Ray Star

The 1st pictures of Ray holding a guitar were when he was 2 years old. When he was 4 years old he happened to see the Kink's play a live outdoor concert on TV. At that point in his mind he decided that he wanted to be a Rock Star!

At 7 years old he achieved a degree in the Royal Conservatory of Music. He was the youngest guitarist to ever accomplish this feat in Canada seeing how the tests are based on Piano and he never even played piano.

By the age of 14 years old, he released his first album with his 1st band Lethal Virus on 3 Minute Mile records, and was playing shows in bars on the Vancouver East Side. These were great times in his life seeing how he was underage. The club scene was a great influence on his writing styles seeing how he was exposed to the rougher side of life on the Vancouver East Side. This was when skateboard punk was at its pinacle.

Lethal Virus shared the bill with many Punk Rock Greats in the mid 80's - Dead Kennedys, D.O.A., S.N.F.U., Circle Jerks, etc. When Lethal Virus broke up, he went on to front Big City Groove and release an album. Many say that Big City Grooves sound influenced the sound of Rage Against the Machine seeing how they were heavy rock/punk with rap style lyrics and they were 10 years ahead of Rage's success. The highlight of Big City Groove's career was opening for the Jim Rose Sideshow Circus-what a gong show! After Big City Groove ended, Ray formed Cats Game, one of the most influencial punk bands to come out of Canada. With former members from Lethal Virus and the Vocal rage of Ronsid Fart formerly of the Active Glands, they created a sound that was influencing a generation.

Success grew quickly and they set out on Ray's first major tour. Cats Game had 3 releases on 3 Minute Mile records. Their last album was recorded at Westbeach Studios in LA - Epitaph Record's Studio. Cats Game played with many punk rock heavy weights including SNFU, DOA, BNU, Poison Idea, etc. Cats Game was to set out on their last tour after their release of "File 13" when frontman Ronsid Fart tragically overdosed. Devastated, Ray Star dropped out of the music scene for almost 5 years when he decided to form Superchief - Nefer Records. The success of Superchief skyrocketed at an alarming rate and they toured with many Epitaph and Fat Wreckords recording stars - Lag Wagon, Face to Face, Youth Brigade, Pulley, etc. Their video for the hit single "Hard Way" was on regular rotation on Much Music and they were interviewed by Terry David Mulligan on MuchWest. The album "When I was Young, was had rave reviews from Thrasher, Georgia Straight, Discorder magazines just to name a few. Unfortunately, when the 2nd album was almost complete, artistic differences conquered the band. Again Ray Star dropped out of the music scene for almost 5 years. Thats when he met up with Dave Affleck drummer from the Real McKenzies. He introduced Ray to Ken Burke of Blue Wave Studios. Together they formed the band the Gastown Riots. Dave left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Ray Hartman-former drummer of Annihilator. The album was completed in 2007 and co-produced by Jay Bentley of Bad Religion.

Ray Star has been working on his solo project and wanting to focus more of his talents for film and trying to explore his musical horizons by making different styled music than what he has been familiar with. Hope you enjoy!

Ray Star has a unique sound that doesn't quite sound like anything out in the marketplace today, yet has a flavor of familiarity that makes his music extremely catchy.

He has played in and out of Punk Rock bands for 23 years.

*** LATE BREAKING NEWS ***
Ray has just become the latest member of "Boxfiller". Check out the new album in January 2008. North American tour starting mid Febuary. Be prepared to be Rocked !!! ***
Checkout Boxfiller - http://www.myspace.com/boxfiller