Alien8

Alien8 is comprised of frontman James Dean, lead guitarist JJ Nold, rhythm guitarist Owen McLain, drummer Drew Cranmer and bassist Stephan Smith. Less than a year and a half from it's original inception, they've shaped Alien8 into a solid display of hooks, harmonies and hammer-ons, choosing to focus first on developing good songs and then deliver them with a high energy punch on stage. "People pay good money to see bands play. Money they could've used on a million other things," says Dean. "If they don't feel like they got their money's worth for a good show, then we didn't do our jobs." They get a show, alright. Even the national and regional touring bands that Alien8 shares the stage with can see it. "That guy's a (****)ing monster on stage. His voice is unreal," said Frankie Salvaggio, of A New Revolution.

At the same time, music needs to be meaningful. Alien8 now has fans around the world that agree their music is about a lot more than the status quo of sex, drugs & rock'n'roll, due to several songs being written about the troops and individual stories they've told. "Down In Flames", an emotional rock roller coaster, is about former U.S. Marine, Christian Farrow, who was serving as a firefighter in Afghanistan when he saved a six year old girl from a fire... even after a roof beam collapsed and broke his back. When Christian was dug out from the rubble by fellow firefighters, they found the girl safely protected underneath his coat. Miraculously, Farrow, a husband and father of two little girls, himself, was rehabilitated and went back to continue what he started. farrow will return home to wichita, this weekend, and Alien8 will be there to greet him. Stated Nold, "We dedicated our first E.P. to our troops, firefighters and emergency workers, because no one really sees what they go through on a daily basis unless they've been there. After the record is done, we want to tour with the USO. None of us were military or like this war... but we're all grateful Americans." May our heroes always make it home to their loved ones and the lives they left behind to serve us all.