Today's Date: Thursday, July 24, 2008
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Last updated: Monday, January 21, 2008
Artist History ==> Web Page 2 of 26
Long before going solo, extremely independent recording artist and musician Dombrovski started cutting his professional musical teeth in June 1986 at 18 years of age as drummer and songwriter for the Elsmere/Wilmington-DELAWARE-U.S.A. power-pop/rock band RAEL (pronounced "rail"). Wilmington is centrally located two-hours south of New York City, NEW YORK, U.S.A., a half-hour south of Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., and approximately two-hours north of WASHINGTON DC. RAEL performed in DELAWARE and the Philadelphia area, and RAEL was fronted by the physically beautiful and powerfully gifted vocalist Mara DePace, along with vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ken Eros, currently himself a vocalist/guitarist for Southern-California (U.S.A.), modern-Celtic artist GREEN MAN.
DOMBROVSKI: Mara DePace was HOT in every sense of the word. Now people will challenge that statement on the basis of its extreme subjectivity, BUT I'll be damned if every time I played a tape of RAEL for someone, they didn't ask, "Who's that girl on vocals!?" That was the fact of the matter. When people came to gigs to check RAEL out, I think some thought it was really unfair this girl Mara could not only sing her ass off, but she was also "easy on the eye," that is to say, she was very pretty. She was cool--and HOT. Mara was like the hard-rockin' JUDY GARLAND of Wilmington, DELAWARE, U.S.A.
DOMBROVSKI: RAEL originally began circa June 22, 1986, as a four-man, classic rock band without a proper lead vocalist or name until September 17, 1986, when the band became "THE MERGE." We decided to call the band THE MERGE in reference to the fact we were merging a lot of classic rock together, plus I think there was a sexual connotation to the name "THE MERGE" we liked, too. The original, four-founding members were: (1) Bill Smenkovski--guitars; (2) Dave Fox--lead guitars; (3) Bill Craig--bass; (4) me--drums. We were a classic rock band. We covered THE BEATLES, Jeff Beck, BLUE OYSTER CULT, THE FIRM, HEART, JETHRO TULL, LED ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD, etc. We performed original music, too.
DOMBROVSKI: Mara DePace joined THE MERGE as lead vocalist/front woman between late-October and early-November 1986.
DOMBROVSKI: Now we were a five-member group fronted by Mara, and we did our first gig as THE MERGE at a club named "THE METAL SHOP" on November 30, 1986, which was on Route 40 about 20 miles outside Wilmington, DELAWARE, U.S.A.
DOMBROVSKI: Ken Eros joined THE MERGE as another lead vocalist and guitarist sometime between December 1986 and January 1987. Now the band was a six-member group, and we did another gig as THE MERGE on March 8, 1987, at a club in Wilmington, DELAWARE, U.S.A., named "JESTER'S." THE MERGE opened for the metal band HAYDYN, in which my younger brother Dave Anthony was drummer.
DOMBROVSKI: Sometime after March 8, 1987, guitarist Bill Smenkovski left THE MERGE. Between March 9, 1987, and April 13, 1987, THE MERGE acquired keyboardist Dave Raschiatore.
DOMBROVSKI: Ken Eros, Dave Raschiatore, and I were seriously into the art rock group GENESIS and their former-lead-singer-turned-solo-artist Peter Gabriel. GENESIS had a song entitled "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (from a two-record concept album of the same name), which is about an "Imperial Aerosol Kid" named "RAEL" (pronounced "rail"). In reference to that GENESIS character, our band name changed from "THE MERGE" to "RAEL," about two weeks after keyboardist Dave Raschiatore joined. I remember we rehearsed the GENESIS song "Dance On A Volcano." We also did the Peter Gabriel songs "Big Time" and "Don't Give Up."
After attracting attention from major record labels ATLANTIC and POLYGRAM (now UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP), RAEL disbanded in February 1989, centrifugal creative and personal differences being the primary cause.
DOMBROVSKI: On June 17, 1988, RAEL did our 32nd gig, which was an outdoor gig in Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., just outside the JOHN WANAMAKER building for the VARIETY CLUB charity for children with disabilities. The crowds were huge and crowd response was great. Well, on June 28, 1988, an ATLANTIC RECORDS, Regional/National Marketing Manager named "Robert (Bobby) Czech, Sr." gave our other singer Ken Eros a call. Bobby Czech wanted a tape of RAEL originals. RAEL sent Bobby a three-song demo tape and promo-pack on August 2, 1988. Our singer Ken talked to Bobby on September 9, 1988, and Bobby wanted more original songs. Things dried up for us at ATLANTIC, but their interest gave everyone's self-confidence a boost. I felt pretty good because I couldn't even legally drink, being only 20 at the time, but ATLANTIC was listening to a song I had written. It felt like a big deal.
