The LPB: A Brief History

In the summer of 2006, the picture looked dim for popular music and its fans. The prevalence of metal and hip-hop meant that fewer melodies were being heard. Many of the songs containing melody and harmony were being written by jaded professional writers-for-hire, polished by producers and pushed on listeners like overly sweetened cough medicine. So what do you do? Start a band. The Last Pop Band began when three friends gathered together over drinks to discuss mission, strategy, and personnel. The first part was easy; the band would simply draw on their influences (from the Beach Boys and the Beatles to Jellyfish and XTC) and their experiences in former bands (19 Wheels, Jawbone and The Beat Poets) to create the music that was dear to them. Next, they decided that their strategy was to play only the shows they want to play, make the records they want to make, and not worry about the money or the current trends of the industry. The third part was the challenge. They already had the basics covered: Dave Marean on guitar and lead vocals; Rob Dickey on drums and backing vocals; and Joe Lebioda on bass and backing vocals. While the band consisted of well rounded musicians, the demanding vocal and musical arrangements made it apparent that they required a fourth member. In the Fall of 2007, after almost a year-long search and the seemingly impossible task of finding a guitar player who would keep residence in West Michigan... the band added the talents of former Broken Sunday guitarist, Tom Steimel. From the moment that Tom plugged in, they knew that they had found their missing link. May of 2008 saw the release of The Last Pop Band's debut album "Keep It Down". This six song EP showcases the band's smashing musicianship, superb vocals and outstanding songwriting ability. Currently, "Keep It Down" can be purchased at any of The Last Pop Band's shows or Guitar Center of Grand Rapids. It can also be downloaded from biggigproductions.com, iTunes and Amazon. The Last Pop Band is continuing to refine its live show and work out new material. It has also been rumored that a second independent release is in the earliest stages of planning. In the meantime...... see you at the front of the stage.