Pete Brown - Vocals
Pete has been a professional singer ever since he stepped onstage with the original heavy metal band Tantrum back in 1991. Professionally managed, the band played big rooms all over the Tri-State area, including The Chance, The Stone Pony, Cat Club, Studio One, and Streets, just to name a few. He also openned for national acts such as Pantera, Great White, Savatage, Toxic and Cycle Sluts from Hell.
In 1996, Pete joined his first cover band, Speed Bag Baby, that allowed him to sing not only metal, but dance music and classic rock.
In addition, Pete kept busy by going unplugged, playing to the coffeehouse crowd, and showing his amazing vocal versatility.
He then joined the original band Ockam’s Razor in 1999. Several tragic events sidelined the band indefinitely, and Pete realized he needed to start his own project from the ground up.
In 2002 Pete handpicked a lineup, choosing the best players in the area to complete GRIND, a modern hard rock cover band which rocked the Tri State Biker Circuit Hard! Unfortunately personnel changes sidelined the band indefinitely.
Determined to establish a talented and dynamic band to accompany his own versatility, Pete successfully engaged seasoned musicians David Wilson,Toby Scarbrough and Paul Poulos to create the High Octane Outfit known as Pumping Ethyl.
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Matt Murphy - Guitar
Veteran guitarist and songwriter Matt Murphy has been writing original music and playing in both original and cover bands since the early 90’s. In 2002, with “Melodic Exile”, Matt recorded and released some of the pop-rock, acoustic style original songs that he had been accumulating. The band’s self-titled debut album featured a female vocalist and keyboards, perfect for the pop nature of those songs.
In 2004, Matt formed “Stalking Sally”. This time around, Matt was able to record some of the more aggressive, hard rock songs he had been compiling in his writings. In 2006, the band recorded and released its 15 song, all original debut album titled “Hard to Find”. “More Sugar” music magazine reviewed the album and some of the quotes from that review were as follows:
On "Hard To Find," Stalking Sally offers up a fascinating dichotomy of sounds. They rock harder and heavier than "Alice In Chains" on one track and then perform "unplugged" on the next. At their best, they combine the two. "I Keep Falling," written by Murphy, exemplifies the group at its zenith. Starting out with up tempo, multi-tracked, acoustic guitars on the verse, the band slows down and crunches heavy into the chorus -- shades of "Helter Skelter" guitar. The intricate song construction cries out for an elaborate stage production.
Highlights abound. Oddly enough, "And" evokes strains of America’s "Ventura Highway." Great wah wah guitar by Murphy. The acoustic "Love Is the Reason" marries Jimmy Page acoustic guitar with Eddie Vedder vocals. Sometimes the music says it all like the instrumental "Sticky Fingers," a demon cross between Edgar Winter’s "Frankenstein" and ZZ Top. "Wrecking Ball" takes "slow and heavy" to the Black Sabbath/Metallica level. Outstanding guitar sounds. Murphy likes to let a note ring and then pull it slightly sharp a la Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.
The musicians polish this complex music into a brilliant diamond. Guitarist Matt Murphy creates unique guitar sounds for each song. The intricate arrangements and attention to detail bode well for the group’s ascension to the concert stage.
Matt has continued to write throughout the years and is in the process of completing a professional recording studio in his home. He hopes to commercially market his music in the years to come. He is now also fulfilling another life long musical desire by joining forces with the other members of PE who share the same goal…to become the next GREATEST live show on earth!!! See you all out there!
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Toby Scarbrough
Drummer / Percussionist
Toby Scarbrough started playing drums as a young kid in Sweetwater, Texas and honed his drumming skills playing with various rock and country/western bands all through school. After high school Toby attended West Texas State University receiving a degree in Music Education / Percussion. While there he worked with various jazz combos, jazz big bands and country bands as well as being a member of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra performing with guest artists Eddie Daniels, the Smothers Brothers and the Lone Star Ballet.
After graduation Toby moved to Los Angeles to attend Musician's Institute (Percussion Institute of Technology). PIT was a great experience, studying with some of the top studio drummers in L.A. (Joe Pocarro, Ralph Humphrey, Steve Houghton, Efrain Toro, Casey Shurrell). Toby graduated with top honors and took to the road with the Tarzan Zerbini Shrine Circus (lions, tigers & bears. Oh my!). Hard work but great experience. After 8 months on tour he headed back to L.A. only to go on the road again with various top 40 bands.
Back in L.A. once again Toby began playing with some amazing musicians, working regularly with Johnny Hawthorn, Michael Duff, and Debby Holiday. He also started to
work with producer/songwriter/keyboardist Scott Manahan (Spirit). With Monahan, Toby recorded drum tracks for the long running television show Walker: Texas Ranger and the main title theme for USA Network’s Pacific Blue “Just Another Day In L.A.” written and performed by Christopher Franke of Tangerine Dream fame. It was also during this time that Chalk FarM was formed. Michael Duff asked Toby to join the band and in 1995 they were signed to Columbia Records. Chalk FarM recorded their debut album, Notwithstanding, with producer Matt Hyde (Porno for Pyros, Perry Farrell) and it was mixed by Tom Lord Alge (too many credits to list). CF toured for over a year co-headlining or opening for some of the top artists in modern rock: Goo Goo Dolls, Better Than Ezra, Tonic, Dishwalla, Matchbox 20, Marcy Playground.
After parting with Chalk FarM in '98, Toby moved to New York to pursue other musical adventures. Since moving to N.Y. Toby Scarbrough has played in venues from Lincoln Center to Greenwich Village clubs in all styles of music working with many outstanding original artists and cover bands.
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David Wilson - bass
Growing up on the outskirts of Glasgow in his native Scotland, David didn't start playing the bass until he was 17. Learning quickly, he took lessons from local jazz virtuoso John Bartke. John recognized David's drive and talent, and gave a poor student cheap lessons for which David is grateful to this day.
David played in a few original bands there (She Says, Jean De Florette) and a cover band (the Booze Brothers). Jean De Florette sold out major venues in Glasgow area, and undertook a tour of Germany in 2004 before putting out their own CD single in 2005 which sold out it's run.
After moving to NYC in 1997, David joined the original band Jonas Bronk. While recording with Jonas Bronk, the producer Craig Randall started to use him for paid session work. In the course of this, David met singer/songwriter Stephanie St John and they started to play out with drummer David Silva. The debut album Cinderella's Dead was released in 2001, and the follow up 250 Times Sweeter Than Sugar was released under the band name Mimi Ferocious in 2004. Some of David's favorite memories from that time are from being flown out to LA to perform showcase gigs at the Roxy and Whiskey A Go Go.
Allmusic.com had this to say in their review of "250 Times Sweeter Than Sugar":
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On Billboard songwriting award-winner "Jonathan," bassist David Wilson hints at the skills that will allow him to pull off a tour de force on a faithful, triumphant cover of Donna Summer's disco classic "I Feel Love."
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When Mimi Ferocious took an extended pregnant pause, David decided he needed a break from the Manhattan production line original band gigging scene. After looking for some time for musicians with similar talent and goals, David joined Pumping Ethyl in early 2006 and hasn't looked back since.
David's favorite bass players include John Taylor (Duran Duran), Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order) and Geddy Lee (Rush). He's copped licks from them all at one time or another :-)
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