30 Below Band

Bud Roberts

Lives In
Burnsville, MN

Family
Married to Kris, the original Swede. Daughter Cori Jeanne, born May 25, 00, Cooper in 2003, and a 90 pound Black lab mix lap dog named Rizo.

Music History
Have been the normal choir standout since the age of 5. Have won many bar tabs singing Kareoke. Never took one guitar lesson and it often shows. Kurt will account for that! Ego

Inflated Events (Not that a lead singer has one!)
Performed/sang with Jonny Lang at his lake home and at 5 Corner's Saloon, sang with Johnny Holms Traveling Fun Show at Valley Fair, sang with Crosstown Traffic out of Mankato, sang with Patton James in Nashville, jammed with several blues bands while in New Orleans, and performed "Neil Diamond" for 1500 screaming beauticians at the 1999 Great Clips National Convention (that was fun!).

Extra Blown Talent
As mentioned above, I seem to have a talent for sounding like Neil Diamond. That comes in handy at times. I can also cook!

Sexiest Song I Do
Joe Cocker- "You can leave your hat on". Or Violent Femmes, "Kiss off". Depends on your mood.

Influential Musicians
Chairman of the Board's voice, Neil Diamond's cult following, Steve Ray Vaughn, just because is is the best, Elvis for his range, Dean Martin's drinking style, GB Leighton's crowd pleasing talent, and the Gear Daddies for their MN roots.

Favorite Performance
In a crowded blues bar in New Orleans, blues guitarist Willie "Slow Hand" Palmer, after he allowed me on stage to sing a seven minute jam of "Johnny B. Goode" with his band, he claimed to the entire crowd, "Damn, not bad for a white boy!"

Some Of My Favorite Things
Guinness beer, trout/salmon fishing with dad, playing peek-a-boo with Cori instead of working, movies, and of course, having a Guinness beer.

Doug "Ditt" "Monkeyhead" Dittbenner

Home:
North Mankato, MN

Married:
To one Beth Dittbenner ( no picture, I would not be married if I put one on the internet)

Children:
Magen Marie and Zander

Real Life Occupation:
Regional Manager for Northern PCS ( Sprint PCS affiliate) in the Mankato Region.

Hobbies:
Golf, Playing the drums, Fake Cooking, writing songs, guitar, piano, singing in weddings

Favorite Movies:
Indiana Jones series, Hunt for Red Oktober, Caddyshack, Fletch, That Thing You Do.

Background:
(cause I know you care)...Grew up in Fairmont Mn, a small town with good values. Played basketball, football, golf from the age of 5 years old and became involved in many different things growing up. Sang in the church choir and took piano lesson from 5th grade to 8th grade which really gave me the foundation to learn how to play the guitar and count beats for
percussion. Sang in the concert choir in high school as well as the Madri Pops, (nice name).

Reason for being in a band:
For me it is the need to perform. For ourselves in rehearsal, or playing for 500 fans at 5 corners, it is a rush. And I think if you ask anyone who plays and writes music especially starting out, you always have that little hope that someone will really like your stuff and play it on the radio or book you for a gig at their bar. We have made a name for ourselves in Minnesota as a fun group of guys playing for the fun of it and not the money of it, and it shows. I still look forward to every rehearsal and gig as if it were a basketball game of
football game on Friday nite like back in high school...my point is that it keeps you going during the work week and you have something to look forward to. Anyway, getting corny and I will go now.

Mark "Sal" Smith

Born
1967

Lives In

Lino Lakes

Family
Married to the maginificent Shannon, 1 child Emma, adopted Shepard/Lab, Shanir

Music History
Played upright bass in Orchestra at age 8; played all other string/percussion instruments by age 11. Can't read treble clef. Played in Orchestra/Jazz band through High school and college

Past Bands
Felix and the Phalyx, Exit, The Presenters, Keystone, Williston Road

Musical Highlights
1.) Jamming with Jonny Lang, getting scolded for playing wrong chord progression

2.) Playing 7th Street entry at age 14- almost was not allowed into the bar
3.) Opening for Limited Warranty in St. Cloud at age 16, first encounter with "groupies"

Musical Lowlights
1.) See #1, "Musical Highlights"
2.) Playing in a country band, getting paid extremely well
3.) Playing a big New Year's celebration In Brainerd w/ the stomach flu. No booze, puking after the first set and every 4 songs therafter.

Favorite Groups
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toad the Wet Sprocket (too bad), Black Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies, Matthew Sweet, Go-Go's and many other 80's bands.

Favorite Local Group
GB Leighton, without question the best live performance, especially with slide guitar and new keyboards.

Favorite Bass Player
Flea. Unbelievable.

Some Of My Favorite Things
Golf, Pro and college football, fishing, fantasy/science fiction literature, PC games, and brewing my own beer.

Kurt Thompson

Lives In
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Favorite Music
(top 15 - no particluar order) Husker Du, Replacements, Kiss, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Jayhawks, Ramones, Clash, Sex Pistols, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Church (early stuff), R.E.M.

Favorite Hobbies
Gopher Basketball (season ticket holder), Movies (see about 75 movies in the theater a year).

Dislikes
Teeny bop, flavor of the day music (i.e. Ricky Martin), people who proclaim knowledge of things they don't know about. People that talk in movies.

Past Bands
1) Random Black: A typical mid 80's band (tried to be the next Husker Du or Replacements) Typical attire: Black Jeans, Black T-shirt, Black second hand sports jacket and black boots. No smiling allowed.
2) Chuck Amok - Similar to Random Black - except we could smile!! Big hit that never made it out of the garage "Beer For Breakfast" (Maybe the guys in 30 Below will let me play it sometime!!!)

Little Known Facts About Me
1) I almost drowned when I was 3 1/2. My Grandpa pulled me out of the lake and revived me with mouth to mouth.
2) My mom wants me to dye my hair (it makes her feel old to have a son with grey hair)
3) I didn't start drinking until my 3rd year in college (dorm life!!)
4) When I grew up I wanted to be a scientist that explored unknown phenomon (i.e. Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, UFO's - probably explains why X-Files is my favorite show)

Eric Christofferson

Home:
South Minneapolis

Real Life Occupation:
Big Shot Manager at Bella Blaine.

Favorite Local Group
Dr. Mambo's Combo..