DOMBROVSKI: About six months earlier, I remember RAEL doing a gig on December 10, 1987, at a club named CAFE MONTEGO near the border of northern DELAWARE, U.S.A., and PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A. We were opening for a band called "BLUEROCKS," who were getting airplay on DELAWARE radio station WSTW. BLUEROCKS' manager or promoter, a guy named Louis Nathan showed up. Lou LOVED Mara. He thought she was GREAT. Lou felt Mara had the looks and the voice to be BIG, but Lou thought RAEL lacked direction.
DOMBROVSKI: Well, RAEL only performed 13 gigs before the CAFE MONTEGO gig, and our first keyboardist, Dave Raschiatore, split early on after doing only two gigs. Now we were a five-piece band: (1) drums; (2) bass; (3) guitar; (4) one vocalist; (5) one vocalist/guitarist. We didn't have a manager; we didn't have an agent; we didn't have any counsel or legal representation. We were simply weekend warriors. We were primarily a classic/hard rock cover band, and it wasn't easy getting gigs. Our other singer/guitarist Ken Eros, God bless him, became our de facto booking agent and point of contact because he was the one with the most gumption to take all that upon himself and make things happen. Anyway, Lou said he (Lou Nathan) was involved with music publishing, too. Looking back, I tend to believe Lou had legitimate connections in the music industry because he seemed very poised and knowledgeable. In January 1988, Lou presented RAEL with an original song named "Jealousy" written by legendary songwriter Essra Mohawk. Essra had written "Change of Heart" for Cyndi Lauper, which in 1986 was a BIG hit in the US, making it to #3 on the US charts. Anyway, Lou wanted Mara to sing "Jealousy," and he wanted RAEL to record themselves doing it. Lou wanted to present Essra with RAEL doing the tune, and if she liked it, the band could play it live and possibly record a single. Lou thought the song was a career maker. Well, we ended up recording a demo of "Jealousy," and RAEL often performed "Jealousy" live. "Jealousy" is still a catchy and well-crafted little number in my book. I've never met Essra Mohawk, and she probably never heard of RAEL, but all I can say is, "Thanks Essra! The pleasure was all ours."
DOMBROVSKI: I think after meeting Lou Nathan in December 1987 and considering what Lou said about RAEL's lack of direction, Ken Eros and I kinda' realized presenting Lou with some of our original material would probably be a good idea because on January 16, 1988, Ken, Mara, and I recorded a two-song demo for Lou. The demo consisted of a song written by Ken entitled "Leave Us Alone" and a song I had written in December 1987 entitled "Sherry." Ken sang lead on both tracks, and Mara sang backup. Ken and Mara presented Lou with the demo on January 29, 1988. Lou thought "Sherry" had some nice melodies, but got off track, and Lou thought "Leave Us Alone" was good. That was when Lou presented RAEL with the Essra Mohawk song "Jealousy"--I guess after listening to our demo and considering maybe RAEL had possible intentions of moving beyond weekend-warrior/cover-band status. Also, Lou realized this was a band making an attempt to write their own material. That's a big asset.
DOMBROVSKI: On February 27, 1988, about a month after presenting him with our two-song demo, Lou got RAEL a gig at The Stone Balloon in Newark, DELAWARE, U.S.A., after MEAT LOAF cancelled out and Lou's band BLUEROCKS couldn't cover the now-available slot, either. Lou getting RAEL that gig was cool because it meant Lou had some belief in us, and we were able to use an incredibly powerful sound system originally setup for MEAT LOAF. It rocked. It was nuclear. We were still primarily a cover band at that point, and that kickass system PUMPED the following cover tunes we performed that night REAL HARD according to people in the audience who spoke to me after the show:
01. "Moonage Daydream" -- David Bowie
02. "Celebrate" -- RARE EARTH
03. "Heartless" -- HEART
04. "Dark Star" -- Crosby, Stills, & Nash
05. "Bebe Le Strange" -- HEART
06. "Money" -- PINK FLOYD
07. "Nights In White Satin" -- THE MOODY BLUES
08. "Too Rolling Stoned" -- Robin Trower
09. "Immigrant Song" -- LED ZEPPELIN
10. "In the Flesh" -- PINK FLOYD
11. "Big Time" -- Peter Gabriel
12. "Mystery Achievement" -- THE PRETENDERS
13. "Born to be Wild" -- STEPPENWOLF
14. "I'm Down" -- THE BEATLES (HEART's version)
15. "Barracuda" -- HEART
16. "Break" -- HEART
17. "Changes" -- YES
18. "Dog and Butterfly" -- HEART
19. "Comfortably Numb" -- PINK FLOYD
20. "Rock n' Roll" -- LED ZEPPELIN
DOMBROVSKI: Don't be fooled by the reference I made to Cyndi Lauper above. RAEL started out as a classic/hard rock cover band, not a pop band, and lead vocalist Mara DePace was a rock powerhouse with an excellent range. Also, we were not a big priority, but Lou Nathan was keeping an eye and ear on RAEL's development because I remember doing more gigs and seeing Lou at several of those gigs before our next keyboardist joined.
