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Scott
Vernier
Keyboard,
Vocals
Born and
raised in Mount Clemens, Michigan, aka "The Clem". The
youngest of four children, I was introduced to music by my brother
who was almost 12 years older than me. He played guitar and got every
girl in town. He was MY HERO! He was responsible for introducing me
to The Beatles, and then later on groups like The Doors, Janis Joplin
and Jimmi Hendrix. When my parents noticed this, they decided to do
something about it. At the age of 6, I was sentenced to 12 years of
catholic school but was paroled 4 years early because the state of
Michigan voted to cut off their funding. I became very close to the
warden while I was there, Sister Mary Vader. It's amazing the life
lessons you can learn from a cross-eyed nun with a bull whip and a
bottle of gin. From there I went on to attend Mount Clemens High
School, were I learned from the guys I hung around with in the jazz
band, that just because I was unfortunate enough to be born a white
guy, it didn't mean I had to act like one for the rest of my life.
They introduced me to Colt 45, Hennessey, smoking blunts and Tower of
Power. From that moment, I knew I was on to something. The minute I
graduated from high school I started playing in bar bands at the age
of 17. The local live music scene was at its peak. Stonebridge, Salem
Witchcraft, Holy Smoke, Curtis Hyflash, Toby Red, Flash Kahan, The
Almighty Strut, playing venues like The Viking Lounge, 24 Carat Club,
The West Side 6, The Token, The Struttin Club and the 300 Bowl among
others. The band that I was in back then was called Scotch, a
progressive rock band that did Emerson Lake & Palmer, Yes,
Kansas, Styx, Boston, etc. For people that were around the live rock
music scene in Detroit back then, it was a special time. Through the
years I have been lucky enough to have made a living playing music in
the metro Detroit area with some of the finest players around,
entertaining the best audiences in the country-the people of metro
Detroit. I am truly excited to be the newest part of a band that has
been a major part of the Detroit live music scene for over 20 years -
The Dream.
A
little bit about Scott Vernier
Likes-Jazz,
Kena-D (my rottwieler), large breed dogs in general, sports, sports
cars, playing golf, hot women (my God, that's way down this list-I
must be getting old), Family Guy (you bastahd), stand up comedy, old
houses, getting a good long practice session in without being
interrupted, working out, listening to classical music on Sunday
morning with the sport section and a good cup of coffee, and oh yeah,
spending time with my wife and kids blah, blah, blah, blah......
Dislikes-
Racism, intolerance, American Idol, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson
and her nappy no-talent sister, artificial turf in baseball, a
waitress with a visible infection on her serving hand, people with
large gums and small teeth, couples who's children's first names all
start with the same initial, an airline pilot wearing two different
shoes, a gynecologist who wants my wife to have a couple of drinks
before the examination, proctologists with poor depth perception,
Gary Bettman, William Clay Ford, Matt Millen and any man who's arm
hair completely covers his wrist watch.
Influences-
Definitely my brother Mike. My main three influences as a keyboard
player when I was growing up were Keith Emerson, Keith Emerson and
Keith Emerson. He is to rock keyboards what Jimmi Hendrix was to rock
guitar. My other influences include Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy
Smith, Victor Borga, Chick Corea, Rick Wakeman, Joey DeFrancesco,
David Benoit, Al Bondar (local hero), Gordie Howe, Richard Pryor,
Bugs Bunny (until I found out that he really COULDN'T play the minute
waltz in 30 seconds), Foghorn Leghorn, Stewie Griffin, Mike Privett
and Pat DeLeon.
Favorite Food-
Fish, foul and veggies. No red meat, thank you very much. Basically,
anything that swims or flies. So, if any of you ladies out there are
on the local college swim team or have a pilots license, please
contact me at www.thedreamband.com/feedthekeyboardplayer.
Favorite Drink-
Guinness. Period. Brilliant! (ed. note; Scott is currently on the
wagon, so we have a pool going to see how long that exercise in
futility lasts. Let us know if you would like to get in on that action).
Favorite Sport-
I'm basically a sports junkie. My favorite sport to watch is hockey.
Love the Wings. Love the Pistons. Love the Tigers, but would rather
go to a baseball game than watch it on TV. I also love college
football, and I love to play golf. I long for the day when the City
of Detroit gets an NFL franchise. That would be neat.
Favorite
Thing- Christina.
A final
thought and thanks- I'd like to thank Roy Caldwell for giving me
Jimmy's phone number when he found out that Rick Church was leaving,
and I'd like to thank Pat DeLeon for getting the band drunk enough to
get them to agree to bring me on board. I'd also like to wish Rick
Church the best of luck with his new life. It became clear to me when
I spoke to him about this group that all things being equal, he did
not want to leave this band, but circumstances forced him into it.
I'll do my best to represent. I also have to thank God for blessing
me with such an awesome family. I've got a great wife and three
really cool boys-my stepsons Jeff (and future daughter-in-law
Melissa) and Jamie, and my son Brandon (get to work boy). I could not
be prouder of these three great young men. I look forward to meeting
all the fans of The Dream. See you at the gig.
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