third song we played I knew I was going to have to call everyone else and tell them not to bother. Then after a few weeks of rehearsal, we played our first show with Dan, myself and Mike sharing the vocal duties, Mike on guitar, and me fronting the band. The show was in late August at the Cotton Club in Atlanta during the 2000 Atlantis music conference. After the show I couldn't stop laughing because I was stunned by how good it was. During the set I remember looking at Mike and thinking "what planet is this guy from?" He was putting on an unorthodox Martial arts and flexibility seminar during the show and it rocked. Granted we were raw and unrefined due to the recent move with Dan and I taking over vocal duties and by the pressure of introducing a new member. But, without hesitation I was confident and inspired about what we could be with a little work. Manager Mark Willis, a few music industry people, and a group of close friends who attended the show confirmed my confidence in this lineup. I am honored and blessed with the opportunity to make music for a living. I'm also very humbled and grateful for all the support that Sick Speed has received. I love the music and message of Sick Speed and I thank you for supporting it and for being the biggest and most important part of our succeSS.

Group Members Rich Ward - Guitars and Vocals Dan Dryden - Bass Guitar and Vocals Bud Fontsere - Drums Mike Schneider - Guitars and Vocals

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Drums, EFX

Albums Sick Speed

Location Atlanta, GA - USA

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