DOMBROVSKI: RAEL had a performance total of 26 gigs when keyboardist Dan Long joined in May 1988. Dan's joining RAEL was important in terms of gradually changing RAEL from a primarily classic/hard rock cover band doing some original music into an original, power-pop/rock band doing some cover tunes. Before Dan joined, Ken Eros wrote most of RAEL's original material, followed by me, with our bassist Bill Craig and guitarist Dave Fox involved in a few. Well, Dan came into RAEL with a bunch of original material of his own because Dan was already an accomplished player and writer. Dan also brought a sophisticated jazzy/R&B element to RAEL's sound. Thanks to Dan, RAEL's sound became more harmonically complex, and we could do more interesting things sonically. Our range widened. Also, Dan and Ken became songwriting collaborators. It was about one month after Dan joined when RAEL was first contacted by ATLANTIC RECORDS on June 28, 1988. Now RAEL had a performance total of 35 gigs, and Dan just joined a band being contacted by a major music company after only his sixth gig with that band.
DOMBROVSKI: Ken Eros, our other lead vocalist, was the man responsible for making and maintaining the contacts necessary for RAEL to get these gigs. Also, Ken was a good vocalist himself. In July 1988, Ken was chosen to audition for the national TV show STAR SEARCH, and he auditioned in Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., on July 12, 1988.
DOMBROVSKI: On October 1, 1988, RAEL played a huge club in Glen Mills, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., named PULSATIONS. PULSATIONS hosted international acts like THE FIXX and HUMAN LEAGUE. PULSATIONS had several rooms, and we didn't get to play the main room, but we played in "The Interlude Lounge" to a fairly decent-sized crowd who seemed to really enjoy RAEL. Management congratulated RAEL with a complimentary bottle of champagne after that show.
DOMBROVSKI: At the end of October 1988, RAEL did three more gigs in Wilmington, DELAWARE, U.S.A., at a club named DELLE DONNE'S, and Lou Nathan was there on the last night, so Lou was keeping a continuous eye and ear on RAEL's development.
DOMBROVSKI: On November 19, 1988, RAEL played PULSATIONS again. This was PULSATION's "Fifth Birthday Bash." It was EXTREMELY crowded, and audience response to RAEL was excellent. Lou Nathan was there. Ken, Dan, and I were writing the new RAEL originals, and Lou REALLY liked some of the newer original material. I think his exact words were, "Those songs are a smash!" Lou wanted to talk with everyone in January 1989 and do a deal. On January 2, 1989, Lou got individual bios from everyone in the band. On January 5, 1989, RAEL was taped for television at THE CHESTNUT CABARET (now a club named "PEGASUS"), in Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., for Lou's TV show Music Express TV.
DOMBROVSKI: Lou really believed a newer original named "Walked Away," written by our keyboardist Dan Long, was going to get RAEL a record deal. I remember Lou being impressed with Dan's songwriting ability. On January 14, 1989, RAEL did a gig at a Wilmington-DELAWARE-U.S.A. club named "H. A. WINSTON & CO.," and Lou brought a POLYGRAM RECORDS Marketing Agent down from New York who seemed to really like RAEL. Now we had a performance total of 59 gigs. The next night, everyone in RAEL, except our keyboardist, met with Lou, and we really talked business seriously for the first time. Lou recommended it was time for RAEL to deeply educate themselves about the nuts and bolts of the music industry, which is: copyright law, publishing, mechanicals, royalties, licensing, and synchronization. Lou actually gave RAEL great advice. I just turned 21 not long ago.
DOMBROVSKI: Shockingly, despite all this career momentum, about one month later, on February 18, 1989, RAEL disbanded after performing our 62nd and FINAL gig in DELAWARE, U.S.A., at a club called "THE SOFT ROCK CAFE." RAEL got as far as RAEL did haphazardly, and now, a mere 62 gigs later, Lou Nathan had a plan, which was the equivalent of shining a 1,000,000,000-watt floodlight into the eyes of a man who just woke up. All our personal and creative differences became too apparent, and we had to go our separate ways.
DOMBROVSKI: The original three founding members of the band (Dave Fox--guitar; Bill Craig--bass; myself--drums) were in the band approximately two years and eight months. The band didn't have a name until September 17, 1986, when it became "THE MERGE." The band actually did two gigs under that name, and then the band name was changed to "RAEL" circa mid-April 1987. Mara DePace (vocals) was in the band for approximately two years and four months. Ken Eros (vocals, guitar) was in the band for approximately two years. Finally, Dan Long (keyboards) was in the band approximately nine months. Everyone was still in his or her early twenties. I was 18 when I joined the band, and I'd just turned 21. In a lot of ways, I grew up in RAEL. I would've been happier with a little more raping and pillaging, though. Dan Long, Ken Eros, and Mara DePace quickly went on to form the band "BODY TALK."
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Artist History ==> Web Page 2 of 26