Salient (3)

Power/Thrash Metal band from San Bernardino, California, US. Steve Valdez (Vocals) Steve Lamers (Guitar) started this band in 1990...we called in a classified advertising guitarist Kevin Swan and then added two brother Carl and Russ. When in 1993 our singer decided to leave because he wasn't into going further as a career. The search for a new singer and discussions to have myself, the drummer and bass player sit down to discuss the bands future and lead guitarist as we mutually agreed right before he showed up, to show up on time to practice and to maybe contribute to the non musical side of a band more (he was 19 when the band started and the closest in age was myself 7 years older)...I started the conversation and the Bass player and Drummer clammed up and basically we broke up that night. The band reformed as a 4 piece after they found a screamer type singer and continued for awhile. We also sold more full length demos and had interest from a promotor in Germany. The original Salient was the five piece original band. We were invited and performed for over 1000 people at 'Welcome Home Desert Storm' in 1991 at NAFB using the USO PA and sound system and stage, and opened for Quiet Riot a year or two later. We also has a red vinyl EP produced in Germany. It can be found on YouTube. The subsequent band as a four piece had some pay to play gigs as well...including the Whisky A GoGo. From a fan, she "loved the singer but he had issues and they broke up". As one of the original founders and first to contact Kevin and meet with him...the three of us going through classifieds to find the other two, the brothers. Kevin was a phenomenal guitarist. Drummer was hard and heavy, Russ was a solid heavy bass player and good writer. Steve did well as a singer who could have been phenomenal if he had applied himself. I was doing several leads and co-playing complicated lengthy guitar parts and knew I was a good second guitarist. The two guitar sound was a big part of the original sound as was regular vocals. Congratulations on continuing for a bit longer and all the best with no hard feelings!! Namaste and Peace!!