In the beginning........"As long as I can remember growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico I stood in front of a mirror with a tennis racket rocking out to my mom's 60's albums, sometimes forcing my younger brother's behind the make-shift drums and tambourines to do a concert for the neighborhood in our back yard using the family picnic table as our stage. A couple years later my always' supportive parents bought me a real guitar and amp, still, it was much easier
to stand in front of the mirror dressed like a rocker and fake it, but now I had a real Guitar.

It wasn't until I was 14 years old after moving to St. Paul, Minnesota and wearing out all of my mom's records that my parents finally put me and my brothers, Scott and Robin, into guitar lessons with the local church lady. Quicker than you can say do-re-me, my brother's lost interest and I continued on alone. A few week's later I was getting a little tired of "Tom Dooley" and "this land is your land" and began to lose interest myself. On this day my mom could not pick me up from my lesson, so as I walked home carrying my guitar something happened that changed my life forever! I heard this loud noisy music coming from behind a closed garage door. It was truly music to my ears. Right then and there I said, "Fuck Tom Dooley, this is it! " These guitars were screaming my name. About this time the band ended their song and begin to argue about who screwed up their part, as I was standing there listening someone inside said, "who's out there" and the garage door came flying open. Picture this, after the big gray cloud of smoke thinned out, there stood five guys about 19 or 20 with electric guitars and long hair. They laughed their asses off when they seen me standing there, a 14 year old kid carrying a guitar almost as big as myself. One of them said, "What's up kid, did you come to jam?" and they all started laughing. I looked up at them and said with an attitude " Yep".

This band was called "Crossfire", and they took me in like a little rock and roll brother. They were playing "Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd.

I didn't get home till late that night and got in trouble, but it was all worth it. I never did go back to my lessons, the focus of my life changed on that day, as I realized this was what I was going to do. I spent the next month or so going everywhere, everyday with these guys learning anything I could that could help me in furthering my goal. Plus they taught me all the song's I loved.

Now I was off to the races, after rounding up any kid in the hood that owned an instrument, I soon had a band together set up in my parent's house, as if that wasn't cool enough. My dad "Buck" would help us build speakers and My mom "Tina" and sister "Jami" would always' make us refreshment's. Which went really good with the munchies' (you didn't see that Mom). Which I also learned about from my rock mentors. I spent the next couple of years jamming just about every night with any variety of musicians that could make it on that day. I think I have played with just about every musician there was. It's kind of funny how true the Bryan Adam's song is that say's "Billy quit and Joey got married" because it has been a revolving door of people when you're in a Band for the long haul. When I started out I was just a rhythm guitar player that also owned a microphone (I couldn't sing yet- either). I think that by always' looking for singer's or lead guitar player's, it slowly forced me to learn more so I didn't always' have to count on other's who might not share the same desire's and goal's. But I was having the time of my life.

My first real gig (you mean I get paid for this?) To this day my friend's I love playing so much for people and for my own self satisfaction that I would do this for free, but since people are paying , then I'm collecting. However I have and will always perform for free for any benefit or good cause. Anyway, since my first real gig at Oltman Jr. High in 1975 or 1976. with Bob Belcher ( my long time best friend) and Charlie Belcher and I forget who else (sorry guy's). I have never looked back. Also I am always' grateful to God for allowing me to live my dream. It’s not where you end up in the end; it is how much you enjoyed the ride. This long and winding road has been both smooth and bumpy, but I have enjoyed every minute of it and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Overtime Parking, Bo and the Arrows (Mom's idea - Thanks, Mom!, Crystal Legacy, just some of the many bands I was in starting out. Playing occasionally, learning the ropes. Mom and Dad were starting to say by this time that my little band was great, but what was I going to do with my life. I pretty much said " I wanna Rock!" years before Dee Snyder and Twisted Sister.

I had a full-time day job once, I worked there long enough to realize that I better go home and practice the guitar harder. Now it was time to make this guitar pay the bills. I just couldn't wear a suit in the day and then put on a rock show at night. I need to live and breathe music day and night. I wasn't going to play the part of a Rocker; I was going to be one, for better or worse. To make a comfortable living doing what you love is a dream come true. Now 30 years later the dream is still alive.

Now let's take you on a journey back in time through my professional musical career, I hope you enjoy the ride."

STARBORNE- Although my previous bands played out some, this was my first real full-time band. We hit the road for months at a time; we now had an agent in Minneapolis. and we were eager so play we did. Billy Holmberg, Doug Stein, Tommy Rowles, Dave Monson and I played anywhere that would have us.

We traveled the 5 state + area in the Midwest for several years. So many great memories come from this band. We all learned so much about living and loving. We would play 6 nights in a row and travel to the next town and next girl and do it all again. Being a !9 or 20 year old we were definitely were in heaven. It was during this time that I met a certain girl in a certain town and spent the week together and moved on to the next town. Months later I get a call telling me I was going to be a father. Joshua Edward Duffney was born on June 13 1981. If it wasn't for rock and roll Josh wouldn't be born, so something good came out of this. It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened in my life. Well after a couple more years of traveling around in an old school bus playing just about every night our star finally burnt out. Time to start a new adventure.

DARE FORCE - These guys were one of the top bands in the mid west, playing all the top clubs and doing national concerts, we even went to Puerto Rico for a week to do a big stadium concert. Anyway they needed a lighting tech. and I owned a light show, so I jumped aboard. I wasn't in this band but it is when I met all the top rank people in the Minneapolis music scene and all the club owners. After about a year , I was really itching to be back on the stage.
On my free day's I started putting together a new band and practicing till we were ready to hit the stage. Time to strike out on my own after everything I learned from these guy's. Brian Bart, John O’Neil, Brian Lorenson and Mark Miller and John Damon (sound tech). Thanks, Guys, for the education in rock and roll.

COUNTER ATTACK - There's a new band in town! Around 1982 a band based on my goals, ideas and leadership emerges onto the rock scene. The time was now and we were hungry and heading for the top. We had a ways to go but we had a goal to get a record deal. I had been writing songs as long as I have been playing. We only played a hand full of originals and the rest covers But our songs always got the people going where ever we went. And working with Dare Force got us in all the right doors. We rocked hard over the next 7 years, club's were packed most night's of the week and it was all about big production and big light's, smoke and flash pods and definitely big hair. The road take's it toll on you after 7 years many couldn't keep up but when the machine is rolling, you must keep on down the road. Other are counting on it. Many good musicians and friends were enlisted through the years. I learned when you got the job, the employees will find you. So let me break it down in sections from the start to the best of my recollection.