JOE DEX, Behind the Music

(Best when read while using the VH1 Behind The Music voice)
(Oh lighten up and just roll with it ;)  )

JOE DEX has been playing guitar since age 10.
And his passion for playing is stronger than ever.

A native of the "1976 All American Hometown Award" winning town, Oak Park, Illinois. Dex feels proud and fortunate to come from a hometown which has produced so many stars, from radio/TV/movie/music & sports (true fact) that it's often confused with a your garden variety galaxy. Some of Dex's high school contemporaries include Dan Castellenetta, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Jim Cantafio & Joe Cantafio. The list of other former OP residents of celebrity status range from Bill Curtis, John Mahoney, Kathy Griffin, Frank LloydWright, Ernest Hemmingway and Ray Croq to only name a few.
Coming from a town of such notable talent, his band experience began in the truly "Classic Rock" days at
Oak Park High School, playing lead guitar with TURNING POINT, playing both then current covers and originals.

While at Southern Illinois University, he was part of Carbondale's hottest band, ROADRUNNER with Dex playing lead guitar. Times were changing and so were music styles. RR created an ultra high powered mix of New Wave and Classic Rock.
Their following was huge, loyal and certainly wild.
VERY WILD.

The wild gig stories and trashed venues literally became legendary. Their first gig was so wild, it culminated in a lawsuit of over $200,000 including complaints of vandalism, drunken debauchery, fighting, public urination and...extremely loud music. Somewhere still exists the attorney's letter. Dex's "Carbondale Experience" also included playing lead guitar for THE CORE, featuring classic rock covers in addition to band originals. The Core played all around Southern Illinois, Southeastern Missouri and Kentucky as well as trips up to Chicago. They were THE first band to play in the now very popular Forest Park, Illinois club scene known for packed clubs.

The 80's brought a host of sit-in performances and session work with many of his musician cohorts, most notably with Carbondale based bands LOVE RHINO, THE JUNGLE DOGS and MODERN DAY SAINTS. On one particular trip back down to Carbondale, Dex was literally running back and forth from one club, sitting in a whole set, then running down the street to
sit in for a whole set with his other friends band. Dex basically did this "back and forth" all night.

In the early 80's Dex tried to start a new band with Roadrunner drummer Pat Byrne.

However, they couldn't seem to find the right supporting cast. They ended up with a pile of original songs and covers but to no avail. Eventually, Pat ended up as the original drummer for URGE OVERKILL as well as doing some session work for another Chicago iconic punk rock band, Big Black.

The Mid 80's brought about a reunion of ROADRUNNER for a couple of years minus lead singer Eric Karafa. They played gigs around the Chicago northside clubs and suburbs. They were a "little more settled down" than the Carbondale days concentrating on more standard rockabilly and 60's pop. Eventually, everyone decided to pursue different musical directions altho even to this day they still get together and have a great time playing a one-off gig about once a year or so.

Towards the end of the 80's, a long preparation period which actually never found the stage eventually resulted in a collaborative recording effort with several of Dex's local musical friends called, "THE SLACKERS", featured a mix of classic
and modern rock. It may possibly still be available. Somewhere, Dex has the orginal 4 track recording and a Teac 3440.

This potentially has Ebay written all over it.

The next several years, Dex would be exclusively dedicated to all original projects. The first being the all original power pop of CARIOCIA.

Cariocia featured the lead vocals and song writing talent of Chicago songwriter-guitarist-vocalist, Mary Anne Cariocia, who hand picked Dex as her lead guitarist from a parade of auditioning guitarists. Of all their Chicago, Wisconsin and Indiana performances, their most notable show was opening for BADFINGER before a jam packed house.

Following Cariocia, was the all original alternative rock of JUSTICE, featuring the original songs of Michigan native, singer/songwriter Mike Gillispie. Mike enthusiastically recruited Dex and soon his songs took on a whole new edge with Dex playing lead guitar. The band recorded a 6 song EP and played the Chicago club circuit, Indiana and Wisconsin. After a little over 2 years, Justice disbanded due to Gillispie allegedly moving to California.

Dex was soon called by Firebrick Records recording artist, HOT ROD NIXONS. The high octane all original alternative three piece, HOT ROD NIXONS had been playing extensively in the Chicago Alternative Rock club circuit as well as garnering local radio airplay. Dex's job was to replace original founding member Troy Mathews, who left the band  for the remainder of their Chicago schedule which included a live radio performance and their final show at Caberet Metro.

Dex learned their all original-2 set show in just 10 days. And to high praise from fans and band members alike.

Then in '96 Dex, being the quintessential WHO fan became the "Pete Townshend" character of Chicago's own tribute to THE WHO, HAPPYJACK. They developed an excellent local following putting on shows which even included a full performance of TOMMY as well one of the featured bands in the 2002 "British Invasion Flashback Weekend" show endorsed by Sam Leach. Happyjack also played live on the Madison Wisconsin Sundawg TV Show. In '98 DEX went on to play lead guitar in a highly successful theatrical production of THE WHO'S rock opera TOMMY. Dex claims this was one of the best times he'd had in his entire life.

