Drama Queens

The Drama Queens, based in Danville, Va., formed sometime in early 2001 after former Bi-Teens members Darren Sweeney (Dayron Drama) and Scott Dunevant (The real Steve McQueen) joined forces with local bass player Benji Clark. Guitarist Jaime Christiansen relocated from Michigan back to Southern Virginia to join the group, which also added lead singer Drew Marsh within weeks.

The band played its first show on July 4, 2001 at Highlander Café. To say the show was a mess would be an understatement, but the kids loved them. The Drama Queens also released their debut CD EP “Show Us Your Lips” in the summer of 2001 and within months became a fixture of the revived local music scene.

In the summer of 2002, the Drama Queens recorded their first full-length CD at Southwest Recording Studio in Roanoke, Va., with a revamped lineup. Handsome Jeff replaced Benji on bass with Justin Infection on vocals and Reverend Hayes filling in on guitar after Jaime’s abrupt departure. “Face Down in the Muff” features the instant classics “Bookstore B-Baby,” “Kicked Out” and “I’m a Krump.”

The band continued to be a staple at local venues for the next two years.

Yet another lineup change occurred in 2004 with Brian “Hollywood” Woodson replacing Handsome Jeff on bass. Hollywood appeared on the Drama Queens self-titled release in 2004 and performed with the band in Richmond before missing a gig due to alcohol poisoning. He is now a manager at Hot Topic, married to former Alley Brats guitarist Robin Meador and the father of three sons.

Band members donned their beer helmets for the cover of 2004’s self-titled album featuring the hit songs “Looking for a D.U.I.,” “Bats-Man,” “Britney Spears” and “Johnny Cash.”

Benji rejoined the band under the alter ego “Bats-Man” in the summer of 2004 as the Drama Queens reunited with lost loved ones to release a 70-song CD chock-full of instant classics and songs that were better left unearthed.

The Drama Queens also set off on a short tour, which included stops in Chapel Hill, N.C., St. Petersburg, Fla., and Augusta, Ga.

“Got A Rip Off,” a remake of The Rip Offs “Got A Record” album, was released in early 2005.

In September 2005, Nashville label Shoot First Records released the Drama Queens “Sting of the Bee” 7-inch to rave reviews from fans and popular underground magazines, including Underground Medicine and SugarBuzz. The band soon became a favorite of the Nashville rock scene as well.

“Beauty & the Beast” was recorded in January 2006 and finally released in April 2009 on Shoot First Records as the band dealt with more lineup changes.

Drama Queens are now Justin Infection (guitar, groans), The real Steve McQueen (sloppy guitar solos), Dayron Drama (busted heads, broken cymbals) and Bend-G (bassist, zombie killer).