Wad

Wad debuted at Freefest, an outdoor festival on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, in the summer of 2001 as a noise rock trio. With only a half-dozen mostly written, slightly improvised songs, the initial three-piece formed around the wreckage of another project, MadPoet, a band critically flawed by the Spinal Tap-like series of imploding drummers.

The nucleus of the new project was singer/songwriter Forrest Jackson and bassist Tim Divine (Elchivo), with novice drummer, Chad Gaddis joining them. Jaded and noncommittal, the music they were writing soon convinced Forrest and Tim to take their new band seriously. The following year the band independently released their first album, “Clean Livin.” They knocked out several gigs a month in and around Seattle, producing memorable shows which frequently featured bloody band members and destroyed equipment.

The momentum dissolved the following year but a number of changes made the band better and stronger. “Clean Livin” producer Lari Peterson signed on as a second guitarist for a temporary stint that still holds to this day. A jazz-trained, Zappa aficionado with eclectic taste in music, Lari came to Seattle to escape the limitations of a remote British Columbia island In addition to playing guitar, Lari has been a live performance sound engineer since 1989, and has recorded for the long running Spud Goodman Show, channel 22 KTZZ, and at various locations with Crystal Park Mobile Recordings. He’s an enigmatic, experienced performer and an extraordinary musician.

Danny Zakos joined the group in late 2004. The drummer for several memorable Seattle bands, including Boomslang and the Fastbacks, his assaulting style, appreciation of nuance, and obsession with the effects of tempo in composition immediately set him apart from any drummer the others had worked with. A SubPop Records review said, “By all accounts, Zakos was an odd person, but also a great drummer who had a funny sense of humor and many unique theories about life.” In other words, Zakos was a perfect Wad fit in all the necessary ways. Danny stuck with WAD for a couple years (a new record!), although in mid 2008 decided to pursue other interests.

With a festival gig lined up in August, WAD began the search for a new drummer.

Mutual acquaintances brought Michael Robsen into the picture. After a handful of rehearsals Michael proved himself to be a talented and versatile performer, under adverse conditions (bad sound, borrowed gear, no sleep).

Wad is currently promoting “Tails From The Short Bus,” released in December of 2006, and is available for shows and written or broadcast interviews. To request a Wad appearance, please contact Forrest Jackson by email or phone: forrestajackson@earthlink.net (206)383-9738. To listen to Wad, please visit their webpages: www.wadrocks.com -or- www.myspace.com/wadrocks.