Drummer, Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Audio Engineer and Producer, Video Editing and Production, SEO
Instrument History: I began playing drums in the 5th grade. At that time I began my training by taking snare lessons one time a week. After I got pretty good at that and won a few contests I began to take drum set lessons also once a week. At age 16 I joined my 1st band Medisin. By age 19 I was learning Bass Guitar and writing songs this was also about the time I joined my 2nd band Valor which would over time evolve into The Shape. At 20 I started learning 6 string guitar to help with writing. After honing my craft for about 10 years with The Shape I discovered I wasn’t going to get where I wanted to be with that band and got scooped up by Michael Briney and Kimberly Wilson (who later would become Kimberly Rozenek) and thus entered my journey with some of the best musicians I’ve ever played with.
Bands I’ve been in:
Medisin
Valor
The Shape
Culture Shock
Favorite Artist of all time: Jimi Hendrix hands down is the winner for me here. I would list my favorite song here, but I could never narrow it down to just one.
Musical influences: Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, Dio, almost anything from the 70’s or mid to late 60’s, Petra (before Greg X. Volz went solo), Jerusalem, and Stryper (anyone out there remember Stryper?)
Hobbies: Songwriting, Videogaming, Computer Programming, Computer Art, Computer Modeling
Favorite Type of Movie: Psychological Thriller
Sign: Aquarius
John Borzea
LyricistVocalist
Lead Vocalist, Lyricist
I discovered my ability to draw early in my life; so, at first, I thought I wanted to be a comic book artist. Later, a schoolmate turned me on to a KISS album. It changed my life forever. I heard these guys, playing rock music and it seemed to me like they were real life super heroes. I knew what I wanted to do!
I enjoy a variety of rock music and heavy metal, though melodic hard rock is my favorite. My influences are Paul Stanley - KISS, Rob Halford - Judas Priest and Jani Lane - Warrant.
I have performed in bands with varying styles of metal and rock ranging from death metal to general all-purpose rock music; but now with Culture Shock’s original melodic with an edge rock sound, I’ve found a new challenge and I’m loving every minute of it!
Sign: Scorpio
Michael Briney
GuitaristKeyboardistSongwriterVocalist
(Founding Member) Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Musical Arrangements
Born: Perry Township Ohio
In 1971 I started drum lessons at age 8 and continued them for 8 years. In 1975 I took an interest in Keyboards. In 1980 I began playing Guitar and by 1986 had moved on to Bass Guitar.
My biggest musical influences were Boston, Scorpions, Queensriche, Iron Maiden, Y&T among and many others.
I feel that they best thing I learned in life was to compose great songs for Culture Shock.
Sign: Leo
(Founding Member) Bass Guitarist, Lead & Backing Vocals, Vocal Arrangements, Songwriting, Web Design, Graphic Design, Visual Effects Design and Production, Business Manager, etc. etc. etc...
Instrument History:
Vocals: Been singin’ since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, or at least since sixth grade. (oh wait….I’m still knee-high to a grasshopper…just a bit thicker now that I’m “old”.) Joined my first band as lead-vocalist @ age 18 and the rest is “ancient” history….
Bass: First picked up the bass when I was 20 and was really horrible at it! Nine years later when Culture Shock started, I picked it up again and with the help of Michael Briney and my hubby Doug, I think I’ve finally got the damn thing licked!
Favorite Artist of all time: Michael Briney, Doug Rozenek & Al McKenzie
Musical influences: Yes, Kansas, Styx, Janis Joplin, Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night
Hobbies: Trying to take over the world! (No not really – that’s Hillary Clinton and let’s hope she doesn’t do it!) (Yep that’s a political statement…oh noooo!!! I’m on the list! LOL)
Favorite TV Shows: Charmed, Star Trek (original series), Person of Interest, Continuum, Most Haunted, Laugh-In, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Benny Hill (oops…those last few aren’t very politically correct are they….my bad…hehehehe)
Things I hate: Inconsiderate, nosey people, Smoking Bans, the Fat Police (mind you the spandex police need to stay!), Noise Ordinances, Abuse of Authority. (Maybe it would be a smaller list if I just put what I like eh?)
Sign: Gemini