The Guitar Player's Resource
With an armadillo as a mascot and dozens of years of experience in the rock 'n' roll field, guitarist Michael Sells is back with a new band, Ruff Stuff, and a new CD, Just An Illusion. Heavily influenced by ZZ Top, the band (featuring the rhythm section of David Clemens on bass, and Steve Shufeldt on the skins) delivers their own brand of boogie and jalapeno blues, replete with dry-as-toast, in-your-face-and-ears, up front vocals, willfully fuzzed-out lead licks, and a flair for clever lyrics. Just An Illusion contains nineteen songs altogether, with an average running time of just over three minutes, providing a continuous aural assault taking the listener south of the border, across the bayou and back home again.
Michael's first pro gig was at the age of 13 in the Mediterranean area with a country and western band formed by an Air Force couple. Throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s he played in bands such as Elastica Phase, Ice, Blind Wizard, Sweetwater (later reformed as Bittersweet) and Rock Bottom before packing it in around 1989. But the rock wouldn't die, and Michael landed in Paris, Texas to start Ruff Stuff and begin yet another assault on the music business.
Busy in the studio, Ruff Stuff has just completed recording their second CD, to be called "Jus D'Fax", which they promise will be crammed full of more jalapeno soaked blues. Stay tuned.
Grapevine Productions
Rt. 1, Box 323
Paris, TX 75460
United States
Web site: www.projectmudpuppy.com