Artist description Mario "SnakeCharmer" Massi and Kevin "Stik" Paul created ThrillBilly in 1996 prior to forming StikMen. Some of the ThrillBilly songs did find there way to the StikMen repetoire, like "Nothin' better to do" which appears on the Westwood "you gotta' believe" album. ThrillBilly is driven exclusively by guitars, which is fine when you consider the source. Massi and Paul have a unique way of playing around each other, without overlapping parts. This makes for a clean sound that impressed us when we first heard ThrillBilly.

Music Style Blues rock with a few twists

Musical Influences StikMen

Similar Artists Don Henley Eagles Paul Young

Artist History While still touring with Jan James, Kevin Paul had a desire to branch out a little. Local Chicago producer Mario Massi had just finished up the Vishusgruv project for Red Light Records. Vishusgruv had taken up a few years of The SnakeCharmer's life and he too was looking to get back to work. At a session at Secret Sound Studios, Massi and Paul realized that their playing styles complemented each other well, and friends of both thought this could be something worth working towards. After enlisting a couple of drummer candidates, the boys set about tracking the songs. Mario handled the bass chores, and sprinkled in the extra stuff. Kevin Paul concerned himself with the six string only, mixing in a little dobro for good measure. They then recruited the vocal talent of Dave Matthews and finished the Trouble CD. ThrillBilly lasted for about two years, and as you already know became StikMen and were signed to the Westwood label in 1999.

Group Members Mario Massi, Michael Wagner, Kevin Paul, Dave Matthews, George Baumann and Peter Kruse.

Instruments Guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, harp, dobro and banjo

Albums Trouble

Additional Info Produced by Massi/Paul for Young Heroes Music USA

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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