And then.....
A new millennium came.
And apparently the world didn't come to an end after all.

After a little over a couple of years as lead guitarist for the Blue Lincolns from '98 to'01, DEX went on to front his own band, WHO'S NEXT, featuring full sets of PINK FLOYD and THE WHO along with a set of Classic Rock anthems & Dex's originals. Very notably, WHO'S NEXT gigged with an elaborate light show designed by Dex. It was a powerhouse of sight and sound.  As one of Dex's contemporaries, Mighty Joe, used to put it, "It was Dex's sensual onslaught show"

It was at this same point in time DEX started playing solo acoustic shows. This was an idea Dex had for a while but truly came to be when the request of a few local club owners were looking for Dex's talent without "the big show" that the WHO'S NEXT shows came to be known for. Dex put together a large acoustic repertoire of 60's & 70's Pop Hits, Classic Rock, Modern Rock and Originals. Sometimes not playing the same song twice within 3 shows.

This gave birth to Dex's "One Man Band" shows. He wanted to still have that "full sound" yet keep the footprint small. DEX plays both acoustic & electric guitar or keyboards along with his own multi-instrument backing tracks.

Although Dex can truly be a one man band and enjoys the creative "in the moment freedom", he prefers the full on attack of a whole band.  He has been often amused when overhearing unknowing fans say,
"WOW! Those guys sounded awesome!"

In 2002 DEX along with HAPPYJACK drummer Andre Peraza, and Dan Neid, the current bass player for Chicago area band AIR THIS SIDE of CAUTION, formed THE HIWATT COWBOYS. THC played a mix of old and new rock and originals... only with a very cosmic twist. Dex fronted and played lead guitar & vocals for the power trio.

More recently, Dex and Andre tailored a 2 man version of THE HIWATT COWBOYS.  They came up with a couple of breathtaking collaborative works, "Strange Magic World"  and " Vices and Other Tools" which as Dex puts it as, "Some of the best work of my career". Although both have yet to be released. Andre decided to work on other projects. We hope one day, Dre returns to finish The Hiwatt Cowboy project and give the world these amazing pieces of work.

Dex is currently playing solo acoustic and "One Man Band " shows around the Chicago area as well as giving private lessons when he's not working on composing and recording a vast library of work for future release both on CD and through internet download sites.
 

Influences on Dex

DEX has a super wide taste in music and has always felt that different types of music fit different moods. So why be stuck in a corner when there's so many energies to choose from. It would pretty hard to "simply sum it all up". Every artist mentioned has a story and a meaning.

The main influences come from a core of Classic Rock Icons especially from 60's The British Invasion.
The Beatles, The Who, Rolling Stones, The Kinks
as well as their contemporaries Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, The Moody Blues & Jethro Tull,
Other notable 60's era icons...Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie,
Hawkwind, Genesis, The Faces, Traffic, Humble Pie, and Elton John

However, a fuller image would include American Artists
Chicago, The Eagles, Crosby,Stills,Nash & Young, The Beach Boys,
The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, The Doors, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper,
Tommy James, Bob Seger, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, Styx,
and of course...
Elvis, The King of Rock & Roll.

Late 70's to '90 band influences also play a part in Dex's musical flavor and include U2, The Police, REM, Eurythmics, Human League, The Clash, XTC, The Pretenders, Stray Cats, Squeeze, Boomtown Rats, B52's

Post '90 band influences center on Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, STP, Soundgarden & Collective Soul...

On a broader scope, Dex has a passion for
Blues, Rock-a-billy, Southern Rock, Country, Folk, Bluegrass, Cool Jazz, Big Band Jazz, Swing, 50's & 60's Pop,
Psychedelic, Techno, TV/Movie Soundtracks and of course Classical

Altho those are some of the main influences,
the list goes quite deeper and wider. We haven't even touched on the likes of :
Miles Davis, Buddy Guy. BB King, Chet Atkins, Carmine D'Amico, Roy
Clarke, Dean Martin, Tony Bennet, Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, John
Barry, John Williams, or Henry Mancini.

You'd think that's a lot, right??? To some yes, to others just a few.
But life has a lot of moods, and energies.
And each one has music that fits.
Don't they?

At least Dex hopes so.
He just cant resist taking a bite out of each one.
And put at least a pinch in his own work.

Dex likes to quote his friend,
24 Grammy Award winner-world class guitarist, Carmine D'Amico,
"There are basically two kinds of music,
Music that is played well, and music that isn't"

One final note,
A few other rather notable "influences"... Mark Twain, Dave Barry, George Carlin and Dennis Miller

And last but not least Albert Einstein,
Altho, we're still trying to figure out how he's relative to the music business.

Please stay tuned, Dex is always brewing up something different yet familiar in his own kind of way.
Most importantly, to all the people over all the years....

HE THANKS YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUAL SUPPORT!!