John Turner		7 & 8 string fretted and fretless Bass Guitar; Classical Guitar; Synthesizers and Pedal Synthesizers; Backing and Stunt vocals
Jim Dunn		Electronic and Acoustic Percussion
Hal Chiasson		6 & 12 string Electric and Acoustic Guitars; Guitar Synthesizer; Synthesizers and Keyboards; Lead and Backing Vocals
Brian King		6 & 12 string Electric and Acoustic Guitars; Guitar Synthesizer; 8 string Steel guitar; Lead and Backing Vocals

The band that would be Lord Only started when Hal and John met through an ad in an Atlanta, GA, newspaper. Finding each other to be remarkably similar in musical tastes and styles of playing, they began working together on original material. Within 2 months, they had completed, together, 7 songs which are still integral parts of the band's set list. Although, with the drummer, they were only a trio at the time, they both agreed that a fourth member, probably another guitarist, would be necessary to fulfill and even augment the musical ideas they shared, so they began looking for a suitable individual. They also began looking for a new drummer who could handle, with fluidity and power, the technical demands their music made. The search proved difficult, and they stopped working together for a time to find their bearings. John began to play with a drummer and a guitarist in a trio, working on some of the material he co-wrote with Hal, as well as some new material in a different stylistic direction, and Hal soon rejoined John in this new band, which became the first incarnation of Lord Only. The band lasted for about two years, writing and gigging, but the other musicians did not share the vision that Hal and John shared, so they left the band, and Hal and John again took another hiatus from working together.

At about this time, Brian was leading a band of his own, with a keyboardist, drummer and his brother Jason on bass. John heard that Brian's brother wasn't really interested in playing anymore, so he got in touch with Brian, and found him to be a real kindred spirit, and they decided to work together. While the band that they were in did not last long, their musical partnership did, and when John decided to buy a house and build a studio, Brian was there with hammer and nails. As the studio began to take shape, Hal came back into the picture and the search for a suitable drummer commenced. One of the drummers interviewed was Jim. Experienced and creative, Jim was able to understand the vision the other three shared and augment it, and the line-up was finally complete. This was in October of 1994.

"Not just in commerce but in the world of ideas too our age is putting on a veritable clearance sale. Everything can be had so dirt cheap that one begins to wonder whether in the end anyone will want to make a bid"

-Soren Kierkegaard from Fear and Trembling

Written over 150 years ago, those words still ring true when used to describe the music industry today. Styles of playing and writing are the same as they were 40 years ago. The technology may have changed, but the basic art is the same. Even the role each instrument plays in a modern electric group is the same, and has been approached the same way, with precious little deviation, since the '50's. One of the major musical visions the members in the band share is to try and counter this disturbing trend without being just an eclectic musician's band. Stylistically, each instrument's part is approached as being an integral part in both the overall harmony and rhythmic structures of each of the songs. Drawing harmonic ideas from influences as diverse as Rush, King's X, old U2, Yes and the Beatles, and the great rhythm sections of Motown and the 70's and 80's, the members of Lord only are constantly trying to expand their musical palettes without losing the basic concepts of melody, harmony and rhythm that remain approachable to the average music listener and fan. Extended range instruments, guitar-synthesizers and bass-synthesizers are the standard instruments, and even voice synthesizers have found their way into Lord Only's music. In a time where originality is looked down upon as patently un-commercial, Lord Only has set out to make a new mold.

Definitions...

LORD : ('lord n.; from Middle English loverd, lord, from Old English hlAford, from hlAf loaf + weard keeper; before 12th century)

1 : one having power and authority over others: a : a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due b : one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure c : an owner of land or other real property d obsolete : the male head of a household e : one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area <a crime lord>
2 : a man of rank or high position: as a : a feudal tenant whose right or title comes directly from the king b : a British nobleman: as (1) :Baron (2) : an hereditary peer of the rank of marquis, earl, or viscount (3) : the son of a duke or a marquis or the eldest son of an earl (4) : a bishop of the Church of England
3 -- used as a British title: as a -- used as part of an official title <Lord Advocate> b -- used informally in place of the full title for a marquis, earl, or viscount c -- used for a baron d -- used by courtesy before the name and surname of a younger son of a duke or a marquis
4 : a person chosen to preside over a festival

ONLY: ('On-lE adj. from Middle English, from Old English English AnlIc, from An one; before 12th century)
1 : unquestionably the best : Peerless
2 : alone in its class or kind : Sole<an only child>

LORD ONLY ('lord 'On-lE n.; from Atlanta GA, USA; before 1991)

1 : a cabal of experimental/progressive musicians a: stylistically diverse, with a focus on musicianship, sincerity, intelligence, honesty . b: a musical group whose purpose is to marry intricate arrangements with complex, intelligent themes and accurate, intense and "living" live shows to provide a memorable, even spiritual outlet for listeners.